Bunnies and Chicks

TODDLER PROGRAM

OPENING SONG: Mister Sun

OPENING RHYMES:

Introduce Theme: Bunnies and Chicks
I brought out bunny and chick stuffed animals, and then we learned the signs for “bunny” and “chick.”

ASL – Rabbit/Bunny

ASL – Chicken

BOOK 1: Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes
Little White Rabbit wonders what it would be like to be green, or to be as tall as the fir trees, or to be a rock. After a long day of daydreaming, he ends up at home with his family who loves him.

I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a good read aloud, but it was definitely a good choice…and one that I would use for storytime again! It offered great opportunities for interaction. I asked “What other things do you see that are green? (grass, grasshopper, turtle, etc.)” “What was it like for Little White Rabbit to be as tall as the trees?” “What was it like for him to be a rock? What did he do all day?”

FINGERPLAY: Here is a Bunny

Here’s a bunny with ears so funny,
(Make curved bunny ears with two fingers of one hand)
And here is his hole in the ground.
      (Put hand on hip and stick out elbow to make a “hole”)
When a noise he hears,
He pricks up his ears
      (Raise bunny-ear fingers straight and tall)
And jumps in his hole in the ground.
   (Jump bunny-ear fingers into “Hole”)

ACTION SONG: Freeze Dance by Music For Little People Choir
from the album Birthday Party Singalong

This song involves lots and lots of HOPPING, so it is perfect for a bunny storytime. I had everyone practice hopping like bunnies. And then we practiced hopping on one foot (and then the other.)

RHYME: Unhatched Egg
I love this lead-in to the next story….although, one clever child in my group said “crack!” when I asked what an egg says.

What does a rooster say?
     (Cock-a-doodle doo)
What does a hen say?
      (Cluck)
What does a chick say?
      (Peep)
What does an egg say?
(Silence)
Good! And now you’re ready to listen to the next story!

Adapted from thebestkidsbooksite.com

Book 2: Chick by Ed Vere
A very cute pop-up book. A little chick hatches from his egg, eats, sleeps, cuddles with Mama…and yes, even poops. All of the children in storytime had very good manners and did not laugh out loud when the chick pooped. But I set the book out afterwards and all of the children read it on their own and giggled.