Tag: preschool

Preschool Storytime: My Many Feelings

Posted on by msemilylibrary

I’ve been wanting to do a storytime about feelings for a while now. With the kids going back to school and the world turned upside down, it seemed like the time had come. There are so many great picture book options – you could probably do a theme on each feeling individually! I tried to whittle down my favorites to include in the handout.

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

See another version of this theme from 2024.

Early Literacy Tip:  Learning to identify and name our feelings has been shown to release chemicals in the brain that help us feel calmer and able to control negative feelings. According to research, children who understand their own and others’ feelings and learn to manage their emotions have been shown do better in their lives in several ways. These skills are important for getting along with others, staying alert and engaged in activities, and for solving problems peacefully. Books showing emotions help kids develop these skills.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Discussion: What are some different feelings? Happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, bored, lonely, curious, confident, shy, worried, silly… How can we tell what other people are feeling? Tone of voice, the way their body is held, mostly in the face! Use Sunflower Storytime’s feeling faces and ask the kids to make their best faces for each emotion.

Action Rhyme: Feelings
Sometimes on my face you’ll see (point to face)
How I feel inside of me (Point to chest)
A smile means happy, a frown means sad (Smile, then frown)
And when I grit my teeth, I’m mad (Grit teeth and frown)
When I’m proud I beam and glow (Smile, thumbs up)
But when I’m shy, my head hangs low (Bow head)
Credit: Karen Folk. 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays, via Sunflower Storytimes

Read: Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Flannel Song: Five in the Bed
There were five in a bed, and the little one said (5 fingers up)
“Roll over, roll over” (make rolling motion)
And they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in a bed… (continue down to one)

There was one in the bed and the little one said,
(tune of He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands)
“Ahhhhhhhh. I’ve got the whole bed to myself!
I’ve got the whole wide bed to myself!
I’ve got the whole bed to myself,
I’ve got the whole bed to myself! Goodnight!”
Credit: traditional

[My friend Rebecca at Oconee County Library cued me in to connecting the songs Five in the Bed and He’s Got the Whole World; I think it’s a brilliant mashup! I made my own copy of Five in the Bed flannel using inspiration from Adventures in Storytime for the faces and Making Learning Fun for the bed. The faces flip to show their sleeping and surprised faces (the little one starts out grumpy)]

There Were Five in the Bed

Read: Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban & Henry Cole

Ukulele Song: Take a Breath (The Self-Reg Song)
When I’m not doing fine, I keep this in mind
I can take a breath or two
When I want to feel well, I can be still
I can take a breath or two

Breathing in, Breathing out, Breathing in, Breathing out
When I am still, I can be fine, Breathing in and out

Additional verses:
…I can sing a song or two…
…I can move my arms around…

Last verse:
To change how I feel, I keep this in mind
I can take a breath – I can hum a song – I can move my arms –
And feel all right.
Credit: Raffi, from the album Dog on the Floor
Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Thumbnail of ukulele songsheet for Take a Breath

Finger Rhyme: Five Little Frogs
(hold each finger in turn, starting with the thumb)
Five little frogs standing in a row
This little frog stubbed his toe
This little frog said, “Oh, Oh, Oh!”
This little frog laughed and was glad
This little frog cried and was sad
This little frog, so thoughtful and good,
Ran for the doctor as fast as he could
Credit: Mansfield/Richland County (OH) Public Library

Read: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Song: If You’re Happy and You Know it
If you’re happy and you know it shout hooray (hooray!)
If you’re happy and you know it shout hooray (hooray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it shout hooray

Additional verses:
If you’re grumpy and you know it, stomp your feet…
If you’re sad and you know it have a cry (boo hoo)…
If you’re silly and you know it wave your arms…
If you’re surprised and you know it shout “oh my!”…
If you’re scared and you know it, cover your eyes…
Credit: Traditional

Craft: Paper Plate Faces
from the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award 2020 Program Guide
This activity is a great way to talk about feelings, as well as working on fine motor skills. Use paper plates to make faces by JUST drawing the EYES and NOSE (hair, ears, and eyeglasses optional!)  Use the longer pipe cleaner pieces to make different mouth expressions on the paper plate, and the shorter pieces to make eyebrows if desired. Lead your child with questions like “Can you make a happy face with the pipe cleaner?” and “What would the face look like with an angry expression?” OR, let your child decide what emotion to create, then talk about what they made.

