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Rain – Toddler Storytime

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Today was all about rainy day toddler tales.

SONG: Welcome Song

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

LETTER FLANNELBOARD:
R is for Rain 

Today we reviewed the sound the letter R makes, drew it with our fingers, and talked about a road runner, a rocket, a raccoon, a rabbit, and a raindrop!

To make a lot of the pieces for my letter flannels I’ve been using an Ellison die cutter.  But sometimes the thick felt makes it difficult to cut, so my R ended up looking really wonky.  We didn’t have a lot of dies of things starting with R, so I added in some other flannel pieces I already had.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Rain”

BOOK:

The Rainy Day Puddle by Ei Nakabayashi

For the 10am storytime, I only read half of the book.  For 11am storytime I read the whole thing.

MOVEMENT: “Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel

COUNTING FLANNELBOARD:
Gray Rain Clouds

We counted 5 rain clouds.  Then we tried to count the different ways  we could get to five, like 2 and 3, or 4 and 1.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count while I put these in a line.

Then we count the whatevers as they go up.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count as they go bye-bye

10 AM: MOVEMENT: I know I did a movement here for this group, but since I changed my storytime on the fly, I forgot to write down what I did, and now I can’t recall.

11 AM: FLANNELBOARD:
Color Umbrellas

Five umbrellas stood by the back door.
The red one went outside, and then there were four.

Four umbrellas pretty as can be
The blue one went outside, and then there were three.

Three umbrellas with nothing to do
The green one went outside, and then there were two.

Two umbrellas not having much fun
The yellow one went outside, and then there was one.

One umbrella sad and all alone.
Decided to go join his friends and that left none.

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

10 AM & 11 AM – MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

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

11 AM: BOOK:

Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt, pictures by Emilie Chollat

 

MOVEMENT: Two Little Blackbirds*

VIDEO:

“The Rainy Day Game” from Peppa Pig: Sun, Sea and Snow

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

 
  

Book: Rain by Manya Stojic
Book: Bunny Fun by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Sam Williams
Book: Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee
Book: Thirsty Thursday by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Craig (this would also make a good flannelboard)
Book: Raindrops Fall All Around by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Laura Watson
Book: Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison, illustrated by Pam Paparone
Book: Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Book: Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky
Book: The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book by Nancy Tafuri

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
storytime katie – Rainy Days!
yogibrarian – “Rain” Toddler Storytime 
State Library of Iowa – “Puddle Jumpers” Storytime Kit

Jen in the Library – Rain – Toddler Storytime (Feburary 3, 2014)
Jen in the Library – Rain – Toddler Storytime (December 2, 2014)

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
Lesson Learned from today’s storytime:  Storytime after a Daylights Saving time change is going to be difficult.  Kids don’t pay attention to time, so of course they would have a hard time adjusting!  I think the 10am group had a harder time of it because 11 am is usually naptime for so many of them.

So, I decided to change things up from my usual and do mostly songs and movements with the 10 am group, while I stuck to my more traditional storytime schedule for the 11 am group.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 7, 2017

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  31 people      11 am: 40 people

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

Rain – Infant Storytime

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Since we don’t get snow here, the colder months always makes me long for rain.  We may not have it in the weather, but we can have it in storytime!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock*

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Rain”

BOOK:

The Rainy Day Puddle by Ei Nakabayashi
I only read half of this one — up to where all the animals are in the puddle, and it says “Hooray for Rainy Day puddles!”

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

FLANNELBOARD:
Five Little Raindrops

Idea taken from Recipes for Reading 

Five little raindrops
(hold up five fingers)
Dancing on the walk
(move hand from side to side)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, that’s the way they talk.
(pat hands on legs to make a pitter patter noise)
Out comes the yellow sun, shining in the sky
(raise arms up like the sun, if using a flannel sun piece, hold this up)
And away goes one raindrop
(take away a raindrop)
Bye, bye, bye!
(wave goodbye)

BOUNCE: “Ladies Ride”

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake*

BOOK:

Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt, pictures by Emilie Chollat

TICKLE: These are Baby’s Fingers*

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Hickory Dickory Dock

Pattern taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

Hickory Dickory Dock
The mouse ran up the clock (tickle baby up one side)
The clock struck one (lift baby up in the air as you say, “Ding Dong!”)
The mouse ran down (tickle baby down other side)
Hickory Dickory Dock.

