Waiting – Preschool Storytime

Posted on February 11, 2017 by jeninthelibrary

I can’t wait for storytimes – it’s one of the best parts of being a children’s librarian. But today, our storytime was all about waiting!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

BOOK:

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

MOVEMENT: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
The Mouse and the Apple

Idea and pattern taken from Mel’s Desk.
Based on the book by Stephen Butler, which we don’t have in our collection, so I found the words to the story thanks to this YouTube video from sheelahdog323.

It’s the story of a mouse, who waits for the apple to fall, while all his other animal friends lack the patience.

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

BOOK:

Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

VIDEO:

“Leo the Late Bloomer” from Splat the Cat… and Other Furry Friends. Based on the book by Robert Kraus, illustrated by Jose Aruego

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Mervin the Sloth is About to Do the Best Thing in the World by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Ruth Chan
Book: Wait by Antoinette Portis
Book: Wait! Wait! by Hatsue Nakawaki, illustrated by Komako Sakai
Book: If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, pictures by Erin E. Stead
Book: I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
DVD/Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Pleasingly Patient
taken from Hartford County Public Library
(tune: Are You Sleeping?)
I am patient.
I am patient.
Watch me wait.
Watch me wait. One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
I can wait.
I am great!
The Mailbox Magazine, Preschool edition Aug/Sep 2010

HOW IT WENT:
I really liked this as a theme. Originally I think I thought waiting would be a fun one because of I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda, and then the Henkes book. But I thought I would try reading an Elephant and Piggie book in storytime, which (surprisingly) I hadn’t done before. Of course it went over well and everyone loved it (How could they not?).

For preschool storytimes, I usually like my movements to be focused around my theme, but I didn’t find too many movements that worked with waiting or patience. Since I’m in the thick of infant and toddler storytime, I used a few of my standbys from there, and they still seemed to work well with the preschool crowd.

I also like that there are enough books that I really like that I didn’t use, so I can repeat this theme, but use different materials.

ATTENDANCE: 49 (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

Construction and Tools – Storybox

Posted on January 6, 2017 by jeninthelibrary

My library system has one central location and 9 branches. To make storytime programming easier for all involved, we use storyboxes. These are “storytimes in a box”. They contain everything a storyteller would need for a successful storytime including books, videos, fingerplays and crafts. Ideally, there should be enough variety that the box can be used for infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and lower elementary ages. I’m trying to catch up on a few of these that I’ve been meaning to post for a while. This one I created for our Summer 2014 Rotation.

Books to Build On! Stories about Construction and Tools

BOOKS:

Raise the Roof! by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Elwood H. Smith
Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Morgan Stoeke
One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Todd Ouren

I Love Tools! by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop by Lisa Shulman, illustrated by Ahsley Wolff
Toolbox Twins by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Melissa Iwai

Digger and Tom by Sebastian Braun
Construction Kitties by Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
The Toolbox by Anne & Harlow Rockwell

The Little Dump Truck by Margery Cuyler ; illustrated by Bob Kolar
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia
Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
Construction Countdown by K.C. Olson, illustrated by David Gordon
The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer, illustrated Carrie Eko-Burgess
Get To Work Trucks! by Don Carter
Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe
johnson-those-building-men
Dazzling Diggers by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker
I Drive a Dump Truck by Sarah Bridges ; illustrated by Derrick Alderman & Denise Shea
Those Building Men by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Barry Moser

Tools Rule! by Aaron Meshon
Trucks by Debbie Powell
Dig! by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

Additional Books that I didn’t get in time, but would be great for this theme:
Monster Trucks by Mark Todd
A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis Roche
Machines at Work by Byron Barton

FLANNELBOARDS:

5 Little Nails

Pieces Needed

5 nails
Hammer

Five little nails
Standing straight and steady.
Here comes the carpenter
With a hammer ready!
Bam! Bam! Bam! (remove one nail.)

Four little nails…
Three little nails…

Two little nails…
One little nail.

(from: Roginski, Dawn R. A Year in the Story Room: Ready-to-Use Programs for Children. Chicago: ALA Editions. 2014. Pg110.)

Construction Bear Flannelboard

Pieces Needed:

Bear – Safety Glasses
Blue Pants – Tape Measure
Orange Vest – Level
Boots – Hammer
Hat

(to tune of: “Dwarf Working Song” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With thick work pants and a safety vest
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With steel toed boots and a hard hat
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With safety glasses and a tape measure
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work Bear goes
With a long level and a hammer
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho

(found from this pin http://www.pinterest.com/pin/515662226053604753/ and Heart felt stories http://heartfeltstories.ca/construction-bear.html)

Old MacDonald Had Some Tools

Pieces Needed:

Hammer
Drill
Pliers
Wrench
Saw
Screwdriver

Old MacDonald had some tools, E-I-E-I-O.
And with those tools he had a hammer, E-I-E-I-O.
With a bang, bang, here and a bang, bang, there.
Here a bang, there a bang, everywhere a bang, bang,
Old MacDonald had some tools, E-I-E-I-O.

Other verses:
A saw that went see-saw
A wrench that turn-turned
A screwdriver that would twist-twist
Pliers that pinch-pinch
And a drill that went ZZZZ-ZZZZ

(from: Read It Again! http://misssarahsstorytime.blogspot.com/2012/04/flannel-friday-tools.html)

MOVEMENT, SONGS, AND FINGERPLAYS:

Johnny Works with One Hammer
Johnny works with one hammer, (move one hand up and down like using hammer)
one hammer, one hammer.
Johnny works with one hammer,
Then he works with two. (move two hands up and down like using hammer.)

Johnny works with two hammers… Then he works with three.
(hammer with both hands and stamp one foot on floor.)
Johnny works with three hammers… Then he works with four.
(hammer with both hands and stamp both feet on floor.)
Johnny works with four hammers… Then he works with five.
(hammer with both hands, stamp both feet on floor, and nod head up and down.)
Johnny works with five hammers… Then he goes to sleep.
(hammer with both hands, stamp feet on floor, nod head, then rest head on joined palms & pretend to go to sleep.)

(from: Roginski, Dawn R. A Year in the Story Room: Ready-to-Use Programs for Children. Chicago: ALA Editions. 2014. Pg110.)

Building a House
Building a house is lots of work,
(wipe brow.)
First, you dig up lots of dirt.
(Pretend to dig.)
Then you pour a concrete floor,
(Touch floor.)
And pound boards with nails galore.
(Pretend to hammer.)
Doors and windows go in fast,
(Draw squares in air with finger.)
Now your house is done at last.
(Clasp hands together above head.)

(from: Thom, Diane “Building a House.” 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)

My Little House
I’m going to build a little house
With windows wide and bright.
(stretch arms out to sides.)
With chimney tall and curling smoke
Rising out of sight.
(stand tall, spiral hand upward.)
In winter when the snowflakes fall,
(twinkle fingers down like falling snow.)
Or when I hear a storm,
(cup hand behind ear.)
I’ll go and sit inside my house
Where I’ll be snug and warm.
(hug self.)

