Tag Archives: spring

Hop Like a Bunny

20 Apr

TODDLER STORYTIME

OPENING SONG: Mister Sun
We practiced singing this song with sign language again this week.
You can print my handout, with instructions and pictures, here.

OPENING RHYMES:

SONG: If You’re Hoppy and You Know It
A bunny version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”  This can be found on the Fisher-Price Easter Sing-Along Album.

If you’re hoppy and you know it, hop around
If you’re hoppy and you know it, hop around
If you’re hoppy and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re hoppy and you know it, hop around.

…hop around
…shake your tail
…stomp your feet
…wiggle your nose

FINGERPLAY:  Here is a Nest
Here is a nest for robin (cup hands)
Here is a hive for a bee (close fists)
Here is a hole for a bunny (make circle with both hands)
And here is a house for me (make roof with hands)

BOOK 1: A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan
A boy wakes up one morning with a bunny on his head.  His mother is a bit perturbed, but the bunny explains that “you can do anything with a bunny on your head – books can be read, peanut butter and jelly can be spread….”  This is a silly book with short sentences, lots of repetition and adorable pictures.

FINGERPLAY: Here is a bunny
Here is a bunny (hold up two fingers slightly bent)
And here is his home in the ground (make circle with other hand)
When a noise he hears, he pricks up his ears (straighten fingers)
And he jumps to his home in the ground (two fingers dive into circle)

Book 2: Bunny Fun by Sarah Weeks
A bunny and his friend mouse find lots of mischievous ways to have “bunny fun,” when they are stuck inside on a rainy day.  Bright pictures and easy, rhyming text make this a great read-aloud.

SONG: Mister Rabbit from Caspar Babypants’ album This is Fun!
I used shaker eggs with this song.  Start out by just keeping time with the shakers, then add in more actions with each verse.

Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit (Start shaking shaker eggs)
Your coat is mighty gray
Yes my friend, I like it that way
Every little soul must shine
Every little soul must shine

Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit
Your tail is mighty white….. (shake tails)

Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit
Your ears are mighty fluffy….. (shake eggs next to ears)

Interlude: Shake eggs high over heads, shake eggs low on the ground, turn around in a circle

Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit
Your hopping legs are long….. (hop in place for the rest of the song while shaking shaker eggs)


ACTIVITY: Easter Egg Hunt!
I filled plastic easter eggs with goodies (bite size 3 Musketeers or Milky Ways and stickers….but you could use anything else that is not a choking hazard) and then we had an Easter egg hunt in the children’s room!  Eggs were hiding on shelves, next to books, under chairs etc. 


BOOK 3:   Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Is it a duck?  Or is it a rabbit?  …you decide!

CRAFT:  Duck! Rabbit!
After reading Duck! Rabbit! we made our own version to take home.
You can print my Duck-Rabbit template here.
You can print the Duck Rabbit saying here.

Credit: Preschool Storytime Crafts


ADDITIONAL RHYMES

Hop With Me
To the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
Hop, hop, hop along
Or bounce on someone’s knee
Higher and higher and higher and higher
Bunny-hop with me!

Repeat at least 3 times.

Let Me Here You
Let me here you peep like a chick
Let me see you hop like a bunny
Let me hear you cock-a-doodle-doo
Now be quiet as an egg, thank you.

Closing Rhyme
Baby bunny bounces high; (Older children jump; babies bounce on caregiver’s knee.)
Baby bunny bounces low; (Jump low)
Baby bunny blinks his eyes; (Blink eyes as you point to them)
Baby Bunny waves good-bye. (Wave good-bye)

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Ducks

12 Apr

TODDLER STORYTIME

Here’s an entire duck-themed storytime without any 6, 5 or 4 little duck rhymes or songs.  They are great favorites and I’ve included them in the “Additional Rhyme Section” at the end of this post, but I wanted something different for this storytime.  Get ready to move, sing, laugh and waddle!

OPENING SONG: Mister Sun
This week we learned to sing our opening song using sign language!
You can print my handout, with instructions and pictures, here.

OPENING RHYMES:

BOOK 1: Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

SONG: The Ducks on the Bus
Tune: The Wheels on the Bus

The ducks on the bus go quack quack quack!
Quack quack quack! Quack quack quack!
The ducks on the bus go quack quack quack!
All through the town!

The ducks on the bus go flap flap flap!….
The ducks on the bus go waddle waddle waddle!….
The ducks on the bus go Quack Quack Quack!….

FLANNEL SONG: Little White Duck – from Raffi’s Everything Grows album
You can print my clipart file here.

There’s a little white duck sitting in the water.
A little white duck doing what he oughter.
He took a bite of a lily pad,
Flapped his wings and he said “I’m glad,
I’m a little white duck sitting in the water.
Quack! quack! quack!”

There’s a little green frog swimming in the water.
A little green frog doing what he oughter.
He jumped right off of the lily pad,
That the little duck bit and he said “I’m glad,
I’m a little green frog swimming in the water.
Ribbit! ribbit! ribbit!”

There’s a little black bug floating on the water.
A little black bug doing what he oughter.
He tickled the frog on the lily pad,
That the little duck bit and he said “I’m glad,
I’m a little black bug floating on the water.
Bzzz! bzzz! bzzz!”

There’s a little red snake playing in the water.
A little red snake doing what he oughter.
He frightened the duck and the frog so bad.
He ate the bug and he said “I’m glad,
I’m a little red snake playing in the water.
Hiss! hiss! hiss!”

Now there’s nobody left sitting in the water.
Nobody left doing what he oughter.
There’s nothing left but the lily pad.
The duck and the frog ran away, I’m sad,
‘Cause there’s nobody left sitting in the water.
Boo! hoo! hoo!

“Let’s bring them all back now.  I need your help!  Let’s call the little white duck- everybody Quack!  …a little bit louder…here he comes!  Ok, let’s bring back the little green frog – everybody Ribbit! …a little bit louder…here he comes!  Let’s bring back the little black bug – everybody Buzzzzzz….a little bit louder…here he comes!  Now let’s bring the little red snake back….WAIT….I don’t want the snake to comes back!  He ate the bug and scared the duck and the frog!  Let’s just leave him alone.”

BOOK 2: Do You Have My Quack? by Keith Faulkner
“A book of animal sounds with pull-tabs and a pop-up surprise!”

SONG: Baby Duck from Carole Peterson’s CD:  Sticky Bubblegum and Other Tasty Tunes
Sing this 3 times, each time getting a little bit faster.

Oh wasn’t it a bit of luck
That I was born a baby duck
With yellow socks and yellow shoes (point to feet)
That I may go wherever I choose? (waddle)
Quack quack, quack quack, quack! (clap)
Quack quack, quack quack, quack!

CLOSING SONG: Goodbye

CRAFT:  Paper plate duck


This is a simplified version of the paper plate duck found on Danielle’s Place of Crafts and Ideas.

You will need:

  • Wing, bill and feet template from Danielle’s Place
  • Yellow paper plates (1 per child) I found mine at the dollar store
  • Orange and Yellow construction paper
  • Large googly eyes

To prepare in advance:

  • Print out template
  • From orange paper, cut beaks and legs (2 of each per child)
  • From yellow paper, cut wings (2 per child)

Instructions for children:

  1. Glue or tape legs to yellow paper plate (I used tape)
  2. Glue or tape the bill to the plate – one bill on the top and one on the bottom so that the duck’s mouth is open (see picture)
  3. Glue googly eyes to paper plate

ADDITIONAL BOOKS AND RHYMES

One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root

Do Like a Duck Does by Judy Hindley

I Had a Little Ducky
I had a little ducky,
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle,
He climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito,
He snapped at a flea,
He snapped at a minnow,
And he snapped at me!
He caught the mosquito,
He caught the flea,
He caught the minnow,
But he couldn’t catch me!

