GROUNDHOGS DAY 2-2-2015

So, as I was working at my lovely library one day, I came across the book entitled "Grumpy Groundhog" by Maureen Wright. With a title like that I flew to my desk wondering what day Groundhogs Day fell on this year? Well lucky, lucky me...Monday's are my storytime day and this year it fell on a Monday.  Thus  I NEEDED to do a groundhog themed story time  including shadows, sleepy animals and children (and one who could not go to sleep)





Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Chengdu by Barney Saltzberg
Someone's Sleepy by Deborah Rose Lee




INTERACTIVE/EXTENSION ACTIVITIES


GROUNDHOG'S SHADOW

I found a wonderful flannel idea from Miss Sarah Storytime.  It was such a cute idea that I decided to make one of my very own! Is the groundhog ever going to see his shadow ??? You can come up with many ideas for the groundhogs shadow. The kids giggled when they saw the shadows that were not his. How silly, how silly indeed !!!

http://misssarahsstorytime.blogspot.com/2012/01/flannel-friday-groundhogs-shadow.html


FINGERPLAYS:

* I'm a Little Groundhog (tune of I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a Little Groundhog
furry and brown
when winter comes
I sleep underground.
I'm all curled up, cozy as can be
When it is springtime, please wake me.

I'm a little groundhog
it's my day.
Wake and stretch
to go out and play.
Will I see me shadow, we'll have to see.
Time to wake up from my sleep


* 1 LITTLE 2 LITTLE 3 LITTLE GROUNDHOGS

1 Little 2 Little 3 Little Groundhogs
4,5,6 Little Groundhogs
7,8,9 Little Groundhogs
10 Little Groundhogs sleeping under ground

(Repeat with LOUD voices, inside voices, whisper voices, then lip voices)

*Credit- http://childfun groundhogs


SONG:
 

I took a bath in a washing machine - Jim Gill
https://soundcloud.com/jim-gill

Zoo, zoo, we're going to the zoo ! 1-26-2015

Zoo, zoo we're going to the zoo...we're going to the zoo today!!!!  Who doesn't like a trip to the zoo. And with our wonderful selection of zoo themed books I was hankerin for some good zoo stories to share with my friends !!!

Opening Song : Clap,Clap, Clap Your hands.





 My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead
Wheels on the Bus by Jeanne Willis
When No-One's Looking a the Zoo by Zana Fraillon
Silly Doggy by Adam Stower




INTERACTIVE/EXTENSION STORYTIME ACTIVITIES

 ITSY BITSY MONKEY (tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)

The Itsy Bitsy Monkey
 climbed up the coconut tree (motion climbing)
Down came a coconut
 and hit him in the knee  (pretend coconut hits knee)
Out came a lion
shaking out his mane (pretend to shake out your mane)
And the itsybitsy monkey
climbed up the tree again (motion climbing again)

Credit:
http://www.perfectlypreschool.com/Preschool-Lesson-Plans/Zoo-Animals/Songs.php 


ZOO, ZOO, WE'RE GOING TO THE ZOO. (tune of Skip to my Lou)

* I used shakers to liven up the song and give the kids the freedom to get loose.
I chose different places to tap the shaker to...hands, knees, toes, head, nose...anywhere.

Zoo, zoo we're going to the zoo
zoo, zoo we're going to the zoo
zoo, zoo we're going to the zoo
Going to the zoo today.

Lions go ROAR at the zoo
Lions go ROAR at the zoo
Lions go ROAR at the zoo
Going to the zoo today (refrain)

Croc's go CHOMP at the zoo (use hands as a croc's mouth)
Croc's go CHOMP at the zoo
Croc's go CHOMP at the zoo
Going to the zoo today (refrain)

Flamingo's go (stand on one leg, other leg bend up and arms a wings to your sides) at the zoo
Flamingo's go (silent) at the zoo
Flamingo's go (silent) at the zoo
Going to the zoo today

Snakes go Ssssssss at the zoo
Snakes go Sssssss at the zoo
Snakes go Sssssss at the zoo
Going to the zoo today.


THE WHEELS ON THE BUS   (version by Jeanne Willis)

This book can be read or sung.  We all had a fun time since the tune is familiar but there are
some unexpected events that happen while driving to the zoo.


CLOSING SONG :
 

Hands are for Clapping - Jim Gill
https://soundcloud.com/jim-gill/hands-are-for-clapping-1

PENGUINS ! 1-19-2015

There is nothing I love more than penguins( also a good cup of coffee, a good NF book, my wonderful family, and storytime. But not necessarily in that order ) !!!!  Penguins are always a delight to talk about; with their swanky suits they are always dressed up for a party. Plus, penguins just have that "awwww" factor.  So I needed to do a Penguin storytime!!! Oh and the penguin books that are out there....so many to choose from.  I might just have to do Penguins II version.

