Music & Rhythm

Rock'n Rollin, Dancin', Hoppin', Swaying saying this is our Dance baby!

One of my favorite days of the month, is the day our ‘music/dance storyteller, Ariane' comes for storytime.

Unique and fun, it's always a joy to watch as the kids dance, move and explore combinations of poses. All to the beat of incredibly varied music. No children's stuff here, but classical, jazz, and a whole world of international music.

Here is some music to try out:

Shanachie's Dance My Children, Dance

Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery

Mozart's Magic Fantasy

Georgiane Stewart's Multicultural Rhythm Stick Fun


If these titles are not to be found, try all kinds of music, variety is the key. You will be amazed at how children respond to the differences in music.

Now, go put on some music and start dancing away with the nearest youngster you've got.


Bonus: A few titles I like for this theme:

Finger Band
to the tune of 'Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush'

The finger band is coming to town, coming to town, coming to town
fingers behind back, speaking softly, gradually getting louder as fingers are brought to the front
The finger band is coming to town so early in the morning.

This is the way they march & march, march & march, march & march
march around!
This is the way they march & march so early in the morning.

This is the way they wear their hats...
hands on head to show hats

This is the way they play their drums...
beating motion with hands - sound effects good too

The finger band is going away, going away, going away
fingers gradually go around to your back, singing softer and softer
The finger band is going away so early in the morning.


Hear How the Bells Ring
rock back and forth to the rhythm or use rhythm sticks, a bell, a xylophone, or let your imagination loose!

Ding Dong
Ding Dong

Hear how the bells in the steeple ring
Hear how the bells in the steeple ring
Hear how the bells in the steeple ring

ding a ding a ding a ding dong
ding a ding a ding a ding dong


May There Always be Sunshine
sway or rock with baby on your lap to the rhythm

May there always be sunshine,
May there always be blue skies,
May there always be momma,
May there always be me.

note: This originated as a Soviet Russian song, written for children. It was created in 1962, music was composed by Arkady Ostrovsky and the lyrics were written by Lev Oshanin. A Russian writer Korney Chukovsky later wrote in his book that the base of the song were four lines (which became a refrain of the song), composed by a boy of age four in 1928. ~ wikipedia

Springtime and Garden Fun

Up's a Daisy it's a Spring Time, Garden Time, Fun Time Laptime


Wow, it’s that wonderful time of year when it's impossible to stay indoors! Let's head out to the garden! I want to plant a rainbow...




Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
 OPL Link

~I like to add the ASL signs for each color as I go


What is your favorite color?

Have you seen if there is a flower that blooms in your color? 




Oh, shall we work in our garden? Let's go out and plant some seeds!


My Garden

Here is my garden
~your hand is out and open, palm up
I’ll rake it with care
~rake with other hand
And then some seeds we’ll plant in there
~drop seeds
The sun will shine
~arms up to make a sun
And then my garden will grow big and tall
~stretch up, arms overhead way up and out



I’m a little Black Seed
(sung to I’m a Little Teapot rhyme)

I’m a little black seed
~pretend to hold a little seed

Plant me in a row
~pretend to drop seeds in a row

Water me, feed me.
~suit actions to words

Watch me grow,
~hand up to brow, watching

From little seedling, to flower and fruit
~how small seed , to sprout -fingers show height, flower -hands frame face like a flower, to fruit -hold round fruit in hands

I’m a happy little plant
~smile 

From tip to root.
~point from head to feet



Now our seeds need some very important things, the first one is water...
(Follow me, do as I am doing)



Tap fingers together

Do I hear the pitter patter of some raindrops? Listen closely

Clap softly

Oh, I do think it is going to rain

Clap loudly

It IS raining!

Slap thighs

Wow, it's really getting wet out there

Stomp feet

My, oh my, I'm glad I'm not outside right now!

~now reverse, add a commentary as you go:

until...
Tapping fingertips together, and stop


What a beautiful rainstorm that was! You know, sometimes rainstorms turn into thunderstorms! Let's make a THUNDERSTORM!


Thunderstorm

Boom Bang Boom Bang
~clap hands
Rumpety, lumpety bump!
~roll hands
Zoom Zam Zoom Zam!
~stomp feet
Rustles and bustles
~swish hands together
And swishes and zings!
~rub thighs and slap

What wonderful noises
A thunderstorm brings!


Is the thunderstorm is over? It is still raining though. A nice soft rain, why don't we go outside!


