TODDLER STORYTIME
It’s that time of year when we have lots of little flies buzzing around us and the fly swatters are permanently out – so what a better time to do a “fly” storytime? Shoo fly, shoo!
OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together
OPENING RHYMES:
BOOK 1: Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen
This has great pictures and simple text. It was a hit at storytime this week. The boys especially loved the hippo rolling in the mud!
ACTION SONG: Shoo Fly
This idea came from Mel’s Desk and it was a huge success! Check out the instructions for making these little guys from Mel’s Desk here (I added the eyes.) I made enough flies to hand out to everyone in storytime this week, and adults and kids loved it!
Shoo fly, don’t bother me
Shoo fly, don’t bother me
Shoo fly, don’t bother me
I belong to somebody!
At the end of the verse, put your fly somewhere on your body and say, “Uh oh! The fly landed on my knee! Can you make your fly land on your knee?” Sing the verse again “Shoo fly….” And then repeat with:
- Head
- Ankle
- Ear
- Nose
- Belly Button, etc.
RHYME: Two Little Shoo Flies
Another rhyme from Mel’s Desk.
Two little shoo flies sitting on the wall
One named Peter, one named Paul
Fly away Peter! Fly away Paul!
Come back Peter! Come back Paul!
FLANNEL SONG: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (G-rated Version)
The original words to this song say “I think she’ll die” at the end of each verse. I soften the song during storytime and say “I think she’ll cry.” Also, the last verse in the original says, “I know an old lady who swallowed a horse. She died of course.” I use “I know an old lady who swallowed a horse…She’s full of course!” during storytime. This flannel board came from Serving Pink Lemonade, where you can find a link to the original template. I added the color to the template, so that you can just print them and go:
There Was An Old Lady – Printable Animals
There Was An Old Lady – Printable Old Lady
‘There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don’t know why she swallowed the fly,
I think she’ll cry.
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,
that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don’t know why she swallowed the fly.
I think she’ll cry.
There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggle and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
I don’t know why she swallowed the fly
I think she’ll cry.
There was an old lady who swallowed a cat.
Imagine that, she swallowed a cat.
She swallowed the cat, to catch the bird.
She swallowed the bird, to catch the spider….
There was an old lady who swallowed a dog.
My what a hog, to swallow a dog.
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat….
There was an old woman who swallowed a goat,
Just opened her throat! to swallow a goat.
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog…..
There was an old lady who swallowed a cow.
I don’t know how she swallowed a cow.
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat…..
I know an old lady who swallowed a horse…
She’s full of course!
**If you’d rather read a book than sing this one, Simms Taback has a version with amazing illustrations. Be warned that this is the original version of the song with the old lady dying at the end!
ACTION SONG: Shoo Fly
From Carole Peterson’s album Dancing Feet
Another winner from Carole Peterson. Her version of “Shoo Fly” is a fun action song that will have kids up clapping hands, stomping feet, jumping up and down, twirling around, and sitting like a pretzel.
BOOK2: Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth
Humorous rhyming text and amusing illustrations make this an excellent choice for a read-aloud. It’s also easy to skip a few pages if your group is squirmy by the time you reach this book.
CLOSING SONG: We Wave Goodbye Like This
CRAFT: Instead of a craft, I sent everyone home with the chenille stick fly puppets and words to all of the songs.
