From Winter to Spring

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
Winter into Spring

A Laptime for the season

Once There Was a Snowman

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman
Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall

In the sun he melted, melted, melted
In the sun he melted, small, small, small

But what if it's snowing outside?

Once there was a snowman --- small, small, small


Chubby Little Snowman

Chubby little snowman
With a carrot nose.
Along comes a bunny
And what do you suppose?

That funny little bunny
Was looking for some lunch
he saw that carrot nose and . . .
Nibble, nibble CRUNCH



It's Not That Cold Outside
(to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

I don't want to wear my coat, wear my coat, wear my coat
I don't want to wear my coat
It's not that cold outside.
 
I don't want to wear my gloves, wear my gloves, wear my gloves
I don't want to wear my gloves
It's not that cold outside.

I don't want to wear my hat, wear my hat, wear my hat
I don't want to wear my hat
It's not that cold outside.

Aaaa CHOOOOOoooo



I just can't wait for Spring! Why does it takes so long?


Tick Tock Goes my Daddy's Big Clock

Tick tock, tick tock,
- rock back and forth at each word, with child in your lap
Goes my Daddy's big clock
Tick tock, tick tock,
Goes my Daddy's big clock

But my mommy's little clock
- pause...
Goes tick tick tick tick tick!
- TICKLE!!!

Where is that 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’

 

Are You Sleeping Little Flower
(To the tune of Are You Sleeping Brother John)
by Amy

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping
Little flower, little flower
Snow is falling, spring is calling
Ding ding dong
Ding ding dong


Where is Daisy
(to the tune of Where is Thumbkin )
by Amy

Where is Daisy, where is Daisy
Here I am, Here I am
How are you today ma'am
Very well I thank you
Run away, run away

Where is Rose, where is Rose
Here I am, here I am
     Rose: "Wait a minute, you aren't a rose!"
     Goofy flower: "Well I am if I say I am, and a rose is a rose by any other name..."
Run away, run away


Oh where are all the flowers, and the birds, and the bees? 


There is a Bird on Your Head
by Mo Willems
OPL Link


Oh, and the bees? What about the bees?

Here is the Hive

Here is the hive
~hold closed fist up
But where are the bees?
~shrug shoulders

Hidden inside
~point to fist
Where nobody sees
~shake finger, 'nobody', point to eyes, 'see'

expectant pause... closed fist starts to shimmer and shake...

Oh, oh OH!
1 2 3 4 5
~fingers pop up, counting

They're alive! They're alive!
~let your figners go TICKLING!


Oh no! We let the bees out! Catch them!

Got it!



I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~swing clasped hands from side to side as you sing

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
Ouch! He stung me!
~ stunned look, open hands

I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~squish hands and mash that offending bee up

I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee...
Ewww, it's all yucky!
~ look at 'icky' hands


I'm wiping off a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~ wipe hands on pants

I'm wiping off a baby bumble bee
Ugh, it's all over me!
~look really sick/ill over the mess

Oh, I'm licking off a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~pretend to lick palms, you CAN make faces - 'this is so gross' faces ;) This has to SOUND like you are licking off the bee, just talk with your tongue out, it works GREAT!

I'm licking off a baby bumble bee
Uuhhh, that's really yucky!
~shudder, make more icky faces and say...

My mommy won't be proud of me!
~grin mischieviously, wag finger & shake head; 'no no'

Picnic Time

Picnic Party with a Beetle Boogie Bop

Prep:
Picnic blanket, basket, etc.
Hide a host of bugs under silk leaves, real leaves.

Walk in with a picnic basket on one arm and a little puppy (puppet) in the other



Bark, bark!
    Are you excited Ralph? Are you so excited?

Bark
(and wiggle to get out of arms)

   You want to play in the park, don't you boy, oh don't you

Bark Yip

   Oh you're a good doggy, good boy.
(Ralph jumps out of arms and starts sniffing around)

    Just a minute Ralph, you sit here while I set out my picnic...
    Oh you wiggly wiggly little boy - here, let's get those wiggles out...


I Wiggle My Fingers

I wiggle my fingers, I wiggle my toes
I wiggle my shoulders, I wiggle my nose
Now no more wiggles are left in me
So I can be as still as still can be.


    Oh, look Ralph, there are some kids here - Yes, you can go play
    Would you like to say hello to Ralph?
    Raise your hand if you would like to pet Ralph 

take him around to those kids with their arms up,
Then Ralph starts sniffing around, something on the ground (or up on your table)


Yip Yip Yip!
     What have you found Ralph? What is it?
pull back leafy covering (fabric with leaf motif or whatever you have used to cover up a bagful's worth of bugs!

     Oh Ralph! You've found BUGS!

