Lions – Preschool Storytime

I was wondering what I would do for this week’s preschool storytime until I realized that it is the first of March.  After that things just came together with an “In like a Lion…” theme.  Because, really, how often do you get to do that?  Also, it’s fitting, because we’ve finally got some rain here in Southern California, so it feels like March is, indeed, being a lion.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem by Jim Gill

MOVEMENT:
I’m a Lion
I love to sleep out in the sun (rest cheek on hand)
And chase other animals just for fun (run in place)
In the jungle I’m number one! (point to self, then lift up pointer finger like number 1)
I’m a (ROAR!)…
LION!

I recited this rhyme with the actions without telling the audience what storytime’s topic was, and had them see if they could guess based on the rhyme.  They did!  They we did it all together.

BOOK:

In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb
by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully

FLANNELBOARD:
One Little Lion
Lions Counting Rhymes Flannelboard
Template found via Google search, Rhyme from ABC Literacy Storytimes by Marilyn Lohnes.

One little lion, roaring at the zoo.
Called for another: ROAR!
Then there were two.

Two little lions, underneath a tree.
Called for another: ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were three.

Three little lions who heard a distant roar.
Called for another: ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were four.

Four little lions, happy and alive.Called for another, ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were five.

Five little lions.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!Ran off to play
and then there were no more.

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

FLANNELBOARD:
Uwungelema
Uwungelema Flannelboard
Template and Story from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

A “slow and steady wins the race story”.  This Bantu tale is about a magical tree that gives fruit — but only if you remember its name, Uwungelema.  As the land is in drought, all the animals want the fruit, but none can remember the tree’s name.  The faster animals, rabbit and eland, each in turn go to the king, who tells them the name of the tree, but they forget by the time they return.  Only slow tortoise, who repeats the name over and over can save the day.

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

BOOK:

We’re Going on a Lion Hunt adapted by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Joe Mathieu

VIDEO:

“The Happy Lion” from Corduroy …and more stories about caring

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: How to Hide a Lion by Helen Stephens
Book: Silly Suzy Goose by Petr Horacek
Book: The Lion and the Rat fable by La Fontaine, illustrated by Brian Wildsmith
Book: Watch Us Play by Miela Ford
Book: The Mightiest by Keiko Kasza

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
This storytime went nicely.  I wasn’t sure if In Like a Lion.. would work with preschoolers, but it seemed to go fairly smoothly.  I did have the kids make the sounds and motions with the book – I feel like that always helps to draw the audience in a little bit more.  If I were to read the book again, I think I would stop it at the page that ends with “This lion is done with roaring, and now he’s snoring! At least until next year.”  It seems like the rhyme was a little long for my group sharing, and that seems like a natural stopping point.  I’ll try it that way sometime and see how it goes.  I also wasn’t sure about using Uwungelema as a flannelboard story.  At first my audience seemed younger than normal, but when I got to that point in the program older kids had joined in so I thought I would give it a shot.  And I was surprised by how well it held everyone’s attention.  Next time I show “The Happy Lion” I need to remember to do a little introduction with how to say “Hello” in French.  I have to say, this is one of my favorite Weston Woods movies.  “What a funny way to say Bonjour!”

ATTENDANCE: 32 (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

Safari – Toddler Storytime

Today we took a trip to see lots of different animals.  We went on safari!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:
Tiny Little Fly by Rosen

Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen

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

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider*

COUNTING SONG:*

10 Elephants

Elephants

FLANNELBOARD:
One Little Lion (filed under Lions – Count Up Rhymes)
Lions Counting Rhymes Flannelboard

Rhyme from ABC Literacy Storytimes: Storytimes to Promote Literacy and Learning by Marilyn Lohnes

One little lion, roaring at the zoo,
Called for another: ROAR!
Then there were two.

Two little lions, underneath a tree,
Called for another: ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were three.

Three little lions, who heard a distant roar,
Called for another: ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were four.

Four little lions, happy and alive,
called for another: ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were five.

Five little lions.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Ran off to play
And then there were no more.

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

BOOK:
Splash by McDonnell

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

VIDEO:
Poky Little Puppy DVD

“Mouse in the House” from The Poky Little Puppy and Friends

MOVEMENT:  Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS IDEAS:

When the Elephant Walks by KaszaDear Zoo by CampbellDo Crocs Kiss by YoonLittle Elephant by FordWatch Us Play by Ford

When the Elephant Walks by Keiko Kasza
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Do Crocs Kiss? by Salina Yoon
Little Elephant by Miela Ford
Watch Us Play by Miela Ford

Flannelboard: 10 Lions (for Counting)


HOW IT WENT:

This storytime came about because I really wanted to try reading Tiny Little Fly to a group.  I had put it on my good books list a while back, but hadn’t gotten around to using it, so I thought it was time.  I think I want to try it again with a preschool audience to see how it works there.  It was fine with these groups, but I think I either need to try it with a different age group or practice a bit more to get the most out of it.  Splash! worked well as it always does.


ATTENDANCE
:  10 am:  36 people      11 am: 33 people

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

Safari – Infant Storytime

Today was an adventure in African animals

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: Icky Bicky Soda Cracker*

BOOK:
Do Crocs Kiss by Yoon

Do Crocs Kiss? by Salina Yoon

I skipped the bear page and the owl page this time in this book.

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

FLANNELBOARD:
One Fierce Lion (filed with flannelboards under Lions – Count Up Rhymes)
Lions Counting Rhymes Flannelboard

Rhyme adapted from ABC Literacy Storytimes: Storytimes to Promote Literacy and Learning by Marilyn Lohnes
Pattern via Google Images Search

(to tune of Frere Jacques)
One fierce lion, one fierce lion —
Hear him roar, hear him roar
Calling for another, calling for another
There’s one more, There’s one more.

Continue counting for 2, 3

Four fierce lions, four fierce lions.
There’s no more, there’s no more.
Hear them ROAR!

I do this as a call and response song where I sing the first line and then the audience repeats it back to me.  It seems to work well that way.  And even though I have five lions featured in the picture, I only do this rhyme up to four.

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:

Whose Tail by Lloyd

Whose Tail? by Sam Lloyd

TICKLE: Chicken in the Barnyard*

NURSERY RHYME:
Jack Be Nimble
Jack Be Nimble Flannelboard

Flannelboard from Little Folk Visuals

Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jumped over the candlestick.

I do this rhyme as a bounce as well.  First we say the rhyme just on its own.  Then I explain that the parents and “jump” their baby from one leg to the other when Jack jumps over the candlestick.  We do it together this way a few times.

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

BOOK:

Dear Zoo by Campbell

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
Little Elephant by Ford
When the Elephant Walks by Kasza Splash by McDonnell
Little Elephant by Miela Ford
When the Elephant Walks by Keiko Kasza
Splash! by Flora McDonnell

Flannelboard: Five Elephants in the Bathtub

HOW IT WENT:
This storytime went well.  I’m trying to find some good larger size board books to use with the infants and toddlers, and Whose Tail? seemed to be a good choice.  It isn’t the largest format size, but the pictures are bright and colorful, so it seemed to work well.

ATTENDANCE: 24 people

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