(from: 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)

Building a Skyscraper
Brick by brick
By brick by brick.
My building’s so high
It’s scraping the sky.
(Place fists one on top of the other, going higher each time.)

Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
My Building will sway
When the wind blows this way.
(Sway left, then right.)

Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
Now I’m ready to stop
And a flag goes on top.
(Open one fist and wave hand left and right.)

(from: Reedy, Polly. 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)

She’ll Be Driving a Bulldozer
(Tune: “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)

She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
When she comes.

Scoop it up! Push it back! (Perform both motions.)

Other verses:
She’ll be working a dirt-dumper… Look out below! (Cup hands around mouth.)
She’ll be on a cement mixer… Shake it up! (Shake your body.)
She’ll be steering a steamroller… Roll it flat! (Twirl arms around each other.)
She’ll be driving a street-sweeper… Clean it up! (Make sweeping motions with hands).

(taken from Reid, Rob. Storytime Slam! 15 Lesson Plans for Preschool and Primary Story Programs. Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin: Upstart Books. p8)

The Carpenter
The carpenter’s hammer goes rap, rap, rap.
(prentend to hammer.)
And his saw goes see-saw-see.
(Pretend to saw.)
He hammers and hammers, and saws and saws,
(Pretend to hammer, then saw.)
To build a house for me.
(Form roof shape with fingers.)

(from: 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays. Compiled by The Totline Staff. Washington: Warren Publishing House. 1994. p95.)

Construction Worker Song
(to tune of: “Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush.”)

This is the way we pound our nails,
pound our nails, pound our nails.
This is the way we pound our nails,
So early in the morning

Other verses:
saw our wood
use a screwdriver
drill a hole
stack the bricks
paint the walls
stir the paint

(from PreKFun at http://www.prekfun.com/themes/PREKthemes/A-F/Construction/Construction__Songs.htm)

Cranes
Cranes reach up
(reach up)
Cranes reach down
(reach down)
Cranes reach out,
(reach straight out.)
And all around.
(turn around).

(from PreKFun at http://www.prekfun.com/themes/PREKthemes/A-F/Construction/Construction__Songs.htm)

Where Are Trucks?
(to tune of “Where is Thumbkin?”)

Where is bulldozer? Where is bulldozer?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you.
Drive away. Drive away.
(Excavator, crane, backhoe, loader)

(Inspired by Storytime Katie http://storytimekatie.com/2011/04/21/trucks/)

Here is a Steam Shovel

Here is a steam shovel. (Hold right forearm erect, hand drooping)
And here is the ground. (two arms enclose area)
See the great boom (right elbow stationary, forearm moving side to side)
Swing round and round.

It dips, it bites, (forearms dips, thumb and fingers in grasping motion)
It lifts, it throws (forearm lifts, thumb and fingers spin)
My, how the hole in the ground grows! (two hands enclose circle)

Digging, scooping,
Lifting, throwing,
See how the hill (forearms with hands meeting)
Beside it is growing.

(from http://core.kdla.ky.gov/kdla_core/sites/default/files/Resources%20for%20a%20Construction%20Themed%20Storytime.pdf)

VIDEOS:

“Changes, Changes” from There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly … and More Sing-Along Favorites. Based on the book by Pat Hutchins
“I’m Dirty” from I’m Dirty … and More Stories of Adventure and Science. Based on the Book by Kate & Jim McMullan

“Henry Builds a Cabin” from The True Story of the Three Little Pigs… and More Animal Adventures. Based on the book by D.B. Johnson

CRAFTS:

Moveable Dump Truck Craft
Materials needed:

Construction paper
Dump truck coloring page
Brads
Scissors
Glue
Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers

Have children color in the dump truck however they wish. Cut out the dump truck, and then cut the “dump container” away from the base of the truck. Glue the base of the truck to the construction paper, if you wish. Then, insert a brad to hold the dump container to the base of the dump truck on the construction paper. Now you have a dump container that moves up and down!

(Idea taken from: Storytime Katie http://storytimekatie.com/2012/04/18/construction/ and Texas State Library https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/projects/trc/2011/manual/toddler_digdown.html )

My Toolbox Craft

Materials needed:

Construction paper
Tools coloring page (the link I had used or this is defunct, but I bet you can find one!)
Toolbox Template
Scissors
Glue
Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers

To prep the craft: Fold the construction paper in half so the folded area is on the bottom.

Fold it in half vertically, and use the Toolbox template to cut out a toolbox shape from the construction paper.

Have children color the tools any way they wish, as well as the tool box inside and outside. Cut out the tools, then glue those to the inside of the “toolbox” made from construction paper.

Idea inspired by: Hand Me Down Ideas: https://handmedownideas.wordpress.com/tag/tool-box/

Toolbelt Craft

Materials needed:

– Construction paper cut into about 3.5” strips
– Tools coloring page (found http://www.preschool-learning-and-crafts.com/support-files/fathers-day-tools.pdf from Preschool Learning Crafts)
– Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
– Scissors
– Stapler OR String and Hole Punch
– Glue

Have children color the tools, and then cut them out. Give them one strip of the construction paper and have them glue the tools so that they are halfway hanging off the paper. When the child has completed this, have them come to an adult helper to have them staple additional strips together to make a “toolbelt” that fits loosely around the hips. If you prefer, you can punch holes in the ends of the construction paper and tie the belt around the child’s hips that way.

Idea taken from: Kiboomu Kids Songs http://kiboomukidssongs.com/labor-day-song-and-carpenter-tool-belt-craft/ and Sunflower Storytime http://sunflowerstorytime.com/2013/07/11/construction-time/ )

Rain – Preschool Storytime

Posted on December 27, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

Here in Southern California, winter doesn’t come with snow, but rain. And when it does rain a lot, it’s very exciting to us desert and drought-dwellers. So, this storytime was in honor of precipitation we received during the past week.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

BOOK:

Stormy Night by Salina Yoon

MOVEMENT:
Raindrops Falling
Raindrops, raindrops (wiggle fingers like rain)
Falling all around
Pitter-patter on the rooftops (tap fingers on head)
Pitter-patter on the ground (tap fingers on ground)

Here is my umbrella (form “umbrella” over head with arms)
It will keep me dry
When I’m walking in the rain,
I hold it up so high. (stretch hands above head)

PROP STORY:
Mushroom in the Rain

adapted from the Russian of V. Suteyev by Mirra Ginsburg, with pictures by Jose Aruego & Ariane Dewey.

Thanks to the wonderful post on Read, Rhyme & Sing that gave me the idea to do this story as a prop story.

Following the example on Shawn’s wonderful blog, I crafted a “mushroom” using a plastic bowl and some queen size tan pantyhose. I cut a small hole in the bottom of the bowl. Then, because I was using a plastic bowl, I covered the hole with book tape so the hose wouldn’t run. (If I was going to do this again, I would probably use a paper bowl, and a slightly larger size one.)

