Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime: Week Four 9/26/18

Storytime can be good medicine, as I happily discovered today.  I don't know what it is, but I have been in a funk lately, not sleeping well, and feeling exhausted.  My kiddos helped perk me right up this morning.  I knew they were counting on Miss Jen for a fun time, so I chugged a cup of coffee (or three) and began to prepare for storytime.  Seeing them all come in with big smiles, so excited for storytime to begin, put a huge smile on my face.  Their energy was contagious.  It is always so rewarding to watch their joy and see them learn new things from week to week.  Their little hugs and big belly laughs never fails to make me feel better if I'm having a bad day.  Speaking of bellies, stamping little toddler bellies never gets old.  This group of kiddos loves getting hand stamps and then a belly stamp.  It's hysterical, and I always have to do it with a sound effect.  "BOOP!"  Today we had a star stamp so it was like I created a small army of Star Belly Sneetches straight out of Seuss!

Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime

Week Four:  9/26/18

Opening Song:  “Everybody Wake Up!” (Track #7 Lisa Loeb’s Songs for Moving and Shaking)

Song:  “I Can Wiggle” (Track #2 30 Toddler Songs)

Song:  “Bingo” (Track #10 Early Childhood Classics / Hap Palmer)

Let’s Get Moving Activity Song:  “I’m a Nut” (Track #12 Groovy Green / Eric Litwin)

Pick out four of the activity mats.  Play song twice for four repetitions of the song, using each mat as the movement.

Yoga/Breathing Activity

Pick a breathing card and practice it.  Then pick a yoga pose card.  Practice the pose while breathing in and out.

Where are we going to fly today?

Ribbons / Scarves Song:  “The Airplane Song” (Track #9 The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection)

Transition Song:  “If You’d Like to Read a Book”

Book:  Chicka Chicka 123 / Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Song / Fingerplay:   “Counting Bananas” (Track #13 Super Simple Kids Songs 2)

Song:  “Jumping and Counting” (Track #7 Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem)

Scarf Song:  “Popcorn Kernels”

Book:  1-2-3 Va-Va-Vroom! / Sarah Lynn, illustrated by Daniel Griffo

Activity:  Kaboom!

Parachute

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime: Week Four 9/25/18

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime

Week Four:  9/25/18

Outer Space

Opening Song:  “When Cats Get Up in the Morning” (Track #3 Wiggleworms Love You)

Rhyme:  “Little Bunny in a Hat”

Talk about what the weather is like outside, what our theme is today.

Book:  Tiny Little Rocket / Richard Collingridge

Song:  “Rocketship Run” (Track #2 The Best of The Laurie Berkner Band)

Scarf Rhyme:  “One Bright Scarf”

Book:  Mae Among the Stars / Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington

Interactive Song:   “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHBrmZxAf8)

Book:  Hey-Ho, to Mars We’ll Go! / Susan Lendroth, illustrated by Bob Kolar

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2 / Yo Gabba Gabba)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Music & Movement: Week Three 9/19/18

Today I blew some toddler and preschool minds when I introduced the new big projection screen that was recently installed in our meeting room.  We have a screen in our story room that I use, but I never have in Music & Movement because we need the downstairs room because of space issues.  It adds a whole new element to the proceedings.  Plus I hear were're going wireless so I will soon have surround sound.  Oh yeah, things are going to get interesting!

Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime

Week Three:  9/19/18

Opening Song:  “Everybody Wake Up!” (Track #7 Lisa Loeb’s Songs for Moving and Shaking)

Song:  “I Can Wiggle” (Track #2 30 Toddler Songs)

Song:  “Bingo” (Track #10 Early Childhood Classics / Hap Palmer)

Let’s Get Moving Activity Song:  “I’m a Nut” (Track #12 Groovy Green / Eric Litwin)

Pick out four of the activity mats.  Play song twice for four repetitions of the song, using each mat as the movement.

Yoga/Breathing Activity

Pick a breathing card and practice it.  Then pick a yoga pose card.  Practice the pose while breathing in and out.

Where are we going to fly today?

