We shared stories about dogs and cats today…two of the children even helped me tell the story of  Mr. Dog and Mrs. Cat who lived “up the hill and down the hill” from each other.  It was a fun time filled with books, action rhymes, songs and a video to end it all!  Here are some of the books & activities we shared:

George is a puppy and he is trying awfully hard to learn how to bark.  Unfortunately, he’s experiencing a strange bit of indigestion which makes the whole process much harder.  A funny story to share one-on-one or in a group.

Mr. Pusskins is an ill-tempered cat and decides his sweet owner, Emily, is a BORE!  So he leaves…but life outside of his comfortable. loving home isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  A sweet, suspenseful picture book story that will have the children on the edge of their seats as they wonder if Emily will ever take Mr. Pusskins back!  Better for ages 3 and up.

Storytelling/Acting Exercise

MR. DOG AND MRS.CAT

(2 children from the audience offered to help me tell this story while everyone else provided support during the chorus)

This is Mr.  Dog  and he lives in a little house over here.
This is Mrs. Cat and she lives in a little house over here.
One day Mr. Dog opened his door and came out 
“Oh it is such a lovely day I think I will go and visit my friend Mrs. Cat.”
So he closed his door and went up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill 
until he came to Mrs. Cat’s door. 
He knocked on the door, “clock! clock! clock!” 
Mrs. Cat was taking a nap so she didn’t hear Mr. Dog when he knocked on the door. “clock! clock! clock!” 
“Oh, Mrs. Cat must not be home,” said Mr. Dog.
I think I’ll go back home.
So he went up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill. 
He opened the door and went in and closed the door. 
But he was so tired that he had to lie down and take a nap.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Cat woke up from her nap.  She opened the door and came out. “Oh, what a lovely day, I think I’ll go and visit my friend Mr. Dog.” 
So she closed her door. She went up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill. 
Until she came to Mr. Dog’s house. She knocked on the door. “clock! clock! clock!” 
But Mr. Dog was taking a nap and didn’t hear her when she went “clock! clock! clock!” 
So Mrs. Cat thought Mr. Dog must not be home. “So I’ll go home.” 
So she went up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill until she came to her house. 
Se opened the door and went in. 
Meanwhile Mr. Dog finished his nap. “Ah, I do wish I could see my good friend Mrs. Cat.” 
Mrs. Cat thought, “I wish I could see my friend Mr. Dog. I‘ll try again.” 
So each of them opened their doors, closed their doors and they went up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill until they met in the middle. “Why hello Mr. Dog! I was on my way to see you.” 
“Well Mrs. Cat, I was on my way to see you.” 
“I came to see you earlier but you weren’t home.” 
“Oh that must have been while I was taking a nap.”
“I came to see you but you weren’t home.” 
“That must have been when I was taking a nap.” 
“Well come on over to my house now.” 
So they went up the hill and down the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill until they came to Mr. Dog’s house. 
They opened the door and went in. 
They had such a lovely time. They had tea and crumpets with lemon crud and fresh butter. It was delicious. 
Then it was time for Mrs. Cat to go home. So they opened the door and came out.
Mr. Dog waved as Mrs. Cat went up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill until she came to her house. 
Then each of them opened their doors and went into their houses and closed their doors. And that’s the end of the story!

 

Action Rhymes:

THIS IS BIG….

This is big, big, big (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head) 

Credit: Storytime Katie

OPEN SHUT THEM

Open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap, clap, clap

Open, shut them, open, shut them, put them in your lap, lap, lap

Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them

Right up to your chin, chin, chin…

Open up your little mouth….BUT DO NOT LET THEM IN!!!

 

Songs from the Wiggleworms CD:

Clap Your Hands,

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Goodbye

Other songs:

Hello Friends (in sign language)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Itsy Bitsy Spider

 

DVD:


We watched Harry the Dirty Dog…Harry did not like taking a bath and he loved getting dirty.  We find out what happens when Harry sneaks out of the house and travels through town having some very “messy” adventures.  He eventually comes back home but he is now a black dog with white spots, rather than a white dog with black spots…hmmm…will his family recognize him?