Repeat this as a bounce having clock strike two, three, etc, and have caregivers little their little ones in the air as many times as the clock strikes.

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*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Thirsty Thursday by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Craig

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
storytime katie – Rainy Days!
yogibrarian – “Rain” Toddler Storytime 
Mel’s Desk – Baby Storytime: Spring and Rain

Jen in the Library – Rain – Infant Storytime (Feburary 1, 2014)
Jen in the Library – Rain – Infant Storytime (December 2, 2014)

HOW IT WENT:
I’m a little late in putting this one up, so I don’t remember too much — which means it must have been ok.  I think Rainy Day Puddle worked well as a shorter story, and I like doing Hickory Dickory Dock as a Bounce.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 7, 2017

ATTENDANCE: 26 people (adults and children)

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

Rain – Preschool Storytime

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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-yoon
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
mushroom-in-the-rain-by-ginsburg
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.
mushroom-in-the-rain-1-jeninthelibrarymushroom-in-the-rain-2-jeninthelibrary

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-jeninthelibrarymushroom-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-jeninthelibrarymushroom-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-jeninthelibrarymushroom-in-the-rain-6-jeninthelibrary
The comes mouse, who gets underneath (or stuffed in) as well.
mouse-puppet-jeninthelibrarymushroom-in-the-rain-7-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-jeninthelibrarymushroom-in-the-rain-8-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-jeninthelibrarymushroom-in-the-rain-9-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-jeninthelibrarymushroom-in-the-rain-10-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-puppet-jeninthelibrary
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:
thingamabob-by-na
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:
 LittleBearRainyDayTalesDVD
“Puddle Jumper” from Little Bear: Rainy Day Tales

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
tap-tap-boom-boom-by-bluemle puddle-by-yum split-splat-by-gibson big-storm-by-tafuri raindrop-plop-by-lewison boom-by-ray

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

Rain – Toddler Storytime

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I know I did a rain storytime less than a year ago, but I feel like it happens so rarely here in Southern California that we need to celebrate the occassion with stor(m)ytimes when we can!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands, Clap Your Hands” from Tickles and Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na

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

MOVEMENT: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

COUNTING SONG:*
10 Rainclouds Flannelboard
10 Rainclouds

FLANNELBOARD:
5 Little Raindrops
five little raindrops flannelboard cropped with logo
(Rhyme found from Recipes for Reading)

Five little raindrops
(hold up five fingers)
Dancing on the walk
(move hand from side to side)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, that’s the way they talk.
(pat hands on legs to make a pitter patter noise)
Out comes the yellow sun, shining in the sky
(raise arms up like the sun, if using a flannel sun piece, hold this up)
And away goes one raindrop
(take away a raindrop, I kind of hid it behind the sun felt piece)
Bye, bye, bye!
(wave goodbye)

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

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

BOOK:

Bunny Fun by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Sam Williams

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

VIDEO:

“The Hippo Dance” and “Dancing in the Rain from Classical Baby: The Dance Show

MOVEMENT:  Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
   
 RainyDayPuddlebyNakabayashi 

Book: Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison, illustrated by Pam Paparone
Book: Here Comes the Rain by Mary Murphy
Book: Rain by Manya Stojic
Book: Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson, illustrated by Steve Björkman
Book: Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky
Book: The Rainy Day Puddle by Ei Nakabayashi
Video: “Spot’s Umbrella” from Where’s Spot? And Other Stories

HOW IT WENT:

This was a nice storytime.  Since I did the same theme a little while ago, I wanted to make sure that I read different books.  While I didn’t really do that with the infant storytime, I succeeded with Toddler.  I really liked The Thingamabob and would use that again with the group.  Bunny Fun was also a good read, and even though I used it second, the kids all still seemed well engaged.  I especially liked the new flannelboard rhyme — it was fun to do, and it sounded neat when all the kids patted on their laps to make the rain sound.