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeao
Baby Penguins Everywhere by Melissa Guion
Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev



INTERACTIVE/EXTENSION ACTIVITIES WITH STORYTIME PROGRAM.


I made up a song about a penguin showing up at my front door. What would you do?
I taught the sign (ASL) for the words "found",  "penguin" and "door". We used these sign language "signs" as we sung the song. You can check out www.signingsavvy.com to find out how!



 I FOUND A PENGUIN ( Tune of Clementine)
I found a penguin, I found a penguin, I found a penguin at my door. (REFRAIN)
He was ding-donging my doorbell, there's a penguin at my door.

He spoke not a word to me but he rubbed his tummy
he look so very hungry and I invited him in to eat (refrain)

I offered him my mac & cheese, fruits and vegetables and chips
but he shook his head and he pointed to a can of tuna fish (refrain)

He gobbled up the entire can and politely asked for more
so we took a drive to the grocery store and bought a hundred cans more (refrain)

If you ever hear the dingdong of the bell at your front door
make sure you're stocked with with tuna for your local grocery store.

I had a penguin, had a penguin, had a penguin at my door
his was dingdonging my doorbell...but he's not there any more.

* 6 Lovely Penguins  

6 lovely penguins off an iceberg dive,
one bumped his beak and now there are five

5 little penguins swam the ocean floor,
one saw a whale and then there were four

4 little penguins spun around on the ice...wheeee??
one spun off and then there were three

3 little penguins with nothing to do
one went fishing, then there wee two.

2 little penguins having lots of fun
one took a walk and then there was one

1 little penguin when the day was done
went home  to sleep...and now there are none.

*I'm a Little Penguin (tune of I'm little tea pot)   

I'm a little penguin
black and white
Short and wobbly
an adorable sight.
I can't fly at all
but I love to swim.
So I'll waddle to the water
and dive right in.          


*credit teachingfirst.net/Poems/penguins.html


SONG:
 Laurie Berkner "Let's Go Swimming" with the Goldfish Song

I love Laurie Berkner and her creativity & enthusiasm for writing kids songs. Her "Goldfish"song is one of my top 10 favorite kids songs.  This time around we pretended to be "penguins" instead of "fish".  It make for some silliness on the dance floor to say the least.

PRINCE AND PRINCESS 1-12-2015

There is a plethora out there in the fairytale department of prince and princesses stories. When my children were younger,  the local high school (where my husband taught) sewed capes for my children for Christmas.  It was a most wonderful project for the students and for our kids to receive.  I was lucky enough to wear my daughters purple cloak to storytime. The kids thought it was bee-u-tee-ful and I felt like a princess wearing it. ( I must find another opportunity to wear it again :)

Opening Song: Clap, Clap, Clap your Hands



Ten Bigs Toes and a Prince's Nose by Nancy Gow
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela Coyle
The Kissed that Missed by David Melling
Prince Cinders by Babette Cole


INTERACTIVE/EXTENSION ACTIVITIES FOR STORYTIME:

I BROUGHT A MAGIC WAND

I brought a magic wand
to the library today
and when I wave it
around your heads
you must do what I say...

I say jump, stomp, twirl, curtsey, bow,.....last being to sit down.

I actually made a wand out of glittery cardstock, ribbons and plastic tubing.
We had a small group of kids and gave them each a turn asking them if they could make the magic wand work. They loved giving the commands as if the wand "was" magic...but truly it is a fancy game of Simon Says.

I made my very own dragons for our flannel story "I Took My Dragon to The Library Today". This was based off of  Miss Sarah's Storytime blog for the awesome idea of dragons and the library.  A lot of giggles came from this felt story.  Check it out! Gotta give credit where it's due!!!! http://misssarahsstorytime.blogspot.com/search/label/dragons


Closing song:
 

KNEES UP MOTHER BROWN - RAffi
There came a girl from France

Our storytime is done, we had a lot of fun
I will see you soon my friends
Our storytime is done.

DOWN ON THE FARM 1-5-2015

I received and early Christmas present in December...and that was to be Storytime lady on Monday's mornings at our branch library location. I was (and still am) beyond ecstatic and over the moon with the opportunity. My hope is to have my entire Storytime Program (that I will do each and every Monday) available for all .  That way you all can re-visit, re-read and sing away to your hearts content with the programing.