Five Little Ducks
5 little ducks went out one day (Flap arms and waddle)
Over the hills and far away, (Wave hand over the hill)
Mother duck said Quack! Quack! Quack! (Make quack movements with hands)
But only 4 little ducks came waddling back. (Flap arms and waddle)

Repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1…

No little ducks went out one day (Flap arms and waddle)
Over the hills and far away, (Wave hand over the hill)
Mother duck said Quack! Quack! Quack! (Make quack movements with hands)

“I think she needs to be a little bit louder – can you help mother duck?
QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK”

And all 5 little ducks came waddling back! (Flap arms and waddle)

All the Little Ducklings
All the little ducklings,
Line up in a row. (stand up)
Quack, quack, quack, (clap three times)
And away they go. (walk in place)

They follow their mother, (put hands behind back like a tail)
Waddling to and fro. (waddle)
Quack, quack, quack (clap three times)
And away they go.

Down to the big pond (make large circles with both arms)
Happy as can be. (smile)
Quack, quack, quack (clap three times)
They are full of glee.

They jump in the water (jump up and down)
And bob up and down,
Quack, quack, quack, (clap three times)
They all swim around.

All the little ducklings
Swimming far away (make swimming motions)
Quack, quack, quack (clap three times)
They’ll play another day.

Six Little Ducks
Six little ducks
That I once knew
Fat ones, skinny ones,
Fair ones, too
(Chorus) But the one little duck
With the feather on his back
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack,
Quack, quack, quack
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack.

Down to the river
They would go
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble,
To and fro
(Chorus) But the one little duck
With the feather on his back
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack
Quack, quack, quack,
Quack, quack, quack
He led the others
With a quack, quack, quack.

Back from the river
They would come
Wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble,
Ho, hum, hum
Chorus

Into the water they would dive
Over and under the other five.
Chorus

Home from the river they would go
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble,
Ho hum hum
Chorus

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Gardening (Preschool)

17 Nov

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME

It’s Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week!  This year the State Library of Kansas has chosen Up, Down and Around by Katherine Ayres as the selection for the 6th Annual Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week (held November 15-19, 2010.)  Libraries across the state will read Up, Down and Around and will hold programs focused on food, healthy eating, and where our food comes from.  Librarians from WPL visited local preschools to do storytimes based on this book; here’s what I came up with for my visit:


OPENING SONG: Can’t Wait to Celebrate

BOOK 1: Up, Down and Around by Katherine Ayres
This book talks about veggies that grow up (like corn), grow down (like carrots), and grow around (like green beans).  Have children point up, down and around while reading this book.  Or for a more active reading, have them jump up, crouch down and twirl around.

FINGERPLAY: Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree (reach arms up high)
Two little apples smiled at me (make two fists)
So I shook that tree as hard as I could (shake fists)
And DOWN came the apples. Mmmm they were good (bring fists to ground, rub tummy)

FINGERPLAY: Little Seed in the Ground
Little seed in the ground (crouch down on the floor)
Sitting so still (stay crouching)
Little seed, will you sprout?
Yes, I will! (jump up!)

BOOK 2: Carrot Soup by John Segal

SORTING GAME: Foods to eat sometimes vs. Foods to eat all the time
Print out pictures of healthy foods (I used carrots, strawberries, broccoli, apples, corn on the cob, milk and water) and not-so-healthy foods (I used cake, donuts, french fries, and soda).  Ask children to name the food and then ask if it’s a food to eat all the time, or just some of the time.  Put the pictures on opposite sides of the bulletin board as you work through them.  Kids are sure to choose the ‘unhealthy foods’ as ‘everyday foods’ so this is a good time to make a few jokes – “I know that everyone here would like to eat cupcakes everyday, but ….”


ACTION SONG: In My Garden
from Raffi’s CD ‘One Light One Sun’ (MP3 download here)

Children can act out digging dirt, hoeing weeds, planting seeds, picking peas, and then eating them!

RHYME/ACTIVITY: There’s something in my garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit - Ribbit - Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.  This is especially fun if you can find stuffed animals and hide them in a box.  Let children guess what animal you have in the box based on the sound, and then ask them to make the animal sound after revealing the stuffed animal.

