A few weeks ago I did an apple storytime, but I forgot to post it on here!  So, I figure better late than never.

September always makes me think of starting school (even though school starts here now in August!), and fall (even though it’s in the high 80s, mid 90s).  So how else could celebrate the first Saturday in September than with a storytime about apples, the most quintessential of fall fruits?

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Jump Jump” from I’m a Rock Star by Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights

BOOK:

Ouch! by Ragnhild Scamell

Movement:
A Little Apple Seed
(to tune of “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

Once a little apple seed
was planted in the ground.
Down came the raindrops falling all around.
Out came the big sun
Bright as bright could be
And that little apple seed grew up
to be an apple tree.

FLANNELBOARD:
A-P-P-L-E

(to tune of “Bingo”)There is a fruit that’s good to eat
and apple is its name-o.
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
and apple is its name-o.

Now when we turn the apple over, and you don’t see a letter, you clap instead! (Do this one apple at a time — I just took this photo when two apples were turned over.)

There is a fruit that’s good to eat
and apple is its name-o.
clap–clap-P-L-E
clap–clap-P-L-E
clap–clap-P-L-E
and apple is its name-o.

Continue singing  and clapping until all apples are turned over.

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

FLANNELBOARD:
An Apple Tree

Way up high in the apple tree (lift hands above head)
Four red apples (hold up 4 fingers)
smiled at me (smile)
So I shook that tree as hard as I could (pretend to shake the tree)
And down came an apple.
Mmm… was it good! (rub tummy).

Continue with the rhyme until all apples have been eaten!

BOOK:

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

VIDEO:

“Chicka Chicka 1 2 3” from Chicka Chicka 1 2 3  — and more stories about counting

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: A New House for Mouse by Petr Horácek
Book: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
Book: Little Apple Goat by Caroline Jayne Church
Book: Apple by Nikki McClure

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
Though we say this is a preschool storytime, we actually end up with a wide range of ages in the audience on any given Saturday.  I started out with the book Ouch! because that is one of my favorites – I love the illustrations, and the kids and the adults both seem to get a kick out of it.  However, with the group I had this Saturday, the story felt rather long.  That’s why for my second book I chose Apple Pie ABC – it’s still engaging, and the photos are wonderful, but it is a lot shorter and I hoped that would help with the concentration of the audience.  I think it worked.  Also, the video was a good one – again, slightly long, but since it is one the kids are familiar with I think that helps.  I swear I could hear a little voice singing along, but I couldn’t locate where it was coming from.

ATTENDANCE: 67!! (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