Late summer is prime berry season, so it was time to dust off and revamp this Bears & Berries theme again. Maybe it was just my family, but I remember when my younger siblings were picky eaters and had “opinions” about common fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas, they would *always* eat berries. Mom would buy pints and pints of berries just to get some fruit into them. So I always associate berries as the “fruits everyone loves” although that may not be entirely accurate. In any event, the kids in storytime seemed enthusiastic about berries, so that’s good enough for me.
Early Literacy Tip: Fingerplays like “Two Little Black Bears” can strengthen fine motor skills children will need to write later on. Try making fingerplays a part of your daily routine, such as at bedtime.
Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was arms & chins.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (TB) (FT)
Intro: Today we’re talking about Bears and some of the things they like to eat. Things like berries! And honey! Do you like berries?
Fingerplay: Two Little Black Bears (TT) (TB) (FT)
(style of Two Little Blackbirds)
Two little black bears eating strawberries
One named Michael and one named Mary
Run away Michael! Run away Mary!
Come back Michael, Come back Mary
Two little black bears digging in the snow
One named Fast and One named Slow…
Two little black bears feeling very proud
One named Quiet and One named Loud…
Source: verse 1: Storytime in the Stacks; 2 & 3: Jbrary
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Part of the very popular Karma Wilson Bear series, this one features berries on multiple pages, so is a good fit. Nice and short with predictive rhyming text, too.
Read: Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman (TT) (FT)
Okay, so this book does not mention berries at all. But I found it while prepping for this program and LOVED the silly illustrations and rhythmic text. I thought my older toddler class would enjoy it, and forgive me for not including berries!
Read: A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree by Daniel Bernstrom & Brandon James Scott (TB)
Tickle Rhyme: Bears Eat Honey (TT) (TB) (FT)
Bears eat honey
They think it’s yummy,
In their tummy
But…
the bees don’t think it’s funny!
(Buzz, buzz, buzz!)
Source: Storytime Katie
I was inspired by a rhyme about a bear playing with colored balls on the Verona Storytime blog, but rewrote the rhyme so our bear was searching for different kinds of berries. I used my Folkmanis baby bear puppet and the berries from the Jamberry set.
Flannel Game: Hungry Bear (TT) (FT)
Black bear is hungry
She wants something sweet
She’s searching for a RASPBERRY treat!
Is this the raspberry?
Source: original
Booktalk: Jamberry by Bruce Degan (TB)
My library actually doesn’t own a copy of this book, so I didn’t read it. It didn’t make sense to do the Jamberry rhyme out of nowhere, though, so I ILLed a copy and booktalked the book, highlighting the pages where they are on the canoe.
I created this flannel using graphics in Canva. I think originally the set inspired by Jbrary only had five berries, but since we were counting up to ten, I made two of each kind of berry.
Flannel Chant: Jamberry Rhyme (TB)
Under the bridge And over the dam
Looking for berries, Berries for jam!
1 berry, 2 berries, Pick me a strawberry
(repeat, count up to 10, changing berries)
Source: Jbrary
Stretch Rhyme: Pick Berries High (TT) (TB) (FT)
(style of Pease Porridge Hot)
Pick berries high, Pick berries low
Pick berries on the bush, Nine in a row
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 (clap 9x)
Some like them red, (gesture to one side)
Some like them blue (gesture to the other side)
Here’s one for me- yum! (pretend to eat)
And here’s one for you! (offer hand)
Source: Story Book Stephanie
I’ve never successfully gotten my room full of toddlers to get into a circle, so we just walked in place. Many grownups did a lift for the “pop” instead of doing the jump, with many giggles.
Action Song: Pop Goes the Berry (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Pop Goes the Weasel)
(walk or dance in circle)
All around the strawberry fields
We picked some juicy berries
We brought them home
And washed them off,
Pop! Goes the berry! (jump up)
Other verses: blueberry, blackberry, gooseberry, raspberry
Source: Jbrary
I didn’t end up using this one for time, but love the idea of using your knees as the mountain, as in the inspirational video from Intellidance. Bear would certainly be going over the mountain to find berries, right?
Action Song: The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Oh, the bear went over the mountain,
the bear went over the mountain
the bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see
But all that he could see
All that he could see
Was the other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see!
(repeat with the bear going around, under, or jumping over the mountain)
Source: traditional, motions inspired by Intellidance
A favorite rendition of this traditional song.
Recorded/Action Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (TT)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Wave up high
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Wink one eye
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Bend your knees
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Flap in the breeze
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Climb up to bed
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Rest your head!
Source: Jazzy Ash, from the album Good Foot
For my two older classes, I made simple bear puppets with a die cut and craft stick to give out to use with the next two songs (that they got to take home with them.)
Puppet Rhyme: My Bear (TB) (FT)
(use a bear puppet or teddy bear to act out the rhyme)
My bear is looking all around
My bear is sniffing at the ground
My bear is looking at my toes
My bear can kiss me on the nose
My bear can whisper in my ear
What is that? Can you hear?
My bear can hide right behind me
But wherever I go, my bear can find me
Source: Verona (WI) Story Time
Ukulele/Puppet Song: Baby Bear Waltz (TB) (FT)
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltzing with bears
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Dance ‘round the chairs
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, That’s what we’ll do
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltzing with you
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltz round the room,
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Dance ‘round the moon,
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Glide past the stars
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Waltzing to Mars
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman, from the album Say Hello to the Morning
Download a ukulele songsheet for Baby Bear Waltz!
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Bear Ears Headband (TB) (FT)
Simple, simple craft that allows for lots of dramatic play.
Play Time
The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Blueberries for Sal – Robert McCloskey
Eat Like a Bear – April Pulley Sayre & Steve Jenkins
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear – Don & Audrey Wood
Wild Berries – Julie Flett
Berry Song – Michaela Goade
Blueberry Cake – Sarah Dillard
Old Bear – Kevin Henkes
Bumpety, Dunkety, Thumpety-Thump – KL Going & Simone Shin
Find Fergus – Mike Boldt
This storytime was presented in-person on 8/28, 8/29, & 8/30/23.
Storytime Handout:
*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 