Rain!

This program was for children ages 2-5.

Books

Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Splish, Splash, Ducky by Lucy Cousins

Songs and Rhymes

Come Under My Umbrella
Courtesy of King County Library System. 

Rain is Falling Down
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 


The Rain Falling Down
(Tune: "The Wheels on the Bus")

The rain falling down goes plink, plink, plink.
(wiggle fingers downward)
Plink,  plink, plink.
Plink, plink, plink.
The rain falling down goes plink, plink, plink.
All day long.

Other verses:
The thunder in the sky goes boom, boom, boom. (clap hands on each "boom")
The wind blowing by goes swish, swish, swish. (sway hands)
The sun in the sky shines so bright. (make a circle with your arms over your head)

Fabulous Fall

This theme was used in a preschool storytime.

Books

Aw, Nuts! by Rob McClurkan
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Songs

Five Furry Chipmunks 
Inspired by 123 Learn Curriculum.

One furry chipmunk dashes by,
(bounce one finger)
Two furry chipmunks are way up high.
(wiggle two fingers in the air)
Three furry chipmunks with some nuts to hide,
(put hands behind back)
Four furry chipmunks play outside.
(wiggle four fingers)
Five furry chipmunks chase round and round,
(roll hands)
Scattering acorns on the ground.
(make sprinkling motion with fingers)

This rhyme is a variation on Five Furry Squirrels.

I used a chipmunk finger puppet by Folkmanis to accompany the song.

I'm a Nut
Courtesy of Jbrary

We incorporate various movements into our version.

I'm an acorn small and round,
(make a circle with your arms out in front)
lying on the cold, cold, ground.
(point to the ground)
People always step on me,
(stomp foot)
that is why I'm cracked you see.
(clap hands)
I'm a nut (clack, clack)
(tap head)
I'm a nut (clack, clack)
I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut (clack, clack)

Apple Seed
Courtesy of Everything Preschool. 

Activity

Bubble play! I used the song Fun, Fun, Fun by the Beach Boys!

Craft

Owl

Supplies:

• Brown paper cup
• Yellow construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Feathers
• Sticker eyes 
• Scissors
• Glue stick 

Note: To make circle cutting easier, I use a circle stamp found in the stationary section of most craft stores. 

Apples

This theme was used in a preschool program.

Books

One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert
Ned's New Home by Kevin Tseng
Ducking for Apples by Lynne Berry

Songs

Apple Seed
Courtesy of Everything Preschool. 

Five Little Apples
Courtesy of Preschool Education. See Apple Fingerplay. 

Activity

Rhythm Sticks!

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Bread and Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Rainstorm! 
Courtesy of Early Childhood News.

Craft

Caramel Apple!

Supplies:

• Red construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Red and gold sequins
• Glue
• Popsicle stick

Art and Color

I used this theme in a preschool storytime.

Books

Sky Color by Peter Reynolds
Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd

I created this prop for a colleague's storytime last year. I never had the chance to use it until now. The kids loved it!

Songs

Can You Find?
Courtesy of  Preschool Education

We used the following colors:

• Blue
• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Purple

I placed large circles around the room in each color. This gave the kids had a specific object to look for.

This is the Way We Paint
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

We performed the following actions:

• Stir the paint
• Dip the brush
• Paint the paper
• Frame the picture
• Hang it high

Activities

Bubble play!

Craft

We created a fall mural! I placed out a large piece of butcher paper and used puffy paint and pom poms to make an apple tree in the center. I punched out Ellison letters to create the phrase "Happy Fall" in the center. I used the Ellison stamp to punch out apples, pumpkins, and leaves. I supplied the kids with stickers, glue, and crayons to decorate the mural.I did not provide an image, since a few of the kids wrote their first and last names on the mural.

