We read stories about gardens today! What fun! Here are some of the books and activities we shared:
OUR OPENING SONGS:
Welcome, Welcome
Welcome, welcome everyone,
Now we’re here, let’s have some fun
First we clap our hands just so,
Then we bend and touch our toes
Welcome, welcome, everyone
Now we’re here, let’s have some fun!
Clap Everybody and Say Hello!
Clap everybody and say hello,
Clap everybody and say hello,
Clap everybody and say hello,
No matter what the weather…
REPEAT verse with Stamp, Wiggle, Jump & Sing
(Kathy Reid-Naiman, Sally Go Round the Sun CD)
OUR BOUNCES:
Tiny Little Babies
Tune: Shortnen’ Bread
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’
Tiny little babies love bouncin’, yeah!
Tiny little babies love bouncin’, bouncin’
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ yeah!
Sooo…bounce to the left, bounce to the right,
Now hug that baby nice and tight!
Tiny little babies love bouncin’ bouncin’
Tiny little babies love bouncin’, yeah!
The Grand Old Duke of York
The grand old Duke of York,
He had 10,000 men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill, (hold baby up in the air)
And he marched them down again! (bring baby down to lap)
And when they’re up, they’re up, (hold baby high again)
And when they’re down, they’re down, (bring baby back down to lap)
And when they’re only halfway up, (hold baby halfway up from lap)
They’re neither up (bring baby up)
Nor down! (bring baby back down to lap)
OUR FIRST BOOK:
Lenny in the Garden by Ken Wilson-Max
Lenny is in his garden and he encounters all sorts of creatures…an ant, a snail, a butterfly and MORE…and he wants to know how they all are! This wonderful book is colorful and the text can be read or sung to the nursery rhyme tune: Finger Family. We start by greeting Mr. Ant and move through all of the other critters until Lenny’s mom says it’s time for lunch and they say goodbye to everyone in the garden. Really fun to sing aloud and the babies loved it! Check out the Youtube video above for the finger family tune!
Mr. Ant, Mr. Ant where are you?
Here I am, here I am, how do you do?
TRANSITION ACTIVITY:
From the Diaper Gym CD
My Little Hands
With my little hands I go clap clap clap
With my little feet I go tap tap tap
With my little arms I wave bye bye bye
With my little legs I kick high high high
With my little eyes I say peek-a-boo
With my little lips I say I love you!
OUR SECOND BOOK:
I Have a Garden by Bob Barner
Dog takes us for a tour of his garden and we see everything he has there…a frog, a bug, a butterfly, a snail…and, of course, many flowers. (I used accompanying flannel pieces to help bring another dimension to the story.) What eventually takes us by surprise is Dog’s pronouncement that the garden is ONLY for HIM! A page later he softens and claims “This garden is for us…ALL OF US!” A simple story that teaches children about the many things one finds in a garden and the beauty of sharing nature’s bounty.
OUR MIDWAY BOUNCE:
From the Wee Sing For Baby CD
This is the Way the Ladies Ride
Trit Trot
Trot to boston
OUR FLANNEL STORY:
There’s Something in my Garden
I purchased this finger puppet set from Artfelt. I keep the puppets hidden as I say the rhyme and reveal it after the kids have guessed what it is.
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…RIBBIT – RIBBIT – RIBBIT.
A frog is what I found!
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…THUMP – THUMP – THUMP.
A rabbit is what I found!
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…SQUEAK – SQUEAK – SQUEAK.
A mouse is what I found!
There’s something in my garden,
Now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden,
That I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…CAW – CAW – CAW.
A crow is what I found!
Credit: Sur la lane
OUR NURSERY RHYME:
Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesn’t know where to find them…
Leave them alone and they’ll come home, wagging their tails behind them.
OUR TICKLE:
These are baby’s fingers, (touch child’s fingers)
These are baby’s toes, (touch child’s toes)
This is baby’s belly button, (touch child’s tummy)
Round and round it goes! (gently tickle child’s tummy)
OUR CLOSING SONGS:
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are…
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout,
Down came the rain and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun that dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again!
Mr. Moon
Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon, you’re out too soon,
The sun is still in the sky…
So go back to your bed and cover up your head
And wait ’til the day goes by….
Goodbye Babies (in sign) – to the tune of “Goodnight Ladies”
Goodbye babies, goodbye babies, goodbye babies, it’s time to say goodbye