Picture of paper plate craft with examples of a happy, surprised, and angry face made with pipe cleaner mouths and eyebrows.

Suggested Activity: Play with blocks the way Taylor does in The Rabbit Listened. Blocks have many benefits to early learning, such as matching, counting, sorting, and even gravity, balance, and geometry.

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 8/11/20.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime handout

Preschool Storytime: School

Posted on by msemilylibrary

Although it’s strange and controversial, the school system here started back this past Wednesday, so I decided to use school as a theme for my Tuesday storytime. Since we’re in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I know that “Back to School” will not look the same as it has in the past, so I’ve tried to address that in a way that’s positive and not scary. That also translated into more “discussion” than rhymes and songs, which is unusual. Lots of kudos to Kate Reynolds, who wrote and shared the “Face Mask Song” which is catchy, fun, AND informative!

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

Early Literacy Tip: Even if your child is too young for school right now, introducing the topic and giving them an idea of what school is all about will help prepare them when the time comes. A child who has had exposure to the idea of school and has some positive connections to it through fun books and songs is more likely to enjoy school, look forward to it, and be ready to get the most out of it when they begin attending school.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Action Rhyme: A Is for Alligator
A is for alligator: Chomp, chomp, chomp
B is for ball: Bounce, bounce, bounce
C is for circle: Turn ’round and ’round
& D is for dizzy: Let’s all sit down!
Credit: King County Library System

Read: Wow! School! by Robert Neubecker

“If you’re going to school soon, it may be a little different. We all need to wear a mask when we are going outside of our house. It will cover our mouth and nose, and it’s not scary! Our mouth and nose (and everyone else’s) are still there, just covered up. The mask helps catch any germs that we might have and keeps them from getting on anyone else, and their mask keeps their germs away from you. It may feel different at first, but once you get used to it you may even forget it’s there. There are lots of designs – it’s like another piece of clothing you’ll wear.” I modeled a couple different designs I had, then left one on while singing the face mask song. Since it’s slightly harder to hear, I made lyrics cards that I held up while singing.

Lyric cards for the Face Mask Song (click to download)
Lyrics cards for the Face Mask Song

Song: My New Face Mask
(tune of Alouette)
Chorus:
My new face mask, how I love my face mask
My new face mask, it helps keep us safe

Do you put it on your face? Yes, but it must be in place.
On your mouth (On your mouth!)
And your nose (And your nose!)
Both of those (Both of those!)
AAAAAAH!

Chorus

But if you are under two, Masks, my friend, are not for you
Under two (under two!)
Not for you (not for you!)
AAAAAAAH!

Chorus

And because there’s germs in there, treat it like it’s underwear!
Wash each wear (Wash each wear!)
Never share! (Never share!)
Treat it like it’s underwear!
UnderWEAAARR!

Chorus
Credit: Kate Reynolds, Windsor Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Another thing that may be different at school is the need to stay a bit further away from people we don’t live with – 6 feet. That means we shouldn’t be giving hugs or high fives to people outside of our house. What are some other ways we can say hello, let our friends know that we’re excited to see them, or that we love someone from a little farther away?
Wave
Thumbs up (or two thumbs up – Aaaaay!)
Salute (bonus: ASL for Hello)
Peace sign
Vulcan Salute (takes some practice!)
Nod
Bow (hands at sides or hands at heart)
Hand over your heart and nod
Black Panther’s Wakanda forever!
Air high five
Air hug
Special “hello” dance (this is something you might work on with one or two special friends – make it your own!)

Read: The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Action Song: The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
On the way to school.

