For this storytime I really wanted to use my folder story of Scat the Cat, so I decided to go with an Art theme. Similar to my Imagination theme of a few months ago but I mixed it up with different rhymes and books.
Here’s what we did:
I always start with the same warm ups:
Song – Top of the Morning
This is a good song to warm up with because we stretch all the parts we will be using in storytime. Eyes, arms, legs, mouth, nose.
Rhyme – Say Hello
I love this rhyme. Everyone claps along and at the end we say hello how ever I tell them to. Loud, soft, quick, slow.
Song – Skidamarink
It’s a classic, I know you all know it!
From here we get into our theme.
ASL – Art, Colors, Paint & Fun
I like to include a few new ASL signs in storytime. I usually print my own flash cards from Baby Sign Language.
Story – Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman
This is a cute one that talks about colors and what to do when the best intentions go wrong. I also love how it looks like paper!
Movement Exercise – If Your Wearing Any…
I sort of adapted this from a few site, here’s how mine goes:
If your wearing any red, if you wearing any red, if you’re wearing any red… stand up and touch your HEAD!
If your wearing any blue… bend down and touch your SHOE!
If your wearing any green… stand and bow to the QUEEN!
If your wearing any black… reach back and pat your BACK!
If your wearing any brown… just turn yourself right AROUND!
If your wearing any color… jump up and shout HOORAY!
Song – The Color Song from Parachute Express
Just an upbeat song to shake our sillies out to.
Folder Story – Scat the Cat!
I found this one online and I LOVED it! It was also a really big hit! You can look at my how to post here.
I would definitely recommend making a sign with the chorus on it. I had a volunteer hold up the sign for me and this was a big hit.
Game – All the Children Were Sleeping
This is a game my mom taught me (she’s a nanny). You go “sleeping, sleeping all the children were sleeping. And when they woke up, they were ____.” Lions, tigers, bears. You get the kids to act out different movements and sounds. It’s a big hit for my kids. Remember to turn them back to boys and girls at the end.
Action Rhyme – This is the way… art version
You can get the words here.
Story – I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
I passed out scarves and we pretended that our scarves were our paintbrushes and while I sang the story, the kids painted their arms, legs, heads…
Scarves w/ Song – De Colores from Dora’s World Adventure CD
We went through two verses of this one, so we got the Spanish and English versions of the son.
Finally, I always end with the same three things:
Movement Exercise – If You’re Happy and You Know It
I tell the kids that I want to know how happy they are.
Rhyme – Say Goodbye
This is the same rhyme we started with, so the new guys are familiar with it by the end of storytime.
Song – Goodbye, So Long, Farewell my Friends by Music Together
I always put this one on as I go to open the door. Its a nice, slow, peaceful song to wind down on.
How’d it go: We had a couple of screamers in this storytime but overall it went pretty well. The parents put up with my singing and they all loved participating in Scat the Cat. About 80 people in total.
That’s all for now!
-M-