 
Rain Song by Lezlie Evans
OPL Link









The Rain
(Pitter Patter Raindrops)

Pitter Patter raindrops,
falling from the sky;
~fingers flutter down like rain 

Here is my umbrella,
~cup one hand over pointer finger

To keep me nice and dry
~hold ‘umbrella’ over head

When rain is over
And the sun begins to glow
~make sun circle over head

Little flowers start to bud
~cup hands together 

And grow, grow, grow
~spreads hand apart, slowly rising


Enough rain! Now our little seeds need some sun!


Mr. Sun
(Raffi sings this one too)

Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun,
~arms up, rock in time to the rhythm 

Please shine down on me.
~fingers tap shoulders

Oh Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun,
~arms up again

Hiding behind a tree
~ASL sign for 'tree'
 

These little children are asking you,
~gesture towards children 

To please come down
~motion coming down

so they can play with you,
~sign ASL sign for ‘Play’
 

Oh, Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun, 
~arms up again 

Please shine down on me.
~arms cross in front of self, ASL for ‘Love’



Guess what comes out with the sun after all that rain? Snails and worms!


Slowly Slowly

Slowly, Slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail
~start s-l-o-w-l-y creeping fingers up from ankles of your child

Slowly, Slowly, very slowly up the wooden rail
~fingers slowly up to head, light and tickly at the neck

(take a deep slow anticipatory breath, arms up, fingers ready... let your body language tell the kids something is up!)

Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse
~quickly tickle child all over

Quickly, quickly, very quickly all around the house
keep tickling like a mouse running around


What do you think comes out looking for those snails and worms? ... BIRDS!


Five Little Robins

Five Little Robins up in a tree
~hold up all five fingers

Father,
~touch your thumb, or do this with your baby’s hand

Mother,
~touch pointer

And babies three~touch other 3 fingers, 1, 2 , 3

Father caught a bug 
~hold up thumb

Mother caught a worm 
~hold up pointer

Well, this one got a bug
~point to middle finger

And this one got a worm
~point to ring finger 

But, this one said, “Now it’s my turn”
~hold up pinkie



There Were Five in the Nest

There were five in the nest,
At the little one's request,

Move over! Move over!
They all moved over and one fell out.

Four little...
Three little...
Two little...
One little...

...then, I'm lonely, come back here ;)


It's a good thing they all just fell down to the tree branch!



Little Green by Keith Baker
OPL Link - great to use Ribbon Streamers to 'paint' pictures in the air


oh, LOOK! With all this sunshine our flowers are coming up...





The Flower

Here's a green leaf
~interweave fingers of both hands, fold fingers in, knuckles up 

And here's a green leaf
~pinky fingers come up to make a tent/leaf

That you see makes two
~thumbs come up 

Here is a bud that makes a flower,
~loosen fingers so they bulge up

Watch it bloom for you.
~flip hand over to show all fingers, 'blossoming'



There are some daffodils! Do you see them?
(it would be very good to have a picture of some daffodils, if not a few of the real thing here)



Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward
OPL Link
Sing this and 'play' with it. These littles are usually done by now and will probably zone out if you try to read this in a traditional manner. Or, just save this title for a storytime and move along to the following fingerplay!

What a LOT of bugs there are in our Garden!


Down in the Garden
(sung to ‘Down by the Station’)

Down in the garden, early in the morning
See the yellow daffodils all in a row
~1,2,3

See them all lift their heads and give their horns a blow
~hands up for a horn 

Toot toot, toot toot, there they go.


Do you think if you used a daffodil flower for a horn it would really make a sound? No? I think you are right ;)

Now parents, do you have your child in your lap? Are you all cozy, warmed by the sun and having a good time?

Can you feel your heart beating softly, gently?
(tap, tap tap - in a slow regular 'heart' beat)

Now I want you to rock, back and forth, back and forth
(stay in a slow rythm in time to your heart beat)


May there Always be Sunshine 
(Hold child in your lap. Find the beat of your heart. Rock back and forth in time to your heartbeat as you sing)

May there always be sunshine,
May there always be blue skies,
May there always be momma,
May there always be me.

May there always be sunshine,
May there always be blue skies,
May there always be daddy,
May there always be me.


Now go out, enjoy some of that sunshine, be safe and I’ll see you next time! Love ya!