Additional verses:
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish…
The doors on the bus go open and shut…
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep…
The driver on the bus says, “Move on back”…
The kids on the bus wave goodbye… when they get to school!
Credit: traditional

Song: The Handwashing Song
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Tops and bottoms, tops and bottoms
In between, in between
Scrub them all together, scrub them all together
‘Til they’re clean, squeaky clean
(Sing two times while washing for the 20 sec recommended time)
Credit: Jbrary

Our last two books talked about what we might expect at school, but this is a silly book about a dinosaur’s first day of school!
Read: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Craft: Paper Bag Backpacks
from Danielle’s Place

Picture of paper bag backpack craft (linked to original site)

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 8/5/20.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime Handout

Preschool Storytime: Food

Posted on by msemilylibrary

This was the last of my virtual programs before our summer reading program started up. At this time we weren’t providing Take and Make packets. Since we were in lockdown there were no handouts and I tried to suggest either crafts made with household materials or activities caregivers could do with their child. It was so fun to work with titles that introduced foods with which some of my patrons may be unfamiliar. The books were a lovely introduction and I was happy that several of the songs and rhymes I found from Jbrary had multicultural verses or ones I could adapt to our books.

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

Early Literacy Tip: Cooking is great for math skills, spatial awareness, reading recipes, following directions, sequencing, and more. It’s sensory – kids can smell, taste, touch, hear, and see so much during the process, and they are much more likely to be willing to try unfamiliar foods that they had a hand in making.

Read: Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed & Anoosha Syed

Action Song: The Soup is Boiling Up
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
The soup is boiling up, (both hands make spiraling motions upward)
The soup is boiling up,
Stir slow around we go, (pretend to stir)
The soup is boiling up.
Additional verses:
The daal is boiling up…
The chili is boiling up…
The beans are boiling up…
The spaghetti is boiling up…
Credit: Jbrary

Rhyme: At the Kitchen Door
1, 2, 3, 4 _______’s at the kitchen door. (insert child’s name)
5, 6, 7, 8 eating _________ off a plate. (insert child’s favorite food and make eating noises)
Credit: Jbrary

Read: 1 Big Salad by Juana Medina

This is a great one for vocabulary, and you can encourage kids and caregivers to make up their own actions!
Action Cheer: Fruits and Veggies Unite
Form banana, form, form banana (one arm lifts over head in an oblong shape)
Form banana, form, form, banana (second arm mirrors)
Peel banana, peel, peel banana (one arm “peels” off to the side)
Peel banana, peel, peel banana (second arm mirrors)
Go bananas, go, go, bananas! (wave arms wildly)
Go bananas, go, go, bananas!
Additional verses:
Form the orange … peel the orange … squeeze the orange
Form the apple … slice the apple … eat the apple
Form the corn … shuck the corn … pop the corn
Form potato … peel potato … mash potato
Credit: Jbrary

Action Song: Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula
(form a knife, fork, spoon, and spatula shape with arms for each word, then shake hands during the “Cha cha chas”)
I’m a Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula, cha cha cha
I’m a Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula, cha cha cha
I’m a Knife, Fork, Spoon, I’m a Knife, Fork, Spoon,
I’m a Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula, cha cha cha
Credit: Jbrary

Read: Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zheng & Charlene Chua

I borrowed the idea to add some multicultural foods to this classic rhyme from Jbrary’s adaptation which they call Sweet Potatoes in the Pot, and added a few verses that fit with our books today.
Bouncing Rhyme: Jelly on a Plate
Jelly on a plate, Jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, Jelly on a Plate

Naan on the tawa, Naan on the tawa,
Turn it round, turn it round, Naan on the tawa.

Tamales in the steamer, tamales in the steamer,
Wrap them up, wrap them up, Tamales in the steamer

Daal in the pot, daal in the pot,
Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, Daal in the pot

Salad in the bowl, salad in the bowl
Toss it up, toss it up, Salad in the bowl

Bao in the steamer, bao in the steamer
Eat them up, eat them up, bao in the steamer
Credit: adapted from Jbrary

Activity suggestion: Spend some time together in the kitchen this week. Have fun! Make a salad using your favorite veggies, or, if you’re feeling ambitious, try a new recipe like daal or bao or something else that sounds good. Here’s a great article from The Kitchn that shows how to include your kids in the process of making meals. I love that it includes ideas for babies from 0-18 months up to children age 9, because it’s never to early to get kids involved in cooking and eating healthy foods!

Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars

This storytime was presented virtually on 5/26/20.