Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with some storytime inspiration? I have! I was struck by the Storytime Muse with ideas for my summer programs, which will again be outdoors. During the short storytime portion, we get out our parachute and do some fun songs with it – always the same each week. I’ve themed them loosely for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) theme that my library uses. For “All Together Now,” for example, I said we all had to work together to make the parachute move. For “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” I used tunes like Row Your Boat for an adventure on water or A Smooth Road for one on land.
This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” and we chose weekly themes like dinosaurs, dirt/mud, worms, and buried treasure. Having some parachute activities that fit the overall theme is perfect for my plan. I’m looking forward to using these three and maybe they will help you, too. Happy summer planning!
Not an original, but a new way to use this song for a parachute! This would be an abbreviated version, not doing the “stop and eat their food” part. We would imitate the kind of movement we’re singing about with the parachute – marching being even and steady ups and downs, tiptoeing being very tiny waves, jumping being very big ones, and running being wild, fast shaking! Then, make the earth flat by pulling the ‘chute backward. Granted, the littlest ones might not be able to follow directions well enough to actually execute that part, but preschoolers would probably love that. Parachute Song: We Are the Dinosaurs We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching (wave chute in steady beat) We are the dinosaurs, whaddaya think of that? We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching We are the dinosaurs we make the earth flat (pull parachute back to make flat) (tiptoeing, jumping, running) Source: Laurie Berkner, from the album Whaddaya Think of That?
I think the hard part of this one for me will be to remember to reverse the tune so my voice is high for “first level” and goes down, since I’m so used to the opposite for the elevator version of the song! Parachute Song: Let’s Go Digging (tune of Let’s go Riding on an Elevator) Let’s go digging deep in the earth, in the earth, in the earth Let’s go digging deep in the earth, dig along with me! [Let’s start at the ground level and dig down!] (start with chute high and high voice) First level, second level, third level, fourth level, fifth level… (voice goes down) [Oh, look! I found a fossil!/buried treasure/worm/dino bone] And up, up, up, up, up! (voice goes up) Source: piggyback lyrics by Ms. Emily Library
In my groups, some kids always want to go underneath the parachute. This rhyme would be a good one to direct the adults to do the waving and the kids to go under and pretend to be worms! Parachute Rhyme: I’m a Worm I’m a worm and I’m wiggling so slow (wave slowly) I help to make the flowers grow (raise parachute high on “grow”) But when I see a bird I wiggle quickly down (wave and lower chute) Where I can wiggle and play underground! (wave low to ground) Source: original (Ms. Emily Library)
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
Dinosaurs are a tried and true storytime theme, and I celebrate DINOvember every couple of years. This year, we did more shaker egg activities, and I found a fantastic new book that’s perfect for my age group. It is short and simple, has facts about dinosaurs, and a great surprise fold-out page at the very end. Plus – it’s written by an actual dinosaur scientist (who is also a woman of color) and I love pointing out actual jobs that people have in storytime.
You can find other versions of this theme from 2021 and 2022.
Early Literacy Tip: Everybody knows at least one child who can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. There’s a reason for that! Children’s 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. –Mel’s Desk
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. I rotate between elbows, cheeks, hips, noses, arms, chins, thighs, heads, shoulders, ears, knees, and fingers.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Intro: Today we’re talking all about dinosaurs! Even though they’re not around any longer, I love to imagine what these gigantic and amazing creatures might have been like. Some dinos were big, and some were little. Let’s do a rhyme.
