Category Archives: Storytimes

Apples – Toddler Storytime

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When I started planning for the fall session of infant toddler storytime I thought I would start off with a seasonal choice and do stories about autumn.  After searching for a bit, however, I couldn’t find many that had a good solid story that would be short enough for the first day of the session.  So I then turned to another great aspect of fall – apples!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

MOVEMENT:“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman.

BOOK:

Ten Red Apples by Virginia Miller
Since ththis works on two levels (it has a story running along the bottom, and a counting aspect along the side), for the most part I just stuck with the story and read that portion, except when it mentions that Bartholomew likes counting the red apples — then the group and I counted together.   

MOVEMENT: “Reach for the Ceiling” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

COUNTING SONG:

Apples – pattern found via Google Image Search

Today we did our counting song, of course, with apples.  I added a few green apples to the mix to brighten things up.

FLANNELBOARD:
“The Apple Tree”

Song and Patterns taken from 2’s Experience Felt Board Fun by Liz & Dick Wilmes

Way up high in the apple tree (lift hands above head)
Four little apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (shake hands back and forth)
Down came one apple. 
MMMMmmm… was it  good. (rub tummy)

How many apples do we have left? 3!

Way up high in the apple tree (lift hands above head)
Three little apples smiled at me….

Continue until you’ve eaten all the apples.

For my 10am storytime I actually put five red apples on the flannelboard and we counted that many together.  That seemed to be a bit much, so for the 11am storytime I switched to four and that was much better.

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

BOOK:

Pepo and Lolo and the Red Apple by Ana Martin Larranaga

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

VIDEO:

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” from The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories.

I actually thought I would show “Chicka Chicka 1,2,3” as my video, but my hold didn’t come in time.  I remembered the cover of this DVD, and sure enough, the first item that our very hungry friend eats is an apple.  It’s fun to hear the ooohhs and ahhhs when he becomes a butterfly.

MOVEMENT:  Storytime’s Over

Apples – Infant Storytime

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With it finally starting to cool down here, it is beginning to feel a bit like fall.  What a better way to usher in the new season than with a storytime about apples?

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo

BOUNCE:
In the Toaster
Put you in the toaster (sit baby on lap)
It’s getting pretty hot (bounce baby gently)
Tick-tock, tick-tock (sway baby side to side)
Up you POP! (lift baby in the air)

BOOK:

Brownie and Pearl Grab a Bite by Cynthia Rylant

I think in the future I might switch up Brownie and Pearl Grab a Bite and used that for the toddlers instead, and then used something like Pepo and Lolo and the Red Apple by Ana Martin Larranaga with this age group.

MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD:
“The Apple Tree”

Song and Patterns taken from 2’s Experience Felt Board Fun by Liz & Dick Wilmes

Way up high in the apple tree (lift hands above head)
Four little apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (shake hands back and forth)
Down came one apple. 
MMMMmmm… was it  good. (rub tummy)

How many apples do we have left? 3!

Way up high in the apple tree (lift hands above head)
Three little apples smiled at me….

Continue until you’ve eaten all the apples.

This is a nice rhyme because you can adjust the number of apples you use depending on the group.  I think I actually just used three apples with the infants.

BOUNCE: “Smooth Road to London Town” from A Smooth Road to London Town: Songs from the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program by Kathy Reid-Naiman

BOOK:

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett

I’d never used Orange Pear Apple Bear and I think it went really well.  I would use that one again in a heartbeat.

NURSERY RHYME:
Little Miss Muffet

This flannelboard is from Little Folk Visuals.  While I enjoy making my owl flannelboards, since I use Nursery Rhymes so frequently, these sets have been a great addition to my flannelboard stash.

