Dancing Storytime
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: Baby Danced the Polka – Karen Beaumont
(This was well received, better than I'd hoped actually!)
Puppets: Down by the Cool of the Pool -
from the book by Tony Mitton
(I used critters I had on hand and matched actions I could make them do, staying with the story where possible. It was pretty fun!)
Frog is dancing by the cool of the pool
'Wheee!" said he, "Can you dance like me?'.
Duck came to see,
'I can dance too, but not like you. I can flap!"
So Duck went Flap and Frog went
'Wheee! Can you dance like me?'
down by the cool of the pool.
Continue building on this format until you have Dog rolling over, Pig wiggling, Sheep stamping, Cat twirling, Duck flapping and Frog jumping.
Book: Dancing Feet – Lindsey Craig
(A fun simple guessing game book, with great illustrations)
Activity: Silly Dance Contest -
from the CD The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tune by Jim Gill
(You know a song went over well when a parent asks where to find it afterwards!)
Book: Hilda Must Be Dancing – Karma Wilson
(So adorable and sweet and visually stunning. Everyone gets a happy ending!)
Activity: Five Ballet Dancers
(I'm not sure if the kids were disinterested, or enthralled by these paper dancers, but no one sang along! I'm going to pretend it was enthralled) =P
Five Ballet Dancers,
Balance on their toes.
Twist and twirl and leap,
then off the stage one goes!
Book: Farmyard Beat – Lindsey Craig
(A fun book with great opportunity for interaction. My only complaint is that kids understand cows going Moo rather than Swish, clank.) -.o
Activity: Streamers with music
I played the awesome Miss Opotomus from the Purple Ladybug music album. Everyone had a super time. Even the girl who was shy at the beginning was flailing about with her streamers. =]