ACTION RHYME: Jumping Beans
A good one for getting the wiggles out and also for practicing self-control.  Children should jump while counting, and STOP after “four” and again after ”eight.”
One, two, three, four. . . (jump four times)
Beans came jumping through my door. (stop)
Five, Six, Seven, Eight . . . (jump four times)
Jumping right on to my plate! (stop)

BOOK 3: I Spy in the Garden by Richard Powell
“I spy with my little eye something that begins with C.”  Then lift the flap to find a caterpillar….. and many more animals that you might find in a garden.   Ask children, “what sound does the letter ‘C’ make?” and then let them practice making the sound before lifting the flap.   Who doesn’t love a good game of “I spy”?

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Gardening (Toddler)

17 Nov

TODDLER STORYTIME

It’s Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week!  This year the State Library of Kansas has chosen Up, Down and Around by Katherine Ayres as the selection for the 6th Annual Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week (held November 15-19, 2010.)  Libraries across the state will read Up, Down and Around and will hold programs focused on food, healthy eating, and where our food comes from.  One lucky family attending storytime at Wamego Public Library will win a copy of this book!

OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together

FINGERPLAYS:

  • Apple Tree
    Way up high in the apple tree (reach arms up high)
    Two little apples smiled at me (make two fists)
    So I shook that tree as hard as I could (shake fists)
    And DOWN came the apples. Mmmm they were good (bring fists to ground, rub tummy)
  • Little Seed in the Ground
    Little seed in the ground (crouch down on the floor)
    Sitting so still (stay crouching)
    Little seed, will you sprout?
    Yes, I will! (jump up!)


BOOK 1: Up, Down and Around by Katherine Ayres
This book talks about veggies that grow up (like corn), grow down (like carrots), and grow around (like green beans).  Have children point up, down and around while reading this book.  Or for a more active reading, have them jump up, crouch down and twirl around.

SORTING GAME: Foods to eat sometimes vs. Foods to eat all the time
Print out pictures of healthy foods (I used carrots, strawberries, broccoli, apples, corn on the cob, milk and water) and not-so-healthy foods (I used cake, donuts, french fries, and soda).  Ask children to name the food and then ask if it’s a food to eat all the time, or just some of the time.  Put the pictures on opposite sides of the bulletin board as you work through them.  Kids are sure to choose the ‘unhealthy foods’ as ‘everyday foods’ so this is a good time to make a few jokes – “I know that everyone here would like to eat cupcakes everyday, but ….”

I found all of these food pictures by doing a google search.


ACTION SONG: In My Garden from Raffi’s CD ‘One Light One Sun’(MP3 download here)
Children can act out digging dirt, hoeing weeds, planting seeds, picking peas, and then eating them!

RHYME/ACTIVITY: There’s something in my garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound….
Ribbit - Ribbit - Ribbit
A Frog is what I found!
Ribbit-Ribbit-Ribbit

Repeat with other animals, such as a crow (caw-caw-caw), mouse (squeak-squeak-squeak), rabbit (thump-thump-thump), bird (tweet-tweet-tweet) etc.  This is especially fun if you can find stuffed animals and hide them in a box.  Let children guess what animal you have in the box based on the sound, and then ask them to make the animal sound after revealing the stuffed animal.


BOOK 2: I Spy in the Garden by Richard Powell
“I spy with my little eye something that begins with C.”  Then lift the flap to find a caterpillar….. and many more animals that you might find in a garden.   Ask children, “what sound does the letter ‘C’ make?” and then let them practice making the sound before lifting the flap.   Who doesn’t love a good game of “I spy”?

FINGERPLAY: 10 Plump Peas
10 plump peas in a peapod pressed (press two fists together)
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest (bring up one finger, two fingers, then all fingers)
They grew and grew an did not stop (slowly move hands apart)
Until one day the pod went POP! (clap hands!)

SONG: Carrots, Peas and Broccoli
Tune: Twinkle, twinkle little star
Carrots,peas and broccoli
Vegetables are good for me
For my snack and in my lunch
Veggie sticks are great to munch.
Carrots, peas and broccoli,
Vegetables are good for me.

CLOSING SONG: We Wave Goodbye Like This

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