Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at story time,
We clap and sing hello!
We wave and sing hello // We stomp and sing hello
Source: Storytime Katie
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 round and round
All through the town
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish //
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep //
The doors on the bus go open and shut //
The driver on the bus goes move it on back //
The people on the bus go up and down //
The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah //
The people on the bus go shh, shh, shh
Book: If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss
This book is looooooooong and I think the kids started to feel it but they were good little soldiers and were quiet until the end. I only read four books today to make up for this one! I didn’t realize there was some politically incorrect wording (I only leafed through it when I chose it — the book mentioned something about slanted eyes) so be warned. I don’t think the kids understood the Asian implication or if they did they took it with a grain of salt. But I would hesitate before reading this one again.
Song: Row Row Row Your Boat
I do three verses of this classic:
Row row row your boat (the traditional way) //
Rock rock rock your boat, sway from side to side
Merrily merrily merrily merrily what a bumpy ride (bump hands on lap) //
Row row row your boat, gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile (crocodile snap with arms)
Don’t forget to scream (*AH*)
Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Itsy Bitsy Spider (sung normally)
Teeny Weeny Spider (sung in falsetto)
Great Big Hairy Spider (sung deeply)
Flannel: Five Little Elephants
Five little elephants rowing toward the shore,
One fell in and now there are four.
Four little elephants climbing up a tree,
One slid down and now there are three.
Three little elephants living at the zoo,
One walked out the gate and now there are two.
Two little elephants playing in the sun,
One fell asleep and now there is one.
One little elephant isn’t having any fun,
Abracadabra! Now there are none.
Source: King County Library System
Book: Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
Turns out the kids had completed a zoo unit the week before and had read this book. They didn’t mind that we read it again.
Action Rhyme: At the Zoo
At the zoo we saw a bear (hands over eyes)
With great big paws and shaggy hair (hold up hands, ruffle hair)
At the zoo a zebra we found (hands over eyes)
With black and white stripes all around (hands criss cross in front of body)
At the zoo a giraffe so tall (hands in the air)
It could look right over the top of the wall (hands at eye level; lower them under chin)
We saw a lion in a cage (point)
He was roaring in an awful rage (roar)
At the zoo the monkeys run (run in place)
And jump and swing and have lots of fun (jump, swing arms)
But my favorite animal at the zoo is the elephant — how about you? (point to kids)
Source: King County Library System
I didn’t have the kids stand up at the start of the rhyme so they swung their arms while sitting on the floor which isn’t ideal. This is what you get when you don’t review your story time beforehand. *sigh* Then the kids each told me their favorite zoo animal. To my surprise, turtles and tortoises ruled the day!
Action Book: Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Sung three times, getting faster each time.
Wiggle Rhyme: Watch Out for the Bugs (to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Clap your hands, stomp your feet
Wiggle all around
Throw your hands up in the air and now let’s touch the ground
Touch your head, touch your hips, give yourself a hug
Now sit down upon the floor
But watch out for the bugs!! (stamp out the bugs)
Book: Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin; pictures by Harry Bliss
A dud again! Although one of the kids did tell me he has the book Diary of a Worm … they were quiet and paying attention but again, not sure they got the humor.
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Book: Big Bug Surprise by Julia Gran
They really enjoyed hearing that the dung beetle ate poop. What kid wouldn’t?
Song: Baby Shark
Baby shark do do do do do do (shark mouth with two fingers)
Baby shark do do do do do do
Baby shark do do do do do do
Baby shark
Other verses:
Mama Shark (shark mouth with hands connected at the wrists)
Daddy Shark (shark mouth with whole arms)
Grandma Shark (shark mouth like mama shark but with fists)
Shark attack (snap arms overhead)
Swim away (swimming motion with arms)
Safe at last (jazz hands)
Source: Adapted from Kindergarten Nation
Closing Song: It’s Time to Say Goodbye to All Our Friends (to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain When She Comes)
It’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!” (tap knees)
It’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
It’s time to say goodbye,
Wave your hands and wink your eye, (wave, wink)
Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
Source: Sunflower Storytime
I changed the words to “It’s time to say goodbye to Miss Elena” (because they’re not really saying goodbye to each other) and they thought that was hilarious! A great farewell song!
The Short Stack Librarian 