Z718.3 → Toddler Story Time: Spring

Last month, I said so long to baby story time sessions and this month I'm saying hello to the toddler age group! For my library, this means one major difference: crafts! I've had a lot of fun planning nine weeks worth of storytimes and their corresponding crafts. And so, for the next nine or so weeks I'll be posting my outlines and summaries of the storytimes I've been presenting. This week, to celebrate finally getting some good weather recently, the theme is Spring!

Opening Songs
Hands go up!
Open them, shut them! (x2)

Book 1: Planting a rainbow / Lois Ehlert

Felt board: "Five Green and Speckled Frogs" [rhyme/song found here]

Song: "Head and Shoulders"
Head and shoulders, knees and toes.
Knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes.
Eyes, ears, mouth, and nose!

Fingerplay: "Funny Little Caterpillar"
Funny little caterpillar, crawling on the ground. [crawl finger up arm]
Spin yourself a blanket, and then go fast asleep. [twirl fingers, tuck them into palm]
Fuzzy, wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by.
Now you have two pretty wings, You're a butterfly! [move hands in flying motion]

Song: "If you're happy and you know it"

Book 2: Wake up, it's Spring! / Lisa Campbell Ernst

Fingerplay: "Dig a Little Hole" [from Storytime Katie]
Dig a little hole,
Plant a little seed.
Pour a little water,
Pull a little weed.
Chase a little bug,
Heigh-ho there he goes!
Give a little sunshine,
Grow a little bean.

Craft: Making nametags
For this week, the craft didn't have any association with the weekly theme. After discussing it with a co-worker who had done toddler storytime before, she recommended that the decorating of nametags be done in the first session so that everyone can get familiar with one another. I liked the idea, so decided to adopt it for myself.

Goodbye Song: "The More we get Together"