_____________________________________

More rain, bugs and gardening  . . . 
just in case you want to convert this to a storytime length program ;)


Rain

Rain is raining all around
~fingers show rain coming down
It rains on field and tree
It rains on umbrellas here
And on the ships at sea


 And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano
 OPL Link
Okay -- so a deceptively simple and quiet book --but, if you tell it right, with a lot of suspense alternating with some snatches of playfulness--you will knock this one out of the park!



Similarly, a great book to alternate with the above is, 
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
OPL Link

 
Big Bug Surprise by Julia Gran
OPL Link

 




Outrageous 3-D Big Bugs by Boyd



Can't Bug Me!
(a slightly altered version from Let's Play Music. Seriously, if you have preschool-age kids you should look into these classes, There is SO MUCH MORE to this song. It's one of the best things I ever did for my daughter. p.s. No, I do not teach LPM, I have no affiliation with them, we've just taken the classes and have loved it.)


I like bugs.
~hands on hips

Every kind of bug I see!
I like the big ones
~hands out to show 'big'

and the bad ones
~scary fingers and a scary face

and the fuzzy purple flat ones!
~rub hands together for 'fuzzy'

People think they're yucky.
~hands to hips again

But I just don't agree!
~one finger up, shake it in a 'no-no'

No you can't bug me!
~ arms up and out 'yeah!'



Baby Bumblebee


I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee, 
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee
Ouch, he stung me! 

repeat with . . .
 . . . I'm squishing up baby bumblebee
 . . . I'm wiping off a baby bumblebee
 . . . I'm licking off a baby bumblebee

My mommy won't be proud of me!
(with a wink and a smile)



Baby Butterfly
(from Let's Play Music)

I'm bringing home a baby butterfly now, 
that bumblebee didn't like me somehow,
(shake finger in a no-no)


So I'm bringing home a baby butterfly now, 
Won't my daddy be so very proud of me now!
 


Spring Bees 
~Classical Music Puppet Show from Let's Play Music classes



Oats and Beans and Barley Grow 
~ here is the whole original song from Kididdles

First the Gardner sows the seeds
Then he stands around and takes his ease
Stamps his feet and claps his hands
Then turns around to view his lands


Need even more rain??




If All the Raindrops 
NEIHS midi music

If all the raindrops
were lemondrops and gum drops
oh what a rain that would be.

I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
ah, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
~head back, mouth open wide, sing 'ah, ah, ah..' to the tune

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops
oh what a rain that would be.


..and for snow/winter days

If all the snowflakes
were candy bars and milk shakes
Oh what a world this would be

I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
ah, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
~head back, mouth open wide, sing 'ah, ah, ah..' to the tune

If all the snowflakes were
candy bars and milk shakes
oh what a world this would be.

If all the sunbeams
were bubblegum and ice cream
oh what a rain that would be
~head back, mouth open wide, sing 'ah, ah, ah..' to the tune

If all the sunbeams
were bubblegum and ice cream
oh what a world it would be


Okay, all that rain needs a RAINBOW!!!

 
Rainbow Song 
 ~ song from www.Signingtime.com 's Rachel Coleman, this CD

 ...Do you know the colors of our rainbow

Read Aloud Lists are posted!

Hi everyone!

I finally have the Read Aloud lists posted! Just click on the 'Back to Home' button, then scroll down to almost the bottom of the page. Click on the list you want to access.

I have to warn you - I am still working on getting all the call numbers switched out and changed to full author's names. It's taking some time. But you can still get the titles, go to your local library and get started reading!

These booklists are meant as a general guide to matching up reading levels with interest levels. All the books have at one time or another been recommended by Jim Trelease or Margaret Kimmel.

Have fun!

I had a little turtle...

Altering, Changing and in Other Words, Just Making it your Own

I change fingerplays and songs all the time!

I can't tell you how many times I've seen a fingerplay, rhyme or song that just did not click with me. It made no sense, could be better if, or, due to my lack of musical ability, one I just could not get the rhythm down on...

If you google a line from a fingerplay you remember as a child, you will find that there are countless versions. Maybe it's just the nature of verbal storytelling, things change, a lot. I also realize that wherever you travel, there will be cultural differences and that could account for a lot of the many variations as well.