Next, I pulled the legs of the pantyhose up through the hole in the bottom of the bowl, leaving the gusset close to the hole. I tied the legs of the pantyhose into a “stem” that I could grab on to.

Then, I wrapped the waist of the pantyhose around the bowl, tucking the excess material that I would need for “mushroom growth” underneath the bowl.
mushroom-in-the-rain-3-jeninthelibrary mushroom-in-the-rain-4-jeninthelibrary
In the original story, it is an ant that takes shelter first under the mushroom in the rain. We didn’t have an ant puppet, so I used a ladybug instead. Below you can see the ladybug next to the mushroom for scale.
ladybug-puppet-jeninthelibrary mushroom-in-the-rain-5-jeninthelibrary
Along comes the butterfly to see if she can shelter under the mushroom too. After ladybug says yes, I put them both under the mushroom, tucking them inside the excess pantyhose waist.
butterfly-puppet-jeninthelibrary
The comes mouse, who gets underneath (or stuffed in) as well.
mouse-puppet-jeninthelibrary
In the story, a sparrow is the next animal to join the group, but I substituted a hedgehog since we didn’t have a bird puppet available.
hedgehog-puppet-jeninthelibrary
Finally bunny hops up, worried that a predator coming after is out for him, hoping to hide with the group at the mushroom. You want to hide him on the opposite side from the ladybug.
rabbit-puppet-jeninthelibrary
In the book, the predator is a fox, but we used a bear. I had the ladybug peek out to talk to the bear and convince him that of course the rabbit isn’t there. (This is why you want the ladybug and rabbit on opposite sides, if possible). The bear sniffs around, then ambles away.
bear-puppet-jeninthelibrary
After the bear leaves, all the animals come out of hiding from under the mushroom. And wonder how they all fit under the mushroom that once only sheltered ladybug.
Frog hops up, laughing, and tells them the he knows what happens to mushrooms in the rain.
Then you ask the audience if they know.

THEY GROW!

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

BOOK:

The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na

MOVEMENT:
Raindrops Are Falling
(to the tune of “London Bridge”)
Little raindrops are falling down, (wiggle fingers and move them down like rain)
falling down, falling down.
Little raindrops are falling down,
Falling to the ground. (tap fingers on the ground)

Bigger raindrops are falling down,
falling down, falling down.
Bigger raindrops are falling down,
Falling to the ground. (tap hands on the ground)

Other Verses:
Giant raindrops… (stamp feet on the ground)
Fast raindrops… (wiggle fingers and sing quickly)
Slow raindrops… (wiggle fingers and sing slowly)
Teeny Tiny raindrops… (use fingers only for rain and sing in a high pitched voice)

MOVEMENT:
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider
climbed up the water spout. (with pinky against opposite hand’s thumb move “spider” up)
Down came the rain (wiggle fingers down)
and washed the spider out. (make a motion like baseball SAFE)
Up came the sun (make a larger circle with arms, fingertips meeting, above head)
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider (with pinky against opposite hand’s thumb move “spider” up)
Went up the spout again.

VIDEO:

“Puddle Jumper” from Little Bear: Rainy Day Tales

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Book: Puddle by Hyewon Yum
Book: Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson, illustrated by Steve Björkman
Book: The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book by Nancy Tafuri
Book: Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison, illustrated by Pam Paparone
Book: Boom! Big, Big Thunder & One Small Dog by Mary Lyn Ray, pictures by Steven Salreno

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Falling Flannelboards – Storytime: Rainy Days
Storytime Katie – Rainy Days!
State Library of Iowa – “Puddle Jumpers” Storytime Kit
Rain Makes Applesauce – What Will It Rain by Jane Moncure
Sunflower Storytime – Rainy Day Storytime

HOW IT WENT:
This was a really fun storytime. I was a little worried about how Mushroom in the Rain would turn out, since it was my first time doing that as a prop story. But, the kinds and parents laughed along and everyone seemed to have a good time.

ATTENDANCE: 23 (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

Foxes – Preschool Storytime

Posted on November 5, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

This week I schemed and came up with a fun fox-themed storytime for our preschool storytime.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

Fox and the Jumping Contest by Corey R. Tabor

MOVEMENT:
Fox Has Got a Long Red Tail
(to the tune of: “Mary had a Little Lamb”)
Fox has got a long red tail,
Shake that tail, shake that tail!
Fox has got a long red tail,
Shake that tail now!

Other Verses:
Pointy nose… wiggle that nose
Two front paws… clap those paws
Two pointy ears… twitch those ears
Two bright eyes… blink those eyes
Long sharp teeth… bite those teeth

Rhyme taken from: Storytime Sparks

FLANNELBOARD:
A-Hunting We Will Go
a-hunting-we-will-go-flannelboard-2-jil
Flannelboard taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra. She also has a version in her Mother Goose’s Playhouse. Templates for this story found here.

A-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go.
We’ll take a fox,
Put him in a box,
And then we’ll let him go.

Other Verses:
Bear… sit her in a chair
Frog… put him on a log
Mouse… put her in a house
Whale… tickle his tail
Goat… put him in a boat.

At the end put all the animals on the board, and have the kids remember what we did with each.

MOVEMENT:
Foxy Loxy
Foxy Loxy touch your toes.
Foxy Loxy touch your nose.
Foxy Loxy pat your head.
Foxy Loxy go to bed.
Foxy Loxy wake up now.
Foxy Loxy take a bow.
Foxy Loxy touch the ground.
Foxy Loxy turn around.
Foxy Loxy sit back down.
Foxy Loxy don’t make a sound.

taken from Storytime Sparks

BOOK:

Dinnertime! by Sue Williams, illustrated by Kerry Argent

MOVEMENT:
If You’re a Fox and You Know It
(to the tune of: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you’re a fox and you know it, swish your tail.
If you’re a fox and you know it, swish your tail.
If you’re a fox and you know,
then you’ll really want to show it,
If you’re a fox and you know it, swish your tail.

Other verses:
– wiggle your nose
– show your claws
– say “yip yip yip”

taken from: Sunflower Storytime

VIDEO:

“Rosie’s Walk” from Chicka Chicka Boom Boom …and Lots More Learning Fun! Based on the book by Pat Hutchins.

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Alone Together by Suzanne Bloom (or any of the Goose & Bear books that have Fox in it too.)
Book: One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian
Book: Do Like a Duck Does by Judy Hindley, illustrated by Ivan Bates
Book: That is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
Book: Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox, illustrated by Patricia Mullins
Book: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
DVD: “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” from I’m Dirty!… and More Stories of Adventure and Science.

