When it’s my rotation for infant toddler storytime, I’ll often just use the same theme for preschool storytime that week.  It saves time, and helps me by just looking for one theme even if it’s across a slightly longer age range.  So, this week’s Preschool theme was Monkeys!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Monkey” 
Since this sign looks like something you may see a monkey do, I did the sign first, and then asked the kids to see if they could figure out what our storytime was going to be about.  I added in other things about monkeys to clue them in more, too.

BOOK:

Be Quiet, Mike! by Leslie Patricelli

MOVEMENT:
Itsy Bitsy Monkey
The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up a palm tree (pretend to climb up tree)
Down came a coconut, and hit him on his knee – OUCH!
(“hit” knee with hand, say ouch loudly)
Out came a lion shaking his mighty mane (ROAR!)
And the itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again
(pretend to climb tree, faster this time)

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
Three Little Monkeys

Three little monkeys, swinging in a tree (hold up three fingers)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “Can’t catch me!” (shake pointer finger in tsk, tsk, tsk manner)
Along came Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as could be (palms together, wiggle hands back and forth)
and SNAP! (clap hands on “Snap!”)

Remove a monkey from the board, and continue counting down until no monkeys are left.

Two little monkeys…

MOVEMENT: “Shake My Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs for the Very Young by Raffi

BOOK:

Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Brian Won

MOVEMENT:
Monkeys Swinging
(to the tune of “Skip to My Lou”)
Monkeys swinging, swinging all day
Monkeys swinging, swinging all day
Monkeys swinging, swinging all day
Swinging til I saaaaaaay —- STOP!

Other verses:
Monkeys tickling, tickling all day… (this one was an audience suggestion!)
Monkeys eating, eating all day…
Monkeys scratching, scratching all day…
Monkeys chatter, chatter all day…

BOOK:

VIDEO:
 
“Caps for Sale” from Antarctic Antics …and more hilarious animal stories! Based on the book by Esphyr Slobodkina

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 
Book: Where’s My Mom? by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Book: Mo’s Stinky Sweater by David Bedford, illustrated by Edward Eaves
Book: Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett and Kevin Cornell

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Libraryann – Monkey See, monkey… Do this storytime!
Never Shushed – Preschool: Monkeys

HOW IT WENT:
Monkeys is a fun and silly theme.  And I think the families had fun with all the different monkey-themed movements!

ATTENDANCE: 22 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, November 18, 2017

*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