Tag: woods

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

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

Raccoon Story Time – Preschool

Opening Song

Book: Kitty by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

Song: “Raccoon Sitting in a Tree” (Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)
Hiding there so I can’t see (point to eyes)
What you’re doing in that tree. (hands stretched over head like a tree)
Raccoon, raccoon, climbing a tree, (make climbing motions)
Wearing a mask, you can’t fool me. (hands circle eyes, then shake finger)

Book: Raccoons by Mari C. Schuh

Song: “Nocturnal Animals” – Banana Slug String Band: Dirt Made My Lunch

Book: Raccoon Tune by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Howard Fine

Song: “Jump, Jump” – Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights: I’m a Rock Star

Puppet Rhyme: “There’s Something in the Woods”
There’s something in the woods, that I can’t really see. (hands around eyes like binoculars)
There’s something in the woods. Now what can it be? (hold up hands, shrug shoulders in question)

Repeat the rhyme above before giving each clue:
I’m an animal who’s big, brown, and furry and who “Roars.” (bear)
I’m an animal who has long ears and goes “Hop, hop, hop.” (rabbit)
I’m an animal who says “Whoo, whoo” at night. (owl)
I’m an animal who’s red, furry, has a big, bushy tail, and likes to eat chicken. (fox)
I’m an animal who’s small, has a big, bushy tail, and loves to eat nuts. (squirrel)
I’m an animal who’s tiny and makes very quiet “Squeaks.” (mouse)
I’m an animal with a black mask and I’m nocturnal! (raccoon)

Closing Rhyme