I had 43 people at this session! I was right about it being much calmer than other sessions since we’re deep into family vacation time. It went really well. I didn’t have to skip any songs and I planned everything perfectly. Of course, I forgot to update my PowerPoint presentation with our new song selections and the music stopped playing mid-song and I still have no idea why. But who cares, we had a great time!
I was also very happy to announce that we’re going to have another six week session in the fall starting at the end of September and finishing up on October 31st. Yes, a Dance, Rattle & Roll Halloween extravaganza. I’m already excited to sing and dance to some Halloween favorites.
Book: A Hop is Up by Kristy Dempsey; illustrated by Lori Richmond
Welcome Song: Clap Your Hands by Old Town School of Folk Music
Song: Get Ready to Wiggle by The Wiggles
Song: Lizzie Spins by Joanie Leeds
RAINBOW BELLS
Song: All My Colors by Ralph’s World
Song: Rainbow by Milkshake
We returned the rainbow bells and listened to one more song before moving on to our library band.
Song: Freeze Dance by Kids Dance Party
LIBRARY BAND
I laid out a big container of instruments: cymbals, drums, shakers, etc.
Song: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da by The Beatles
I gathered all the instruments and played a song in between our band and our parachute time.
Song: Jump, Jump by Joanie Leeds
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 do Popcorn with me again. We practiced going slow and then increasing our speed before I even started the music and I think that helped a lot. Then I had the kids run underneath the parachute for our last song and the adults and I operated the parachute.
Song: All Together Now by The Beatles
I gathered up the parachute and we had one more song before bubbles.
Song: I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee by evokids
BUBBLES
I’ve taken away the pretense of the bubbles being relaxing. So I used a bubble song, kept the lights on, and let them jump around and pop bubbles.
Song: Floatin’ Bubble Song by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Then I turned the lights off and we all relaxed to our next song.
Song: Rainbow Connection by The Muppets
I turned the lights back on and we sang our goodbye song.
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.)
Dance, Rattle & Roll: Session 1
Dance, Rattle & Roll: Session 2
Dance, Rattle & Roll: Session 3
The Short Stack Librarian 