Zoo Day

Zoo (Who Said Moo?) Day!
A Storytime for Preschool age and up

(Laptime version, click here)

Elephants, Hippos, Monkeys and More! Oh dear! Elephants, Hippos, Monkeys and More! Oh dear!

Yeah! The Zoo!

I LOVE the Zoo! Zebras, Peacocks, Penguins, Bears, Monkeys, Oh what else? What is your favorite?
~ask for kids to toss in some suggestions

Oh We're On The Way
Sing to 'On the Way to Grandpa's Farm' tune
Thanks Sheila N. for getting me started on this one!

~Bump up and down to the beat
Oh we're on the way, we're on the way
On the way to Hogle Zoo

Oh we're on the way, we're on the way
On the way to Hogle Zoo!
Down at the zoo
We'll see some big giant elephants
Down at the zoo
We'll see some big giant elephants
The elephants will go a lot like this:
~trumpet like an elephantThe elephants will go a lot like this:~trumpet like an elephant
Oh we're on the way, we're on the way
On the way to Hogle Zoo...

repeat with more made up verses:
The lions will go a lot like this:
~Rrraaaarrrrrr

The Monkeys will go a lot like this:
~eee eee eee eee

The whales will go a lot like this:
~Whale sounds

never mind that there isn't a whale at Hogle Zoo, we are suspending belief here for a few minutes it is STORY telling after all ;)


Listen.
Can you hear it?

It's the sound of the jungle!
It's animal music!


Jungle Sounds
Let's Play Music

Divide into 4 groups. This side, you are all the Elephants, next to you are the Lions. This other half, let's split you into the last 2 groups, Monkeys and Cicadas. Now here are your parts:

Elephants
- boom
Lions
- puh, puh
Monkeys
- eee, eee, eee, eee, eee,
Cicadas
- chi chi chi chi, chi chi chi chi


You've got the rhythm! Now go with it!

Aaa Eeee, Eeeea EeeeeEeeeaa Ma Ma, Ma Weh...


In the Jungle/
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
In the Jungle the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight.
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight.

A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh
A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh
A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A weema-weh
A-weema-weh A-weema weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh

Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight

A-weema-weh A-weema-weh....


Hmf, didn't I say HOGLE ZOO?
Did I say Disneyland? No? I thought not ;)
Back to our regular programming:

Now, at the HOGLE Zoo, I think there is a brand new elephant habitat! Let's go visit the elephants.


Elephant
Chant this or sing to the tune of  Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush

An elephant goes like this and that
~swing arms like an elephant trunk

He's terribly big, and he's terribly fat
~round arms into 'big' and bigger

He walks on his fingers, and he walks on his toes
~ point to fingers and toes

And goodness gracious, what a NOSE!
~point to your nose then do the ASL sign for elephant


Your Nose by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book CD)


Speaking of how perfect each and everyone of you are...


Monkey Face by Frank Asch
..unfortunately the book is out of print - see my somewhat altered Flannel story version


oooh, I hear thunder, is it going to rain??


Rain Song by Lezlie Evans


A Great Big Elephant
sing to the 'itsy bitsy spider' tune

A great big elephant~bend over walking and swinging arm for the elephant's trunk

Went out to play
Down came the rain
~flutter fingers down for rain

and then he couldn't stay
But up came the sun
~arms up, circle overhead for 'sun'

And dried up all the rain
And the great big elephant

Went out to play again
~bend over walking and swinging arm for the elephant's trunk


Did you see that big elephant?
It was squirting water out of it's nose!
Talk about making it rain!


One Elephant
By Sharon Lois and Bram
~this is a fun one to do a walking elephant chain - hold hands, pick up additional players as you count up
One elephant went out to play
On a spider's web one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called on another elephant to come

Two elephants went out to play
On a spider's web one day

Three elephants

Four elephants

Five elephants


Oh, look, it's a Hippo! Or is it a Rhino?


Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? by Shel Silverstein


Hippo! No Rhino! by Jeff Newman


A Hippopotamus

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got up, got up, got up on a bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Oh, you're squishing me"

A cow, a cow, got up on the bus
A cow, a cow, got up on the bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Mooooooove over."

A snake, a snake, got up on the bus
A snake, a snake got up on the bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Ssssssssit down"

A sheep, a sheep, got up on the bus
A sheep, a sheep, got up on the bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Baaaaack up"


Enough with the elephants already. And HOW, may I ask, did we get a cow?
In any case, it's the monkeys I want to see now:

Shall be zookeepers and feed all the monkeys?

