We read about creatures that swim in today’s toddler storytime!
Here are some of the stories& activities we shared:
OUR OPENING SONGS & ACTIVITIES:
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)
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)
FIRST BOOK: Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins
Lucy Cousins did a marvelous job creating this colorful, boldly illustrated, alluring book of fish – stripy fish, fat fish, thin fish…even an Elefish! We’re introduced to a little fish who takes us on this journey under the sea and we can’t help but shout, Hooray for Fish!
OUR TRANSITION ACTIVITY:
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)
SECOND BOOK: Who Can Swim? by Sebastien Braun
A great lift-the-flap book that acts as a guessing game. The question is, “Who can swim?” As we lift the flaps we see all of the animals who can swim AND of course, we close with a little boy who can also swim. Great visuals, simple text and the guessing game aspect make this a fun read for toddler storytimes.
OUR FLANNEL STORY!
SLIPPERY FISH….
The Slippery Fish, the Slippery Fish,
Was swimming through the water.
The Slippery Fish, the Slippery Fish,
Was swimming through the water.
Oh no…(put your hands to your mouth)
He was eaten by….
Change underlined words to AN/A…
Octopus
Tuna Fish
Great Big Shark
Big Fat Whale
Last line…
Oh no….I have a terrible tummy ache. (BURP) Ooops, Excuse Me!
Credit: Izzie, Mac & Me
Magic Box of Sea Creatures
We played a magic game – everyone had to count to three and say the magic word – ABRACADABRA!
Then I fished in my big red box to pull out a special creature from the ocean AND BOY DID WE COME UP WITH SOME AMAZING SWIMMERS!!!
Abracadabra 1-2-3, Magic Box What Do You Have for Me??
We pulled out an:
Octopus
Fish
Dolphin
Whale
Sea Otter
OUR DVD: My Pet Fish
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 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,