Marvelous Movement

Books

Drum City by Thea Guidone
Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle

Songs

Go Bananas!
Courtesy of Jbrary

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Let's Get the Rhythm  
Courtesy of Jbrary 

We Can Jump!
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

Activities

Rhythm Sticks

Billy Goats Go Trip, Trapping
Courtesy of Jean Warren

Rainstorm
(see Pizza Pie Storytime Post)

The Wheels on the Bus
Courtesy of Jbrary

Freeze Dance

I used the song The Freeze by Greg and Steve from the CD Kids in Motion. 

Craft

Rocket Ship

• Card stock
• Rocket clipart
• Star stickers
• Crayons
• Yellow and red streamers
• Large popsicle sticks
• Tape or glue stick 

Outdoor Adventures Storytime

Books

The Best Picnic Every by Clare Jarrett
Duck Dunks by Lynne Berry
It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree

Songs

Camping Song
Courtesy of Preschool Education

Let's Pack a Picnic Basket  
Courtesy of Preschool Education

The Wheels on the Bike
Courtesy of Storytime Katie 

Five Little Kernels
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Activity

Bubbles!

Craft

Campfire

Supplies:

• Black construction paper
• Orange construction paper
• Red construction paper
• Brown construction paper 
• Scissors
• Star stickers
• Small popsicle sticks
• Cotton balls 
• Glue

Instructions:

Trace your hand on the orange and red construction paper. Rip pieces from the brown construction paper. Glue the orange and red hand prints to the black construction paper. Make sure they're staggered.  Glue brown paper to the base of the hands. Glue a popsicle stick near the top of the paper. Glue cotton balls on top of the popsicle stick. Place star stickers on the black paper.

Fruits & Veggies Storytime

This program was for children ages 3 to 6 years.

Books

Ned's New Home by Kevin Tseng
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Songs

Fruits & Veggies Unite
Courtesy of Jbrary
Stir it!
Courtesy of Miss Meg's Storytime 

I printed and laminated vegetables to hand out to the kids. When I called their vegetable, they place it in the bowl. In our version we used the following vegetables:

• Carrots
• Corn
• Potatoes
• Broccoli
• Onions
• Peppers

Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula
Courtesy of Jbrary

Activity

Bubbles!

Craft

Strawberry

Supplies:

• Red heart doilies
• Green card stock
• Black construction paper
• Glue 
• Card stock for background

Spring Gardens

This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
The Surprise Garden by Zoe Hall
Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee, Do You Know Me? by Anne Rockwell

Songs & Fingerplays

There's Something In My Garden
Inspired by SurLaLune Storytime

In our version, we find a bee, rabbit, frog, mouse, and butterfly.  I hold up a stick puppet after we sound out the animal noise.

My Garden
Courtesy of Preschool Express 

Five Little Peas
Courtesy of CanTeach

We act out each movement to the song.

Five little peas in a pea-pod pressed,
(press hands together with closed fingers)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest;
(begin to peel fingers apart)
They grew...and grew...and did not stop,
(move hands away from each other)
Until one day the pod went...POP!
(clap hands on "POP")

Activity

Bubbles!

I played the song I'm a Believer from the CD Back to the Beat by the Sugar Beats.

Craft

Flower

Supplies:

• Cupcake wrappers. Green for the leaves and one for the center.
• Popsicle stick
• Contruction paper
• Scissors to cut circle. I used an Ellison stamp.
• Glue

Wonderful Weather!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Boom! Big, Big Thunder and One Small Dog by Mary Lyn Ray
Hello, Sun!by Dayle Ann Dodds
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Songs

What's the Weather?
Sung to Oh My Darling, Clementine
Courtesy of Preschool Education

After we sing the song, I hold up a picture of different kinds of weather. We then select what the weather is for the day.

Rain, Rain
Courtesy of Preschool Education

We act out each movement in our version of the song.

Rain, rain, falling down,
(wiggle fingers down)
Landing all around.
(wiggle fingers to the side)
What a lovely sound you make
(cup ears)
Splashing on the ground.
(tap knees)

Activity
Bubbles! 