What do you think monkeys eat?
Hmmmm...

Bananas? Are you sure?

You really do think so?
But I thought bananas for were for kids!
No?



Bananas of the World Unite!
Amy's version / alternate ending

Bananas of the world unite!
~clap at 'unite'

Form banana, form form banana
Form banana, form form banana
~clasp hands together above your head

Peel banana, peel peel banana
Peel banana, peel peel banana~arms peel down from above your head

Shake banana, shake shake banana
Shake banana, shake shake banana~shake yourself
Go bananas, go go bananas
Go bananas, go go bananas
~go Crazy!!! Think like a 60's go go dancer, arms up and down, oh yeah baby!

Now, all my bananas...

SPLIT!
~at midline, hands go from together, fast to out to sides - think an umpire signaling 'safe' - unless you can do the splits, if you can, do the splits - wow, kudos to you!


Where did all our bananas go?

Those monkeys are sure putting up a racket, they sound pretty hungry.

(kids, I want you to pretend you are monkeys - eeh, eeh, eeh -scratch under arms, hop around)

Wow, really really hungry!

(thanks you all, you did that great!)

Hmm, we need some help or these monkeys will never get fed, come help me load some bananas...


Day O'
Banana Boat Loader's Song
Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home
I work all night from a quarter to one
Stack'n bananas 'till the mornin' come

Come Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

One han' two han' three han' bunch
Four han' five han' six han' bunch
Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

A lovely bunch o' ripe bananas
Hide the deadly black tarantula

So check them, check them, check them with caution
My back is breaking from pure exhaust'n

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Six han' seven han' eight han' bunch
Nine han' ten han' eleven han' bunch
Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home!


Whew, what a lot of work, getting those bananas!

(kids, time to act like you are monkeys again!)

Okay okay, monkeys, hold yer shorts, we're a-comin' with yer bananas!

Oh boy, these are some demandin' monkeys.
You would think they didn't have any manners at all.
(wink)


Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys swinging in the tree
~fingers swing back and forth like monkeys in tree

Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can't catch me, no, you can't catch me
~thumbs to sides of your head, waggle fingers in a 'nana na na na'

Then along came Mr. Alligator
~bring a hand from behind your back, sneaky, slithery, silently...

As quiet as quiet can be
And... SNAPPED
~'nab' one of your monkey fingers with the sneaky alligator

that monkey right out of that tree!

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree...

Three little

Two little

One little

No more monkeys
(Mr. Alligator has a FULL tummy!)

Now you see what happens to bad teasing little monkeys. Aha!
I know none of you would ever be so foolish though.

Whew, getting all those bananas, thinking of all that eating, it sure has made me hungry. Shall we sit down to eat? Come on everybody, it's eatin' time!


Sitting Down to Eat by Bill Harley
(check out the CD)


Did you get enough to eat?
Everything kind of blew up before I got a chance to take a single bite.

Hmm, where should we go now? Did I see an aquarium?

Back there, on the other side of the elephants, on the way to the food court? Why don't we start walking over there, check out the fish and then grab a bite to eat afterwards, sound good? Great!

Slippery Fish

Slippery fish, slippery fish
- Slide palms backwards and forwards - slipping

Swimming through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO! I've been eaten by an...

Octopus, Octopus,
- arms out and slowly waving up and down like an octopus

Swimming in the water,
Oh, Octopus, Octopus...
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO! I've been eaten by a...

Great big shark, great big shark
-arms open and shut from the elbow to the hands, fingers interlock when they meet for sharp teeth.

Swimming in the water
Great big shark, great big shark
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO! I've been eaten by a ...

Humongous whale, humongous whale
-arms open and shut in a huge 'whale-mouth' motion

Swimming in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO!!! Oh ..
-look around, look...who ate it...

YOU ate it!
-look of utter surpise on your face as you gesture to a child


Oh, they were animal crackers! I get it! Phew!
For a minute there I thought that you were just too hungry to wait!


Animal Crackers
sing to the tune of 99 bottles

Oh once I ate lion
And then a tall giraffe

But when I ate the elephant
He really made me laugh!

Now you might think I'm fooling
But I will tell you true

That they were animal crackers
And you can eat them too!


