For storytime around the 4th of July it felt fitting to do a beach theme.  When I started putting together the books I wanted to share it tweaked to be more of an Under the Sea group of stories, except for the video.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Jump Up, Turn Around” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem by Jim Gill

BOOK:

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

MOVEMENT: Once I Saw an Octopus

Once I saw an octopus in the deep blue sea (put hand over eyes, as if searching)
I called, “Mr. Octopus, won’t you swim with me?” (hands around mouth to call)
Then out came his tentacles, so very long and straight.
(link thumbs with fingers out, as if making a bird shadow puppet, but make more of a circle for the head)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. (count 8 fingers)

FLANNELBOARD:
We’re the Family of the Sea

(rhyme from: Totline Magazine July/August 2001 p. 29.  patterns from clip-art/web search)

(to tune of: “Old MacDonald had a Farm”)
We’re the family of the sea,
The ocean is our home.
And in the seas there lives a whale
Who loves to play and roam.
With a spout spout here and a spout spout there.
Here a spout, there a spout,
Everywhere a spout, spout.
We’re the family of the sea,
The ocean is our home.

Other verses:
Fish – swish swish
Crab – pinch pinch
Seal – bark bark
Octopus – wibble wobble

BOOK:

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

MOVEMENT: Octopus, Octopus

Octopus, octopus turn around
Octopus, octopus touch the ground
Octopus, octopus reach up high
Octopus, octopus swimming by

from Caitlin Peterson’s Sea Life storytime idea found here

VIDEO:

“At the Beach” from Peppa Pig: My Birthday Party 

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Wiggle! Like an Octopus by Harriet Ziefert & Simms Taback (also a good app)
Book: Thank You, Octopus by Darren Farrell
Book: Beach Day by Karen Roosa, illustrated by Maggie Smith
Book: Scuba Bunnies by Christine Loomis, pictures by Ora Eitan
Book: Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Splash! by Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas
Book: Beach Feet by Kiyomi Konagaya, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito
Book: Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon
Song: “Octopus (Slippery Fish)” by Charlotte Diamond from 24 Carrot Diamond: The Best of Charlotte Diamond

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
Originally, I thought it would be fun to do an octopus/squid storytime, which is why some of my additional ideas are cephalopod themed.  However, after reading the stories I did, I’m thinking this turned into more of a food-chain themed storytime, since there was a lot of eating of animals in what I picked.  I seemed to have a good mix of older preschool aged children today, and some of them had already read This is Not My Hat so it was fun to hear them kind of narrate along with me.  I wish I had downloaded the Charlotte Diamond track to use today — I meant to but forgot.

ATTENDANCE: 33 (adults and children)

*To see the words to these movements and activities I use frequently, please visit my A-capella Movements Section on my Storytime Movements and Music Page