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: Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Book: Charlotte the Scientist is Squished by Camille Andros; illustrated by Brianne Farley
Scientist Charlotte uses the scientific method to determine how to get more space away from her enormous bunny family to conduct her experiments.
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)
Song/Scarves: Popcorn Kernels (to the tune of Frere Jacques; sing each line twice)
Popcorn kernels, (wave scarves overhead)
In the pot. (make scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching them in their fists)
Shake them, shake them, shake them, (shake)
’til they POP! (throw scarves into the air)
Source: Jbrary
Song/Scarves: One Bright Scarf (to the tune of 10 Little Indians)
One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow, (hold in hand)
Wiggle it high, (wiggle above head)
Wiggle it low, (wiggle by knees)
Shake it fast, (shake fast)
Shake it slow, (shake slow)
Put it behind your back. (put scarf behind your back)
Where did it go? (bring out empty hands; shrug)
Source: Jbrary
The kids like scarf songs so much I promised them I’d find an additional one for next week (our last building story time!).
Book: Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts
I pretty much chose this theme because I wanted to read all of Andrea Beaty’s books during Building Story Time this summer. 😀 I adore them.
Song: Itsy, Bitsy Spider
Wiggle: Dance Your Fingers Up
Dance your fingers up,
Dance your fingers down.
Dance them to the side,
And dance them all around.
Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on your head.
Dance them on your tummy,
And put them all to bed.
Source: King County Library System
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Book: 11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill & Nancy Carpenter
I wasn’t sure the kids were going to “get” this book about a girl who conducts experiments throughout the year like living solely on ketchup covered snowballs for the winter and growing mold in her brother’s shoe. The kids were a little restless by the end (we had three fairly long books this session) but I got a lot of laughs from the grown-ups in attendance.
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
After Baby Shark we made popsicle stick catapults! Then we experimented with cotton balls, pennies and pencil erasers to see which went farthest. To our surprise, the cotton balls won!
