Rachel's Story Time Blog

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

2010-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

We "soared" to new heights at story time this week!

Opening Song: Good Morning
Every child is greeted with this song. The song is sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It." If you are singing it later in the day, you can substitute "Hello" or "Good Afternoon" for "Good Morning."

Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
How are you this special day
We're so glad you came to play
Good Morning (child's name), how are you?

Action Rhyme: Ten Fingers
I have ten little fingers (hold up fingers)
And they all belong to me
I can make them do things
Would you like to see? (hands in front)
I can shut them up tight (close hands into fists)
Or open them wide (open hands)
I can put them together (palms together)
Or make them hide (hands behind back)
I can make them jump high (hands in air)
I can make them jump low (hands close to floor)
I can fold them quietly (fold hands)
and hold them just so. (folded hands in lap)
(written by Anonymous; found in Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young; selected by Jack Prelutsky)

Rhyming Chant: Mr. Knickerbocker
This is a fun chant that gets the kids moving! Start by snapping your fingers, saying the words along with the beat. When the song indicates, move to other actions.

Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I put that beat right into my feet!
(stamp feet in rhythm)

Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I put that beat right into my knees!
(bend knees)

Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I put that beat right into my hips
(sway hips)

Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I put that beat right into my hands
(clap hands)

Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I put that beat right into my head
(nod head)

Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I put that beat right into my WHOLE body!
Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker, boppity bop,
I feel so good with my boppity bop,
I think I'll STOP!

Note: You can find "Mr. Knickerbocker," "Looby Loo" and lots of other great chants, songs, and games in the book (along with accompanying CD) Wee Sing: Play and Pretend by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp.

Song: Looby Loo
If there's room, have children stand in a circle, holding hands. On the chorus they circle around. On the verses, they stop circling and do the actions by putting hand, etc. inside the circle, outside, then back inside. We don't have a lot of space at our library, so I had kids dance freely on the chorus, and do the actions while standing.

Chorus:
Here we go Looby Loo
Here we go Looby Light
Here we go Looby Loo
All on a Saturday night.

Verse 1:
You put your right hand in
You put your right hand out
You give your hand a shake, shake, shake (hand should be inside the circle)
and turn yourself about. Oh,

Chorus

Verse 2:
...left hand...

Chorus

Verse 3:
...right foot...

Chorus

Verse 4:
...left foot...

Verse 5:
...head...

Verse 6:
...whole self...

Book: Cat and Canary by Michael Foreman

Song: I Like Kites
This is sung to the tune of "3 Blind Mice." Kids can do this sitting or standing.

I like kites, I like kites (point to self with thumbs)
They fly high, they fly high (pretend to fly kite)
They keep on spinning round and round (if sitting, move hands in circle; if standing, kids can move around in a circle)
Sometimes they even touch the ground (if sitting, touch hands to floor, if standing, crouch to the floor)
They fly through the air without a sound (move hands back and forth)
Oh, I like kites (point to self with thumbs)

Song: Come Fly a Kite
Sung to the tune of "On top of Old Smokey"
I had kids free dance on this. I told them to imagine they were a kite, gliding through the air on a windy day. Feel free to incorporate your own movements.

Oh, come fly a kite,
way up in the sky.
Watch it climb so far
up, up in the sky.

Oh, come fly a kite,
and just watch it sail,
Across the sky,
waving its tail

Both songs found at http://www.preschooleducation.com/skite.shtml

Book: Lucky Song by Vera Williams

Closing song:
Ending Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together the happier we'll be
'Cuz your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be

To watch a video of the sign language for this song, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kjy_6NMNfo

Craft: Cut out a kite shape out of construction paper or card stock. If you want, you can also cut other shapes to be used for the kite (we cut out a fish). Have kids color in the kite. Take a piece of crepe paper, and cut a piece to use as the "string." Have kids glue the piece onto the end of the kite. Make sure to tell them it is not a real kite, and to be gentle! There is less chance the kite will rip if chidren hold onto the kite piece and not the crepe paper. Kids loved making their own kites, and pretending to fly them!

On the Farm

2010-06-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

We had a fun story time about farms and barnyard animals!

Opening Song: Good Morning
Every child is greeted with this song. The song is sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It." If you are singing it later in the day, you can substitute "Hello" or "Good Afternoon" for "Good Morning."

Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
How are you this special day
We're so glad you came to play
Good Morning (child's name), how are you?

Movement activity: Feel the Beat
Children can "feel the beat" on different parts of their bodies. Start with a steady rhythm on your lap. Say "feel the beat in your lap, in your lap, in your lap, feel the beat in your lap, in your lap." Then switch to other body parts (head, knees, ears, etc, keeping the rhythm going.

Book: A Farmer's Alphabet by Mary Azarian
This book goes through the alphabet, each letter reprenting something on a farm. You can say the letters and have the children guess what it stands for based on the pictures. Some they may not get, but children will like joining in.

Song: Shake Your Sillies Out
This is a fun song that gets kids moving. We have the book here at the library, and have used it at story time before. You can do the song with out without the book. If you don't know the tune, listen to it at http://new.music.yahoo.com/raffi/tracks/shake-my-sillies-out--764340

Book: Funny Farm by Mark Teague
Edward the dog goes to visit his aunt and uncle at Hawthorne Farm every spring. Edward tries to help out at the farm, but he soon discovers it's a different kind of place: Pigs play practical jokes, bugs plow the field, and mice churn butter. Join Edward on his adventures at Funny Farm!

Song: Old MacDonald
I usually have children volunteer ideas for animals as the song goes on

Song: The Animals on the Farm (Sung to The Wheels on the Bus)
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo
The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo
All day long!
Continue with other farm animals: sheep, dogs, pigs, horses, etc.

Ending Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together the happier we'll be
'Cuz your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be

To watch a video of the sign language for this song, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kjy_6NMNfo

Craft: Draw a picture of a barn on contruction paper or colored paper. Find pictures of farm animals for kids to color, copy them, and cut them out. Then kids can color in the barn and the animals. Then have the kids glue the animals onto the picture of the barn. This is a very simple, fun activity!

Baa Baa Black Sheep

2010-05-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

We "flocked" to the library to learn about these fun, wooly animals!

Opening Song: Good Morning
Every child is greeted with this song. The song is sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It." If you are singing it later in the day, you can substitute "Hello" or "Good Afternoon" for "Good Morning."

Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
How are you this special day
We're so glad you came to play
Good Morning (child's name), how are you?

Movement activity: Feel the Beat
Children can "feel the beat" on different parts of their bodies. Start with a steady rhythm on your lap. Say "feel the beat in your lap, in your lap, in your lap, feel the beat in your lap, in your lap." Then switch to other body parts (head, knees, ears, etc, keeping the rhythm going.

Fingerplay: Two Little Black Birds
Two little black birds
sitting on a wall
(hold up one finger of each hand)
One named Peter
(wiggle finger on left hand)
One named Paul
(wiggle finger on right hand)
Fly way Peter!
(move left hand behind back)
Fly away Paul!
(move right hand behind back)
Come back Peter!
(bring left hand from behind back)
Come back Paul!
(bring right hand from behind back)

Action Rhyme: My Book
The children can act out the movements with their hands. "My Book" was found in Marc Brown's wonderful book Hand Rhymes, which presents small boxed pictures beside the text, demonstrating how to perform each action.

(Hold hands together in front to make a book)
This is my book; it will open wide
To show the pictures that are inside
(Make hands into a ball shape)
This is my ball, so big and round,
(Pretend to toss ball in air)
To toss in the air
(pretend to roll ball on the ground)
Or roll on the ground
(put arms over had, clasp hands together to make an umbrella)
Here's my umbrella to keep me dry
(make raindrops on head)
When raindrops fall from the cloudy sky
(pretend to hold kitten in arms)
This is my kitty; just hear her purr
When I'm gently stroking her soft warm fur.

