Clouds – Preschool Storytime

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky on Saturday, but that didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time at our cloud-themed storytime.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: Grandma’s Spectacles*

BOOK:

It Looked Like Spilt Milk
 by Charles G. Shaw


FLANNELBOARD:
“C-L-O-U-D-Y”
C-L-O-U-D-Y Flannelboard 1 logo cropped C-L-O-U-D-Y Flannelboard2 logo cropped
idea taken from PreSchool Express

(to the tune of “BINGO”)
Today the clouds are in the sky
and cloudy is the weather
C-L-O-U-D-Y
C-L-O-U-D-Y
C-L-O-U-D-Y
and cloudy is the weather

(turn over one of the clouds so the letter is no longer showing)
Today the clouds are in the sky
and cloudy is the weather
clap-L-O-U-D-Y
clap-L-O-U-D-Y
clap-L-O-U-D-Y
and cloudy is the weather.

Continue until all clouds are turned over and you are clapping six times in a row.

This rhyme is slightly more awkward than a regular BINGO adaptation since there are 6 letters instead of 5.  I just sped up a bit for the O-U part and that worked ok.  Just remember the correct rhythm so you can clap to it as well.  I messed that up a bit.

MOVEMENT: I’m a Little Cloud
Rhyme by Jean Warren, taken from Preschool Express

(to the tune of: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little cloud, in the sky (have fingertips meet in circle above head)
You can find me way up high (stretch arms up high and stand on tippy toes)
Sometimes I’m puffy (put hands on hips to make you “puffy”)
sometimes stretched out. (hands out at your sides)
I just love to float about. (move side to side with hands still stretched out)

 

BOOK:

The Police Cloud
 by Christoph Niemann

FLANNELBOARD:
“5 Little Clouds”
5 Little Clouds Flannelboard logo cropped
Idea adapted from Mrs. Andre’s Library

5 little clouds up in the sky
Drifting, floating way up high.
When a big gust of wind came blowing through
(everyone blows big, wave hands back and forth)
One disappeared from the sky so blue. (remove cloud from flannelboard)

Continue counting down until 0 clouds are left.

VIDEO:

“Little Black Rain Cloud” from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

 
BOOK: Once Upon a Cloud written by Rob D. Walker, illustrated by Matt Mahurin (This one wonders what exactly a cloud is, so it might be fun to pair with a nonfiction title that explains the science of clouds after.)
BOOK: Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
BOOK: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
BOOK: Thirsty Thursday by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Craig (This would also make a cute flannelboard.
FLANNELBOARD: Try It Looked Like Spilt Milk the way that Busy Crafting Mama suggests: Using flannelboard/puzzle pieces and the book.

FLANNELBOARD: “Five Little Clouds” Version 2
5 Little Clouds Flannelboard2 logo cropped
taken from Abby the Librarian

5 little clouds, so white and plain
The first one said, “I want to make it rain!”
The second one said, “Where are we?”
The third one said, “In the sky, don’t you see?”
The fourth one said, “Let’s go, go, go!”
The fifth one said, “Look out below!”
The out came the stars, and out came the moon
And the clouds rolled away, but they’ll be back soon.

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
It was fun, but a loud storytime!  I actually had to stop in the middle of reading It Looked Liked Spilt Milk because the kids were getting to loud!  I love it when they join in and interact with me, but just screams.  They quieted down a bit after that, but you’ll notice I threw Grandma’s Spectacles in there at the beginning because after the movements they were a bit rambunctious.

ATTENDANCE: 36 (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

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

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