Grandparent Theme Storytime

Grandparent's Day was September 13--so what better way to celebrate than to have a grandparent themed storytime?

Books

Piglet and Granny

by Margaret Wild; illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Off We Go!

by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Laurel Molk

No Trouble at All

by Sally Grindley; illustrated by Eleanor Taylor

Songs/Rhymes

Let's Clap!
(tune: Have you ever seen a lassie?)

Let's clap our hand for grandma
For grandma, for grandma
Let's clap our hands for grandma
Let's clap them this way.

Clap this way (high) and that way (low)
Clap this way and that way
Let's clap our hands for grandma
Let's clap them this way.

Let's stomp our feet for grandpa
For grandpa, for grandpa
Let's stomp our feet for grandpa
Let's stomp them this way.

Stomp this way (left) and that way (right)
Stomp this way and that way
Let's stomp our feet for grandpa
Let's stomp them this way.

The Tempo Marches On
from CD Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on his Toe Leg Knee

 

Supercharged
[Language Use]

In the story of Piglet and Granny, Piglet tells the farm animals the things that Granny has taught her to do and fun things they do together.  What are some things you like to do with your grandma or grandpa?

Play and Learn

All About Grandma/Grandpa pages (created by a colleague)

Gears

Picking up/Sorting Dinos

Preview of Busy Bags

• Colored paper clips

• Hole punches
• Crazy straw

Outreach Stotyimes for September--Animals

I was able to visit two different childcare centers today!  I had limited time to prepare to I gathered books around a wide theme--animals.  The hardest part was narrowing down which ones to read since there are so many to choose from!  Mover Over Rover finally came in after I did my first outreach.  I replaced two books with this title (because I love that book!)

Kindergarten

What the Ladybug Heard

by Julia Donaldson; illustrated by Lydia Monks

Lion vs. Rabbit

by Alex Latimer

If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, DON'T!

by Elise Parsley

Pre-K

What Noise Does a Rabbit Make?

by Carrie Weston and Richard Byrne

2nd outreach visit I switched to 

Move Over Rover

by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by Jane Dyer

Oh, No!

by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann

Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming! 

by Jex Alborough

Preschool (3 year olds)

Tiny Little Fly

by Michael Rosen and Kevin Waldron

2nd outreach visit I switched to 

Move Over Rover 

by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by Jane Dyer

Two at the Zoo 

by Danna Smith; illustrated by Valeria Petrone

The Very Busy Spider

by Eric Carle

Toddlers

I Spy on the Pets

by Edward Gibbs

The Very Busy Spider 

by Eric Carle

Peek-a-Zoo! 

by Marie Torres Cinarusti; illustrated by Stephanie Peterson

Roar! A Big-mouth Book of Sounds

Songs/Rhymes/Activity

Old McDonald had a Farm

Are You Sleeping?
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping
Little alligator? Little alligator?
[snore]
Wake up little alligator
Wake up little alligator
Chomp, chomp, chomp!
Chomp, chomp, chomp!

Additional Verses
Lion--roar!
Cheetah--run!
Elephant--stomp!
Frog--jump!

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree

Find the Dog's Bone (magnet board guessing game)

Play!

In August Mel and I were able to attend the Starting Strong Conference—all things early learning!  I attended several workshops about the importance of play for children.  So what is play and why is it so important?

Play is at the heart of learning and is different for each child.  Mr. Rogers said, “Play is really the work of childhood”.  Simply put, playing is how children learn.  In early childhood “if you’re not playing then you’re not learning.”

But play is not a free-for-all!  Children need play that is rule-governed, meaning there are limits to the materials, time, and space for play.  Play must be positive, voluntary, meaningful, symbolic, pleasurable, and episodic.

The best play is opened-ended to allow for discovery and divergent learning.  The brain likes novelty—meanings having supplies to use in creative ways.

I love our play and learn storytimes!  They were one of the things that attracted me to apply for this job.  Giving children time to explore, discover, experiment, and manipulate in a safe environment is vital in early learning.  Play solidifies our books and songs and encourages parents and caregivers to engage with their children.  

Baby Storytime--Animals!

Babies love animals and making/listening to animals sounds!  What better way to start off the fall storytime season than with animals!