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Storytime Sparks – Fox Storytime
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California – Foxes Storytime Ideas
Sunflower Storytime – Foxes
Yogibrarian – “Foxes” toddler storytime
Read It Again! – Story Time Fox
Storytime All-Stars – Foxes for Pre-School

HOW IT WENT:

I was really surprised that I hadn’t done a fox storytime yet! I decided to do it after reading Tabor’s Fox and the Jumping Contest. I was originally thinking of showing “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” as my video, but I seemed to get a bunch of younger children, so I decided to go with the shorter option.

I’m so thankful for other storytime bloggers out there — they helped so much with ideas for movements for this storytime!

ATTENDANCE: 20 (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

Construction – eStorytime

Posted on September 7, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

In August we had the last of our Summer eStorytime series. I realized that I already had a few different apps on construction, so I decided to use some of those and build an eStorytime around that theme.

Opening Slide on Keynote:

SONG:

Welcome Song

MOVEMENT:

Cranes
Cranes reach up. (reach up)
Cranes reach down. (reach down)
Cranes reach out, (reach straight out)
And all around. (turn around)

taken from Pre-K Fun

APP:

Build and Play 3D from Croco Studios ( iOS, Samsung, Android)

We started storytime by building a construction vehicle – a crane! I was a little worried at first, because we had more kids than there were pieces to put in the puzzle, but then at they end when the crane was finished you could play with the controls on it, so the kids who didn’t get to put a piece on the crane did that.

eBook/APP:
App - Sleepy Moles Moving Day5

Sleepy Mole’s Moving Day from Ginger Whale illustrated by Melanie Matthews

Mole is sleeping when he is rudely awakened by construction workers who have flooded light into his home — and now it’s too bright for him. So, he sets off to find a new place to sleep. At this point in the app, users are able to choose-their-own-adventure type app, which kids being able to pick from different directions on the screen to choose where Mole should dig. After digging for a while, Mole eventually finds a place to sleep and the story ends.

MOVEMENT:
Rocket

(to the tune of: “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we pound our nails,
pound our nails, pound our nails.
This is the way we pound our nails,
So early in the morning.

Other verses:
saw our wood
use a screwdriver
drill a hole
stack the bricks
paint the walls

(rhyme taken from Pre-K Fun)

APP:
App - Sago Mini Toolbox 1

Sago Mini Toolbox ($2.99; iOS, Kindle, Android)

There are two different ways to play using this app. When the app first comes up, you can choose to build different things with Dog, or just play with the different tools with Bird. We chose to build with Dog, and the kids had fun doing different actions to make Dog a house, and Gnome a Basketball hoop.

Song/Movement:
Johnny Works with One Hammer

Johnny works with one hammer
(move one hand up and down as if using a hammer)
one hammer, one hammer.
Johnny works with one hammer,
Then he works with two.

Johnny works with two hammers
(move two hands up and down as if using a hammer)
two hammers, two hammers.
Johnny works with two hammers,
Then he works with three.

Johnny works with three hammers
(move two hands up and down as if using a hammer and stamp one foot)
three hammers, three hammers.
Johnny works with three hammers,
Then he works with four.

Johnny works with four hammers
(move two hands up and down as if using a hammer and stamp two feet)
four hammers, four hammers.
Johnny works with four hammers,
Then he works with five.

Johnny works with five hammers
(move two hands up and down. stamp two feet, and nod head)
five hammers, five hammers.
Johnny works with five hammers,
Then he goes to sleep!

BOOK:

What Can a Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Mike Lowery

APP:

Little Builders from Fox & Sheep (iOS, Android, Amazon; $2.99)

Little Builders opens on a scene where a lot of construction is taking place – there are streets to sweep, buildings to paint, roofs to lay and more! For this storytime, we choose to build a brick wall. You have to lay down the mortar cement, and that put a brick down on top of that. Of course, you can put down bricks without the cement, but your wall may not hold when a strong wind comes! Each child got to put down a brick.

APP:

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld from Oceanhouse Media ($3.99,iOS)

This book is based on the book of the same name. Oceanhouse Media always does a faithful job of turning books into apps in a respectful, fun way.

MOVEMENT: “Storytime’s Over”*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

APP: Sago Mini – Trucks and Diggers (iOS, Kindle, Android; $2.99)
APP: Nosy Crow – Bizzy Bear Builds a House (iOS, $3.99)
APP: Dr. Panda Handyman (iOS, Kindle, Android; $2.99)

THOUGHTS ON THIS eSTORYTIME:

I did this storytime a while ago, so I don’t remember too many pointers that I wanted tell myself. I do remember, though, that I need to watch my time more carefully when doing an eStorytime. It takes a lot of time to go around the room and have the kids participate, so I often run over and what is supposed to be a half hour storytime turns more into 45-50 minutes.

I had a good size group for this one.

ATTENDANCE: 15 people (children and adults)

*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

Please note: App prices were correct at the time of writing this blog, but may have changed since. All prices taken from the iOS app price. There may also be changes to available platforms for apps as well.

Special thanks to Digital Storytime for their app reviews by subject, that make putting together a themed eStorytime much easier.

Bikes – Preschool Storytime

Posted on September 6, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I’m trying to catch up on blogging about some of the storytimes I did this summer. Here’s one I presented on August 27 about bikes.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Everybody and Say Hello” by Kathy Reid-Naiman from Sally Go ‘Round the Sun: Songs and rhymes from the parent-child Mother Goose program

BOOK:

Bike on, Bear! written by Cynthea Liu, illustrated by Kristyna Litten

MOVEMENT: The Wheels on the Bike
(to the tune of: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The wheels on the bike go round and round (roll hands over each other)
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bike go round and round
All through the town.

Other Verses:
The pedals on the bike go up and down (move feet up and down)…
The streamers on the bike go swish, swoosh, swish (move hands in a swishing motion)…
The bell on the bike goes ding, ding, ding (pretend to ring a bell)…
The basket on the bike holds all the things (make arms into a circle like a basket in front of you)…
The handles on the bike go left and right (pretend hands on handlebar, steer left and right)….

Rhyme taken from: Scott, Barbara A. 1,000 Fingerplays & Action Rhymes: A Sourcebook and DVD. New York: Neal-Schuman. 2010.

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

FLANNELBOARD:
If You Have a Color Bike

Flannelboard idea taken from Storytime Katie.

I started with laminated bike images of different colors with velcro on the back in a container. Children came up and picked a bike. I told them to look at the bike, and then come up when I called the right color. So we sang this song:

If you have a red bike,
a red bike, a red bike,
If you have a red bike
bring it to the board.

Substitute different colors for red.

Then we counted the number of each color bike we had.

Katie says that she uses the tune of “The Muffin Man” when she sings this, but mine morphed a little into “Mary Wore Her Red Dress”.