Ribbons / Scarves Song:  “The Airplane Song” (Track #9 The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection)

Transition Song:  “If You’d Like to Read a Book”

Book:  Chicka Chicka Boom Boom / Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Song / Fingerplay:  “Down Down Baby” (Track #21 Laurie Berkner Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs disc 2)

Song:  “Alphabet Song” (Track #10 Mother Goose Rocks vol. 3)

Scarf Song:  “Popcorn Kernels”

Book:  Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown Race From A to Z / David Shannon, Loren Long, and David Gordon

Activity:  Kaboom!

Parachute

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime: Week Three 9/18/18

Wow!  I need a nap after this morning's storytime!  It was high energy, nonstop, energetic awesomeness!  My kiddos were super psyched for storytime today, and we had a blast!

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime

Week Three:  9/18/18

Camping

Opening Song:  “When Cats Get Up in the Morning” (Track #3 Wiggleworms Love You)

Rhyme:  “Little Bunny in a Hat”

Talk about what the weather is like outside, what our theme is today.

Book:  Ruby’s Sleepover / Kathryn White and Miriam Latimer

Song:  “Boom Chicka Boom” (Track #3 The Learning Station #1 Best Kids Songs)

Scarf Rhyme:  “One Bright Scarf”

Book:  Monster & Mouse Go Camping / Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Jared Chapman

Interactive Song:   “A Camping We Will Go” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4JDQO7DjzE)

Book:  Oh So Quiet! / Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Daniel Dunkley

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2 / Yo Gabba Gabba)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime: Week Two 9/12/18

So years ago I had the idea to cut out paper leaves so we could make piles, jump in them, rake them, etc.  It was a huge hit, and it has become a Fall storytime tradition, traveling from one branch to another.  Ha, branch!  That's funny!  Sorry, I'm amusing myself today.  It's an awesome activity because cleanup is built right into it.  We have to rake the leaves and fill the baskets.  Parents are always amazed at how fast their little ones clean up.  I know that I was pretty floored at the speed my own kids have cleaned up these leaves because it definitely does not translate to toys.  Maybe taping construction paper leaves to everything they own would help!  Of course they are also 5 and almost 7, so they've wised up to the whole "be my special helper during cleanup time" game.  I'll enjoy that with my preschoolers, and even some of the toddlers were totally on board with it today.

Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime

Week Two:  9/12/18

Opening Song:  “Everybody Wake Up!” (Track #7 Lisa Loeb’s Songs for Moving and Shaking)

Song:  “I Can Wiggle” (Track #2 30 Toddler Songs)

Song:  “Bingo” (Track #10 Early Childhood Classics / Hap Palmer)

Let’s Get Moving Activity Song:  “I’m a Nut” (Track #12 Groovy Green / Eric Litwin)

Pick out four of the activity mats.  Play song twice for four repetitions of the song, using each mat as the movement.

Yoga/Breathing Activity

Pick a breathing card and practice it.  Then pick a yoga pose card.  Practice the pose while breathing in and out.

Where are we going to fly today?

Ribbons / Scarves Song:  “The Airplane Song” (Track #9 The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection)

Transition Song:  “If You’d Like to Read a Book”

Book:  Mouse’s First Fall / Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan

Interactive Song:   “Autumn Leaves are Falling Down” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKjUPqbt8DU)

Song:  “In the Autumn Air” (Track #14 Boogie to the Beat)

Scarf Song:  “Popcorn Kernels”

Book:  Fall Mixed Up / Bob Raczka, illustrations by Chad Cameron

Activity:  Kaboom!

Parachute

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime: Week Two 9-11-18

Well, just a week ago we were talking about how it was hot and sunny and felt like Summer.  Today our weather vocabulary words were cloudy and rainy, and talked about how Fall is coming soon.  Craziness.  Today we also talked about fiction and nonfiction books and the difference between the two because our third book was a nonfiction book.  I'm trying to include more preschool nonfiction books whenever possible, which many parents really appreciate.

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime

Week Two:  9/11/18

Fall/Autumn

Opening Song:  “When Cats Get Up in the Morning” (Track #3 Wiggleworms Love You)

Rhyme:  “Little Bunny in a Hat”

Talk about what the weather is like outside, what our theme is today.