I'm so Hungry

I'm so hungry
I'm so hungry

Yes I am
Yes I am

I could eat a lion
Without even tryin'

Yum Yum Yum

(now continue, have kids suggest an animal and make up a rhyme to fit,
ie: horse, oh of course! giraffe, don't make me laugh! )

Time to say goodbye and good night, don't let the bed bugs bite!

__________________________

Need to convert this Storytime to a Laptime?
Use the fingerplays and songs, then add one of these books:

Banana! Ed Vere
OPL Link


Mommy, Carry Me Please! by Jane Cabrera
Animals sure have a lot of ways to carry their babies!
I know I wish I were a Kangaroo momma at times!

Are you getting tired? Is it naptime?

Quiet! by Paul BrightFrom Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
_____________________________

Need more? Try some more of my storytime favorites:


Edward the Emu by Sheena KnowlesEdwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles
Eeek!Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy RathmannGiraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Can You Teach a Hippo to Dance by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book and CD)


Pssst! by Adam RexWild About Books by Judy SierraHippo-NOT-amus by Tony Payne


I Want to Be Your Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book and CD)
_________________________________

OLDER ELEMENTARY & TEEN


Wolves by Emily Gravett


Rabbit Tango by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book and CD)

Animal's Christmas

Christmas? It's Christmas! Jump for Joy! 
Let's CELEBRATE! 


Hello everyone! Are you ready for Christmas?

I am!


Jingle Bells
(Hand out bells for the kids to jingle along)

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way

Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Chorus
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
(repeat Chorus)


Wow, it's cold outside! Everyone come on in, dinner is just about ready.
(it's probably a good idea to gather up the bells here as you chat about yummy foods and traditions)
We love having everyone over for . . .


KNOCK KNOCK
(knock on something)

Someone's at the door, who could it be? Well, hello there, it's a little old lady and she's got a pie...


I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson 
OPL Link
(Taking a bit a creative license, using this book as inspiration, I' ve turned this picture book into a flannel Holiday story. Just substitute 'Holiday Pie for Thanksgiving Pie')


Oh my. There's no food left!
Oh well, we can still tell stories
How about some of our favorite Christmas songs and stories?

Did you know that baby Jesus was born in a stable? Do you know what a stable is? It's a place where animals live. What kind of animals do you think were in the stable the night Jesus was born?

Well, we know that there was probably a Donkey! Do you think there would have been maybe a cow or ox? A lamb? Oh, and I'm pretty sure that there would have been a mouse or two as well!

(I like to have puppets or stuffed animals for this part. Have them peek out of a box to give hints as to what animals you are thinking of. Hand out the animals for a child to hold while we sing this next song. If the kids are really young, it's a great idea to ask them what sounds the animals make. Maybe introduce the clapping rythms as the children tell you the sounds they make.)


Barnyard
- this is another song we learned in Let's Play Music - I cannot recommend taking these classes enough, if you have preshool-aged kids it's the best!

(this song works great with a hand clapping beat)

Barnyard Barnyard
All around the barnyard
Here the cows say
Moo Moo
~clap clap
(repeat)
All around the barnyard
Moo Moo
~clap clap
Animals are talking
Moo Moo
~clap clap
Even though it sounds like
Moo Moo
~clap clap

Just a lot of squawking!
~shrug shoulders, hands up

Bababababababa ba
~pat your legs fast, then move back into clapping beat 'Barnyard, Barnyard'

________________________

Now do it again, but with each of the other animals and their sounds
- oh, in the music classes you use different rhythms for the sounds, like...

Squeaky squeaky squeak squeak (mouse)
~clappy, clappy, clap clap

Hee Haw, Hee Haw (donkey)
~clap clap clap clap

Ba Ba Ba-ba-ba (lamb)
~clap clap clappy clap
________________________


Do you think there were hens and roosters too? I have a story of one little rooster, little Harold by name, and he lived in Bethlehem too...


Cock-a-Doodle Christmas by Will Hillenbrand
OPL Link

Now it's time to hold your baby in your lap. Rock back and forth. 

Softly,

gently, slowly.
(start humming the tune. Hum it all the way through)

Keep  hugging that little loved one and hum along . . . 
(after the first bit, go ahead and sing to the humming - This is such a calming, peaceful thing to end with. The mom's will not be able to help going home with the tune stuck in their heads and the kids will ask for mom to hold them and rock them and do it again at home.)