BOOK:

New Red Bike! by James E. Ransome

VIDEO:

“Duck on a Bike” from The Story About Ping …and Other Fine Feather Friends. Based on the book by David Shannon

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka
Book: My Bike by Byron Barton
Book: Off We Go! A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand
Book: Froggy Rides a Bike by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Book: Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best, pictures by Christine Davenier (more suited to school-aged kids)
Book: A Big Boy Now by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Megan Lloyd
Book: Ben Rides On by Matt Davies (better for school-aged kids)

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Storytime Katie – Bikes!
The Best Kids Book Site – Bike Craft Idea
Sturgis Kids – Bicycle Storytime
Susan M. Dailey – Bicycles
Library Village – Preschool Story Time – Bikes

HOW IT WENT:

Bikes was a fun theme. I had tried a similar flannelboard asking kids to come up and put things on the board with toddlers, but it felt like it went much more smoothly with the preschoolers.

ATTENDANCE: 29 (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

Outer Space – eStorytime

Posted on July 21, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I’ve been a little slow in blogging about my estorytimes this summer. So here’s the one I presented on July 8th. I’m considering it a posting success since I’m getting it done before the end of the month!

Opening Slide on Keynote:

SONG:

Welcome Song

APP:

Lazoo: Squiggles! (iOS, free)
(This may now be available as part of the Lazoo Art Box, iOS, $1.99)

Each child got a chance to draw a squiggle behind a rocket to help blast off into space! (Ok, well, to blast us off into a storytime about space, anyway.)

eBook/APP:

Monster’s Socks (iOS, Android; $1.99)
created by Jordan Stone and Martin Hughes, music by Bob Schneider

Monster’s Socks have run away and he sets out on an epic quest to find them, that leads him through fields, over water, and into space.

This is an interesting app, because instead of page turns, you walk Monster through his adventure. Whenever Monster comes across a yellow circle, the text of the story appears. It’s a fun and engaging tale, and since my group was a little older this time it seemed to work pretty well (it’s a bit long).

MOVEMENT:
Rocket

I’m a rocket on the ground (crouch down on ground).
Waiting quietly without a sound (say softly and put finger to lips)
Light this fuse on my little toe (wiggle little toe, or point finger at toe).
Ready for blastoff, here I go! (Put hands over head to form rocket point).
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 (Jump into air)
Whooosh!

(rhyme taken from SLC Book Boy)

PRINT BOOK:
Zoom, Rocket, Zoom! by Margaret Mayo, illustrated by Alex Ayliffe

APP:

Felt Board from Software Smoothie ($2.99; iOS)
I used Felt Board to recreate this rhyme taken from Mel’s Desk via Falling Flannelboards

If You’re Going to the Moon
(to tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you’re going to the moon, wear your spacesuit (ziiiiip)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your spacesuit (ziiiiip)
If you’re going to the moon and you want to get there soon
If you’re going to the moon, wear your spacesuit (ziiiiip)

Other Verses:

…wear your boots (stomp, stomp)

…wear your helmet (pat head, pat head)

…wear your gloves (clap, clap)
…are you ready and dressed? (say, “Oh yes!”)

I was so excited that Felt Board had all the pieces I needed to turn this rhyme into a digital flannelboard story! I started with just the woman on the space background, then added the different pieces of clothing as we got to those. Ok, sure the spacesuit had gloves and boots connected to it, but we jazzed things up a bit using a different color. Fun!

Song/Movement:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

APP:

Sweet Dreams Mo from StoryToys (iOS; $2.99)

Mo can’t sleep without his friends! So he voyages into space to bring them home.

A charming bedtime story app, this one was fun because each of the kids in the audience got to take a turn tapping at the different plants where Mo’s friend’s are hiding. I thought this one might take too long when I tried it on my own, but it seemed to work really well with the group.

MOVEMENT: “Storytime’s Over”*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

APP: Sago Mini Space Explorer (iOS, Android, Kindle; $2.99)
APP: Twinkle Twinkle from SuperSimple Learning (iOS, $2.99)

THOUGHTS ON THIS eSTORYTIME:
This was my largest eStorytime yet! I had a summer school group come in. At first I was worried that not everyone would get to touch and tap along with the stories, but it worked out really well. I was also glad that the group was a bit older, since both the book apps I chose to use were on the longer side.

I did learn an important lesson — make sure your iPad (or other tablet device) has enough space on it to run the apps properly. Since I’ve been working on eStorytimes for a while I’ve collected quite a few apps, and they are taking up precious memory on my device. I think that’s why my iPad froze TWICE! during this storytime. The first time we sang the “If You’re iPad’s disconnected song”. The next time was during our last story, and it didn’t look like things were going to unfreeze early enough to make it worthwhile. Lesson learned. Time to delete! Also future self: buy more memory than you think you need!

One of the best parts of this storytime was afterward, I had a parent there who asked me about the apps I used. She said that she was a teacher and that she really liked what I had done with those, and wanted to try something similar with her students. It made me feel like a real media mentor, and in the best way — but do no explicit teaching, but just by showing an example of what this technology can be.

ATTENDANCE: 18 people (children and adults)

*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

Special thanks to Digital Storytime for their app reviews by subject, that make putting together a themed eStorytime much easier.

Don’t & Never: Things You Shouldn’t Do – Preschool Storytime

Posted on July 20, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I was looking through our new books, and realized that it seemed like there were a lot of ones coming out about things that shouldn’t happen or you should never do. I decided to use this as inspiration and came up with a new theme that I was pretty excited about, and presented this storytime last week.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

BOOK:

When Your Elephant Comes to Play by Ale Barba

SONG/MOVEMENT: “Can’t Sit Still” by The Brian Waite Band from Can’t Sit Still

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

FLANNELBOARD:
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing

based on the book writte by Judi Barrett and drawn by Ron Barrett. Flannelboard inspired by Dana’s Hats Off to You Storytime on jbrary

I didn’t have time to make all the animals featured in the book, so I’m missing the pig and the sheep.

BOOK:

Don’t Copy Me! by Jonathan Allen

VIDEO:

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!” from Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!… and more stories by Mo Willems

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book:Don’t Squish the Sasquatch by Kent Redeker, illustrated by Bob Staake
Book (or DVD): Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Book: That is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
Book: Don’t Wake Up Mama! (also called Five Little Monkeys Bake a Cake) by Eileen Christelow
Book: Don’t Take Your Snake for a Stroll by Karin Ireland, illustrated by David Catrow
Book: Don’t by Litsa Trochatos, illustrated by Virginia Johnson (this one is a board book, but I think it’s large enough that it would work in a storytime)
Book: Buddy and the Bunnies in: Don’t Play with Your Food by Bob Shea
Book: Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks, illustrated by Sue Hendra
Book: Never Ask a Dinosaur to Dinner by Gareth Edwwards & Guy Parker-Rees
Book: Don’t Laugh, Joe! by Keiko Kasza
Book: Don’t Slam the Door! by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

HOW IT WENT:

This was a fun theme for a storytime, and I like that there are enough books to repeat the theme without using the same titles.

ATTENDANCE: 46 (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

Let’s Dance – Storybox

Posted on July 6, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

My library system has one central location and 9 branches. To make storytime programming easier for all involved, we use storyboxes. These are “storytimes in a box”. They contain everything a storyteller would need for a successful storytime including books, videos, fingerplays and crafts. Ideally, there should be enough variety that the box can be used for infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and lower elementary ages. The boxes are routed from branch to branch so that each week a branch has a different storytime ready to go. You don’t have to use the storyboxes, but they are there as an option when you need them.

Let’s Dance!

BOOKS:

Dancing in My Bones by Sylvia Andrews, illustrated by Ellen Mueller
How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by Randy Cecil
Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth, illustrated by Jane Porter

Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton, pictures by Guy Parker-Rees
Brontorina by James Howe, illustrated by Randy Cecil
Wiggle by Doreen Cronin, art by Scott Menchin

Giant Dance Party by Bird
Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig and Marc Brown
Sailor Boy Jig by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Dan Andreasen
Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Brandon Dorman

Dance with Me by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Let’s Dance Grandma! written and illustrated by Nigel McMullen
Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt, pictures by Emilie Chollat

Rupert Can Dance by Jules Feiffer
Catty Jane Who Loved to Dance by Valeri Gorbachev
Bea at Ballet by Rachel Isadora

Barn Dance! by Pat Hutchins
Deer Dancer by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont, pictures by Jennifer Plecas

Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles – Think of That! by Leo & Diane Dillon
Hilda Must Be Dancing! by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Suzanne Watts
I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison

How Can You Dance? by Rick Walton and Ana López-Escrivá
My Friend Maya Loves to Dance by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by Eric Valasquez
Zombelina by Kristyn Crow, illustrated by Molly Idle

FLANNELBOARDS:

5 Ballet Dancers

(I know there are 6 dancers in the picture – I made one extra in case.) I had made me a version of this flannelboard and it was colored in pellon. I didn’t want to put my originals in the storybox in case they got lost or some pieces went missing, so I color photo-copied the pieces, cut them out, laminated them, and then put felt on the back. I was suprised at how well it worked!)

Five ballet dancers
Prancing on their toes
They twirl and spin and jump
Then off the stage one goes.

4 ballet dancers…
3 ballet dancers…
2 ballet dancers…

One ballet dancer
Prancing on his/her toes
S/He twirls and spins and jumps
Then off the stage s/he goes.

No more dancers! The performance is over.
And what do we do at the end of a performance?
We applaud! (clap)

(taken from Storytimes Online http://youthliterature.com/storytimes/artslit/dancing.pdf)

(Loyal readers may recognize this set from some I had made earlier. I have my own personal version of this flannelboard that I made out of pellon and colored with crayon. I didn’t want to put my originals in the storybox in case they got lost or some pieces went missing, so I color photo-copied the pieces, cut them out, laminated them, and then put felt on the back. I was surprised at how well it worked!)

Wee Red Shoes: Dance Edition

Once there were some wee red shoes. They lived in a shoe shop. They lived there a long time. “This is no fun,” said one wee red shoe. “I want to dance,” said the other wee red shoes. So they danced out of the shoe shop. They danced down the street: tippy-tap, tippy-tap, tippy-tap.

They saw a hen. “Stop!” called Hen. “I want to wear you.” She jumped into the wee red shoes. “Now scratch!” said Hen. “We cannot scratch,” said wee red shoes. “Then I cannot wear you,” said Hen. “Dance away!” The wee red shoes danced along. They danced and danced – tippy-tap, tippy-tap, tippy-tap.

They saw a duck. “Stop!” called Duck. “I want to wear you.” She jumped into the wee red shoes. “Now swim!” said Duck. “We cannot swim,” said wee red shoes. “Then I cannot wear you,” said Hen. “Dance away!” The wee red shoes danced along. They danced and danced – tippy-tap, tippy-tap, tippy-tap.

They saw a dog. “Stop!” called Dog. “I want to wear you.” He jumped into the wee red shoes. “Now run!” said dog. “We cannot run,” said wee red shoes. “And, anyway, you need four shoes. There are only two of us!” “Then I cannot wear you,” said Dog. “Dance away!” The wee red shoes danced along. They danced and danced – tippy-tap, tippy-tap, tippy-tap.

They saw a young girl. She was barefoot. She was crying. The little red shoes jumped on the girl’s feet. She looked down and saw the shoes. She stopped crying.

“Will you wear us?” asked the wee red shoes. “We will dance for you.”

“Will you dance in class?” asked the girl. “I have a lot to learn.”

“Yes!” answered the wee red shoes. “We will dance and help you learn every day.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you!” said the girl. “Now I can take dance lessons!”

The wee red shoes were happy. The young girl was happy. And away they went to dance class – tippy-tap, tippy-tap, tippy-tap.

(adapted from: Anderson, Paul S. Story Telling with the Flannel Board: Book One. Art work by Miss Irene Francis. T.S. Denison & Co: Minneapolis, Minn. 1962. Pg 67-69.)

MOVEMENT, SONGS, AND FINGERPLAYS:

Tommy Thumbs
Tommy thumbs are up, (thumbs up)
Tommy thumbs are down. (thumbs down)
Tommy thumbs are dancing, (move thumbs up and down)
All around the town.
Dance them on your shoulders, (tap thumbs on shoulders)
Dance them on your head, (tap thumbs on head)
Dance them on your knees, (tap thumbs on knee)
And tuck them into bed. (tuck thumbs under opposite arms)

Put your two arms up,
And put your two arms down.
Make your two arms do
A dance around the town.
Straighten them in front,
And straighten them in back,
Bend them to the sides,
And now you lay them flat.

(from: Northport-East Northport Public Library: http://www.nenpl.org/childrens/bibliographies/titles/rhymes.php)

Penny Thumbkin
Penny Thumbkin upstairs, (move thumbs upward)
Penny Thumbkin down, (move thumbs below shoulders)
Penny Thumbkin dancing (dance thumbs)
All around the town.

Dancing on my shoulders (dance thumbs on shoulders)
Dancing on my head (dance thumbs on head)
Dancing on my knees now (dance thumbs on knees)
Tuck them into bead (tuck thumbs under arms)

Other verses:
Pointer finger, tall finger, ring finger, pinky finger, Family (all fingers)

(From Briggs, Diane. Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love. Illustrated by Thomas Briggs. American Library Association: Chicago. 2007.)

Dancing Sheep
Shhh! It’s time to go to sleep
(put finger to mouth, pretend to sleep)
But into my bedroom one sheep creeps.
(creep fingers)

“Don’t go to bed,” the one sheep said.
“I would rather dance instead!”

Soon he was… (draw these words out)
Dancing on the ceiling!
(move hands above head in “dancing” motion)
He was dancing on the floor!
(move hands on floor as mentioned above)
He was dancing on the window!
(move hands to one side)
He was dancing on the door!
(move hands to other side)

He kept on…

Dancing on the ceiling!
(sing faster)
He was dancing on the floor!
He was dancing on the window!
He was dancing on the door!
(repeat several times getting faster each time through)

“Stop that dancing, silly sheep.
It is time to go to sleep!”