    I LOVE BUGS!
    You can't have a picnic without bugs!


I Love Bugs by Emma Dodd
OPL Link










    Oooh, SPIDERS!  Yummy tummy wiggly spiders . . .


Itsy Bitsy Spider

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.   


     You know what else loves a nice sunny day
     - what did we see in our book - -fuzzy buzzy honey bugs...


Here is the Hive

Here is the hive
But where are the bees?
Hidden inside, where nobody sees.
Uh, oh, oh, oh
(hand shakes)

1,2,3,4,5
They're alive, they're alive!
(tickle, tickle, tickle)


    bzzzz, BzzZZzzzz, bZzzzz
    I caught one!


I'm Bringing Home a 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, it stung me!

I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee, won't my mommy be so proud of me?
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee - ewww, it's all yucky

I'm wiping off a baby bumblebee, won't my mommy be so proud of me?
I'm wiping off a baby bumblebee --ughhhh, it's all over me!

I'm licking off a baby bumblebee, won't my mommy be so proud of me?
I'm licking off a baby bumblebee, -- my mommy won't be proud of me!


    That was really yucky!  (shudder)     
    Oh, and here, what do we have here?


Roly Poly Caterpillar

Roly poly caterpillar, into a corner crept
Spun himself a blanket, and for a long time slept
Roly poly caterpillar, wakening by and by
Found himself with beautiful wings, changed to a butterfly!


    Ooooh, another c-c-creepy crawly . . .


Slowly, Slowly

Slowly, slowly creeps the garden snail
Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the garden rail...

Quickly, quickly goes the little mouse
Quickly, oh so quickly all around the house!


     Oh, look! A butterfly!
           (catch it)

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!


Aaaarrgghh Spider by Lydia Monks
OPL Link

















Criss Cross Applesauce

Criss cross applesauce
Spiders crawling up your spine
Cool breeze, tight squeeze
Gives my baby the sillies!


Can't Bug Me
from Let's Play Music


I love bugs, every bug that I see
I like the big ones, and the bad ones
And the fuzzy purple flat ones
People thing they're yucky,
But I just don't agree
No you can't bug me


    Oh what a fun day it's been! Time to go now,
    I am so glad you were here to share our park day,
    say bye bye Ralph

Bark!

Storytelling Workshop - Second

There's More than One Way to Spin a Tale

Part Two

In order to give our volunteers more options in attending, we usually present each workshop twice. Although we stayed true to the overall theme this go-round, the programs were different. Each day had different storytellers sharing their ideas. Thursday evening was more nursery and traditional tale day and Saturday was more Folk and Fairy tales.

Following are some more brave souls who not only prepare incredible story and laptimes for our children's programming, but also shared their ideas with adults--fellow storytelling adults no less!

Michelle is wonderfully creative and a long time favorite, forever pulling something new out of her bag, here Michelle has not only crafted some bees for the kids to handle, but has has a new tune to Here is the Hive!

Tickle it up Time

A Tickle Me, Gitchy Gotchya Yes and No Laptime
(Play Tickle Time from Sandra Boynton's Rhinoceros Tap --OPL Link to CD here--as you open the program)

Gitchy gitchy Goo, Gitch-a gitchy gitchy Goo, Goo Goo gitchy...
________________


Hi everbody! Welcome to Laptime today! Oh, I hope you are ready.


Uh-oh. Before we start, I have to give you a warning, you see, today is a tickle storytime. Uh-huh, it's gonna be a true 'til you're blue tickle me time.

Hmmm, hold on, I'm missing something. 
Oh, dear. Oh no. Where did I put them . . . 
~tap you fingers thoughtfully against your chin, thinking...

Aha! Found them . . . my tickle-ingers, 
~look at your fingers, suddenly, almost as if a thought bubble appears over your head!...Your fingers!

My ickly tickly pigerifically tickling fingers. 
Also known as piggies . . .

Piggies?
Did you bring your piggies?
I found my piggies.
Oh, Yes Yes! I see them . . . Piggies!
hands out, madly wiggle your fingers. Exaggerate the YES nodding. Repeat, Yes. Yes.

I've got two fat piggies...
now launch into a telling,with both of your hands...

 

Piggies by Audrey and Don Wood
OPL Link

Use American Sign Language for 'hot', 'cold', 'dirty', 'clean', etc.
Have your fingers 'kiss' each other in smart, looooong and silly ways too.

Oooh, look at all those piggies, lovely sleeping little piggies. But wait . . . knock, knock wake up little piggies . . . 

Finger yawns so wide -- Yes, Yes -- Open them . . .