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  30 people      11 am: 34 people

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

Rain – Infant Storytime

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When it rains in Los Angeles, it must be celebrated!  Hence, today’s theme.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: In the toaster*

BOOK:
RainyDayPuddlebyNakabayashi
The Rainy Day Puddle by Ei Nakabayashi

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

FLANNELBOARD:
Color Umbrellas Flannelboard
Color Umbrellas 

Five umbrellas stood by the back door.
The red one went outside, and then there were four.

Four umbrellas pretty as can be
The blue one went outside, and then there were three.

Three umbrellas with nothing to do
The green one went outside, and then there were two.

Two umbrellas not having much fun
The yellow one went outside, and then there was one.

One umbrella sad and all alone.
Decided to go join his friends and that left none.

BOUNCE: “Ladies Ride” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Here Comes the Rain by Mary Murphy

TICKLE: Slowly, Slowly Very Slowly Goes the Garden Snail*

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Little Bo Peep Flannelboard 1 Little Bo Peep Flannelboard 2
(Template and Rhyme from Mother Goose’s Playhouse by Judy Sierra)

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
and doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone,
and they’ll come home.
Wagging their tails behind them.

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

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

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

HOW IT WENT:
It was a pretty good storytime.  For some reason, today I felt like I left something out of my storytime, as if I needed a song between the second movement and the tickle.  Maybe I need to consider that for next time around.  Here Comes the Rain was a cute book — I think it may work better with toddlers though.  Anyone have any other good recommendations for infant rain titles?

ATTENDANCE: 37 people

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

Rain – Toddler Storytime

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When I did this storytime on Tuesday, I was thinking it would be a call to the weather gods.  Then it rained on Thursday!  Do I need to be worried about what my next storytime will result in two days later?

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book by Nancy Tafuri

MOVEMENT: “Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

COUNTING SONG:*
10 Rainclouds Flannelboard
Rainclouds

FLANNELBOARD:
Color Umbrellas
Color Umbrellas Flannelboard

Five umbrellas stood by the back door.
The red one went outside, and then there were four.

Four umbrellas pretty as can be
The blue one went outside, and then there were three.

Three umbrellas with nothing to do
The green one went outside, and then there were two.

Two umbrellas not having much fun
The yellow one went outside, and then there was one.

One umbrella sad and all alone.
Decided to go join his friends and that none.

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

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles (for 10 storytime only)

BOOK:
RainyDayPuddlebyNakabayashi
10 am: Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt
11 am: The Rainy Day Puddle by Ei Nakabayashi

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

VIDEO:
ClassicalBabyTheDanceShow
“The Hippo Dance” and “Dancin’ in the Rain” from Classical Baby: The Dance Show

MOVEMENT:  Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS IDEAS:

Book:Rain by Manya Stojic
Book: Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky
Book: Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
Book: The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na
Book: Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson
Book: Rainy Day! by Patricia Lakin

DVD: “Max’s Rainy Day” from Springtime for Max & Ruby

HOW IT WENT:
The kids just wanted to get up and move at today’s 10 am storytime, which is why I added the “My Wiggles” movement, and used the shorter book Rain Dance.

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  51 people      11 am: 35 people

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

Rain – Infant Storytime

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So, I presented this storytime on Tuesday.  It rained here on Thursday.  Coincidence? You decide.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: Ride a Little Pony*

BOOK:
RainyDayPuddlebyNakabayashi
The Rainy Day Puddle by Ei Nakabayashi

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

FLANNELBOARD:
Color Umbrellas
Color Umbrellas Flannelboard

Five umbrellas stood by the back door.
The red one went outside, and then there were four.

Four umbrellas pretty as can be
The blue one went outside, and then there were three.

Three umbrellas with nothing to do
The green one went outside, and then there were two.

Two umbrellas not having much fun
The yellow one went outside, and then there was one.

One umbrella sad and all alone.
Decided to go join his friends and that none.

BOUNCE: “Ladies Ride” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt

FLANNELBOARD:
Hickory Dickory Dock
HickoryDickoryDockFlannelboard
Template and Rhyme from Mother Goose’s Playhouse by Judy Sierra

TICKLE: Round and Round the Garden*

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*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Rain by Manya Stojic

HOW IT WENT:
Good storytime, but I’m wondering if the pictures in The Rainy Day Puddle might be too small to make it a good storytime book.  But the parents laughed at it.

ATTENDANCE: 46 people

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