Soon the sheep lay on the floor.
Soon the sheep began to snore.

So I started … (draw these words out)
Dancing on the ceiling!
I was dancing on the floor!
I was dancing on the window!
I was dancing on the door!

(from: Dailey, Susan M. http://www.susanmdailey.com/fingerplays.html You can hear the song at this website: http://www.susanmdailey.com/Dancing_Sheep.mp3 )

Busy Fingers
This is the way my fingers stand,
Fingers stand, fingers stand,
This is the way my fingers stand
So early in the morning.
This is the way they dance about,
Dance about, dance about
This is the way they dance about
So early in the morning.
This is the way I fold my hands,
Fold my hands, fold my hands
This is the way I fold my hands,
So early in the morning.
This is the way they go to sleep,
Go to sleep, go to sleep
This is the way they go to sleep
So early in the morning.

(from: Canton Public Library. https://www.cantonpl.org/youth/parents/poems/fingerplays/s-z )

Dance Thumbkin Dance
Dance, thumbkin, dance!
(hold thumb upward in a closed right fist)
Dance, thumbkin, dance!
Thumbkin cannot dance alone,
So dance, my merry men, every one,
(Hold up left hand fingers in motion)
And dance, thumbkin, dance!
(Thumb joins in movement)

Dance, foreman, dance!
(Close right hand,
point pointer finger upward,
hand still remain in position)

Dance, foreman, dance!
Foreman cannot dance alone,
So dance, my merry men, ev’ry one,
(Hold up left hand fingers in motion)

Dance, Pointer, dance…
Dance, Middleman, dance…
Dance, Ringman, dance….
Dance, Littleman, dance….
(taken from Storytimes Online http://youthliterature.com/storytimes/artslit/dancing.pdf)

Dance Your Fingers Up
Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers to the side, dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on you head
Dance them on your tummy, and put them all to bed

(taken from Storytime Katie: http://storytimekatie.com/songs-rhymes/master-list/ )

The Hokey Pokey
Put your right hand in, put your right hand out
Put your right hand in, and you shake it all about
You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about.
Put your left hand in…
Put your right foot in…
Put your left foot in…
Put your head in…
Put your whole self in…

Who Wants to Dance?
Who wants to dance? Who wants to dance?
Let me show you how to get, get, get down.
Who wants to dance? Who wants to dance?
Let me show you how to get, get, get down.

Everybody wash the windows…
Everybody drive the car…
Everybody do the swim…
Everybody climb the rope…

(from Songs for Teaching. http://www.songsforteaching.com/specialeducation/dancetherapy/whowantstodance.htm )

Dancing Bears
In the forest, when the moon is bright,
(whump, whump, whump)
All the bears go dancing in the light,
(thump, thump, thump)
‘Round a circle they do go,
Bear-y stiff and bear-y slow,
Singing with a bearish sort of sound,
(grump, (grump, grump, grump)

In the field between the ‘tato rows,
(hush, hush, hush)
All the mice are dancing on their toes
(shush, shush, shush)
If the cat should change to roam,
They would all go running home
down their holes they’d scampler in a flash,
(mush, mush, mush).

(from: Storytimes Online http://youthliterature.com/storytimes/artist/dancing.pdf)

Boogie-Woogie Washer Woman
Way down the road (shade hand over eyes, look into distance)
Where nobody goes (shake finger “no”)
There’s a boogie-woogie washer woman washing her clothes (boogie side to side)
Scrub, scrub, here (scrub invisible clothing on one knee)
Scrub, scrub, there (scrub on other knee)
Scrub those stains right out of there (move thumb to side “outta there”)
She goes: scrub, scrub (scrub on one knee, then other, step forward each time)
A-boogie, a-woogie (do the boogie, taking two steps backward)
Scrub, scrub and a-boogie some more (repeat action of above line)
She goes: scrub, scrub, a-boogie, a-woogie (repeat action)
Just a boogie-woogie washer woman washing her clothes (boogie, turn in a circle)
Yeah! (jazz hands)

(from http://dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/songbook/songs3/S3_8.htm )

Leaves in the Wind
(to tune of “Ring Around the Rosy”)

Dance and twirl together
Like leaves in windy weather
Twirling, swirling
We all Fall down!

From Briggs, Diane. Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love. Illustrated by Thomas Briggs. American Library Association: Chicago. 2007.

Here We Go Looby Loo
(Join hands and go around in a circle; suit actions to words)

Here we go looby loo,
Here we go looby light,
Here we go looby loo,
All on a Saturday night.
You put your right hand in
You put your right hand out
You give your hand a shake, shake shake
And turn yourself about.

Repeat with : left hand, right foot, left foot, whole self

From: Briggs, Diane. Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love. Illustrated by Thomas Briggs. American Library Association: Chicago. 2007.

Dance, Children, Dance! A Rhyme from Germany
Dance, children, dance about! (dance)
Let your shoes in and out (kick feet)
If one should break than we don’t care (wrench fists apart to show breaking shoe)
The cobbler will make you another pair (mime hammering on shoe)
So dance, children, dance. (dance)

Now dance fast (repeat rhyme at a fast pace)…

Now dance slowly (repeat rhyme at a slow pace)…

From: MacMillan, Kathy and Christine Kirker. Multicultural Storytime Magic. American Library Association: Chicago. 2012.

LET’S DANCE MUSIC TRACKS:
Because this was a dancing themed storytime, it felt like I needed to include some fun music to get up and groove to. Here’s the tracks I included in the storybox on a cd.

Track 1: “Don’t Make Me Dance” by Tom Chapin from Some Assembly Required

Track 2: “Hands are for Clapping” by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Sings The Sneezing Song and Other Contageous Tunes

Track 3: “Silly Dance Contest” by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Sings The Sneezing Song and Other Contageous Tunes

Track 4: “Spaghetti Legs” by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Sings The Sneezing Song and Other Contageous Tunes

Track 5: “List of Dances” by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Makes it Noisy in Boise, Idaho

Track 6: “Let’s Dance Now” by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Makes it Noisy in Boise, Idaho”

Track 7: “I Changed My Mind” by Jim Gill from Jim Gill Presents Music Play for Folks of All Stripes

Track 8: “If Animals Could Dance” by The Learning Station from La Di Da, La Di Di, Dance with Me

Track 9: “Jump Up, Bend Down” The Learning Station from La Di Da, La Di Di, Dance with Me

Track 10: “Here We Go Looby Loo” by Wee Sing from The Best of Wee Sing

Track 11: “The Chicken Dance”

Track 12: “Shake Your Sillies Out” by Raffi from More Singable Songs

CRAFTS:

Dancing Giraffe

Materials Needed:

Dancing Giraffe Coloring Pages
Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
Scissors
Brads

Directions:

Have children color in the giraffe any way they like. Cut out the pieces, and then assemble the giraffe using brads. Ask the children if they can make the giraffe dance by moving the different body parts.

