My library system has one central location and 9 branches. To make storytime programming easier for all involved, we use storyboxes. These are “storytimes in a box”. They contain everything a storyteller would need for a successful storytime including books, videos, fingerplays and crafts. Ideally, there should be enough variety that the box can be used for infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and lower elementary ages. I’m trying to catch up on a few of these that I’ve been meaning to post for a while. This one I created for our Summer 2014 Rotation.
Books to Build On! Stories about Construction and Tools
BOOKS:
Raise the Roof! by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Elwood H. Smith
Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Morgan Stoeke
One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Todd Ouren
I Love Tools! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop by Lisa Shulman, illustrated by Ahsley Wolff
Toolbox Twins by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Melissa Iwai
Digger and Tom by Sebastian Braun
Construction Kitties by Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
The Toolbox by Anne & Harlow Rockwell
The Little Dump Truck by Margery Cuyler ; illustrated by Bob Kolar
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
Construction Countdown by K.C. Olson, illustrated by David Gordon
The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer, illustrated Carrie Eko-Burgess
Get To Work Trucks! by Don Carter
Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe
Dazzling Diggers by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker
I Drive a Dump Truck by Sarah Bridges ; illustrated by Derrick Alderman & Denise Shea
Those Building Men by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Barry Moser
Tools Rule! by Aaron Meshon
Trucks by Debbie Powell
Dig! by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal
Additional Books that I didn’t get in time, but would be great for this theme:
Monster Trucks by Mark Todd
A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis Roche
Machines at Work by Byron Barton
FLANNELBOARDS:
5 Little Nails
Pieces Needed
Five little nails
Standing straight and steady.
Here comes the carpenter
With a hammer ready!
Bam! Bam! Bam! (remove one nail.)
Four little nails…
Three little nails…
Two little nails…
One little nail.
(from: Roginski, Dawn R. A Year in the Story Room: Ready-to-Use Programs for Children. Chicago: ALA Editions. 2014. Pg110.)
Construction Bear Flannelboard
Pieces Needed:
- Bear – Safety Glasses
- Blue Pants – Tape Measure
- Orange Vest – Level
- Boots – Hammer
- Hat
(to tune of: “Dwarf Working Song” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With thick work pants and a safety vest
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With steel toed boots and a hard hat
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With safety glasses and a tape measure
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With a long level and a hammer
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho
(found from this pin http://www.pinterest.com/pin/515662226053604753/ and Heart felt stories http://heartfeltstories.ca/construction-bear.html)
Old MacDonald Had Some Tools
Pieces Needed:
- Hammer
- Drill
- Pliers
- Wrench
- Saw
- Screwdriver
Old MacDonald had some tools, E-I-E-I-O.
And with those tools he had a hammer, E-I-E-I-O.
With a bang, bang, here and a bang, bang, there.
Here a bang, there a bang, everywhere a bang, bang,
Old MacDonald had some tools, E-I-E-I-O.
Other verses:
A saw that went see-saw
A wrench that turn-turned
A screwdriver that would twist-twist
Pliers that pinch-pinch
And a drill that went ZZZZ-ZZZZ
(from: Read It Again! http://misssarahsstorytime.blogspot.com/2012/04/flannel-friday-tools.html)
MOVEMENT, SONGS, AND FINGERPLAYS:
Johnny Works with One Hammer
Johnny works with one hammer, (move one hand up and down like using hammer)
one hammer, one hammer.
Johnny works with one hammer,
Then he works with two. (move two hands up and down like using hammer.)
Johnny works with two hammers… Then he works with three.
(hammer with both hands and stamp one foot on floor.)
Johnny works with three hammers… Then he works with four.
(hammer with both hands and stamp both feet on floor.)
Johnny works with four hammers… Then he works with five.
(hammer with both hands, stamp both feet on floor, and nod head up and down.)
Johnny works with five hammers… Then he goes to sleep.
(hammer with both hands, stamp feet on floor, nod head, then rest head on joined palms & pretend to go to sleep.)
(from: Roginski, Dawn R. A Year in the Story Room: Ready-to-Use Programs for Children. Chicago: ALA Editions. 2014. Pg110.)
Building a House
Building a house is lots of work,
(wipe brow.)
First, you dig up lots of dirt.
(Pretend to dig.)
Then you pour a concrete floor,
(Touch floor.)
And pound boards with nails galore.
(Pretend to hammer.)
Doors and windows go in fast,
(Draw squares in air with finger.)
Now your house is done at last.
(Clasp hands together above head.)
(from: Thom, Diane “Building a House.” 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)
My Little House
I’m going to build a little house
With windows wide and bright.
(stretch arms out to sides.)
With chimney tall and curling smoke
Rising out of sight.
(stand tall, spiral hand upward.)
In winter when the snowflakes fall,
(twinkle fingers down like falling snow.)
Or when I hear a storm,
(cup hand behind ear.)
I’ll go and sit inside my house
Where I’ll be snug and warm.
(hug self.)
(from: 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)
Building a Skyscraper
Brick by brick
By brick by brick.
My building’s so high
It’s scraping the sky.
(Place fists one on top of the other, going higher each time.)
Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
My Building will sway
When the wind blows this way.
(Sway left, then right.)
Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
Now I’m ready to stop
And a flag goes on top.