TICKLE:
Round and Round the Garden
Round and round the garden (make circles on baby’s tummy with finger)
Goes the teddy bear.
A one-step, a two-step (move hands up towards chin)
A tickle-y under there. (Tickle baby under chin)

MOVEMENT: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 3 from Walt Disney

MOVEMENT: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over

Cats – Preschool Storytime

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Today’s preschool storytime was an homage to fabulous felines!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

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

BOOK:
 
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

THEMED MOVEMENT:
5 Little Kittens
5 Little kittens, standing in a row  (hold up 5 fingers)
They nod their heads to the children so  (“nod” fingers)
They run to the left, they run to the right  (move hand left and right)
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight  (lift hand up)
Along comes a dog, who’s looking for some fun (move other fist towards fingers)
MEOW!  See those 5 kittens run! (hide fingers behind back)

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

FLANNELBOARD:
“I Had a Cat”

Song and Patterns taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

I had a cat, my cat pleased me,
I fed my cat under yonder tree,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee!

I had a pig, my pig pleased me,
I fed my pig under yonder tree,
Pig goes oink-oink,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee!

Continue in the same manner with all the other animals.

Before beginning the flannelboard story I asked all the kids what sound a cat makes.  Then I brought up that if I cat has a fiddle like this one (and placed the cat on the board), then the sounds it makes is “fiddle-i-fee”!  This helped prep the fact that the cat wasn’t going to be saying what you expected it to.  Depending on your group size it may make sense to change the number of animals you use during the story.

PUPPETS:
Great Big Cat and Teeny Tiny Mouse

I purr-chased (sorry, I couldn’t resist) these beautiful puppets from ArtFelt.  Here’s the rhyme that goes with them:

There was a GREAT BIG CAT  (say “great big cat” in a big voice)
and a Teeny Little Mouse   (say “teeny little mouse” in a small squeaky voice)
Who ran around and around  (Roll hands with cat and mouse around each other)
In a tall, tall house!   (Stretch arms above head)
Until that teeny tiny mouse  (say “teeny little mouse” in a small squeaky voice)
got caught at last   (have cat catch mouse)
Because that GREAT BIG CAT  (say “great big cat” in a big voice)
ran around so fast!   (Roll hands with cat and mouse around each other)

BOOK:

What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas

MOVEMENT: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” from Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 3 from Walt Disney

VIDEO:

“Splat the Cat” from Splat the Cat…and Other Furry Friends!

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over

Pizza! Pizza! – Preschool Storytime

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Today’s preschool storytime was on pizza. While our 10am storytime might be a little too early to enjoy a slice, everyone still got into the theme!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

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

BOOK:

Fran’s Flower by Lisa Bruce

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

FLANNELBOARD:
P-I-Z-Z-A!
(To the tune of: “Bingo”)

“There is a treat that’s good to eat and pizza it its name.
P-I-Z-Z-A! P-I-Z-Z-A!  P-I-Z-Z-A!
And pizza is its name.
Oh yum! I’m gonna eat one! (turn one slice of pizza over so the letter is no longer showing)
There is a treat that’s good to eat and pizza it its name.
*clap*-I-Z-Z-A! *clap*-I-Z-Z-A!  *clap*-I-Z-Z-A!
And pizza is its name.”

Continue until you are clapping all the letters.

To remove the flannelboard pieces from the board I like to ask “How many pieces of pizza did we eat?”  Then as we count to five I take the slices down.  I took this flannelboard idea from Katie and Company and embellished it a little to include different toppings and make the story a little more colorful.

THEMED MOVEMENT:
Pizza Man, Pizza Man
Pizza man, pizza man turn around.
Pizza man, pizza man touch the ground.
Pizza man, pizza man give the dough a toss.
Pizza man, pizza man ladle on the sauce.
Pizza man, pizza man sprinkle on the cheese.
Pizza man, pizza man touch your knees.
Pizza man, pizza man put it in the oven.
Pizza man, pizza man press the oven button.
Pizza man, pizza man rub your tummy.
Pizza man, pizza man eat some pizza!  Yummy!

BOOK:

“Hi, Pizza Man!” by Virginia Walter

MOVEMENT: If You’re Happy and You Know It

VIDEO:

“Pete’s a Pizza” from Pete’s a Pizza … and more great kids stories!

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over