Tag: trees

Tree Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Song: “Orange, Yellow, Red and Brown” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) (with colored felt leaves)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are twirling all around, (hold your arms out to your sides and spin them around and around)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.

Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are dancing in the breeze, (hold your arms up and dance them all around)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.

Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are falling to the ground, (go down to the floor and lay down)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.
(Credit: From the CD, “Children’s Favorite Autumn Songs & Fingerplays” by The Learning Station)

Book: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Yoga: Tree pose

Social Story: “Listening in Class” from Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting, and Responding at School by Rick H. Warren
Quinn at School: Relating, Connecting and Responding - A Book for ...

Closing Song

Craft: Torn paper fall tree

Forest Friends Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Let’s Play in the Forest While the Wolf Is Not Around! by Claudia Rueda
let's play in the forest

Song: “If You’re Ever in the Forest” (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer—
A young one and an old one,
And some that can quickly run. (run in place)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.
They hop here, and they hop there, (jump like rabbits)
They hop, hop, hop everywhere.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might hear some birds.
A tweet here, and a tweet there,
They are flying around everywhere. (fly like a bird)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might hear some birds.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
There are tall ones and short ones, (stretch high, and then get low)
And young ones and old ones.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
(Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.)

Puppet Story: The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Jane Cabrera

Song: “Silly Dance Contest” – Jim Gill: The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes

Action Song: “My Blue Canoe” (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
Start by having kids ask an adult for permission. Then we all put our life jackets on!
I love to paddle my blue canoe, (pretend to row)
Blue canoe, blue canoe.
I love to paddle my blue canoe
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe tracks back and forth, (twist right to left)
Back and forth, back and forth.
My blue canoe tracks back and forth
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe goes up and down, (bend knees)
Up and down, up and down.
My blue canoe goes up and down
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe has a fishing pole, (cast “rod” arm)
A fishing pole, a fishing pole.
My blue canoe has a fishing pole
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe rocks side to side, (rock side to side)
Side to side, side to side.
My blue canoe rocks side to side
Out on the forest pond.

My blue canoe turns round and round, (turn in a circle)
Round and round, round and round.
My blue canoe turns round and round
Out on the forest pond.

So, come for a paddle in my blue canoe, (pretend to row)
Blue canoe, blue canoe.
So come for a paddle in my blue canoe
Out on the forest pond.
(Credit: Leah Portz)

Puppet Story: Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen

Closing Rhyme

Forest Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Song: “Roly Poly” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Roly poly, roly poly
Up, up, up
up, up, up
Roly roly poly
roly roly poly
down, down, down
down, down, down

Repeat with: out/in, fast/slow
(Credit: Jbrary)

Song: “I’m a Little Pinecone” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little pinecone, brown and small. (make a fist with one hand)
I live in a pine tree oh so tall. (stretch arms up high)
When the wind blows, I dance and hop (wave arms as though the wind were blowing)
Down on the ground with a PLOP, PLOP, PLOP! (fall down on the floor)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Book: Night Owl by Toni Yuly

Song: “If You’re an Owl and You Know It”
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”
If you’re an owl and you know it, then your hoot will surely show it.
If you’re an owl and you know it, hoot like this, “Hoo(t), hoo(t)!”

Additional verses:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)

Book: Acorns Everywhere! by Kevin Sherry

Scarf Song: “Wave Your Scarf Up and Down” (Tune: “London Bridge”)
Wave your scarf up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
Wave your scarf up and down,
Wave your scarf.

Additional verses:
Left and right
Fast and slow
High and low
Around and around
Wave it goodbye
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Rhyme: “Popcorn Kernels”
Popcorn kernels (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot. (make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them up in their fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake fists)
‘Til they POP! (toss scarves up into the air)

Song: “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” – David Landau: Kids and Kitties

Closing Rhyme

Leaves Story Time – Family

Opening Song

Book: My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington

Song: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Book: Leaves by David Ezra Stein
Leaves book cover

Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Book: One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me! by John Micklos Jr., illustrated by Clive McFarland

Song: “Orange, Yellow, Red and Brown” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) (with colored felt leaves)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are twirling all around, (hold your arms out to your sides and spin them around and around)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.

Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are dancing in the breeze, (hold your arms up and dance them all around)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.

Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown,
Autumn leaves are falling to the ground, (go down to the floor and lay down)
Orange, yellow, red and brown, red and brown.
(Credit: From the CD, “Children’s Favorite Autumn Songs & Fingerplays” by The Learning Station)

Closing Rhyme

Forest Story Time – Baby

Opening Song

Puppet Song: “When Ducks Go on an Adventure”
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
When ducks go on an adventure, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, this is what they say.

Repeat with other animals/sounds
(Credit: King County Library System)

Sign Language: Trees, squirrel, rabbit, owl

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Forest Hide & Seek by Eric Carle

Song: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Song: “Our Arms Go Up and Down” (Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”)
Our arms go up and down,
Our arms go up and down,
Hi ho the derry-o,
Our arms go up and down.

Additional verses:
Our feet go back and forth…
Our heads go side to side…
We all go up and down…
(Credit: Bucks County Free Library)

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Forest”
There’s something in the forest
That I can’t really see.
There’s something in the forest.
Now what can it be?

Repeat for bear, rabbit, owl, fox, squirrel, and mouse.

