Garden Storytime
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: And Then It’s Spring – Julie Fogliano
(This wasn't as captivating this go round, but I still like it!)
Activity: Fran’s Flower - see the story here!
(An adorable story, the kids loved the little girls mistakes.)
Book: Nibbles Garden – Charlotte Middleton
(I really liked the bright illustrations and cute story, and the kids seemed to as well.)
Activity: Planting Seeds/Mr. Golden Sun -
from the CD Singable Songs for the Very Young by Raffi
First you take the seed and you plant it in the ground
(pretend to plant seeds in hand)
Next a little rain cloud comes that waters all around
(Use hand to simulate rain)
And the sun sends beams, shining bright without a sound
(make circle over head with arms)
Then in a few days, a flower can be found!
(cup hands together, then open fingers with wrists touching.)
(We also did this fingerplay in the musical interlude during Raffi’s song.)
Mr. Sun Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun,
(arms up, rock in time to the rhythm)
Please shine down on me.
(wiggle fingers down toward face )
Oh Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun,
(arms up again )
Hiding behind a tree
(ASL sign for ‘tree’ in front of face to ‘hide’)
These little children are asking you,
(gesture towards children)
To please come down so they can play with you,
(sign ASL sign for ‘Play’)
Oh, Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun,
(arms up again)
Please shine down on me.
(wiggle fingers down toward face)
(This was good times! Bright bouncy song)
Book: What Does Bunny See? – Linda Sue Park
(I was surprised I didn't see this on any of the storytime blogs I visit, it's fantastic!)
Flannel Board: Tops and Bottoms - traditional
I had double sided flannels as the garden, with the tops on one side, and the bottoms on the other.
Book: Up Down All Round – Katherine Ayres
(The kids were fun to shout out the ‘up, down, all around!’ and we pointed or circled our fingers for each one).
Activity: Streamers
(Then we used streamers to go Up, Down and All Around!)