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
I think my little ones are getting too old for this song!
Book: The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
A little boy loves being outside but his city is dreary. When he finds an abandoned raised railroad track, he starts planting a little garden. But the garden expands, and soon the whole city is covered in beauty. This book is so visually beautiful. The kids were very quiet while I was reading the book and I think they enjoyed hearing that it was based on a true story.
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)
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)
There was a new kid in class today and I don’t think he was prepared for all the screaming we do at story time. 😀
Book: Whose Garden Is It? by Mary Ann Hoberman; illustrated by Jane Dyer
I like this book so much I’ve read it three times this past week for three different gardening story times.
Song: The Farmer and the Seeds (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
The farmer plants the seeds, (pretend to plant seeds)
The farmer plants the seeds,
Hi, ho, the dairy-o, (slap knees)
The farmer plants the seeds.
The sun comes out to shine (circle arms overhead) //
The rain begins to fall (flutter fingers down) //
The seeds begin to grow (flutter hands up)
Adapted from SurLaLune Storytime
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
Song/Scarves: We Wave Our Scarves Together (to the tune of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
We wave our scarves together,
Because it’s fun to do!
We wave them high, (sing/wave high)
We wave them low, (sing/wave low)
We wave them in the middle,
Because it’s fun to do!
We throw our scarves together,
We throw our scarves together,
We throw our scarves together,
Because it’s fun to do!
We throw them high, (throw/sing high)
We throw them low, (throw/sing low)
We throw them in the middle,
Because it’s fun to do!
Source: Jbrary
Book: Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas
Three bunnies keep eating Mr. McGreely’s beloved garden so he sets increasingly elaborate barricades for them. Will the bunnies every get to their snacks? This one is always a hit!
Flannel: There’s Something in My Garden
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be? (shrug shoulders)
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see. (cover eyes)
Hear it’s funny sound … (put hand to ear)
RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT
A frog is what I found!
SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK … A mouse is what I found! //
TWEET TWEET TWEET … A bird is what I found! //
THUMP THUMP THUMP … A rabbit is what I found!
Adapted from SurLaLune Storytime
Song: All Through the Garden (to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The bees on the flowers go buzz, buzz, buzz,
Buzz, buzz, buzz,
Buzz, buzz, buzz,
The bees on the flowers go buzz, buzz, buzz,
All through the garden.
Butterflies in the air go flutter, flutter, flutter (make butterfly with hands and flutter wings) //
The ants in the dirt go march, march, march (march feet) //
The spiders on the plants go climb, climb, climb (climb fingers up)
I got this song from our other children’s librarian. I don’t know what her source was …
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Book: Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root; illustrated by G. Brian Karas
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
Book: What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss
The daycare does theme weeks and this week was pets so I snuck a pet book in at the end. A brother and sister go to the pet store to choose just one pet. But how will they make a decision and choose which pet to get? We had a minor revolution when I shut the book without revealing which pet the kids choose. I don’t think they cared for the “use your imagination” suggestion …
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 Miss Elena, “Goodbye!” (tap knees)
It’s time to say goodbye to Miss Elena, “Goodbye!”
It’s time to say goodbye …
Wave your hands and wink your eye, (wave, wink)
Now it’s time to say goodbye to Miss Elena, “Goodbye!”
Adapted from Sunflower Storytime
The Short Stack Librarian 