I changed the claws/jaws rhyme to claws/pause and roar – roaring seemed more fun that clacking our teeth together. It added that anticipatory element as well. Action Rhyme: Dinosaur, Dinosaur (TT) (TB) (FT) Dinosaur, dinosaur, turn around Dinosaur, dinosaur, stomp the ground Dinosaur, dinosaur, show your claws Dinosaur, dinosaur, now let’s pause… and ROAR! Dinosaur, dinosaur, big and tall (reach up high) Dinosaur, dinosaur, quick and small (crouch low) Dinosaur, dinosaur, shake the ground (stomp again) Dinosaur, dinosaur, sit back down! Source: adapted from Verona Storytime and Plainfield-Guilford Township (IN) Library
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)
As mentioned in the intro above, this book has all the elements to make it work perfectly in a toddler storytime. Everyone loved it. During the “dig, dig, dig” refrain, we had our tools out and did the digging motion, which made it even more interactive. Read: Dig, Dig, Dinosaurby Anjali Goswami & Maggie Li (TT) (TB) (FT)
This was on my cart as a backup, but I didn’t end up using it. Read: We Love Dinosaursby Lucy Volpin
This dinosaur flannel comes from Mel’s Desk – inspiration for a lot of the program. I did it on paper, but I’ve seen a lot of cute felt versions, too. There are so many kinds of dinosaurs! Who is this again? Stegosaurus! Let’s see who comes to play with Stegosaurus when she calls for some friends. Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play (TT) (TB) (FT) (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 to make “running” sounds and repeat, counting up to five dinosaurs)
Last verse: Five dinosaurs went out to play By a giant fern one day They had such enormous fun That they played until the day was done! Source: Mel’s Desk
We talked very briefly about each dino before doing their verse. This actually felt a little long, I maybe would shorten it or replace it next time. Now that the dinos are all together, what do they do? Song: All Through the Swamp (TT) (TB) (FT) 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 Triceratops’ horns go poke poke poke… The Stegosaurus’ tail goes swish, swish, swish… The Brachiosaurus’ mouth goes munch, munch, munch… The Pteranodon’s wings go flap flap flap… Source: Mel’s Desk
This storytime went a little long, so I dropped this rhyme and “Inside Her Eggshell” for my two sessions that did a craft as well. Let’s stretch our bodies. Action Rhyme: Dinosaur Stretch (TT) 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 Source: Storytime Katie
Oh, my! I found a dinosaur nest! Did you know that dinosaurs hatch from eggs? Come on up and get yourself a dinosaur egg. Shaker Rhyme: Dino Eggs (TT) (TB) (FT) Dino eggs are up, Dino eggs are down Dino eggs are dancing, All around the town Dance them on your shoulders, Dance them on your head Dance them on your knees, And tuck them into bed Source: adapted from the traditional “Tommy Thumbs”
I wonder what kind of dinosaur is inside my egg? I guess I’ll just have to wait until it hatches. Shaker Rhyme: Inside Her Eggshell (TT) Inside her egg shell, white and round Baby dinosaur is safe and sound But she wants to come out into the light So she pushes and shoves with all her might Her shell soon cracks and creaks and pops One big jump and out she pops! Source: Yogibrarian
Shaker Rhyme: Egg So Quiet (TT) (TB) (FT) Egg so quiet , Egg so still (keep shaker still) Will it hatch? Yes, it will! (shake hard!) Source: Storytime in the Stacks
Shaker/Recorded Song: We Are the Dinosaurs (TT) (TB) (FT) Source: The Laurie Berkner Band, from the album: “Whaddya Think of That?”
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Dinosaur Parade Headband (TB) (FT) Our library has these four dinosaur dies for our die cutter, which makes this an easy craft for me. The bands are made by cutting a piece of 9 x 12″ construction paper in quarters, and each band is made from two strips stapled together. The kids glued dinos on and grownups stapled the bands together to fit. Whenever we do a headband, I remind grownups to keep the smooth side of the staples on the inside so hair doesn’t get caught.
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!
I made sure to put out my dinosaur manipulative: Clothespin Stegasauruses. I talk more about making these at this post from 2022.
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Hello Dinosaurs! – Joan Holub & Chris Dickason Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones – Byron Barton Iamasaurus – Anne Ylvisaker & Mark Hoffmann Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? – Helen Yoon We Are the Dinosaurs – Laurie Berkner & Ben Clanton What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night – Refe & Susan Tuma One-osaurus, Two-osaurus – Kim Norman & Pierre Collet-Derby Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur – Cirocco Dunlap & Greg Pizzoli Old MacDino Had a Farm – Becky Davies & Ben Whitehouse Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Mo Willems
This storytime was presented in-person on 11/11, 11/12, 11/13, & 11/14/24.