DOWN ON THE FARM:

I grew up on a farm...well a very unconventional farm at that.  See my parents are from the city of Chicago and they had a grand idea to move to the country.  We became "farmers" when I was about 12 yrs old and raised sheep (Corriedale's to be exact). We named every single one of them, put diapers on little lambs that were not loved by their mothers and took them into our house (just like James Herriot). Most of my summers were prepping/showing sheep at local county fairs along with State fair venues.  Some of my fondest memories were from the farm so I needed to plan a FARM storytime.


OPENING SONG: 

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP YOUR HANDS
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP YOUR HANDS
CLAP, CLAP CLAP YOUR HANDS
IT IS STORYTIME

CLAP THEM HIGH, CLAP THEM LOW
CLAP THEM FAST, CLAP THEM SLOW
CLAP TO THE LEFT, CLP TO THE RIGHT
CLAP THEM WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP YOUR FEET
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP YOUR FEET
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP YOUR FEET
IT IS STORYTIME

STOMP THEM HIGH, STOMP THEM LOW
STOMP THEM FAST, STOMP THEM SLOW
STOMP TO THE LEFT, STOMP TO THE RIGHT
STOMP THEM WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP YOUR FEET
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP YOUR HANDS
STOMP YOUR FEET, CLAP YOUR HANDS
IT IS STORYTIME

SIT, SIT, SIT RIGHT DOWN
RIGHT HEAR UPON THE GROUND
EARS ARE OPEN
QUIET FOR NOW
IT IS STORYTIME


Simpson's Sheep Won't Go To Sleep by Bruce Arnt was the perfect opening story.  Poor Farmer Simpson...all of his animals on the farm have no problem going to sleep, except for the sheep.
Great illustrations and simple storyline kept the attention of the little ones.

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We next moved into a rendition of "Down on the Farm" that was taken from a similar song and melody to  "Down by the Bay" by Raffi. (complete with shakers)

Down on the farm, where the green grass grows, back to my home I love to go, and when I do,
my mother will say:

Did you ever see a sheep, driving a jeep.....down on the farm
Did you ever see a cow, using a plow.....down on the farm.
Did you ever see a goat, rowing a boat......down on the farm.
Did you ever see a pig dancing a jig.......down on the farm.


Duck on a Bike by David Shannon was our next story.  I absolutely love this story.  It is extra special when you use different voices for all of the animals.  I think I have read this story about 5 thousand times to my own kids and it just oozes excitement. The kids loved seeing the fantastic outcome to this story and all of the silly things that might happen on a farm.



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"On our Way to Grandpa's Farm" was our next song. I had utilized all of the farm puppets at our library for this song. You can also choose to do a felt board of all of the animals instead.  I had the kids shout out the sound the animal makes and we used our egg shakers again. 

REFRAIN :We're on our way, we're on our way, on our way to Grampa's farm. X2

Down on Grandpa's there is a black and white cow x2
                                                    the cow she makes a sound like this...Moo
                                                    the cow she makes a sound like this...Moo (refrain)

Down on Grandpa's farm there is a yellow fuzzy duck x2
                                                    the duck she makes a sound like this...quack QUACK
                                                    the duck she makes a sound like this...quack QuaCk (refrain)

Down on Grandpa's farm there is sweet pink pig x2
                                                    the pig she makes a sound like this...Oink Oink
                                                    the pig she makes a sound like this...Oink Oink (refrain)

Down on Grandpa's farm there is a strong brown horse x2
                                                    the horse, he makes a sound like this...Neigh Neigh
                                                    the horse, he makes a sound like this...NEigh Neigh (refrain)





When No One's Looking On the Farm By Zana Fraillon was our last story.  This story is one filled with anticipation for our little viewers.  We read the rollicking story with what our farm animal friends do, but......when no one's looking it is a hoot to see what they "really" do.  This kids anticipated every one and laughed and giggled with excitement.  Imagination is a wonderful thing.


We wound up this storytime with a song called Old MacDonald Had a Band by Raffi.
 http://grooveshark.com/#!/search/song?q=Raffi+Old+Macdonald+Had+A+Band

Great song to end with. The kids loved  pretending to play all different types of instruments in our farm yard band.

WELCOME

Janurary 5th, 2015


Well here it is, my new adventure into children's storytelling and what an adventure it is!  Please be patient with me as I set up my blog in the next few weeks.  My hope is that my excitement and passion for children's storytelling will spill upon these pages. I am truly blessed every time I tell my stories to young children.  It is upon their faces that I see the joy radiating out of me.  Stay tuned.  Susan