For this virtual storytime, I decided we would focus on play using our scarves. Symbolic play and dramatic play help children to develop language skills.
Here’s what I have planned:
Hello Friends (ASL)
This is a popular hello rhyme. We teach the ASL signs for hello, friends, time and say.
Hello friends, Hello friends, It’s time to say hello.
ASL for Rainbow
Going along with teaching our ASL, I am also going to show them the sign for “Rainbow” because a lot of what we are doing today involves colors.
Scarf Tissue Box
I am going to introduce our scarves by pulling different color scarves out of a tissue box. We will identify the colors as we go.
Write
Using our scarves we will then write the letters “R” and “S” in the air.
Song – 1,2,3 Wee by Eric Litwin
I’ve never played music through Zoom before but I love to use scarves with this song, so I am going to give it a go.
Rhyme – Popcorn Kernel
This is a great rhyme to do with scarves because we thrown them in the air when the kernels pop!
Popcorn Kernels (wave scarves overhead) In the pot (make their scarves ‘disappear’ by bunching in your fists) Shake them shake them shake them (shake fists) Shake them shake them shake them (shake fists) ’til they POP (Toss scarves up into the air)
Book – “Katy Duck Meets the Babysitter” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Illustrated by Henry Cole, read with permission from Simon & Schuster
This a beginner reader book, but short enough for storytime and, bonus, has scarves!
Song – Wheels on the Bus
We are going to do the movements with our scarves.
The wheels on the bus go round and round, Round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and around, All through the town. (Wipers, Horn, Babies)
Flannel – Rainbow Stew
Kids always love when you put something in a pot or bowl and out it comes as something else!
Take an apple, put it in the pot Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot. Take it out. What will it be? The prettiest red you ever did see. Take an orange, put it in the pot Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot. Take it out. What will it be? The prettiest orange you ever did see. Take a banana, put it in the pot Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot. Take it out. What will it be? The prettiest yellow you ever did see. Take some peas, put them in the pot Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot. Take it out. What will it be? The prettiest green you ever did see. Take blueberries, put them in the pot Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot. Take it out. What will it be? The prettiest blue you ever did see. Take some grapes, put them in the pot Stir it, stir it, stir it a lot. Take it out. What will it be? The prettiest purple you ever did see.
Book – “I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!” by Karen Beaumont, Illustrated by David Catrow
I love singing this one and using our scarves as paintbrushes to identify the different parts of our bodies.
Rhyme – This is the way we wash our face
Another great one to do with a scarf.
This is the way we wash our face, Wash our face, wash our face. This is the way we wash our face, so early in the morning. (knees, arm, tummy…)
Book – “Mommy’s Khimar” by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
I wanted to read a very different type of book about scarves. This introduces kids to a scarf called a Khimar.
Sing – Shake Your Scarves by Johnette Downing
Scarves up, scarves down, shake your scarves all around Scarves up, scarves down, shake your scarves all around Scarves in, scarves out, shake your scarves all about Scarves in, scarves out, shake your scarves all about Right knee, left knee, shake your scarves fancy free Right knee, left knee, shake your scarves fancy free Right hand, left hand, shake your scarves with the band Right hand, left hand, shake your scarves with the band On your back, on your tummy, shake your scarves nice and funny On your back, on your tummy, shake your scarves nice and funny Scarves up, scarves down, put your scarves on the ground.
Goodbye Friends (ASL)
We end the same way we started but with “Goodbye” instead of “Hello.”
Goodbye friends, Goodbye friends, It’s time to say goodbye.
How’d it go: A super fun storytime! I did end up cutting out my last song because “My Mother’s Khimar” ended so soothingly and we were running out of time, that I didn’t want to wild up the kids again before our goodbye rhyme.
That’s all for now!
-M-