Book:  Little Elliot Fall Friends/ Mike Curato

Song:  “You Are Clapping” (Track #7 Perfectly Purple / Eric Litwin)

Scarf Rhyme:  “One Bright Scarf”

Book:  Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie / Herman Parish, pictures by Lynne Avril

Interactive Song:   “Autumn Leaves are Falling Down” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKjUPqbt8DU)

Book:  Let’s Look at Fall / Sarah L. Schuette

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2 / Yo Gabba Gabba)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime Week One 9/5/18

Well, much like my preschool storytime yesterday, a lot of my kiddos have graduated on to kindergarten or regular preschool programs, but their younger siblings were there as well as a lot of new faces which was awesome!  Despite occasional technical difficulties with my mic, we rocked it out and had a blast.  This is going to be a very fun and very silly group.  I'm trying two books this session as opposed to just one book and one book where we read a poem or passage.  They did a great job sitting for stories along with all of our crazy dancing, but with a mixed age group like this you never know. So I have some extra rhymes and activities added to the mix.  We didn't have time for parachute today, but I know we will in the future.  I'll make the time for it!  It was so good to see all those smiling faces and be reminded that this is why I do what I do.

Fall 2018 Music & Movement Storytime

Week One:  9/5/18

Opening Song:  “Everybody Wake Up!” (Track #7 Lisa Loeb’s Songs for Moving and Shaking)

Song:  “I Can Wiggle” (Track #2 30 Toddler Songs)

Song:  “Bingo” (Track #10 Early Childhood Classics / Hap Palmer)

Let’s Get Moving Activity Song:  “I’m a Nut” (Track #12 Groovy Green / Eric Litwin)

Pick out four of the activity mats.  Play song twice for four repetitions of the song, using each mat as the movement.

Yoga/Breathing Activity

Pick a breathing card and practice it.  Then pick a yoga pose card.  Practice the pose while breathing in and out.

Where are we going to fly today?

Ribbons / Scarves Song:  “The Airplane Song” (Track #9 The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection)

Transition Song:  “If You’d Like to Read a Book”

Book:  It’s Your First Day of School, Busy Bus! by Jody Jensen Shaffer and Claire Messer

Song / Fingerplay:  “Look at the Monkeys” (Track #24 30 Toddler Songs)

Song:  “The Wheels on the Bus” (Track #14 Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids Songs disc 1)

Scarf Song:  “Popcorn Kernels”

Book:  Dino Pets Go to School by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Gideon Kendall

Activity:  Kaboom!

Parachute

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime Week One 9/4/18

We're back!!!!

August was a long month for families missing their regular storytime fix!  Today we started our Fall 2018 session even though it feels like Summer 2.0.  It is HOT out there today!  Several of my storytime kiddos have graduated on to kindergarten, including my daughter, so I definitely missed them.  I know they are crushing kindergarten though.  A number of my current kiddos are starting preschool programs this week so the "Back to School" theme worked quite nicely.  I'm looking forward to having toddler storytime graduates join me this Fall.  We're going to have a great time!  I'm introducing a couple of new songs and rhymes to the mix which they seemed to like.  I wasn't sure what reaction I would get by taking a hiatus from the Milkshake song!

Fall 2018 Preschool Storytime

Week One:  9/4/18

Back to School

Opening Song:  “When Cats Get Up in the Morning” (Track #3 Wiggleworms Love You)

Rhyme:  “Little Bunny in a Hat”

Talk about what the weather is like outside, what our theme is today.

Book:  Click, Clack, Quack to School! / Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Song:  “The Wheels on the Bus” (Track #14 Laurie Berkner Classic Kids’ Songs disc 1)

Scarf Rhyme:  “One Bright Scarf”

Book:  How to Get Your Teacher Ready / Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish

Interactive Song:  “This is the Way We Go to School” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsIb5L0_pGY)

Book:  Fall is For School / Robert Neubecker

Shaker Song:  “Hold Still” (Track #5 Music is Awesome vol. 2 / Yo Gabba Gabba)

Closing Song:  “Shake My Sillies Out” (Track #1 Fun in the Sun disc 2)