**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
† Click the image of rhyme/song sheets to download a non-branded PDF
It’s DINOvember and we are having all the fun with dinosaurs! Even my baby program had fun with some dinosaur songs and rhymes, though I felt I needed to adapt a couple traditional baby/toddler rhymes to involve them more. But just like a monster storytime, we did a lot of roaring and stomping and pretending.
You can find other versions of this theme from 2021 and 2024.
Early Literacy Tip: Everybody knows at least one child who can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. There’s a reason for that! Children’s 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: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**
Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (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 was shoulders and noses.
Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)
Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (FT)
Intro: Today’s theme is all about dinosaurs! Even though they’re not around any longer, I love to imagine what these gigantic and amazing creatures might have been like. Some dinos were big, and some were little. Let’s do a rhyme.
Action Rhyme: Big Dino, Little Dino Big Dino, Little Dino, turn around Big Dino, Little Dino, touch the ground Big Dino, Little Dino, reach up high Big Dino, Little Dino, blink your eyes Big Dino, Little Dino, touch your nose Big Dino, Little Dino, touch your toes Big Dino, Little Dino, slap your knees Big Dino, Little Dino, sit down please Source: Project I.Am.Abbey
Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)
I like the big flaps at the end of this board book, and all the cheerful, colorful dinosaurs in a prehistoric setting! Read: Hello Dinosaurs! by Joan Holub & Chris Dickason (BB)
This one is so simple and perfect.The ending always makes the adults chuckle. Read: We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin (TB) (FT)
It’s kind of amazing what even the two-year-olds already know about dinosaurs!I introduced each dinosaur with a very short description – “Triceratops had three horns and a big frill on its head – it was a plant-eater but used its horns to defend itself when needed.” The flannelboard dinosaurs 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 Triceratops’ horns go poke, poke, poke… 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
This and Dino Thumbs are the rhymes I quickly came up with for the youngest group, though I did do “Where Is T Rex” at all my sessions. Fingerplay: Where is T Rex? (BB) (TB) (FT) (tune of Where is Thumbkin?) Where is T Rex? Where is T Rex? (use thumbs) HERE I AM! HERE I AM! (use T-Rex voice!) HOW ARE YOU TODAY, FRIEND? VERY WELL I THANK YOU! ROAR AWAY! ROAR AWAY!
Where is Pteranodon? (thumb spread from fingers like wings) … Fly away! Fly away! Where is brachiosaurus? (use pointer finger) …Munch, munch, munch! Munch, munch, munch! (don’t retreat) Source: original, adapted from the traditional
I’ve seen this as “Tommy Thumbs” and also with “Egg Shakers.” My rhyme sheet had a picture of thumbs with dinosaur finger puppets on them! Fingerplay: Dino Thumbs (BB) Dino Thumbs are up Dino Thumbs are down Dino Thumbs are dancing All around the town Dance them on your shoulders Dance them on your head Dance them on your knees And tuck them into bed (fold arms) Source: adapted from the traditional
Rhyme: Dinosaur Stretch (BB) (TB) (FT) 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 Source: Storytime Katie
This was on my plan, but I didn’t end up doing it at any of my sessions. Action Rhyme: Five Little Dinosaurs Five little dinosaurs sitting in a swamp. The first one said, “Let’s stomp, stomp, stomp.” The second one said, “Time for lunch!” The third one said, “Let’s munch, munch, munch.” The fourth one said, “Let’s stomp some more.” The fifth one said, “Let’s all roar!” GRRRR! Source: Everybody Loves Bubbles
Everyone enjoyed slapping their knees to make the sound of dinosaurs running! Ukulele/Flannel Song: One Dinosaur Went Out to Play (TB) (FT) (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! Source: Mel’s Desk
Action Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes* (BB)
Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Craft: Dinosaur Parade Headband In an attempt to make life easy, and since my library has a great selection of die cuts, I provided two green strips (2.24×12″, four strips per sheet of construction paper), and the four dinosaurs that we had dies for – T-Rex, Pteranodon, stegosaurus, and brachiosaurus. Glue sticks and staplers (pro tip: put the “bumpy side” of the staples on the *outside* of the headband) and everyone had a dinosaur parade to wear on their heads!