I played the song Rockin' Robbin by Bobby Day from the CD Rock 'N' Roll, compiled by Music Little People.

Craft

Letter R rain cloud

Supplies:

• Gray construction paper
• Blue card stock
• Rain clip art
• Cotton balls
• Glue stick 

Make Some Noise Storytime!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6. We explored a variety of exciting noises through books, songs, and action play.

Books

Drum City by Theresa Guidone
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia 

Songs & Fingerplays

Peanut Butter & Jelly
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

This is a great, classic song. We sing the peanut butter portion loudly, "and jelly" quietly. We repeat each verse twice and act out various movements. 

The Animals in the Jungle
Courtesy of Everything Preschool

In our version we close with "The elephants in the jungle go stomp, stomp, stomp."

Five Little Nails
Courtesy of Mel's Desk

Activity

Rhythm Sticks and Shaker Eggs

Bread and Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

 If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary

The Wheels on the Bus
Courtesy of Jbrary

Everyone Can Shake
Courtesy of Jbrary 

Egg Shakers Up!
Courtesy of Jbrary

Craft

Traffic Jam Cars!

Supplies:

• Paper plate cut in half
• Black construction paper for wheels
• White card stock for windows
• Tissue paper and patterned paper cut into squares
• Large popsicle stick
• Glue stick

Pizza Pie Storytime

This program was for children ages 3 to 6. I used this theme before with an older crowd. It's a wonderful, fun topic with lots of exciting songs and activities.

Books

Ding Dong! Gorilla by Michelle Robinson
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
Pizza at Sally's by Monica Wellington 

Songs & Fingerplays

Pizza Man
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

If You Want to Eat Some Pizza
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

I incorporated the following movements:
Raise your hand
Clap your hands
Stomp your feet
Rub your tummy

Pizza Man, Pizza Man
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Activity 

Rhythm Sticks

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary.

Rainstorm
This activity is from 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children by  Abigail Flesch Connors.

One day I was sitting in my house.
(place the rhythm sticks on your lap)
It was very quiet.
All of a sudden, I heard some light raindrops on my roof.
They sounded like this.
(tap sticks softly and slowly).

After a while, the rain got a little heavier,
(tap sticks a little louder and faster)
And then a little heavier.
(tap sticks a little louder and faster)
Then it turned into a rainstorm!
(tap sticks loud and fast)
Then it stopped!
(stop tapping and place sticks on lap)

Bread & Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Craft

Make a Pizza Pie!

• Small paper plate
• Glue 
• Scissors
• White yarn for cheese
• Red construction paper, cut into a circle, for sauce
• Green construction paper, cut into strips, for peppers
• Black pom poms for olives
• Brown crayon for crust
• Mushroom clip art (courtesy of My Cute Graphics)

 

Frosty Tales!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer
Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell

Snow Happy has great rhyming and repetition. Every time I read "snow happy", I asked the group to join in.

Songs

Warm Mittens
Courtesy of Can Teach

View the posting titled Winter Wonderland for more details.

There's Something in the Snow
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

Animals & Noise:

Wolf-Howl, Howl
Polar Bear-Grrr, Grr
Penguin-Waddle
Snow Owl-Hoot, Hoot
Snow Bunny-Thump, thump, thump

The kids loved this rhyme! I created a prop using our plot printer and clip art. I made a little snow mound and printed images of the animals. After we made the sound, I asked the group "Which animal do you think makes that noise?". They would shout the answer and I would show them the picture. Then the animal would "hide" in the snow. This is a great way to incorporate stick puppets and flannel boards.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear
By Jean Warren, courtesy of Preschool Express

Activity

Bubbles!

I used the song Icky Sticky Bubble Gum from the CD Action! Fun! Dance! 


Craft

Ice Skates

• Ice skate clip art
• Jumbo Popsicle Sticks
• Glue
• Stickers
• Crayons
• Sequins

Winter Wonderland!

