Monthly Archives: September 2016

“Go! Go! Go! Stop!” Story Explorers preschool bookclub

We began by talking about opposites and what that means (which, by the way, is always difficult to do under pressure without mentioning the word “opposite” in the definition, so prepare in advance!) Heehee

This is Big
This is big, big, big.
(Stretch hands far to side)
This is small, small, small.
(Cup hands together over lap)
This is short, short, short.
(Hold palms horizontally, close)
This is tall, tall, tall.
(Hold palms horizontally, far apart)
This is fast, fast, fast. (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow. (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes. (nod)
This is no, no, no! (shake head)
Source: Mel’s Desk and promotion of CLEL in addtion to shameless self-promotion Storyblocks

Two Little Black Birds
Two little black birds sitting on a hill
One named Jack and one named Jill
Fly away, Jack. Fly away, Jill.
Come back, Jack. Come back, Jill .
Sitting in a car… near and far
Flying in the sky…low/high
Sitting on a gate…Early/late
Sitting on a pole…Fast/slow
Sitting on the ice…Mean/nice
Sitting on a gate… Wobbly/straight
Sitting on a mop… Bottom…top
Sitting on a cloud… Quiet and loud
Sitting on a lily… Serious/silly
Source: Jbrary

Read Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper

Song: Kira Willey’s “Stop and Go“

We then played a few rounds of the game Red Light Green Light.

We used pompoms to learn the sight words “go” and “stop,” like this post from 3 Dinosaurs.

We then made our stop and go signs to play more Red Light Green Light at home.

Yogibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

“Apples” Yoga Storytime

Opening – How I explain the rules of yoga storytime: stay on your mat and keep your hands to yourself.
(Skip to my Lou – from Jim Gill)
Stomping feet, one and two
Stomping feet, one and two
But if my feet were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling.

Clapping hands, one and two
Clapping hands, one and two
But if my hands were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling
(hands in Anjali mudra, or prayer position)

Extend and Stretch
Frere Jacques
Extend and stretch (sit in sukasana – easy seated pose, or crisscross applesauce- and do seated side bends)
Extend and stretch
Twist and turn (seated twists)
Twist and turn
This is yoga, (hands overhead on “this,” then bring to prayer position on “yoga”)
This is yoga
Om sweet om, (hands in prayer, bow forward)
Om sweet om
Source: I got this from Kids Yoga Guide teacher training, but here is another from Be Grace Yoga

Halloween sun salutations
Hello, bats. Flap, flap, flap
Hello, worms. Squirm, squirm, squirm.
Place your hands on the floor. 1,2
And step back. 3,4
Lower your belly to the leaves on the floor.
Aoooo. howl at the moon so pale
Lift up to shake your werewolf tail
Bend your knees. Jump your feet up please.
Take a deep breath in
And feel the magic deep within.
Source: KidPowerment Yoga

Open the Book
Arms, legs, both
Close the book. Open the book. Turn the page.
Start seated with arms stretched out in front of you, palms touching. To “open the book,” stretch the arms wide. To close it, bring them back together. To “turn the page,” open just the right arm and close it, then the left arm and close it. Repeat “turning pages” until the kids giggle. Repeat the whole sequence using legs instead of arms. Then try arms and legs together.

Book – The Red Apple by Ferdinun Oral
rabbit – rabbit pose/ shasasangasana
tree – tree pose/vrksasana
mouse – balasana/ child’s pose
fox – table pose stretching one leg out behind like a tail
If the kiddos are older and you are comfortable, you can even try handstand/adho mukha vrksasana like fox does! You can use the wall to assist.
bear- doing gorilla pose, walk up and down the mat
deep, happy sleep – savasana/final resting pose

We went apple picking. I printed the names of poses and hung them on the wall like an apple tree. The kids could pick an apple, and then we would learn the poses.
seed (child’s pose)
apple tree – tree/vrksasana
orchard of trees- group tree pose
apple blossoms (flower pose)
buzzing bee breath I did not use the music for this, but it’s fun so I thought I would share it.
I used a lot of the poses from Kids Yoga Stories.

Song: “Apple Tree” – Bari Koral and the Family Band

Hoberman Sphere breathing ball

Savasana This was a guided savasana. We thought about how beautiful the fall leaves are and how good apples taste. We then thought about being grateful for these things and all the bountiful goodness in our own lives.

Peace begins with me
Hold both hands overhead. On the word “peace,” touch the thumbs and pinky fingers together. On the word “begins,” touch the thumbs and ring fingers. On the word “with,” touch the thumbs and middle fingers. On the word “me,” touch the thumbs and pointers. Repeat this four times, the first time loudly and hands overhead. The second time, bring the hands down a little and speak a little softer. The third time, bring hands lower and whisper. The last time, bring hands to knees and speak words silently to self.
Source: Kids Yoga Guide Teacher Training

Apple mandala coloring page

Namaste!

Yogibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

“I Got the Rythym” preschool book club

We started off this session of Story Explorers with a beat bop, bing bang, boom boom boom. I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison is a CLEL Bell winner in the Every Child Ready to Read 2 category of Singing. I love the music, movement, and multiculturalism in this book.

Let’s Get the Rhythm of our Knees
Let’s get the rhythm of our knees (x3)
If you please
Let’s get the rhythm of our knees
Shoulders… Big boulders..
Heads… Oh dread..
Feet… How neat…
Source: Jbrary

Read I Got the Rhythm.

We then made our own instruments to create our own beat.

We made tambourines out of paper plates like this post.

We made guitars out of tissue boxes like this.

We made drums like this post using this free drum printable. The drum sticks are library blueberry-scented pencils.

We made shakers out of prescription bottles and rice and beans. The kids could hear the difference in sounds between the ones filled with rice and the ones filled with beans. We decorated the bottles with stickers and deco tape.

I’d say the kids were happy with their stash.

Yogibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

“Pirates!”

For our little ones event this month, we celebrated pirates! We held this event in the library twice and at an outreach event housed by Severance Town Hall.

We colored the letter R and made pirate hooks out of cups like this post. One little friend created his own eye patch for a photo op.

We walked the plank.

We exploded treasure chests like this post to see what was inside. I placed a jewel inside each one.

We made a pirate spyglass like this one.

We made boats out of wine corks, like this post, and then floated them in the water. One friend demonstrated that he knew how sailboats work and blew the boats across the pool.

Joke for the day: What is a pirate’s favorite letter? R? No, a pirate loves the C.

Yogibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

“Guess the silly – and gross – theme!” preschool storytime

Opening Song
I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my ears. I wiggle my nose.
I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my chin.
I stretch my arms wide and pull them back in.
I wiggle my elbows. I wiggle my knees.
I hop like a bunny. I smile and say, “Cheese!”
Now I have no more wiggles left in me
And I sit on the floor as still as can be.
Source: Storytime with Jason

Book – One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom

I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor
I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor
And I don’t like it very much
Oh no! He’s got my toe!
Oh Gee! He’s got my knee!
Oh My! He’s got my thigh!
Oh Fiddle! He’s got my middle!
Oh Heck! He’s got my neck!
Oh Dread! He’s got my – GULP
Source: Shel Silverstein. Here’s a video from Miss Nina.

Song: Laurie Berkner’s “I Feel Crazy so I Jump in the Soup“

Book: Old MacDonald had a Dragon by Ken Baker

Dragon, Dragon
Dragon, dragon, dance around
Dragon, dragon, touch the ground
Dragon, dragon, scratch your head
Dragon, dragon, point to red
Dragon, dragon, shut the door
Dragon, dragon, give a great big roar
Source: King County Library System

Felt Board – Pigs and Pancakes

Form the Corn
First you form the corn
Form, form the corn
Then you husk the corn
Husk, husk the corn
Then you pop the corn
Pop, pop the corn
Form, peel, mash potatoes
Form, peel, squeeze the orange
Form, pick, squish the squash
Form, dice the onion, cry
Form, peel, go bananas
Source: GoNooodle Moose Tube

Book – Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped her head
Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Continue until there are no monkeys left.
Source: Traditional

Tommy Thumbs Up
Tommy Thumbs up
Tommy Thumbs down
Tommy Thumbs dancing
All over town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed
Source: King County Library System

Goodbye
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as high as we can
Good-bye! (in high, squeaky voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as low as we can
Good-bye! (in a deep voice)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as fast as we can
Good-bye! (very quick)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as slow as we can
Good-bye! (very slowly and drawn out)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as quiet as we can
Good-bye! (in a whisper)
Bread and butter, marmalade and jam
Let’s say good-bye as loud as we can
GOOD-BYE! (yelling)
Source: Jbrary

Early literacy tip: Humor is movement. Humor is language. Humor is socialization. Humor is “brain food.” Not only does humor provide a learning experience, it is also an important part of “feeding” brain development. When a child (or anyone) laughs, the flow of blood increases to the brain. How do you feel after a good laugh? Usually we feel energized and alert. Humor can set the stage for learning by helping children release tension and focus on the task at hand. Humor increases the brain’s receptivity to learning. So tell jokes and riddles, be silly, dance a jig-you will be creating the perfect climate for learning.
Source: Scholastic

Yogibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

And if you haven’t guessed, there sure are a lot of books about things being eaten and then spewed back up. Happy storytiming!

“Letter X” preschool storytime

Alphabet Monster (with puppet)
I’m the Alphabet Monster
And nothing tastes better
To the Alphabet Monster
Than eating a letter.
Today I will eat an “X” if I may
With the million more letters
I munch every day.
I’m hungry now. What shall I do?
I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u” . . . . . . That means YOU!
Source: Storyblocks (adapted)

Book – My Mom has X-ray Vision by Angela McAlister

What Begins with X?
(The Farmer in the Dell)
What begins with X? What begins with X?
We all know. We’ll tell you so.
What begins with X?
Xylophone begins with X…
X-ray begins with X…
What words have an X?
What words have an X?
We all know. We’ll tell you so.
What words have an X?
Box has an X…
Mexico has an X…
Exercise has an X…
Source: Adapated Traditional

Exercise Every Day
Tune: “The Farmer In the Dell”
Take care of your heart.
Exercise today.
Jump and jump and jump
When you’re out at play
Source: Preschool Express

Book – Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

Is There Something in My Pocket?
Is there something in my pocket?
Could it be a moose?
(hands to sides of head for antlers)
Could it be a train (chug chug) with a bell (ding ding) or a caboose (point to back)?
Could it be a slippery snake
(palms together, wiggle)
Or some icky, sticky glue?
(try to pull palms apart)
Right here in my pocket is…
(have them guess – it’s a felt fox)
Source: King County Library System

Felt Board – The Fox is in the Box
(sung to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The fox is in the box
The fox is in the box
The fox is in the box
the fox is in the box.
The fox is under the box
The fox is above the box
The fox is in front of the box
The fox is to the right of the box
Source: Mid-Continent Public LIbrary
I also used the same felt set to play a Little Mouse, Are you in the House variation.

Book – Take Time to Relax by Nancy Carlson

Sleeping Bunnies
See the little bunnies sleeping
‘Til it’s nearly noon?
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh, so still. Are they ill?
Wake up little bunnies!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Source: Russ (The original is not his, but I love his extra verses.)

Song – Jim Gill’s “The Countdown” (just because it’s new, and I wanted to try it)

Early literacy tip: X is for Xmas gifts of literacy…year round! For any occasion, give children gifts of literacy materials: books, writing utensils, word games, etc.) When the child is giving gifts, have him or her write out the cards or gift tags. They can also make homemade books to give as gifts to others!

Teaching Early Literacy: Development, Assessment, and Instruction by Diane M. Barone et al

Yogibrarian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

“Letter Y” preschool storytime

Alphabet Monster (with puppet)
I’m the Alphabet Monster
And nothing tastes better
To the Alphabet Monster
Than eating a letter.
Today I will eat a “Y” if I may
With the million more letters
I munch every day.
I’m hungry now. What shall I do?
I think I’ll eat a “y” an “o” and a “u” . . . . . . That means YOU!
Source: Storyblocks (adapted)

Book – Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

This is Big
This is big, big, big
(stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short
(hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall
(hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)
Source: Originally from Mel’s Desk. Here is a Storyblocks video.

The More we Get Together
Signs for more, together, happy, friends
The more we get together,
Together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.
For your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.
Source: Traditional. Here is a video of the ASL from King County Library System.

Song – Koo-Koo Kanga Roo “Shake Yo Foot”

Book – I Dare You not to Yawn by Hélène Boudreau

Yawning Yaks
Five yaks yawned a lot
(Hold up 5 fingers and yawn.)
Time for bed believe it or not.
(Lay hands aside of face as asleep.)
For your mother you must obey.
(Shake pointy finger.)
And when you get up, just yell yea!
(Jump up and say “yea.”)
Source: Preschool Education

Felt Board – This Yellow Bird
(sung to the tune of “This is the Way”)
This Yellow Bird he flaps his wings
Flaps his wings, flaps his wings
This Yellow Bird he flaps his wings
And flies away in the morning!
Blue bird, red bird, green bird
Source: King County Library System

Book – You are a Lion! and Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo

Song: Kidding Around Yoga’s “Head Shoulders Yoga Pose”

Early literacy tip: Y is for year-long reading! Family involvement with a child’s literacy development should be year-round. This will have a cumulative effect on a child’s growth in literary knowledge and skills. Don’t take a summer vacation from reading!