We had fun exploring MAGIC in today’s Toddler Storytime! Besides a wonderful book about a magic box and the “magic” of books…we performed a scarf trick and made some rabbits disappear. (All with a little fairy dust of course!) Here are the stories, songs & activities we shared:
OUR FIRST BOOK:
Ole Konnecke’s Anton Can Do Magic had the toddlers under it’s magical spell. A little boy is convinced he can “do magic”… He tries to make a tree disappear but realizes that might be too BIG! Then he sees a bird land on a tree branch…voila, he makes the bird disappear – Anton can do magic! (Well the bird helps by flying a way…) Then, of course, he meets a disbelieving friend and, well, you probably guessed that Anton definitely wants to make him disappear… I won’t give away the ending but this is truly a delightful story about a little boy’s belief in himself and his quest to make magic.
OUR FLANNEL ACTIVITY:
Five Magic Rabbits
(I used a black top hat and five flannel rabbits for this rhyme.)
Five magic rabbits in a tall black hat (pull rabbits out of hat and place on flannel board)
Along comes a magician who gives each one a pat (pat each rabbit with a makeshift magic wand)
He waves his magic wand high above their ears, (wave wand above rabbits)
Abracadabra, poof! One rabbit disappears (remove a rabbit from the board)
(Count down…4, 3, 2, 1)
Credit: Storytime Katie/Youth Literature
OUR SECOND BOOK:
In The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli, we see a little baby find out that there can be magic in the simplest of gifts – a cardboard box! A great book about imagination and the joy of discovery through play. This held the toddlers’ attention the entire time!
A Magic Trick – The COLOR-CHANGING Scarf!
(I used a trick scarf I purchased from Party City ~ the kids & adults loved it!)
Rhyme & Puppets Hat Trick
Magic, magic in my hat!
I’ll pull out a rabbit – (pull anything other than a rabbit)
Ahhhh! What is that?
(repeat until ready to pull out the rabbit)
Magic, magic in my hat!
I’ll pull out a rabbit –
See! Look at that!
Credit: SLC Book Boy
OUR DVD:
TRANSITION ACTIVITIES:
Open Shut Them
Open shut them, open shut them (hands open and close)
Give a little clap clap clap (hands clap)
Open shut them, open shut them (hands open and close)
Place them in your lap, lap, lap. (place hands in lap)
Creep them crawl them, creep them crawl them (crawl fingers up both arms)
Right up to your chinny, chin, chin (tap fingers onto chin)
Open up your little mouth BUT (keep tapping and open mouth)
DO NOT LET THEM IN!!! (quickly place both hands behind back)
Roll Your Hands
Roll, roll, roll your hands as fast as fast can be
Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.
Clap, clap, clap your hands as loud as loud can be
Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.
Tap, tap, tap your feet as softly as can be
Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.
Shake, shake, shake your feet as quickly as can be
Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.
Roll, roll, roll your hands as fast as fast can be
Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.
(Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel, Toddlers on Parade CD)
OUR OPENING & CLOSING SONGS:
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)
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 went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again!
I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle, here is my spout
When I get all full of steam I shout
Tip me over and pour me out!
Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill
One named Jack and the other named Jill
Fly away Jack and fly away Jill
Come back Jack and come back Jill
OUR GOODBYE SONG & STRETCH:
Goodbye Friends (in sign) – to the tune of “Goodnight Ladies”
Goodbye friends, goodbye friends, goodbye friends,
It’s time to say goodbye….
Tickle the Clouds
Tickle the clouds,
Tickle your toes
Turn around and tickle your nose
Reach down low,
each up high,
storytime’s over,
Let’s wave bye-bye!