Book: Hide-and-Seek In the Forest by Rachel Elliot, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Lap Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Repeat with: bounce, sway, tickle

Lap Song: “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”
Way up high in the apple tree, (lift baby)
I saw a little baby smiling at me.
I shook that tree as gently as I could, (shake gently)
Down came the baby, (bring down)
Mmm, was she good! (kiss)
(Credit: King County Library System)

Lap Song: “Giddyap Giddyap”
Giddyap, giddyap ride to town (bounce)
Giddyap, giddyap up and down (lift)
Giddyap fast, giddyap slow
Giddyap, giddyap WHOA! (lean baby back)
(Credit: Read Sing Play)

Scarf Song: “Rain on the Grass”
Rain on the grass, (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees, (shake high)
Rain on the roof, (hold above head)
But not on me. (drop)

Repeat with sun and leaves.
(Credit: Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “Peekaboo” (Tune: “Frère Jacques”)
Peekaboo, peekaboo,
I see you, I see you,
I see your button nose,
I see your tiny toes,
Peekaboo, I see you.

Closing Rhyme

Earth Day Story Time – Sensory Friendly

Opening Song

Book: What Can You Do with a Rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Katie Kath

Song: “Tree Song” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Movements: Hands and fingers are the leaves – wiggle high in the air. Move arms straight out for the branches. Touch upper body with hands when saying “trunk.” Touch legs when saying “roots.”
Leaves, branches, trunk and roots, trunk and roots,
Leaves, branches, trunk and roots, trunk and roots,
Trees are important to me and to you,
Leaves, branches, trunk and roots, trunk and roots.
(Credit: KinderNature)

Book: The Earth is Good by Michael DeMunn, illustrated by Jim McMullan

Song: “Tap, Tap, Tap” – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Get Set for School Sing Along

Movement/Yoga: Tree pose

Social Story: Big Earth, Little Me by Thom Wiley, illustrated by Kate Endle

Closing Rhyme

Craft: Earth suncatchers

Tree Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Patricia Metola

Action Rhyme: “Once I Was a Seed”
Once I was a seed and I was small, small, small.
I grew into a tree and now I’m tall, tall, tall!
My branches sway in the breeze so soft.
And when it’s autumn, all my leaves fall off!
(Credit: Storytime in the Stacks)

Flannel: “The Green Grass Grew All Around”

Book: The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Lisa Falkenstern

Shaker Eggs: “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Shaker Eggs: “Shake Your Shakers”
Shake your shaker up.
Shake your shaker down.
Shake it side to side.
Shake it all around.
Shake it on your shoulders.
Shake it on your head.
Shake it on your knees,
And shake it right to bed!

Closing Rhyme

Earth Story Time – Toddler

Opening Song

Book: The Earth Book by Todd Parr

Song/Flannel: The Green Grass Grew All Around

Book: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Fingerplay:  Away Up High in the Apple Tree
Away up high in an apple tree, (Children point high up at imaginary tree)
Two red apples smiled at me. (Place two apples on board)
I shook that tree as hard as I could; (Children pretend to shake the apple tree)
Down came those apples,
And mmmm, they were good! (Pretend to eat apples)

Story: The Earth and I by Frank Asch

Song: “Five Green and Speckled Frogs” (with frogs on a log)

Five Green and Speckled Frogs
sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs.
Yuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm…yuuummm!
One jumped into the pool,
where it was nice and cool.
Then there were four green speckled frogs,
Glub glub.

Additional verses:
Four green and speckled frogs…
Three green and speckled frogs…
Two green and speckled frogs…
One green and speckled frog…
…Then there were no green speckled frogs!
Glub glub, glub, glub

Closing Song

Craft: Tissue paper Earth suncatcher
Adapted from https://fullgreenlife.com/earth-day-with-your-toddler/

Earth Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: The World is Waiting for You by Barbara Kerley

Song:  “Tree Song” (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Leaves, branches, trunk and roots (and roots)
Leaves, branches, trunk and roots (and roots)
Trees are important to you and to me
Leaves, branches, trunk and roots (and roots)

Movements:
Hands and fingers are the leaves – wiggle high in the air
Move arms straight out for the branches
Touch upper body with hands when saying “trunk”
Touch legs when saying “roots”

Book: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Flannel: Five Red Apples
Five red apples, hanging on a tree
The juiciest apples you ever did see
The wind came past and gave an angry frown
And one little apple came tumbling down
(Repeat for 4,3,2,1)

Flannel: The Apple Tree
Away up high in an apple tree, (Children point high up at imaginary tree)
Two red apples smiled at me. (Place two apples on board)
I shook that tree as hard as I could; (Children pretend to shake the apple tree)
Down came those apples,
And mmmm, they were good! (Pretend to eat apples)

Book: Ten Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh

Closing rhyme

Craft: Summer Scenery (I emphasized I used recycled materials from previous story times to help our earth)

Trees Story Time – Everybody

Opening Song

Book: Trees by Lemniscates

Action Rhyme: “A Tree Is a Home”
A tree may be a home for bird (flap arms like a bird)
A tree may be a home for bee (buzz your hand around)
A tree may be a home for snake (slithering snake)
A tree may be a home for monkey (swing your arms)
Hmmm. I wonder if a tree would make a good home for me? (point to self)

Book: Shake the Tree by Chiara Vignocchi, Paolo Chiarinotti, Silvia Borando

Flannel Story:  Stuck  by Oliver Jeffers
Stuck flannel

Song: “The Trees Are Growing”
The trees are growing high, (raise arms overhead)
The trees are growing high.
With soil and rain and sunny days,
The trees are growing high.
(Other verses: The threes are growing roots, The trees are growing leaves)

Book:  Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Song (with shaky eggs): “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” – The Wiggles: Racing to the Rainbow

Song: “Can You Shake Your Egg?” (Tune: “Have You Ever Seen?”)
Can you shake your egg with me,
egg with me, egg with me?
Can you shake your egg with me
and put it on your (head, knee, belly, etc.)?

Closing Song

Craft: Make Your Own 3D tree