If you want this craft to go faster, you may want to cut out the giraffe pieces beforehand.

(taken from: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/giraffescantdance.htm and http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/_files/dancinggiraffe.pdf )

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment
Who taught these raisins to dance, anyway? Go on – gather up some raisins, turn up the music, and get ready for a raisin romp.

Materials Needed:

Clear drinking glasses
Raisins
Clear carbonated beverages (7Up, Tonic Water, etc.)

Additional Materials:

Macaroni
Spaghetti
Lentils
Craisins
Corn
Dried Blueberries

Experiment:

Fill the glass with soda.
Drop 10-15 raisins into the soda.
Focus all of your attention on those raisins. Are they moving? Yes! They’re floating, they’re bobbing up and down, they’re dancing!

Dancing Raisins Variation:

Set up your drinking glasses with different types of soda.
See which type of soda makes the best dancing raisins.
Try using all of the same type of soda but different kinds of “dancers.”
Throw in macaroni, noodles, lentils, craisins, even corn!
Which combination of soda and dancers “performs” the best show?
Keep experimenting until you find the best combination

For more explanation of why/how this works visit the sources I used.

(Idea taken from: Steve Spangler Science http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/dancing-raisins-the-bubble-lifter and Juggling with Kids http://www.jugglingwithkids.com/2011/08/dancing-raisins.html )

Dance Wands

Materials needed:

Popsicle Sticks
Crepe Paper
Glue or Glue Sticks

Directions:

To prep the craft: Have crepe paper cut.

Have children glue the crepe paper streamers (about 2 or 3 strands) to the popsicle stick.

Then dance and move and see those streamers go.

Idea taken from PreK Read and Play: https://prekreadplay.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/storytime-share-gross-motor-movement-and-coordination-1/

Dancing Finger Puppets

Materials Needed:

Finger puppet template
Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
Scissors

Directions:

Have children color in the puppet or puppets of their choice.

Cut the puppet from the page, and then cut the two circles on the bottom out as well from each puppet.

Have the children put their fingers through the holes at the bottom of each puppet and make their puppet dance!

If you would like to make this craft faster, do the cutting ahead of time.

Taken from: http://www.wikipekes.com/titeres-de-dedo-recortables.html

Bell Bracelets

Materials needed:

– Chenille Stems or Pipe Cleaners

– Jingle Bells (about 3 per bracelet)

– Scissors

Have children thread 3 jingle bells through the pipe cleaner. Wrap the ends around each other to make the correct size bracelet for each child.

If the pipe cleaner is really long, use the scissors to cut to size.

If you are worried about the sharp ends of the pipe cleaner, before beginning the bracelet fold the ends (just 1/4 of an inch or so) onto itself. This will create a tip that is not quite so sharp.

Idea taken from: My Nearest and Dearest http://mynearestanddearest.com/jingle-bell-bracelets/

Bugs Dancing Coloring Page

Materials Needed:

Coloring pages
Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers

Directions:
Have the children color in their sheets any way they like.

Extend the Learning:
Let the kids know that honeybees acutally dance to communicate! They use something called a “waggle dance”, a “shake” dance, and a “tremble” dance.

For more information on the bee dance visit: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/hivecomm.html

Coloring page adapted from:
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/bees-dance-coloring-page/

Boats – eStorytime

Posted on June 21, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

Summer eStorytime came a lot faster than I anticipated! (Doesn’t everything in the summer-library-world come faster than anticipated?), so I decided to stick with a theme I had done, and just make it digital. This was my eStorytime from 6/10/2016.

Opening Slide on Keynote:

SONG:

Come Along and Sing with Me

APP:
app-Build and play 3d2

Build and Play 3D from Croco Studios ( iOS, Samsung, Android)

To start things off we began by building a toy boat! I had the kids try to put the different pieces of the boat together.

eBook/APP:

A Shark Knocked on My Door from Mighty Yeti ($2.99 iOS, Android, Kindle)

On a rainy day, a boy and his grandma build a boat to sail down the streams on the street, only to have it fall down the gutter. Imagine their surprise when a shark knocks on the door to return it!

This story felt a little long for the group I had, so I shorted it by just reading until the Shark says he has to leave for pizza dinner, and didn’t share the undersea adventures portion. It worked just fine that way.

MOVEMENT:
My Little Sailboat

PRINT BOOK:

Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham

APP:

Boats from Sago Mini ( $2.99: iOS, Android, Kindle)

Sago Mini’s Boats is, just like all Sago Mini apps, wonderful. In this one, you help Harvey the dog choose his boat, and then float along to visit his friends at different islands. Once we reached the island, I had kids help with whichever activity we found there

APP:

Felt Board from Software Smoothie ($2.99; iOS)
I used Felt Board to recreate the rhyme “5 Sailboats” taken from Felt Board Ideas

Five Little Boats
5 little boats went out one day
Over the waves and far away
With the wind they began to rock
And one little boat returned to the dock.

4 little boats….

I started with the five pirate ships (those were the only boats I could find on the app) on the mostly blue background. (They also have a lovely shoreline one, but that was harder to fit all five ships on.) Each time a boat returned to the dock, I just deleted it from the board.

eBook/APP:

Boats by Byron Barton from Oceanhouse Media ($1.99; iOS)

A classic transportation book comes to life as an app. My group for this storytime skewed younger, so this app seemed like a good fit.

MOVEMENT:

These were two takes on the same melody. It was fun!

APP:

Fiete by Ahoiii ($2.99 iOS, Android)

Fiete is a sailor. Kids choose different icons on the screen, and then help Fiete with some simple tasks. I had each child take a turn choosing one of the icons, and then completing the associated activity. Again, this app is a good one for younger children.

MOVEMENT: “Storytime’s Over”*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

APP: Finn’s Paper Hat by Tizio BV ($2.99, iOS)
APP: How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon from Oceanhouse Media ($3.99, iOS)

THOUGHTS ON THIS eSTORYTIME:
Like all my eStorytimes, this one was small, but it was still bigger than some of the ones I’ve had in the past. And, since I want the kids to interact with my iPad, it’s probably better that it doesn’t get too big. I think the kids and parents had a good time, and one of the parents asked about the different apps we used, which i I think is always a good sign.

ATTENDANCE: 6 people (children and adults)

*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

Special thanks to Digital Storytime for their wonderful app reviews by subject, that make putting together a themed eStorytime much easier.

Jen in the Library

Storytimes, Programs and Library Thoughts

Tag Archives: preschool

Waiting – Preschool Storytime

Construction and Tools – Storybox

Rain – Preschool Storytime

Foxes – Preschool Storytime

Construction – eStorytime

Bikes – Preschool Storytime

Outer Space – eStorytime

Don’t & Never: Things You Shouldn’t Do – Preschool Storytime

Let’s Dance – Storybox

Boats – eStorytime