In a Humble Manger
(This is a very soft, lyrical song that I heard in Let's Play Music Class)

In a humble manger
whooooo ooo oooo

Lies a little stranger
whooooo ooo oooo(repeat)

That gives me the warm happy shivers. Like angels singing.

Keep singing my little angels and have a safe and happy holiday.
_________________________

More: 

Bear's First Christmas by Robert Kinerk

Rhythm Sticks

Making Rhythm Sticks

I've cut 3/4" dowels into 12" lengths (8" is a nice size too) for rhythm sticks.

Sand the tops and bottoms, store'em in a drawstring bag and you're good to go!



________________________________

Introducing Rhythm Sticks to a Storytime

After handing out 2 sticks to each child
~they will immediately start clicking them together, no prompting is necessary
do this little rhythym stick game...

All right kids, you all sound great!
Everyone, let's see how good your listening ears are.
Can you all put your sticks on your shoulders until I tell you?

Now let's see if you can make your sticks sound fast and loud!
~ clickclickclickclickclickclick Great job.

Now, can you make them sound soft and quiet?
~ taptaptaptaptaptaptaptap

Oh, very good, I can tell you all have your listening ears on today

Now, put your hands together, sticks together too and move them in a big circle.
~vroomvroomvroomvroom

Excellent circle-making everyone! Sticks to shoulders again.

Are you ready? Let's do it again, can you keep up with me?
Listen closely, and go!


You can do this several times, try to trick them, play with it, let them really have some fun with the sticks, when it looks like everyone is under control, move into your story or song. At the end, have the kids put the sticks together, hold them up over thier heads and you can easily gather them up.

p.s. I can't take credit for these ideas alone - Thanks Kathe & Brenda for all the inspiration and help!
_____________________________

Ideas for Rhythm Sticks

Songs:

Wheels on the Bus / Counting
Count to the tune of 'Wheels on the Bus'

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10
8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10!


Horsey Horsey 
This can be sung in a round if you've got older kids

Horsey horsey on your way
We've been together for many a day
So let your tail go swish
And your wheels go 'round
Giddy-up we're homeward bound

I like to take the horse and the buggy
As I go travling through the town
I like to hear old Dobbin's clip clop
As the wheels go 'round and 'round


Clickety Clack
Take turns moving sticks over your head, to the side, around and around

Clickety clickety clack
Clickety clickety clack
Clickety clickety
Clickety clickety
clickety clack


The Hammer Song
only hit sticks together when you say 'bang'. Put sticks on your shoulders in between

Bang bang bang bang
Watch me hammering

Bang bang bang bang
Pounding nails in

Bang bang bang bang
I try to pound them straight

Bang bang bang bang
Don't want to make mistakes

Bang bang bang bang
You know it feels so great

Bang bang bang bang
To make things out of wood

Bang bang bang bang
Watch me hammering

Bang bang bang bang


In the Jungle
- this is another song we learned in Let's Play Music - I highly recommend these preschool music classes. It's unbeatable for teaching pitch, rhythm, beginning music and it's FUN!

elephant - whole note
BOOM BOOM

lion -half note
PUH PUH PUH PUH

monkey -quarter note
EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE

cicada -eighth note
CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA
...get your creative mind going, think horses, trains, and anything with a rhythmic sound you can use, I'm sure you can come up with way more ideas than you can shake a 'rythym' stick at


Let's Make Rain
~For Storytime and older have groups of kids (and the parents) create a rain and thunderstorm!

Start with snapping fingers
~this group snaps the entire time
Now add clapping
Then add slapping legs
Now add stomping feet
Finally add rythm sticks!

~the accumulated sound is really neat!

Okay, time to take it back down

Stop the rhythm sticks
Stop the stomping
Stop the slapping
Stop the clapping
Stop the snapping

~and the storm is gone :)

B I N G O
NIEHS midi music

There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!

And Bingo was his name-o!
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(Clap)-I-N-G-O!
(Clap)-I-N-G-O!
(Clap)-I-N-G-O!

And Bingo was his name-o!

..and continue until it's all claps instead of the letters
__________________________________________

Picture Books:

Rain Song by Lezlie Evans
OPL Link

I Saw An Ant on a Railroad Track by Joshua Prince

OPL Link

Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter
OPL Link






 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
 OPL Link







 



 
Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming
 OPL Link






Tanka Tanka Skunk by Steve Webb
 

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,