Song/Rhymes/Bounces
Words to most of these can be found here

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands
Good Morning To You
Little Bear
When Cows Get Up in the Morning
(puppets--duck, cat, pig, and cow)
Baby Hokey Pokey
Pat-a-Cake
Wheels on the Bus
Hey Diddle, Diddle
Pease Porridge Hot
Tiny Little Babies
Acka Backa Soda Cracker
Tickle the Clouds

Read Aloud Book

Week 1

Baby Says "Moo!"
by Jo Ann Early Macken; illustrated by David Walker

I used quite a few paperclips so I could skip pages in order to read it to my baby group.  Basically I skipped the parts of the parents asking what something says and the refrain that follows.

So here's how the first part of the book went...

Baby rolls along, grabs a yummy snack,
Waves at people, and they all wave back.

Baby takes a ride through the busy city
Waves at the yellow bird, singing so pretty.

Week 2

Who Says Woof?

by John Butler

Shared Reading

A variety of board books featuring animals including:

We Love Each Other by Yusuke Yonezu

Owl and Friends by Joyce Wan

Supercharged
To parents: Making animal sounds with your baby helps to develop their language skills.  Encourage your baby to copy the animals sounds.  Point to and name animals as well.  Encourage them to repeat.

Play Time
Nothing special...

Sheep Storytime

So excited to do storytime after a whole month without doing one at Otis!!

Books

No Sleep for the Sheep

by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic

Where is the Green Sheep?

by Mem Fox; illustrated by Judy Horacek

Songs/Rhymes/Flannel Board

Mary had a Little Lamb (idea from Mallory)

We sang Mary had a little lamb; but I would put up a different color sheep and then say something that was that color.

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was ORANGE as CARROTS!

We ended with a white sheep!

Dancing Sheep
(from Susan Dailey)

Shhh!  It’s time to go to sleep (put finger to mouth, pretend to sleep)

But into my bedroom one sheep creeps. (creep fingers)

“Don’t go to bed,” the one sheep said.

“I would rather dance instead!”

Soon he was…  (draw these words out)

Dancing on the ceiling! (move hands above head in “dancing” motion)

He was dancing on the floor! (move hands on floor as mentioned above)

He was dancing on the window! (move hands to one side)

He was dancing on the door! (move hands to other side)

He kept on…Dancing on the ceiling! (sing faster)

He was dancing on the floor!

He was dancing on the window!

He was dancing on the door!

(repeat several times getting faster each time through)

“Stop that dancing, silly sheep.

It is time to go to sleep!”

Soon the sheep lay on the floor.

Soon the sheep began to snore.

So I started …  (draw these words out)

Dancing on the ceiling!

I was dancing on the floor!

I was dancing on the window!

I was dancing on the door!

Where is the Green Sheep? Hide and Seek Flannel (idea from One Little Librarian)

After reading Where is the Green Sheep we had our own little hide and seek activity using the magnet board.

Supercharged

In the book No Sleep for the Sheep there is a rhyming phrase I taught the children before reading, "'Shhh! Not a peep! Go to sleep!', said the sheep."  I reminded the parents that saying rhyming words with their children build their language and listening skills.  Throughout the story I encouraged the children to say the phrase with me.

Play and Learn

Glue cotton balls onto sheep cutout

Mary had a Little Lamb Maze (from Literacy Centers and Activities Nursery Rhymes Volume 1)

Farm/Zoo Animal Magnet Sort

Where is the Green Sheep? Hide and Seek Flannel
Children also had a good time matching the colored sheep to their colored bush!

Puzzles

And this storytime would not be complete without a stamp on the hand of a green sheep!

Fall Session Songs and Bounces

I can't believe it's September already and time to change up the songs, rhymes and bounces for baby storytime again.  Here are some of the song, rhymes and bounces we will be doing through November.  Below is a general outline I follow for baby storytime.

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands,

Clap your hands together.

Clap, clap, clap your hands,

Clap your hands together.

Pat your knees...

Tap your feet...

Jump up high...

Give a hug...

Blow a kiss...

Wave hello...

Good Morning To You
(Sung to the happy Birthday tune)

Good Morning to.....(Child's Name)
Good Morning to......(Child's name)

Good morning dear (Child’s name)

It’s nice to see you!

Roly-Poly

Roly-poly, roly-poly (circle arms around each other—repeat each time you sing the phrase)

Out, out, out (move hands away from each other)

Roly-poly, roly-poly

In, in, in (bring hands together)

Roly-poly, roly-poly

Touch your nose

Roly-poly, roly-poly

Touch your toes.