Play Time The babies 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!
For my older kids, I made a new manipulative for playtime (which was my suggested craft for our Storytime Shorts video series this month): Clothespin Stegosauruses! This was inspired by a craft I originally saw on Storytime Katie’s blog, and found another version on Oh, Hey, Let’s Play. She said she didn’t know where she originally got her artwork, but I loved it, so drew my own version based on hers. (If anyone finds the original source, let me know!) We have a ton of yard signs that were purchased for summer 2020 that were not used, so they are a great backer for this. You can also use cardboard. I put two mirror image dinos on one sheet of paper and printed on colored paper to glue to the stiff yard sign outline that I cut using an Exacto knife. Four was enough for my sore fingers, but that’s perfect for a toy that we’ll use at playtime but not take home. Then I colored wooden clothespins to match the colored dinos. In addition to the different colors, each dino has a different number of spikes, and the clothespins are numbered, too. Depending on a child’s age and development, they can start by just focusing on pinching the clothespins (strengthening hand muscles), then move up to color matching and/or number matching. I was fascinated by this article about kids not having the requisite hand strength for kindergarten activities and highlighted that when talking with caregivers about this activity.
Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)
Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme) Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones – Byron Barton Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! – Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen & Zachariah OHora Dinosaur Vs. the Library (series) – Bob Shea Dinosong – Tim McCanna & Richard Smythe What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night – Refe & Susan Tuma One-osaurus, Two-osaurus – Kim Norman & Pierre Collet-Derby Counting Dinos – Eric Pinder & Junissa Bianda Old MacDino Had a Farm – Becky Davies & Ben Whitehouse Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Mo Willems
This storytime was presented in-person on 11/7, 11/8, & 11/9/22.
**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for: (BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2 (TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5 (FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Our local parks department runs a summer half-day camp for preschoolers, and asked the library to come out for a story and craft session once a week. It was another outdoor opportunity to connect with our community, so I was happy to do it! We had time each week for a book, a song, and a craft, and the kiddos were a lot of fun. The camp had their own weekly themes, so I tailored each session to what they were already doing. Where I could, I then used any overlapping animal themes for my weekly library storytime (dinosaurs, arctic, jungle), but did something different the weeks they had non-animal themes (transportation, olympics).
Pets: 6/17/21
I’d done a pet theme a few months earlier, so this was an easy one. I got to read a book that was a little long for my “all ages/family” virtual program, but was perfect for a group of preschoolers. I did a different voice for each pet and really hammed it up. They loved it! For our song, I wanted to get the ukulele out, so did “How Much is that Pet in the Window.” Their “job” was to make the animal noises after each line, and they took that job *very* seriously. 🙂
Book: Mr Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty & Edward Hemingway
Song: How Much Is that Pet in the Window? How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof! The one with the waggily tail? How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof! I do hope that doggy’s for sale
Additional verses: (What do other animals do and say?) Kitty…meow…whiskers so long Bird… tweet tweet…flappity wings Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs Fish… glub glub… swimmy fins Credit: Jen in the Library
Craft: Paper Plate Fishbowls In the past I’d used dried beans for the aquarium rocks, but for simplicity and weight I used crispy rice cereal for this group.My photo is from my original sample.
Dinosaurs: 6/24/21
Again, I’ve done dinosaurs in the past (pre-blog), so it was easy to pull together a song and book.I figured out the chords for Five Little Ducks the way I sing it (which seems to be a little different from a lot of the chord sheets I looked at, strangely enough). I also had flannel board dino pieces that I brought along and held up for each new dinosaur. They were from a template on the Mel’s Desk blog.
Book: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
Ukulele 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, Diiiiiiiiiiiinosaur!” (slap thighs for “running” sounds)
(count up to 5) Last line: …That they played until the day was done! Credit: Mel’s Desk
Craft: Shape-o-Saurus Make a dino using simple shapes. This was a tough one to do on a windy day – shapes blew everywhere! But the kids still enjoyed it. 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.
