I love to start storytimes with some kind of sensory activity, after our opening song. So today we did a “science” experiment — what rolls, and what doesn’t? (Many thanks to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives for this idea which I found in their Cars storytime resources!) We tested the toys and items on a ramp to see if they roll. Does a frying pan roll? How about a fire truck? Does a block roll? How about a cylinder block? We also practiced sorting things according to whether they roll or not. It was lots of fun exploring the world just the way babies and toddlers do–by testing it out like little scientists:

things that roll

Then we read an adorable book with lots of opportunities for making over-the-top accents and silly sounds: And the cars go– by William Bee.

Toddlers sang “Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light”:

Twinkle, Twinkle Traffic Light
Twinkle, twinkle traffic light
Round the corner shining bright.
Red means stop, green means go,
Yellow means wait, even if you’re late!
Twinkle, twinkle traffic light
Round the corner shining bright.
(Source: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives)

While infants bounced up and down to “The Family Car”:

Sometimes I ride in the family car.
The engine jerks so we cannot go far.
Pop, pop, pop, pop!
Pop, pop, pop! Juggle, jiggle, Jat!
What’s the matter? Why the tire is flat! Ssssssssss!
(Source: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives)

We learned the sign language for various different vehicles while singing a song:

transportation

(spoken)
I am going out of town.
How will I get there?
I know! I’ll take the CAR!

(sign “car”)

But how will I stay safe in the car?
I know! My seatbelt!

I wear my seatbelt in the car
In the car, in the car,
I wear my seatbelt in the car,
And it keeps me safe.

What’s another way I can get
Out of town? I know! A BIKE!

I wear my helmet on my bike,
On my bike, on my bike,
I wear my helmet on my bike,
And it keeps me safe.

What’s another way I can get
Out of town? I know! A MOTORCYLE!

I wear my helmet on my motorcycle,
Motorcycle, motorcycle
I wear my helmet on my motorcycle,
And it keeps me safe.

What’s another way I can get
Out of town? I know! A TRAIN!

I stay in my seat when I’m on the train
On the train, on the train,
I stay in my seat when I’m on the train
That way I stay safe.

Now I want to go really FAR out of town.
How can I get there? I know! A PLANE!

I stay in my seat when I’m on the plane
On the plane, on the plane,
I stay in my seat when I’m on the plane
That way I stay safe.

(I made this up but was inspired by an idea I read in Baby Storytime Magic by Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirker)

After doing this flannelboard activity we reinforced the signs by reading How Fast Can You Go? by Kate Riggs and illustrated by Nate Williams:

Then we played a game: Red Light, Green Light, Yellow Light! We sped up, slowed down or stopped running depending on what I shouted out.

We sang some other songs like “Bumping up and down in my little red wagon” and “Wheels on the Bus.” Toddlers sang a cute song called “Old MacDonald Had a Car”:

Old MacDonald Had a Car
Old MacDonald had a car E-I-E-I-O
And on this car there was a horn E-I-E-I-O
With a beep beep here And a beep beep there
Here a beep, there a beep Everywhere a beep beep
Old MacDonald had a car E-I-E-I-O

Other verses: wheel (or tire)–spin spin
window–up down, up down
motor–vroom vroom
wipers–swish swish
(Source: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives)

Our video for the toddler group today was “The New Car” from the Peppa Pig Muddy Puddles and other Stories DVD:

A lot of people wanted to check out today’s books! I’m so glad they were a hit. 🙂 See you next week!