Family Storytime: Dinosaurs!

Hopping on to the theme chosen by my summer outreach session, this week was all about dinosaurs! This is an easy theme with lots of great books and extension activities, so it all came together quickly.

You can find other versions of this theme from 2022 and 2024.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Everybody knows at least one preschooler who can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. There’s a reason for that! Preschoolers’ brains are wired to learn as much vocabulary as possible. So don’t underestimate them: give them all the words you can! Use the most specific terms possible and they will soak them up like a sponge.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends
(tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends, it’s time to say hello!
Hello, [name 1], hello, [name 2]!
Hello, [name 3], it’s time to say hello!
(ASL motions: salute for “hello,” then take the index fingers on each hand and you link them together as though they are hugging each other back and forth for “friends”)
Credit: Glenside Public Library District

We did a repeated warm up each week to get everyone loosened up.
Warm-Up Rhyme: Roly Poly
(Roll arms and change voice to coordinate with the lyrics)
Roly poly, roly, poly, up, up, up
Roly poly, roly, poly, down, down, down
Roly poly, roly, poly, out, out, out
Roly poly, roly, poly, in, in, in
Roly poly, roly, poly, BIG, BIG, BIG
Roly poly, roly, poly, very, very small
Roly poly, roly, poly, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast!
Rol…ly… po…ly… in… your… lap
Credit: Rebecca Jane Flanagan

Read: Dinosaur Vs. the Library by Bob Shea

The flannel can be used for both this song and “One Dinosaur Went Out to Play,” below, and the template is available at Mel’s Desk.
Action Song: All Through the Swamp
(tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr
Grr grr grr, Grr grr grr
The Tyrannosaurus Rex goes grr grr grr
All through the swamp

Additional verses:
The Stegosaurus’ tail goes swish, swish, swish…
The Brachiosaurus’ mouth goes munch, munch, munch…
The Pteranodon’s wings go flap, flap, flap…
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Song: Dino Ditty
(tune of Do Wah Diddy Diddy)
Here they come just a stompin’ with their feet (stomp)
Singing “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do”
Searchin’ around for something good to eat
Singin’ “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do.”
They’re big! (They’re big!)
They’re strong! (They’re strong!)
They’re big, They’re strong, won’t be hungry very long!
Singin’ “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do…”

Additional verses:
Here they come just a flying through the sky (flying motions)
Singing “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do”
Looking around for a good fish pie…

Here they come just a swimming in the lake (swimming motions)
Singin’ “Dino ditty, ditty, dum ditty do”
Looking around for a good clam bake…
Credit: King County Library System (WA)

Read: Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap & Greg Pizzoli

Breathing Break: Soup Breathing
This was part of our repeated activities in June. I asked the kids to imagine they were holding a bowl of their very favorite soup, and asked what kind they liked. Then with their hands cupped in front of them, we slowly breathed in the delicious aroma of their very favorite soup through their noses, then slowly and gently breathed out through their mouths to cool off this hot soup. We repeated about 5 times, and after the 1st time with explanation, I used my Hoberman sphere to help them visualize the in and out breaths. Afterward, I let them know that this exercise always makes me feel good and more grounded, and they could always get out their bowl of soup if they need help calming down or feeling more connected to their bodies.
Credit: Lucky Little Learners

Another repeated activity during June.
Song: Look at All the Bunnies
Look at all the bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh so still! Are they ill?
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies
Wake up, wake up, wake up little bunnies
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Stop little bunnies, stop, stop, stop
And…. 1, 2, 3, SILLY FREEZE!
Credit: King County Library System

Action Rhyme: Dinosaur Stretch
Spread your arms, way out wide
Fly like Pteranodon, soar and glide
Bend to the floor, head down low
Move like Stegosaurus, long ago
Reach up tall, try to be
As tall as Brachiosaurus eating on a tree
Using your claws, grumble and growl
Just like Tyrannosaurus Rex on the prowl
Credit: Storytime Katie

Recorded Song: We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner

In the virtual session, I did this song instead of the recorded one:
Ukulele/Flannel Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play
(tune of Five Little Ducks)
One dinosaur went out to play
By a giant fern one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called for another dinosaur to come:
Oh, Diiiiiiiiiinosaur! (slap hands on thighs)

(count up to 5)
Last line:
…That they played until the day was done!
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Craft: Shape-o-Saurus
Make a dino using simple shapes. I created a template to get all the shapes for two dinos on one sheet of construction paper, which you can download here. I printed them on red, green, and purple, but you could do any color you like.

Printable Shape-o-Saurus Template

I also booktalked these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin
We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner & Ben Clanton
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Goodbye Song: See You Later, Alligator
(tune of Clementine)
See you later, alligator (wave with one hand, then the other)
In a while, crocodile (open and shut arms like a croc’s mouth)
Give a hug, ladybug (hug yourself or a loved one)
Blow a kiss, jellyfish! MWAH! (move hand like a jellyfish then blow a kiss!)
Credit: King County Library System

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented in-person and virtually on 6/22/21.

Storytime Handout: