Many years ago, I had done a groundhogs and shadows themed storytime around this time of year for toddlers.  When I saw the new book A Greyhound a Groundhog I decided I wanted to try it again.

SONG: Welcome Song

MOVEMENT: “Wake Up Toes” from Morning Magic by Joanie Bartels

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE: sign for “Shadow”

taken from Costello, Elaine Ph.D.  Random House Webster’s American Sign Language Dictionary.  1994.

BOOK:

Guess Whose Shadow? by Stephen R. Swinburne

MOVEMENT: “Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel

COUNT & RHYME SONG:

10 Groundhogs

Counting time, it’s counting time
So let’s all sing a simple rhyme

Ten little groundhogs here we go
Let’s all count them as I put them in rows.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Ten little groundhogs, again we go
Now let’s count them nice and slow
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Ten little groundhogs, in neat rows
Let’s count them as away they go
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

FLANNELBOARD:

Shadows

Pattern and Rhyme taken from Felt Board Fingerplays by Liz & Dick Wilmes, art by Janet McDonnell

Look to the left. (Look left)
Look to the right. (Look right)
Always keep the whale’s
shadow in sight.

Repeat with :
shark
snake
frog
fish
alligator

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

BOOK:

A Greyhound a Groundhog written by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Chris Appelhans

MOVEMENT: “Two Little Blackbirds” from Fingerplays and Footplays by Rosemary Hallum and Henry “Buzz” Glass

VIDEO:

“Max’s Shadow” from Max & Ruby’s Halloween

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 

Book: Shadowville by Michael Bartalos
Book: Shadows by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Harvey Stevenson
Book: I Have a Friend by Keiko Narahashi
Book: Hooray Parade by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
DVD: “Shadows” from Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
While I think groundhogs might be a better theme with more stories for preschool, I thought this storytime went pretty well.  The kids seemed to enjoy guessing along with the first book we read, as well as the flannelboard.

The first storytime group was a little more antsy this time around, so I threw in a few other rhymes and songs there to keep them a little more engaged.

I wish I had been creative enough to think of some sort of shadow puppet story or some sort of storytelling with shadows before this.  It just occurred to me now that would be an awesome addition.  Any suggestions?

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  44 people      11 am: 47 people

* For these songs, please see my Storytime Movements & Music page