Preschool Storytime: The Amazing ME!

This storytime had some hits and misses. I took a lot of suggestions from storytime katie and Sunflower Storytime and some worked. I had a few restless children, but I also had 25 kids plus 20 adults. It was a lot for one little room, but I believe this taught me that summer themes need to be simpler. For example, the counting storytime I did in May would have gone wonderfully both with a small group or big group. The Amazing ME topic worked fine with my two year olds, a much smaller group, who were more than happy to shout answers. With 25 preschoolers, shouting caused complete chaos which made part of my storytime frustrating. If I were to do this topic again, I would wait for winter when I usually see around 11-15 kids.

Welcome motion: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.

This is a favorite of mine and you will see it often on my storytime lists. I am thinking of doing a multicultural storytime and using this as a base to teach different languages. I can sing the song in French without even thinking about it.

Book: I like myself by Karen Beaumont

This was the favorite of the preschoolers. It gets pretty silly at the end with the horned nose and polka dotted lips, which caused some kids to snicker. I really liked this one too and will definitely use again.

Song: Me, Complete

I have ten little fingers and ten little toes

Two little arms and one little nose

One little mouth and two little ears

Two little eyes for smiles and tears

One little head and two little feet

One little chin and that’s me complete! 
Simple motion to get those wiggles out.

Book: Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore

This one was not as big of a hit as I hoped. I thought the lesson learned from the book would have resonated well. No matter your freckles or glasses or hair color, you should just be you. Even if friends tease you slightly, they are friends and love you for you. I don’t think the kids quite got that. There were parts they loved like the little brother, but I think they tuned out towards the end.

Flannel Board: ME (based on a flannel board by storytime katie)

I used the premise that I can sometimes forget where the different parts of the body go. This was a huge success with the two year old class. I had a small enough group that I had one or two kids come up and show me on the board where the label should go. The preschoolers, however, shouted at me. I tried to reel them in a little by saying can you show me by pointing on you, e.g. hand, foot, shoulder. BUT they mostly just shouted. This is more for a smaller group.

Song: This is way… 
This is the way we wash our face, wash our face, wash our face

This is the way we wash our face, so early in the morning.
(Brush our teeth, comb our hair, put on clothes, ask kids for suggestions) 
The goal of this song was to get kids thinking about how they take care of themselves in the morning. Mainly, it was just a nice way to do some basic motions. I like asking the children for suggestions. Some of the ones I heard were eating breakfast, exercising, and driving to school.

Book: Incredible Me by Kathi Appelt

I really like this book. It is super cute and the rhyme scheme is wonderful. Some kids liked this one, but there were some who could not pay attention. I will try this again next winter.

Craft: Coloring portraits. Using template from Sunflower Storytime

I loved everyone’s portraits. I showed mine as an example, but encouraged all children to use whatever colors they wanted and draw whatever features excited them. I had pink and orange hair, creepy teeth, and mixed up eyes. The parents love the coloring crafts as most of these young ones will need to get better before Kindergarten this August.

Preschool Storytime: This Place is a Zoo!

This was a fun storytime and left me exhausted beyond belief. I also realize that I have not done a good job referencing my sources for these storytimes (how wrong of me!). I mainly use storytime katie and Sunflower Storytime as my muse and inspiration so you should check them out. There are plenty of others that escape me, but one day I will share a resources page with you guys.

Welcome song: Going to the Zoo

A great welcome song. Very fun!

Book: My heart is like a zoo by Michael Hall

The kids thought this book was silly enough and laughed through it. I made sure to let them know it was ok to laugh at the book with me. To do this, I did the rhymes in silly voices.

Song: If you’re a …..

If you’re a lion and you know it, roar like this, ROAR
If you’re a lion and you know it, roar like this, ROAR
If you’re a lion and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re a lion and you know it, roar like this, ROAR
(hyena/ HEEHEE, zebra/STOMP, elephant/trumpet VROOOT, VROOOT)
The kids love it when we do animal voices, so this was a success.

Book: Two at the Zoo by Danna Smith

A great counting book for the kids.

Song: 5 Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree

If I could, I would have this song at every storytime I do. Preschoolers at my branch adore this song so much that I see them clap on their way leaving storytime.

Book: Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

I know, I KNOW! This technically does not involve the zoo, but it does have zoo animals and is a favorite. Even though this book is rather long, all the kids and their parents loved it.

Song: (To the tune to “We’re on our way to Grandpa’s farm) 
We’re on our way, we’re on our way
On our way to see the zoo.
We’re on our way, we’re on our way
On our way to see the zoo.
Over at the zoo there is a big polar bear
Over at the zoo there is a big polar bear
The bear, it makes a noise like this:
Growl, growl!
The bear, it makes a noise like this:
Growl, growl!
(Great big snake…ssss, Big strong lion…roar, take suggestions from kids)
I loved this and the suggestions the kids gave. Then there was one kid who decided to suggest a penguin. Oops. Luckily, I came up with “the penguin, it walks a lot like this (waddle waddle).” Genuis!

