I had 72 people at this session. The most yet! We might have to make this a continuous program …
I read two books today because they were both short. The second book is more of an action book so I had the kids stand up and do the movements with me.
Book: I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison; illustrated by Frank Morrison
A little girl finds music and rhythm in every day life.
Book: Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson; illustrated by Brian Won
A little monkey can’t wake up so the doctor recommends exercise! Great movement and dance to start our story time!
Welcome Song: Clap Your Hands by Old Town School of Folk Music
Song: Walking Walking by Old Town School of Folk Music
Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Old Town School of Folk Music
(Can you tell I love this group for dance story time??)
PARACHUTE
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*)
On our last verse where we see a crocodile and scream we lifted the parachute over our heads and screamed underneath of it.
Song: The Grand Old Duke of York
First we did the song with the kids sitting on the ground using the parachute. Then I had everyone stand up and we did it again.
Song: Popcorn by Barenaked Ladies
I had the kids try Popcorn this time. I thought since they’d heard the song a couple times now and we’d talked about starting slow and getting faster that they could try it themselves. They still didn’t have much patience for the slow motions but it went better than the first time we tried!
After Popcorn I had all the kids go under the parachute and the grown ups marched the parachute around over their heads. We moved it up and down and shook it. There were just too many people to juggle for riding on the parachute!
Song: All Together Now by The Beatles
The good news with having the adults operating the parachute at this point in story time was my 1, 2, 3 trick FINALLY worked! I had everyone count one, two, three while we moved the parachute up and down and on three they all let go at the same time and I was able to ball up the parachute quickly and put it away. The kids were underneath as it happened so it was fun for all!
Song: Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
SCARVES
Song: Jiggle Your Scarf by Judi Cranston
Song: Spider on the Floor by Raffi
We used the scarves as spiders and made them climb up our bodies and then jump off. Really cute! I tried to make really dramatic funny faces.
Song: Make Your Scarf Fly High by Judi Cranston
I gathered up the scarves and then decided to try Looby Loo again. We made the circle but there were so many kids it was just too hard to get everyone to move around. But at least putting our arms and legs in made more sense this time.
Song: Looby Loo by Patty Shukla
So, to continue the drama of the bubble machine. I bought a new machine. And then forgot all about it. So it was sitting behind the desk during story time, not doing us any good. Hopefully by week four I’ll get my stuff together and be able to include it during our lullaby song.
Song: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Goodbye Song: Goodbye by Old Town School of Folk Music
(I have to, again, give credit to Miss Katie and her Shake, Shimmy & Dance story time as well as the local gym I take my son to for the inspiration.)
The Short Stack Librarian 
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