Often as I perform a rhyme, over and over, I find that by making little changes to the text, I can make things a lot more fun, or just make more sense. One of my oldest revisions was to 'Tiny Tim':


Tiny Tim
(Amy's version)

I had a little Turtle
~one hand on top of other, thumbs out and wiggling for legs
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
~hand turtle swims up and down
To see if he could swim

He drank up all the water
~ASL sign for water - 3 fingers tap chin
He ate up all the soap
~head to hand, testing forehead for temperature
and now he's sick in bed with a bubble in his throat!
~point to throat

hiccup!
~oops, surprised look

Big
~hands form a bubble in front of mouth
Bigger
~bubble grows
Biggest....
~bubble is HUGE now.... anticipate it, turn your head, eyes dart to the bubble, it's gonna...

POP!
~clap hands together


That was my version. There are a LOT of other versions out there. But for me, it was the perfect opportunity to teach kids the big/bigger/biggest concept. And believe me, with that POP at the end, it's a hit everytime.

Now, I'm not saying that my versions are better than any others. After all these years of seeing storytimes and laptimes, I find I am continually hearing other variations or seeing different actions that really get me excited about trying it differently the next time. That's what makes it so much FUN!

Bugs and Spiders!

Today we are going to focus on a Bugs and Spiders Laptime!

I almost got to do Laptime yesterday, but then our volunteer showed up. I know I should be happy about that, but I was so disappointed that I did not get to do it- I'm just nuts, I know.

Anyway, since I wasn't able to do it then, I've decided to focus on one rhyme or fingerplay or theme as often as I can. So today you get BUGS!
____________________________

BUGS! Creepy, Crawly, Wiggly, Tickly and ever so sometimes SCARY BUGS!

Oooo, let's start out with WIGGLES! 'Cause whenever I talk about bugs, spiders or creepy crawly things I can't sit still! I try so very hard, but it never fails, my arms start to shiver up in goosebumps and my stomach flips around and before I know it, I'm wiggling all over!



Wiggles

I Wiggle my Fingers
~wiggle fingers

I wiggle my Toes
~wiggle feet and toes

I wiggle my Shoulders
~rotate and shiver your shoulders

and I Wiggle my NOSE!
~I have to use my finger to wiggle this one!

Now no more wiggles are left in me
So I will be as still as still can be.
~shhh


Roly Poly Caterpillar

Roly Poly Caterpillar, into a corner crept
~arms make a circle for a big caterpillar

Spun himself a blanket, then for a long time slept
~spin arms around for cocoon

Roly Poly Caterpillar, wakening by and by
~wake-up stretch

Found himself with beautiful WINGS, changed to a butterfly
~stretch out 'wing' arms, admire


Did you know that Butterflies were once Caterpillars?


Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Use a flannel board, an eating sock puppet caterpillar or just have plastic fruit to show and count! Have fun!


Slowly Slowly

Slowly, Slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail
~start s-l-o-w-l-y creeping fingers up from ankles of your child

Slowly, Slowly, very slowly up the wooden rail
~fingers slowly up to head, light and tickly at the neck
~take a deep slow anticipatory breath, arms up, fingers ready... let your body language tell the kids something is up! -

Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse
~quickly tickle child all over 

Quickly, quickly, very quickly all around the house
~keep tickling like a mouse running around



Oh, where did that mouse come from!?!! Back to the bugs!
~hands on hips - hmph!


Can't Bug Me!
(a slightly altered version from Let's Play Music - they use this one in such a CUTE way to learn notes, not my goal here, but it's an awesome idea they have!)


I eat bugs. Every kind of bug I see!
~Hands on hips, nodding 'yes'

 I like the big ones
~arms out to show 'big'

and the bad ones
~make a big bad face

and the fuzzly purple flat ones!
~rub hands together for fuzzy
 
People think they're yucky.
~shrug shoulders

But I just don't agree!
~shake finger back and forth 'no-no'
 
No you can't bug me!
~hands back to hips



You know, a LOT of people don't like bugs. Can you believe it?


Poor Little Bug on the Wall
(really ham this one up!)

Poor little bug on the wall
~I have a little plastic bug I use for this

No one to love him at all
~shake head sadly

 No one to blow his nose
~pretend to blow nose, loud and juicy - make'm laugh! This one is AWESOME if you are on a microphone! 

No one to tickle his toes
~my voice goes up high in an almost ready to cry voice here

Poor little bug on the wall
~shake poor little sad head, shrug shoulders, take a deep breath, so SAD!



Ewwww, just thinking of bugs on the walls get me all shivery again!