Craft: coloring book

For some reason I was really lazy and decided to print out some coloring book pages of zoo animals. The preschoolers and parents enjoyed it because as the parents told me, their children could always work on their coloring skillz.

Preschool Storytime: Me and My Teddy Bear

This was a special storytime. I asked all the children and parents to remember to bring teddy bears or a favorite toy to share with during storytime. I used a bear puppet for my companion and I held it while reading and singing with the kids. They seemed to enjoy this. This was a lot of fun to do and I can’t wait to do it again! The children and parents had a great time singing and were happy to snuggle up while we watched a movie.

Opening: The more we get together

Just a nice opening. I felt everyone would enjoy a little song with their teddy bears.

Book: Teddy Bear’s Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy

I actually went through and memorized the words to this one. Then once everyone was settled, I sang it the entire time. It has been in my head for weeks as a result. The kids were respectful and let me sing through the entire book.

Fingerplay: A bear eats honey

A bear eats honey (pretend to eat)

He thinks it’s yummy

In his tummy (rub tummy)

But the bees don’t think it’s funny!

Buzzzzzzzzzzzz! (make buzzing noise)

This was fun to do. The kids loved buzzing around like bees and acting like they were eating honey. I am going to try this one with the baby class and see if they like it too.

Book: Bears on Chairs by Shirley Parenteau

I felt this one was rather long, but had a great moral lesson about sharing. Luckily, the kids were respectful and listened to the story. They enjoyed the big brown bear at the end getting allowed to sit on the chairs.

Song: Teddy Bear Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach up high

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the sky

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, jump up now!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, take a bow

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, find your nose

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, grab your toes

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch your knees

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, sit down please

This one was fun. I held my puppet bear and did all the moves and the kids joined in with their bears. It was also the perfect lead in to read the next story

Book: Best Bear by Emma Dodd.

I LOVE this book! I love Emma Dodd in general. The kids also liked this book and were very attentive.

Motion: If you're a bear and you know it
If you’re a panda and you know it clap your paws. If you're a panda and you know it clap your paws. If you're a panda and you know it and you really want to show it. If you're a panda and you know it clap your paws.
...If you’re a polar bear and you know it show your teeth, 
...If you’re a grizzly and you know it growl like this

The kids loved the growling. We made lots of noise, hopefully not disturbing other patrons outside the storytime room.

Movie: Goldilocks and the Three Bears (James Marshall version) 8 minutes

A great movie to show and have fun sharing with our bears. I watched with them and sat with my bear too.

Preschool Storytime: It’s the Final Countdown!

I know two posts in one day, what’s going on here?! I had my storytime this week and I went with the theme of counting. Just to jump ahead, this was the most successful storytime I have ever had. Kids friggin love counting. If you are ever stuck with coming up with a theme, just do numbers. I was afraid the kids would get so sick if numbers by the end, but no problem at all. They were quiet and attentive as well as participatory in my songs. Here is the guide I used for my storytime!

Opening Motion: Inside the Space Shuttle (squat down to the ground)

                Just enough room (squeeze self closer)

                Here comes the countdown

                5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (hold up fingers and kids count with you) 
                …ZOOM (jump straight up)
This was a lot of fun to do. It was a great way to start off the counting storytime and everyone loved shooting up into the air.

Book: Ten in the Bed

This book was fun to read, especially if you know the song. The kids thought the different animal characters were a little strange. When the book says "The ballerina fell out of the bed" they all had confused looks. That being said, they were reading with me and were perfectly attentive.

Flannel board: 5 green and speckled frogs

Kids love counting. I will say it again; LOVE counting. The board was a lot of fun to use, so I am glad they enjoyed it. 

Book: One Duck Stuck

This book was rather long, but the kids enjoyed it. 

Song: This old man (1-5)

Easy Peezy, the kids did this one with me and had no problems learning the motions. I kept to just doing 1-5 as 1-10 is just too long for some of the kids.

Motion: 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree

The winner of the session was this song. The kids LOVED snatching the monkey out of the tree. They were clapping throughout the rest of storytime.

Book: Big Fat Hen

I love this book and I used it as a way to lead into actually singing 1,2 Buckle My Shoe. I told the children to guess what song we would be doing next. They got it right away. Perfectly done!

Song: 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe with actions

The book was a perfect lead in to this song.

Movie: Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (6 mins.)

All I had to ask was, “Has anyone heard of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom?” and the kids watched the whole thing no problems. In fact they were mad when they went to our ABC-123 shelf and neither book was there. 

My next storytime is in two weeks and it will be a special one. I can't wait to tell you guys all about it! Be on the look out for my post on Audiobook Awesomeness in the next few days.