Song: Clap Your Hands
This is a variation on the traditional song "Clap Your Hands," with extra verses added. Most of the verses were borrowed (some verses were slightly rewritten or added) from an adapation of the song at http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/clapyourhandstogether.htm

Clap, Clap, clap your hands
Clap your hands together
Clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap your hands together

Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
Stomp your feet on the ground (2x)

Tap, tap, tap your knees
Tap your knees with both hands (2x)

Shake, shake, shake your shoulders
Shake your shoulders now (2x)

Flap, flap, flap your arms
Flap your arms like flying birds (2x)

Move, move, move your hips
Move your hips around (2x)

Bend, bend, bend your knees
Bend your knees down (2x)

Dance, dance, dance around
Dance around together (2x)

Book: Feeding the Sheep
By Leda Schubert; Illustrated by Linda U'Ren
A girl asks her mother, "what are you doing?" as her mother takes her through the process of feeding the sheep to making a sweater from its wool. A lovely book with simple rhyming text, and bright illustrations that will draw young readers into the story.

Song: Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full (hold up three fingers)

One for my master (hold up one finger)
One for my dame (keep finger held)
And one for the little boy (keep finger held)
Who lives in the lane.

Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full (hold up three fingers)

Song: Mary Had a Little Lamb
I asked kids if they knew what a lamb was. If you do ask they don't know, explain that it is a baby sheep. Kids at story time liked to "keep the beat" on this song (they came up with this on their own!) clapping their hands on their legs. We just sang the first verse:
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb
Mary had a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow.

Book: Sheep in a Shop
By Nancy Shaw; Illustrated by Margot Apple
Five sheep head to a country store to find a birthday present for one of their friends. While they're at the store, they try on clothes, fly planes, knock over a stack of boxes, and cause a whole lot of trouble. When it comes time to pay, the sheep realize they don't have enough money. What can they trade for the gifts? Find out in this fun, silly story!

Booktalks:
This is something new I've started doing. Booktalking is a big part of being a librarian, and I've decided to incorporate it briefly into story time. I choose books that have the same story time theme. Here are the book talks I did for this week. Feel free to use these, or write your own! Note: all of the books I booktalked were checked out! If you're looking to find lots of booktalks to use, a good site is:
http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/.

Just like Floss by Kim Lewis
When the children’s collie, Floss, has puppies, they ask their father if they can keep one. Their father says they could use “another collie just like Floss to work with the sheep on the farm.” Now the children have to decide which collie to keep. When one puppy, Sam, shows that he’s not afraid of the sheep on the farm, the children decide he will be their new pet.

Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton
When all the other sheep in Frogsbottom Field are going to sleep, Russell is wide awake. He tries everything he can to fall asleep—crawling into the hollow of a tree, climbing up to a branch, even counting stars—but nothing helps! But just as the other sheep are waking up, Russell discovers the one and only thing that will him get the rest he needs!

Sheep Out to Eat by Nancy Shaw
The five sheep are back, and this time they decide they’re going out to eat at a small teashop. At the teashop, they get into lots of trouble when “sheep chomp. Sheep sneeze. Sheep jump and bump their knees” and a whole lot more! When the sheep are asked to leave the shop, they find out what they really want for lunch!

Ending Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together the happier we'll be
'Cuz your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be

To watch a video of the sign language for this song, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kjy_6NMNfo

Craft Activity: Wooly Sheep!
You will need:
Glue
Scissors (optional, depending on age of child/children)
Construction Paper
Cotton Balls
Markers/crayons (optional)

Draw or trace a sheep and cut it out. If you want, you can have the kids cut them out. Glue onto a half-size piece of construction paper. Take some glue and dab on the sheep. Place cotton balls on the sheep to make it look nice and wooly! If they want, they can color the parts of the sheep that aren't covered by the cotton balls, or they can draw something on the construction paper, such as grass or flowers.

More "Sheep" books:
DePaola, Tomie. Charlie Needs a Cloak
Enderle, Judy. Six Sandy Sheep
Keller, Holly. 10 Sleepy Sheep
Kitamuri, Satoshi. Sheep in Wolves' Clothing
Scotton, Rob. Russell and the Lost Treasure
Shaw, Nancy. Sheep Blast Off
Shaw, Nancy. Sheep Out to Eat
Shaw, Nancy. Sheep Trick or Treat
Sundgaard, Arnold. The Lamb and the Butterfly
Trapani, Iza. Mary Had a Little Lamb
Whybrow, Ian. Little Farmer Joe

Bubble Fun!

2010-05-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

Last week we "floated" away at a Bubble Fun Story Time!

Song: Good Morning
Every child is greeted with this song. If you are singing it later in the day, you can substitute "Hello" or "Good Afternoon" for "Good Morning."

Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
Good Morning (child's name), how are you? (clap twice)
How are you this special day
We're so glad you came to play
Good Morning (child's name), how are you?

Action Rhyme: My Book
The children can act out the movements with their hands. "My Book" was found in Marc Brown's wonderful book Hand Rhymes, which presents small boxed pictures beside the text, demonstrating how to perform each action.

(Hold hands together in front to make a book)
This is my book; it will open wide
To show the pictures that are inside
(Make hands into a ball shape)
This is my ball, so big and round,
(Pretend to toss ball in air)
To toss in the air
(pretend to roll ball on the ground)
Or roll on the ground
(put arms over had, clasp hands together to make an umbrella)
Here's my umbrella to keep me dry
(make raindrops on head)
When raindrops fall from the cloudy sky
(pretend to hold kitten in arms)
This is my kitty; just hear her purr
When I'm gently stroking her soft warm fur.

Action Rhyme: I Had a Little Turtle
I had a little turtle
He lived in a box
(cup hands together to make a box)
He swam in the puddle
(wiggle hands for swimming)
He climbed on the rocks
(Fingers climb up opposite hand)
He snapped at a mosquito
(snap fingers in front of you)
He snapped at a flea
(snap fingers in front of you)
He snapped at a minnow
(Snap fingers in front of you)
And he snapped at me
(Snap fingers pointing toward your face)
He caught the mosquito
(clap)
He caught the flea
(clap)
He caught the minnow
(clap)
But he didn't catch me!
(wave pointer finger back and forth)

Movement activity: Feel the Beat
Children can "feel the beat" on different parts of their bodies. Start with a steady rhythm on your lap. Say "feel the beat in your lap, in your lap, in your lap, feel the beat in your lap, in your lap." Then switch to other body parts (head, knees, ears, etc, keeping the rhythm going.

Song: Clap Your Hands
This is a variation on the traditional song "Clap Your Hands," with extra verses added. Most of the verses were borrowed (some verses were slightly rewritten or added) from an adapation of the song at http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/clapyourhandstogether.htm

Clap, Clap, clap your hands
Clap your hands together
Clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap your hands together

Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
Stomp your feet on the ground (2x)

Tap, tap, tap your knees
Tap your knees with both hands (2x)

Shake, shake, shake your shoulders
Shake your shoulders now (2x)

Flap, flap, flap your arms
Flap your arms like flying birds (2x)

Move, move, move your hips
Move your hips around (2x)

Bend, bend, bend your knees
Bend your knees down (2x)

Dance, dance, dance around
Dance around together (2x)

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
I vary the rhythm on the guitar, allowing kids to do the movements at different speeds.

Story:Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
When Mabel blows a bubble that carries her baby away, trouble ensues! Will Mabel, her mother, and the townsfolk be able to bring him back down safely?
(Note: Usually I read more than one story, but because of the length of this one, and our other activities, I kept it at one book for this story time!)

Song: Here's a Bubble (sung to the tune of Thumbelina)
(make hands into bubble shape)
Here's a Bubble
Here's a Bubble
Big and Round
Big and Round
(move bubble back and forth)
See it floating gently,
See it floating gently,
(bring bubble to the floor)
to the ground
to the ground

Found at: http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/supersongs.cfm?songsid=402

Song: Ten Little Bubbles (to the tune of Ten Little Indians)
Children can count on their hands as the numbers go from one to ten
One little, two little, three little bubbles
Four little, five little, six little bubbles
Seven little, eight little, nine little bubbles,
Ten bubbles floating through the air
One little, two little, three little bubbles
Four little, five little, six little bubbles
Seven little, eight little, nine little bubbles
Ten bubbles floating to the ground

Found at: http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/supersongs.cfm?songsid=134

Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together the happier we'll be
'Cuz your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be

We ended story time by blowing bubbles! I mixed up some bubble solution ahead of time, and the kids dipped straws in and blew bubbles. To make the bubbles, mix two parts dishwashing soap, two parts glycerin (for bigger and longer-lasting bubbles) and one part water. For the straw, flatten one end and cut it about 1/2 inch so the kids remember to dip that side into the bubble mixture. Enjoy!