Tools Storytime
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: Monkey With a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem – Chris Monroe
(The kids were quite engaged with this, despite it's length. I did clip some of the busier pages together. Fun story!)
Activity: Matching game
Painter-brush, Construction worker-hammer, Doctor-Bandaid, Chef-Pizza Cutter, Postal Worker-Letter.
I also thought about having a superhero with a cape, but didn't manage to get the prop I needed.
(Each of the professions was introduced, and placed on the flannel board. Then I would bring out a tool and have the kids tell me which person needed it for their job. It was fun, and having actual tools seemed to generate greater interest.)
Book: Toolbox Twins – Lola M. Schaefer
(This was a replacement because my original choice failed miserably! It certainly worked better, though I feel it's still a bit tedious)
(the biggest book flop I've had. No one was engaged, so I replaced it for my second storytime of the week.)
Activity: Construction song
The backhoe scoops the dirt. The backhoe scoops the dirt. Hey-ho! Look at it go! The backhoe scoops the dirt.
(Act out the motions, and continue with:)
The dump truck dumps the dirt... The roller rolls it flat... The cement mixer spins... The crane lifts up and down...
(This was a nice get up and move activity. We cycled through the list twice.)
Book: Machines Go to Work in the City – William Low
(This was well received, though I stretched the theme a little. Nice fold outs add interest.)
Activity: 5 Little Nails
(Sometimes I think props aren't the best choice, a finger play version of this might have been better with the fingers of one hand as nails, and the other fist pounding them down. Ideally you could do both!)
Five little nails
Standing straight and steady
Here come a builder
With a hammer ready!
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The nail goes down
And now there are Four nails left to pound!
(continue with remaining nails)
Book: The Magic Toolbox – Mie Araki
(A nice simple story with bright illustrations. A great way to finish.)
Activity: Toolbox Craft
(I had the kids identify the tools in my pre-made box, then let them make their own. [two sheets of paper, one folds to make the toolbox, the other has the tools and handle to cut out])
click the images to open, then copy and paste the URL to download template