Criss Cross Applesauce

Criss cross applesauce
~draw an X on baby's back 

Spiders crawling up your spine
~walk fingers up baby's back

Cool breeze
~blow on baby's neck

Tight squeeze
~hug baby

Gives my baby the sillies!
~Tickle baby



Spiders, itty bitty, teeny weeney spiders!


Itsy Bitsy Spider

Itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
~fingers walk up arm

Down came the rain and washed the spider out
~fingers mimic rain falling down
 
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
~arms up over head for the sun

So the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again!
~fingers walk up arm again

alt. - fingers walk up baby's tummy to turn this into a tickle game!


I bet you didn't know that next door lived the itsy bitsy spider's cousin!


The GREAT BIG SPIDER!
(deep big voice)

The great big spider went up the water spout
~arms out for a BIG spider

Down came the rain and washed the spider out
~fingers mimic rain falling down

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
~arms up over head for the sun

So the great big spider went up the spout again!
~arms out again


I've got the shivers BAD now! I need a break to make myself feel better!


Gonna Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
(I recommend singing and acting this one out instead of reading the book. Particularly for the toddlers and babies this laptime is meant for)


Ant Hill
Amy's version

Once I saw an ant hill
~hand in a fist,like a hill, fingers curled under

With no ants about
~puzzled look on face

So I said, Dear little ants

Won't you come out?
~motion a come-come with opposite hand

Then, as if those ants

Had heard my call,
~put your free hand to your ear 

1 2 3 4 5 ants came out!
~open fist and count up

Uh-oh, ouch, OH! not fun at all!
~tickle child with little finger 'ants'


Oh the Ants, those teeny tiny little ants - they're all OVER!


The Ants Go Marching
(keep the beat with hands on legs)

the little one stops to climb a tree
and they all go marching,
down to the ground, to get, out of the rain.
Boom Boom Boom Boom,
Boom Boom Boom Boom

Oh, the ants go marching four by four hurrah, hurrah!
Oh, the ants go marching five by five hurrah, hurrah!
Oh, the ants go marching six by six,
the little one stops to pick up sticks
and they all go marching,
down to the ground, to get, out of the rain.

Here is the Hive

Here is the Hive
~hand in fist
 
But where are the bees?
~puzzled look, other hand up in a ? gesture
 
They're hidden inside
~point to fisted hand
Where nobody sees...
~use a fun, uh-oh, anticipating voice

Oh, oh, oh,
~dart your eyes over to your fist with an uh-oh look
1 2 3 4 5
~fist starts to shake, faster, faster - fist opens up counting...

They're alive! They're alive!
~AH! Those 'bees' tickle baby all over!


Oh, I caught one!!!


I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee
~hands cupped together, swinging to the rythym
 Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee...
Ouch he stung me!
 
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee
~hands squish together back and forth
 Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee...
Ewww, it's all over me!

I'm wiping off a baby bumblebee!
~wipe hands on legs to the rythym
 Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
I'm wiping off a baby bumblebee...
Ugh, it's all messy!

I'm licking off a baby bumblebee!
'~lick' hands - make it SOUND like it too!
 Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
I'm licking off a baby bumblebee...
ughewwwww
~shiver like you just tasted something horrid!
 
MY MOMMY WON'T BE PROUD OF ME!
~shake finger back and forth in a 'no-no'


We clap our Hands
This is possibly a Kindermusic song, I've not been able to verify it though. I did learn it from a teller that was also a Kindermusic teacher.

We clap our hands and wave bye-bye, bye bye
We clap our hands and wave bye-bye, bye bye

Bye kiddos!
Goodnight and watch that those bad bugs don't bite!
____________________

More...

Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming
OPL Link

Rain Song by Lezlie Evans
OPL Link

There was an Old Monster by The Emberley's
OPL Link

Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward
OPL Link

Creepy Crawly Handout
Just click the above 

Oh, the ants go marching one by one hurrah, hurrah!
Oh, the ants go marching two by two hurrah, hurrah!
Oh, the ants go marching three by three,

Booklists!

Here come all my booklists!

They are a tad out of date, but ONLY for a few days. I'll be updating them on an almost daily basis. You can always check on the bottom of the page to see when I've last updated.

I'll be working out all the bugs, determining the easiest organizational method (I'm thinking alpha by author within the reading level) and you will have access to all my lists!

Just in case you were wondering - the booklists are NOT just story and laptime. I have a strong preference for Junior and Teen fiction with a very healthy (well, not healthy for my budget) love of Picture books.