Although it is rather warm in New Jersey today, I had a Winter Wonderland Storytime! This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

These are two of my favorite winter books. The kids always love the silly activities of the snowmen in Snowmen at Night. The Snowy Day is a true classic. It's a sweet story about a boy named Peter and his snow day adventures. I like to engage the kids during this book. I'll ask questions like "Do you make snow angels like Peter?" or "How many of you have built a snowman?". When Peter puts the snowball in his pocket, it disappears. I'll ask, "What do you think happened to the snowball?". The kids love to tell you about their own snow day activities!

Songs

Warm Mittens
Courtesy of CanTeach

In our version, we repeat the first verse at the end. We also have actions for each movement.

I wiggle my left hand,
(shake left hand)
I wiggle my right,
(shake right hand)
Inside of my mittens,
(give yourself a hug)
So warm and so tight.
I wiggle my pinkie.
(wiggle pinkie)
I wiggle my thumb,
(wiggle thumb)
so when I make snowballs,
(pretend to make snowball)
my hands don't get numb.
(rub hands together)
I wiggle my left hand,
(wiggle left hand)
I wiggle my right,
(wiggle right hand)
Inside of my mittens,
So warm and so tight.
(give yourself a hug)

Polar Bear, Polar Bear
By Jean Warren, courtesy of Preschool Express.

Hey! Mr. Snowman
Courtesy of the blog Storytiming

I made the prop using our large plot printer and clip art.

Activity

If You Have Some Rhythm Sticks
Courtesy of Jbrary

The Wheels on the Bus
Courtesy of Jbrary

Bread & Butter
Courtesy of Jbrary

Craft

Polar Bear and Snow Globe

We made two crafts with this program!

Supplies:

• Paper plate
• White card stock or construction paper
• Black pom poms
• Google eyes
• School Glue
• Cotton balls

 Supplies:

•  Two shades of blue card stock 
• Cotton balls
• Sequins
• Snowflake stickers
• White card stock or construction paper
• Black and orange markers for the snowman

Bubblegum & Bubbles!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6. It was a lot of fun! Who doesn't like bubbles?

Books

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler
Harry and Horsie by  Katie Van Camp

Songs & Fingerplays 

Sticky, Sticky Bubble Gum
Courtesy of Jbrary

In our version we stick our hands to our head, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet.

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum

We sang the classic song Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish. During the rhyme, we bumped our fists on top of the other. I started with three pieces of bubble gum. We clapped every time we counted each number. We repeated the song, adding a piece of bubble gum each time. We only went up to number 6. 

I Had a Little Turtle
Courtesy of Jbrary.
Activity

Bubbles!

I used the song Icky Sticky Bubble Gum from the CD Action! Fun! Dance!


Craft

Bubble Machine!

Supplies:

• Paper plates
• Glue sticks
• Pom poms
• Red construction paper
• Gray construction paper

Farm Fun Storytime

Today I had my first preschool storytime after summer reading! The theme was farm fun. It was a hit! The kids, and caregivers, loved the books, songs, activity, and craft. I highly recommend the songs and materials for a preschool program.

Books

Cock-A-Moo-Moo by Juliet Dallas-Conte
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

There was lots of laughter and excitement with these books!

Songs and Fingerplays

When Cows Wake Up in the Morning
Courtesy of Jbrary.


I accompanied this song with a flannel board. I made the animals out of foam sheets. I incorporated a few different animals than the Jbrary version. We sang about cows, sheep, ducks, horses, pigs, and hens.

The Animals on the Farm

There are many versions of this song, but mine is close to the version on Free Preschool Activities. Our version includes cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, and horses.

Little Duck
Courtesy of Storytime Katie.


Activity

Bubbles!
I used songs from the CD Kids Wanna Rock! by Mr. Al.

Craft

Baby Chick

Supplies:

• Yellow card stock
• Basket grass 
• Blue card stock
• White card stock
• Feathers
• Glue sticks
• Baby chick graphic courtesy of Sweet Clipart.