Open Them Shut Them

Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them
~ open and shut fingers-in fists
Give a little clap
~ clap

Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them
~open and shut fingers-in fists

Fold them in your lap
~ fold hands in lap

Creep them Creep them,
All the way to your chin...
~ fingers crawl up baby's tummy

Now open your mouth wide
~open mouth

But do not let them in!
~hands behind back!


No, no, don't let those piggies in!
Hmm, is everybody having fun yet?
No? Not yet?
~exaggerate the No head and finger shake, repeat No No.
I think we need to go looking for some missing funny bones, Yes?
~exaggerated Yes Yes, again.


Round the World

Round and round and round the world we go
~ spiral finger round
Round and back again
~ finger tightening the circles
Round and round and round the world we go
~ spiraling down to belly

To catch a grouchy bear
Where are we going to find him...
Oh, there and there and there!
~ tickle -gently poke and tickle


Or do you think you lost your funny bone here? Yes?


Funny Bones by Charles Reasoner



Well now that would be funny! To lose your head? Do you think that would really happen? No, No. Of course not! 


Ooo, can I tell you what gives me the sillies? No? Yes?
~emphasis on he No and the Yes.


Criss Cross Applesauce

Criss cross applesauce
~ draw an 'x' on child's back

Spiders crawling up your spine
~ fingers crawl up child's back to neck

Cool Breeze
~gently blow on child's neck

Tight squeeze
~ hug them

Gives my baby the sillies!
~ TICKLE!


I love to hear you laugh! Something else brings a smile to my face: It's thinking of my garden on a nice summer day . . . Yes?


Slowly Slowly Creeps the Garden Snail

Slowly, slowly creeps the garden snail
~start at child's feet and have fingers crawl up their sides

Slowly, slowly up the wooden rail
~end up with fingers on top of child's head

---Dramatic pause, deep breath. Shake your finger in a NO NO, but your head nods YES YES. Wait for it----

Quickly, quickly, quickly goes the little mouse
~fingers race around child's belly like a scampering mouse

Quickly, quickly, quickly all around the house!
~ tickle tickle tickle!


EEEEK!!!! No No No mice!
            CATCH THAT MOUSE!


Little Baby Mousey

Little tiny baby mousey,
~Walk fingers up baby's arm

From the barny to the housey,
In the pantry, under the shelf,

Found some cheese and helped himself!
~tickle under baby's arm or chin


Bzzzzzz, Bzzzt, Buzzz, Bzzz, BzzzZZzzzzZZZZzzzzz.
~Follow an imaginary bee with your eyes.

What is that? Buzzz, Bzzz, BzzzZZzzzzZZZZ Bzzzzzt
~Clap hands together (catch it)

Yes, yes! I got it! Oh, I'm...


I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~swing clasped hands from side to side as you sing

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
Ouch! He stung me!
~ stunned look, open hands

I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~squish hands and mash that offending bee up

I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee...
Ewww, it's all yucky!
~ look at 'icky' hands


I'm wiping off a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~ wipe hands on pants

I'm wiping off a baby bumble bee
Ugh, it's all over me!
~look really sick/ill over the mess

Oh, I'm licking off a baby bumble bee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!
~pretend to lick palms, you CAN make faces - 'this is so gross' faces ;) This has to SOUND like you are licking off the bee, just talk with your tongue out, it works GREAT!

I'm licking off a baby bumble bee
Uuhhh, that's really yucky!
~shudder, make more icky faces and say...

My mommy won't be proud of me!
~grin mischieviously, wag finger & shake head; 'no no'


Well, bees aren't really my type of food. No, no. Do you know what IS my type of food? Pizza! Yes, yes.


Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
OPL Link
This is a great fun book that you pat, roll and pretend your child is the pizza!

Ah, now that IS my favorite kind of food!
Yes, yes.



Shall we keep cooking? I know let's make Raisin Bread!


How to Make Raisin Bread

How do you make raisin bread?
You roll it,
~roll baby back and forth

You roll it,
You roll it,
You roll it,

An then you put the raisins in!
~give little tickle pokes all over
if you are at home, this is a great time to blow belly button raspberries for a dessert topping!

Oh No, no. I think my tummy is all done in. 
Time for big hugs --Yes, Yes--and goodbye kiddos!
 
_______________

MORE Tickly stuff if you need it


Eye Winker
~point to each part as you say it

Eye winker
Tom tinker
Nose smeller
Mouth eater
Chin chopper
Chin chopper
Chin chopper
Chin!
~and tickle baby under chin

Speaking of your little body parts, let me see those Tickly-ickly TOES!


Toe-sy Woe-sy
~tickle and tap each body part

Toe-sy Woe-sy
Wee footy
Shin chappy
Knee nappy
Bulgie wulgie
Neckie peckie
Chinny winny
Nosy posy
Eye winky
Brow brinky
Over the crown we go
~tickle over the head and down back
Down, down, down the back, start over again!