(Open one fist and wave hand left and right.)
(from: Reedy, Polly. 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)
She’ll Be Driving a Bulldozer
(Tune: “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”)
She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)
She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)
She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)
She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)
She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
When she comes.
Scoop it up! Push it back! (Perform both motions.)
Other verses:
She’ll be working a dirt-dumper… Look out below! (Cup hands around mouth.)
She’ll be on a cement mixer… Shake it up! (Shake your body.)
She’ll be steering a steamroller… Roll it flat! (Twirl arms around each other.)
She’ll be driving a street-sweeper… Clean it up! (Make sweeping motions with hands).
(taken from Reid, Rob. Storytime Slam! 15 Lesson Plans for Preschool and Primary Story Programs. Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin: Upstart Books. p8)
The Carpenter
The carpenter’s hammer goes rap, rap, rap.
(prentend to hammer.)
And his saw goes see-saw-see.
(Pretend to saw.)
He hammers and hammers, and saws and saws,
(Pretend to hammer, then saw.)
To build a house for me.
(Form roof shape with fingers.)
(from: 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)
Construction Worker Song
(to tune of: “Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush.”)
This is the way we pound our nails,
pound our nails, pound our nails.
This is the way we pound our nails,
So early in the morning
Other verses:
saw our wood
use a screwdriver
drill a hole
stack the bricks
paint the walls
stir the paint
(from PreKFun at http://www.prekfun.com/themes/PREKthemes/A-F/Construction/Construction__Songs.htm)
Cranes
Cranes reach up
(reach up)
Cranes reach down
(reach down)
Cranes reach out,
(reach straight out.)
And all around.
(turn around).
(from PreKFun at http://www.prekfun.com/themes/PREKthemes/A-F/Construction/Construction__Songs.htm)
Where Are Trucks?
(to tune of “Where is Thumbkin?”)
Where is bulldozer? Where is bulldozer?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.
Drive away. Drive away.
(Excavator, crane, backhoe, loader)
(Inspired by Storytime Katie http://storytimekatie.com/2011/04/21/trucks/)
Here is a Steam Shovel
Here is a steam shovel. (Hold right forearm erect, hand drooping)
And here is the ground. (two arms enclose area)
See the great boom (right elbow stationary, forearm moving side to side)
Swing round and round.
It dips, it bites, (forearms dips, thumb and fingers in grasping motion)
It lifts, it throws (forearm lifts, thumb and fingers spin)
My, how the hole in the ground grows! (two hands enclose circle)
Digging, scooping,
Lifting, throwing,
See how the hill (forearms with hands meeting)
Beside it is growing.
(from http://core.kdla.ky.gov/kdla_core/sites/default/files/Resources%20for%20a%20Construction%20Themed%20Storytime.pdf)
VIDEOS:
“Changes, Changes” from There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly … and More Sing-Along Favorites. Based on the book by Pat Hutchins 
“I’m Dirty” from I’m Dirty … and More Stories of Adventure and Science. Based on the Book by Kate & Jim McMullan
“Henry Builds a Cabin” from The True Story of the Three Little Pigs… and More Animal Adventures. Based on the book by D.B. Johnson
CRAFTS:
Moveable Dump Truck Craft
Materials needed:
- Construction paper
- Dump truck coloring page
- Brads
- Scissors
- Glue
- Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
Have children color in the dump truck however they wish. Cut out the dump truck, and then cut the “dump container” away from the base of the truck. Glue the base of the truck to the construction paper, if you wish. Then, insert a brad to hold the dump container to the base of the dump truck on the construction paper. Now you have a dump container that moves up and down!
(Idea taken from: Storytime Katie http://storytimekatie.com/2012/04/18/construction/ and Texas State Library https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/projects/trc/2011/manual/toddler_digdown.html )
My Toolbox Craft
Materials needed:
- Construction paper
- Tools coloring page (the link I had used or this is defunct, but I bet you can find one!)
- Toolbox Template
- Scissors
- Glue
- Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
To prep the craft: Fold the construction paper in half so the folded area is on the bottom.
Fold it in half vertically, and use the Toolbox template to cut out a toolbox shape from the construction paper.
Have children color the tools any way they wish, as well as the tool box inside and outside. Cut out the tools, then glue those to the inside of the “toolbox” made from construction paper.
Idea inspired by: Hand Me Down Ideas: https://handmedownideas.wordpress.com/tag/tool-box/
Toolbelt Craft
Materials needed:
– Construction paper cut into about 3.5” strips
– Tools coloring page (found http://www.preschool-learning-and-crafts.com/support-files/fathers-day-tools.pdf from Preschool Learning Crafts)
– Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
– Scissors
– Stapler OR String and Hole Punch
– Glue
Have children color the tools, and then cut them out. Give them one strip of the construction paper and have them glue the tools so that they are halfway hanging off the paper. When the child has completed this, have them come to an adult helper to have them staple additional strips together to make a “toolbelt” that fits loosely around the hips. If you prefer, you can punch holes in the ends of the construction paper and tie the belt around the child’s hips that way.
Idea taken from: Kiboomu Kids Songs http://kiboomukidssongs.com/labor-day-song-and-carpenter-tool-belt-craft/ and Sunflower Storytime http://sunflowerstorytime.com/2013/07/11/construction-time/ )
Jen in the Library 