Roly-poly, roly-poly

Up to the sky (pull baby up to standing)

Roly-poly, roly-poly

Fly, fly, fly (life baby up in the air)

When Cows Get Up in the Morning

(a gentle bouncing rhyme--with puppets)

When cows get up in the morning,

They always say "good day!"

When cows get up in the morning,

They always say "good day!"

"Moo, moo, moo!",

That's how they say "good day!"

"Moo, moo, moo!",

That's how they say "good day!"

I’m a Little Beetle

(Bounce babies in laps, then lift them up when you say, “Fly!”)

I’m a little beetle

And I wiggle all day

If you get too close to me,

I’ll FLY away!

I’m a little bumblebee…

I’m a little ladybug…

Baby Hokey Pokey

You put your arms up,

you put your arms down

You put your arms up,

and you wave them all around

You tickle, tickle, tickle

And you wiggle, wiggle, wiggle

That’s what it’s all about! Clap, clap!

You put your (feet, baby, etc) up...

Five Little Riders

Five little riders on a nice fall day,

Jumped on their ponies and rode far away.

They galloped in the meadow

And they galloped up a hill

They galloped so fast

That they all took a spill!

Grasshopper

There was a little grasshopper,

Always on the jump.

Because he never looked ahead,

He always went bump! (gently drop baby between legs)

Tickle the Clouds

Tickle the clouds (spoken)

Tickle the clouds

and tickle your toes

Clap your hands

and tickle your nose

Reach down low

And reach up high

Story time’s over —

Wave bye-bye!

Round and Round the Garden

'Round and 'round the garden,

Goes the teddy bear. (draw circles on baby's palm)

One step, two steps, (tap twice up baby's arm)

Tickle you under there! (tickle under baby's arm)

Tiny Little Babies

(My new favorite!  I found it at Storytime Katie)

(Sung to: Shortenin' Bread)

Tiny little babies love bouncin', bouncin'

Tiny little babies love bouncin', yeah

Tiny little babies love bouncin', bouncin'

Tiny little babies love bouncin' so...

Bounce to the left, bounce to the right

Now hug that baby nice and tight!

Scarf Song

One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow (hold in hand)

Wiggle it high (wiggle scarf above head)

Wiggle it low (wiggle scarf by knees)

Shake it fast (wiggle scarf quickly)

Shake it slow (wiggle scarf slowly)

Put it behind your back (bring out empty hands)

Where did it go?

If You’re Happy & You Know It Parachute

•If you’re happy and you know it, lift it high!

•If you’re happy and you know it, shake it fast!

•If you’re happy and you know it, shake it slow!


Baby Storytime Outline

Bubbles (as babies are gathering~5 minutes)

Opening

• Clap, clap, clap your hands
• Good Morning!
• Little Bear

Songs/Rhymes/Bounces (2-3)

• When Cows Get Up in the Morning
• Round and Round the Garden
• Baby Hokey Pokey
• Roly-Poly

Read Aloud Book

Traditional Songs (1-2)

• Pat-a-Cake
• Wheels on the Bus
• Three Little Monkeys
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
• If You're Happy and You Know It

Nursery Rhymes (1-2)

• Hey Diddle, Diddle
• Pease Porridge Hot
• Humpty Dumpty
• Jack and Jill
• This Little Piggy
• Hickory Dickory Dock
• Jack Be Nimble

Movement Song

• Tiny Little Babies
• Grasshopper
• I'm a Little Beetle
• Five Little Riders

Shared Reading

Closing (1 of the following)

• Tickle the Clouds
• Parachute
• Scarf Song

Play and Learn

Good Night Baby Storytime

A baby storytime from a few weeks ago...

Songs, Rhymes, Bounces
Words for most of them can be found here

Clap, Clap, Clap
Hello Song
Little Bear
Here are Baby"s Eyes
Bounce You Here
Tick Tock
Hug, Hug, Hug
Peek-a-Boo Scarves

Read Aloud

Little Sleepyhead

by Elizabeth McPike; Illustrated by Patrice Barton

Shared Reading

A variety of board books with a bedtime/night time theme including:

Good Night

by Benoit Marchon; illustrated by Soledad Bravi

Llama Llama Nighty-Night 

by Anna Dewdney

Play and Learn