Another easily adapted theme from sessions I’ve done in the past. I used a new-to-me book and tried to keep the craft as simple as possible. I figured a familiar song would be welcome and the kiddos were happy to call out the Wheels on the Bus verses we did together.
Book: Toad on the Road: A Cautionary Tale by Stephen Shaskan
Ukulele Song: The Wheels on the Bus The wheels on the bus go round and round, (circle arms) Round and round, Round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round, All through the town.
Additional verses: The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish (wiper motion) The doors on the bus go open and shut (open/close hands) The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep (push a horn) The driver on the bus says “Move on back” (cock thumb back) The people on the bus go up and down (bounce up and down) The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah” (wring hands at eyes) The parents on the bus say “Shush, shush, shush.” (bring index finger to lips)
Craft: Name Train Simple craft this time. I printed a train engine on two halves of 11×17 paper and provided construction paper squares to make cars. (My cars were too big for kids to have one per letter, so we figured out how to get their name on using 4 cars or less…) For a little extra sensory experience, we glued down cotton ball steam – which is hard to see in the picture!
A cold weather theme for the middle of summer! I had an inflatable globe I’d intended to bring to point out the arctic and antarctic (the fact that polar bears and penguins get grouped together is one of my pet peeves), but I’d left it behind. Oh, well, next time! I also left the ukulele at home this week on purpose – our song worked better with motions, and I brought our storytime scarves for it. I added a verse about the dryer since it felt wrong to wash without drying!
Book: A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris
Scarf Song: The Walrus Washes His Winter Coat Oh, the walrus washes his winter coat Down by the wavy ocean He adds some water and he adds some soap and he waits…and he waits…and he waits.
Then the laundry shakes, shakes, shakes The laundry shakes and shakes and shakes The laundry shakes, shakes, shakes until it’s clean. (repeat)
Additional verses: The laundry spins … until it’s clean The laundry tumbles … until it’s dry Credit: Brytani Fraser via Jbrary
Craft: Polar Bear Scene This was inspired by Tompkins County Public Library (NY). I printed a picture of a polar bear on dark blue construction paper, and gave kids chalk and cotton balls. They could choose to fill the bear with either chalk or cotton, or the snow (or really, whatever they wanted.) I showed them examples of both and let them go. It was fun to see the variety of what they made.
Olympics: 7/22/21
This theme was actually not one I’d ever done before, so I pulled a lot of books to see what might fit. I considered Peanut Goes for the Gold by Jonathan Van Ness & Gillian Reid – it’s super cute and a pretty recent title (plus, Peanut uses they/them pronouns – bonus!), but ultimately decided to go with Jabari Jumps. I’d thought it would be more relatable, and worked with the song I’d chosen. Our craft was an abstract process art piece that the kids really got into.
Book: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Ukulele Song: If You’re Going to the Pool (tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It) If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit If you’re going to the pool, then a suit will keep you cool If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit (Additional verses: hat, flip flops, sunglasses, what else?) Credit: Teeny Tiny Library
Craft: Olympic Rings Inspired by the Happy Hooligans blog, this was a simple process art. I brought paper plates, tempera paint, toilet paper tubes, and construction paper, showed them how to make a ring, and let them at it! Some were done in three minutes, some lingered for ten.
Jungle: 7/29/21
The last session! Our book was on the longer side and the group got a little wiggly during it, so perhaps it is a better fit for slightly older kids – maybe kindergarten. The other option I was thinking of was Oh, No! by Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann, which might have been better with the interactive option for the repeated phrase. I set up the chant by talking about monkeys and what the phrase “go bananas” meant – that helped them know exactly what to do on the last line! And the craft was one I was pretty proud of – I’d seen this lion fork painting at Crafty Morning and adapted the idea to painting the tiger’s stripes! (Since grouping savanna animals with jungle animals is another pet peeve of mine…) I found a picture of a stripeless tiger, made some jungle leaves, and the kids built their scene.
Craft: Tiger in the Jungle I asked the kids to glue down all the parts and pieces first – leaves and tiger, then gave them forks to dip into black paint to add the stripes. Lastly, they could draw any other elements on their page, such as vines or other animals.
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 