Preschool Storytime: In the Garden

Another classic springtime theme. I loved that there were some good recent titles about gardening!

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: When your children are playing, think about what words you might write or what signs you can make to make the play more language-rich. For example, if children are playing gardening, you might ask what plants they are growing and then make signs for them, saying the letters as you spell the words.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: Have you noticed all of the new growing things in the world? Do any of you have a garden or some plants that you’ve helped to grow? A garden can be outside in your yard, or you can grow some great plants in pots or in a window garden. Let’s see how a plant grows from a tiny seed. What does it need? Water, soil, sunshine!

Fingerplay: Dig a Little Hole
Dig a little hole, Plant a little seed
Pour a little water, Pull a little weed
Chase a little bug, Heigh-ho, there he goes!
Give a little sunshine, Grow a little rose
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime via Storytime Katie

Read: The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson

Song: Will Our Flowers Bloom?
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The seeds from the pack go in the ground (poke with finger)
In the ground, in the ground
The seeds from the pack go in the ground
Will our flowers bloom?

additional verses:
The rain from the sky goes drip drip drop… (flutter fingers)
The sun above is bright and hot… (arms make a circle)
Our little seeds are sprouting fast… (fingers grow upward)
(last line) Look! Our flowers bloomed! (spread hands)
Credit: Storytime with Miss Jennifer

Flannel Rhyme: Five Little Flowers
Five little flowers growing in a row
The first one said, “We need rain to grow.”
The second one said, “Yes, we need water!”
The third one said, “Whew, it’s getting hotter!”
The fourth one said, “Look, there are clouds in the sky.”
The fifth one said, “I wonder why?”
Then “BOOM” went the thunder, (clap hands)
And “ZAP” went the lightening (draw zig-zag in air)
That springtime storm was kind of frightening.
But were the flowers scared? No, no, no. (shake head)
They knew they needed rain to grow, grow, grow.
Credit: Adventures in Storytime

I LOVE the little worm protagonist with his one sneaker!
Read: Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray & Zachariah OHora

I found these cute carrot flannels at Target before Easter last year, so adapted a flower rhyme. They kind of remind me of the carrots from the book Creepy Carrots!
Flannel Counting Rhyme: Out in the Garden
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Were 4 tasty carrots and my mommy picked one! (nom, nom!)
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Were 3 tasty carrots and my daddy picked one! (nom, nom!)
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Were 2 tasty carrots and the baby picked one! (nom, nom!)
Out in the garden growing in the sun
Was 1 tasty carrot and and I picked that one! (nom, nom!)
Credit: adapted from Pasadena Public Library (CA)

I tried to pair an animal and what they might be after in the garden for each of these.
Guessing Game: 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.
I hear its funny sound…. RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT
A … FROG is what I found! RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT

Repeat with other animals found in a garden. I used:
Ribbit – Frog – bugs from a lettuce plant
Thump – Rabbit – nibbling a carrot
Squeak – Mouse – tasting a blackberry
Caw – Crow – pecking at some corn
Buzz – Bee – gathering pollen from a flower
Wiggle – Worm – chewing an old leaf
Flutter – Butterfly – sipping nectar from a hyacinth
Credit: Storytime Katie

Read: One Little Lot by Diane C. Mullen & Oriol Vidal

Ukulele Song: Apples and Bananas
(begin with the correct pronunciation, then change the vowel sounds for each verse to a, e, i, o, and u)
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays
I like to ate, ate, ate ayples and ba-nay-nays

I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees
I like to eet, eet, eet eeples and ba-nee-nees

I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis
I like to ite, ite, ite iples and ba-ni-nis

I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos
I like to ote, ote, ote oples and ba-no-nos

I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus
I like to ute, ute, ute uples and ba-nu-nus
Credit: Raffi, from the album One Light, One Sun

Download a ukulele songsheet for Apples and Bananas

Craft: Cupcake Liner Flowers
I provided a blue construction paper background, various cupcake liners in different colors and sizes, and several strips of green construction paper that they could cut or tear into any kind of leaf shape. Thanks to Storytime Katie and Literary Hoots for the inspiration.

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
A Peaceful Garden by Lucy London & Christa Pierce
Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres & Nadine Bernard Westcott
Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root & G. Brian Karas

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 4/13/21.

Storytime Handout: