“Moonlight” 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)

Are you Ready for Yoga? 
Are you ready for yoga?
If you’re ready, then stomp your feet
Stomp your feet and make some noise.
Let’s stomp our feet and make some noise
And do it really fast
Then stop. Stretch your feet up, up, up
And down.
Repeat with arms then both. 
Source: Next Generation Yoga at the National Kids Yoga Conference

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 

Sun Salutations – I use a call and response version of Sargent Salutations from Kidding Around Yoga. 

Book – Moonlight by Stephen Savage
swinging through the trees – tree/vrkshasana
streaks through forest – warrior I/ virabhadrasana I
swirling down a river – crocodile/makarasana
washing out to sea – navasana/boat
drifting in a wake – dolphin/ ardha pinchamayurasana
hides behind a cloud – twist from side to side holding “binoculars”
plane – warrior III/ virabhadrasana III
mountaintop – tadasana/mountain pose
silvery tracks – rock and roll pose
rests in bedroom – cat/cow
moonlight – half moon/ ardha chandrasana use a wall for more stability

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

Belly Breaths

Savasana 

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

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All Bodies are Good Bodies 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 – Just. Like. You by Meredith Steiner and illustrated by Avneet Sandhu

Song: “Mi Cuerpo Hace Musica” by The Learning Groove

Laugh a Little
Laugh a little, laugh a little, ha, ha, ha.
Sing a little, sing a little, la, la, la.
Clap a little, clap a little, clap, clap, clap.
Dance a little, dance a little, tap, tap, tap.
Spin a little, spin a little, round and round.
Rest a little, rest a little, all fall down
Source: Preschool Express

Book – Hands and Hearts by Donna Jo Napoli and illustrated by Amy Bates

The More We Get Together with ASL

Song: “Clap It!” by Bari Koral

Book – What Do You Love About You? by Karen Lechelt
I really wanted to promote NAEYC’s anti-bias goals 1 and 2 of identity and diversity where we learn to describe ourselves and others in positive language.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
I have ten little fingers
and ten little toes
Two little arms and one little nose
One little mouth and two little ears
Two little eyes for smiles & tears.
One little head and two little feet.
One little chin, that’s me, complete!
Source: Everything Preschool

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:
See the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s anti-bias goals.

Other books that would work for this topic
Lovely by Jess Hong
Big – Vashti Harrison

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Summer of Love

The Summer Learning Program theme this year is All Together Now so of course, I have been singing the Beatles song since May. One idea was to have a hippie-inspired event, and that resonated with me so we tuned in, turned on, and dropped out for this event.

We made “tie-dye” like this post from Busy Kids Happy Mom.

We made friendship bracelets like this post from Crafty Homeschool Mom.

Some kiddos compared which straws were taller or shorter.

We made suncatchers out of the discounter flowers from the local grocery store like this post from Messy Little Monster. (P.S. The contact paper sticks to itself best so spread it over the entire plate, not just the hole.) Flower power!

But making telescopes and megaphones from the contact paper is fun too.

This little friend has quite the brain for patterning. She made this all on her own!