This was a milestone storytime for me. It was the one that I had planned and ready to go March 17, 2020, but was abandoned because our library closed March 16th. Because it was tied up as a St. Patrick’s Day alternative, I never used the theme later on while doing virtual, but held on to it to use in March 2021. So getting this ready for this year had a lot of “capital F” Feelings surrounding it.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not really into doing holiday themed programs, but would prefer to celebrate some secular aspect of popular holidays. Thus, instead of going on about leprechauns, rainbows, and Catholic saints, I focused this theme on the color green.
You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.
Early Literacy Tip: “Crossing the midline” is when we move our arm or leg across the middle of our body to perform a task. Crossing the midline is vital to the development of using both sides of the body together, such as putting on shoes and socks, writing and cutting. Practice crossing the midline by: playing with bubbles, cutting or drawing across a page, playing catch, and encouraging children to reach with one hand to touch their opposite foot, arm, ear, etc.
Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
Discussion: We’re talking about the color green today. What are some things that are green? If you’re in person, you could shuffle the books around based on the answers you get – frogs, trees and grass seem to be common responses. I also mined my flannels for anything that was green!
Bounce Song: Bumping Up and Down
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon
Bumping up and down in my little green wagon
Won’t you be my darling?
Additional verses:
Driving around in my little green car… stroller… bicycle… etc.
Credit: adapted from Raffi
Additional or Alternative Action Rhyme: I Had a Little Turtle
I had a little turtle (make turtle with fist – thumb is the head)
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water (glub, glub)
He ate up all the soap (munch, munch)
And when he woke up next morning
He had bubbles in his throat! (bubbly noises)
Credit: Jbrary
Read: One Frog Sang by Shirley Parenteau & Cynthia Jabar
The turtle verse might be my favorite of all the variations!
Song: Mmm-ah Went the Little Green Frog
Mmm-ahh (stick out tongue) went the little green frog one day,
Mmm-ahh went the little green frog
Mmm ahh went the little green frog one day,
And they all went mmm, mmm, ahh
But… We know frogs go (clap) sha-na-na-na-na (wiggle arms)
(clap) Sha-na-na-na-na, (clap) Sha-na-na-na-na
We know frogs go (clap) sha-na-na-na-na
They don’t go mmm, mmm, ahh!
Additional verses:
Hiss, Hiss went the slippery snake one day… (hands snake back and forth)
But… We know snakes go (clap) shoo-be-do-be-do (jazz hands)
Slow, slow went the little green turtle one day… (one hand on other, palms down, like a shell)
But… We know turtles go (clap) cowabunga, dude! (shaka hand sign)
Credit: Jbrary (different videos for frog, snake, and turtle verses)
Action Rhyme: Funny, Funny, Froggy
Funny, funny froggy, Hop, hop hop!
Funny, funny froggy, Stop, stop, stop!
Funny, funny froggy, Don’t run away!
Funny, funny froggy, Sit and play!
Credit: Perry Public Library (OH) via Books and Bibliotheks
I thought the rebus pictures at the back of the book were perfect for a flannel, though I had to add the bug. You can download a PDF of these here. They definitely helped me keep the song straight! (Note that you sing “chick in the egg, and the bird on the egg,” changing the pattern. It took me a few practice tries to get it right)
Read/Sing/Flannel: There Was a Tree by Rachel Isadora
There was a hole (there was a hole)
In the middle of the ground (in the middle of the ground)
The prettiest hole (the prettiest hole)
That you ever did see (that you ever did see)
Oh, the hole in the ground and the green grass grew all around, all around,
And the green grass grew all around!
Add a phrase each verse until you get to:
Oh, the bug on the wing,
and the wing on the chick,
and the chick in the egg,
and the bird on the egg,
and the egg in the nest,
and the nest on the branch,
and the branch on the tree,
and the tree in the hole,
and the hole in the ground,
And the green grass grew all around, all around,
And the green grass grew all around!
I really love how meditative and calming this song is.
Song: Standing Like a Tree
Standing like a tree (start with “prayer” hands in front of your heart)
With my roots dug down, (stomp feet)
My branches wide and open; (arms reach up and out)
Come down the rain, (fingers wiggle downward)
Come down the sun, (arms go back up and then go down, hands making a circle)
Come down the fruit to a heart that is open to be… (arms go back up, hands cup and move to heart)
Standing like a tree (repeat)
Credit: Betsy Rose, motions from Fall Creek Elementary’s video
Movement/Yoga: Tree Pose
I explained that the tree pose is a good balance builder and explained how to do it, with variations to make it easier and harder. And that it’s okay to feel unsteady or fall – it’s part of the process to get stronger.
Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas
Five plump peas in a peapod pressed (make a fist and cover with the other hand)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest (raise all fingers on first hand one by one)
they grew, & they grew, & they grew, & never stopped (hands get wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED! (hands spread as wide as possible, then clap!)
Credit: Carole Stephens
Read: In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
You might notice a lot of people wearing green tomorrow. Let’s see what we’re wearing today! (If in person, I would hand out shamrock stickers so everyone was wearing green. For virtual, I just went with it.)
Ukulele Song: I If You’re Wearing Green Today
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig
If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig, smile and wave
If you’re wearing green day dance a jig
Additional verses:
Clap your hands… Spin around… Shout Hooray!… Stomp your feet
Credit: Sunflower Storytime via Storytime with Ms. Kelly
Craft/Activity: Cutting the Grass
I saw this activity from Little Pine Learners and thought it was really clever. Kids get scissor practice, crossing the midline, the fun of discovery, and some coloring, if they wish. I made my own set of items that could be found under the grass (that pill bug was challenging but fun!), and stapled green construction paper over the top. In my take-home instructions, I encouraged parents to tape down the white part to a table or somewhere vertical, like the refrigerator to help make the cutting a little easier. Parents and kids can go on a scavenger hunt for these items in their own yard or in a park to extend the fun and learning. Download a printable PDF of the artwork here!
I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Gator, Gator, Gator by Daniel Bernstrom & Frann Preston-Gannon
Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 3/16/21.
Storytime Handout:
I had these already printed out from 2020, so I didn’t update them. (The header is different and there’s no info on our virtual storytimes). The Red Light/Green Light song was something I would have done in person, but not virtually.
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 
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