Dance Your Fingers
~ dance and tickle your way all around your baby

Dance your fingers up
Dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers to the side
Dance'em all around!

Dance'em on your tummy
Dance'em on your head
Dance'em on your shoulders
And dance'em off to bed.


We've All Got Belly Buttons by David Martin










Tickle  Tum by Nancy Van Laan
OPL Link



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!


An Extra Little Note

Simple concepts and lots of action are what you need to keep these littlest of the littles entertained, engaged, and happy. I have added the YES / NO emphasis to this Tickle Laptime to show how easy it is to incorporate a learning concept into a toddler storytime. All while still appealing to the adults--something we have to consider here in a library where we won't get patrons coming back if they are bored silly when they get here.

And so, seriously now, let's get down to the business of laughing and playing and having a whole bucketful of fun with your child at Laptime. Sit that cute little baby on your lap and get prepared to giggle your way to a happy happy day!

...and 

Yes, at Laptime in the library, you sit with both you and your child looking at the storyteller.

But, The BEST way is to be doing these at home--turn that child around, cuddle that toddler sitting sideways on your lap, or lay those infants on the floor (couch or bed) so they can be looking up at you. Now you can get started on some unforgettable moments of bonding.

After all, as the author Andrew Clements said in a speech I heard a few years ago:

"It’s not the material but the delivery system!"

Bees

BuZzZZZZZ BzzZZZZz Bees!


BzZ BZzZ BZzzzzZ B BZzzzzZZzz!

What? What is that?

BZzzzZ BZZ BzzzZZ B BZZZ! BZzzZ BZZ BZZ B BZzzzzZZ!

Oh, could it be? Is it ...

A Bee?

A BIG Bee

A Big BOLD Bee

A Big Bold BUMBLE Bee?

A Big Bold BABY Bumble Bee?

BZZ BzzzZZ BZZ BzzzZZ B BZzzZZ! BZzzzZTTT

I Caught it!


I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
~'Catch' a bumblebee, swing clasped hands back and forth
Won't my mommy be so proud of me

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
Ouch! He stung me!
~Show true stunned surprise, you mean bees sting people!??

I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee
~squish palms together, squish, squish, squish
Won't me mommy be so proud of me

I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee
Ewwww, it's all over me!
~look at palms, gee whiz, I didn't think it would do that!

I'm wiping off a baby bumble bee
~wipe palms on pants, up and back, keep the rythm
Won't my mommy be so proud of me

I'm wiping off a baby bumble bee
ughhhh, it's all yucky!
~look at hands and pants, oh, what a mess!

I'm licking off a baby bumble bee
~pretend to lick palms, the trick is to make it SOUND real ;)
Won't my mommy be so proud of me

I'm licking off a baby bumble bee
bleck! Now that is really yucky!
~shudder like you just tasted something truly terrible!

My mommy won't be proud of me!
~shake finger, on hand on hip, sly little devil look on your face


Oh, I don't think I'll ever catch a bumble bee ever again! Even if it was a baby bumble bee!

Oooo, but look here is a hive...


Here is the Hive

Here is the hive
~hold closed fist up
But where are the bees?
~shrug shoulders

Hidden inside
~point to fist
Where nobody sees
~shake finger, 'nobody', point to eyes, 'see'

expectant pause... closed fist starts to shimmer and shake...

Oh, oh OH!
1 2 3 4 5
~fingers pop up, counting

They're alive! They're alive!
~let your figners go TICKLING!


That's it. I'm never going to play with bee or a hive ever again! I think bees are just not very nice at all.

I know, let's talk about someone nice. Someone who I happen to know is very nice. His name is Eggbert...
~ pull over a flannel board with Eggbert there, sitting and just waiting for us
_________________________________
This is a long story for Laptime, so I have turned it into a FELT story.
If told with animation and spunk, it works well even for the littlest of storytime attendees.
__________________________________________



Now Eggbert, he is just about the nicest egg you ever saw.

Oh, but one day...

It was discovered...

That Eggbert had a CRACK!



Now, I don't know about how it is in your house kids, but here, where Eggbert lived, cracked eggs were just NOT allowed...


Eggbert the Slightly Cracked Egg by Tom Ross
There is a delightfully nosy and not-so-friendly bee in one part of this story!

The bee part: I stick a finger puppet bee on my finger and it goes out busily collecting delicious nectar from all the kids and flowers. Then, 'Bzzt bzzt BZZ BZZ BZZ B BZZZTTT! And it is discovered that you cannot get nectar from an egg. And that bee tells Eggbert that he cannot stay.'

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

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,