Back to School Storytime
Scott Bahlmann
Opening: Shake My Sillies Out – Raffi
Book: Foxy – Emma Dodd
(A bit abstract, but really fun illustrations, and goofs on Fox's part.)
Activity: Little Cuckoo clock
(Sometimes the simplest stuff is the best stuff. The clock is drawn on a piece of foam, with the hour hand stuck in the center. We just moved it to the next number before the next verse of the song, then stopped and 4:00 and just counted the rest of the numbers. )
Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
(swing arms in rythem)
Tick tock, tick tock, now it’s one o’clock.
Cuckoo! (jump once)
(Continue with two, three, four and five o’clock.)
Book: Oliver and his Alligator – Paul Schmid
(I was a little hesitant about including this, but it was quite a hit! The kids and parents both enjoyed it, and it had some nice talking point opportunities.)
Activity: If You're Wearing Any Red...
Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It
If you’re wearing any red, any red
If you’re wearing any red, any red
If you’re wearing any red,
wave your hands above your head,
If your clothes have any red, any red.
...if you’re wearing any blue,
jump up and down inside your shoes,
...if you’re wearing any white,
scrunch your face up small and tight,
...if you’re wearing any yellow,
jiggle like a bowl of jello-o,
...if you’re wearing any green,
tilt sideways ‘till you lean,
...if you’re wearing any brown,
make a face like a clown,
…if you’re wearing any purple,
spin around in a circle,
…if you’re wearing any black,
pat yourself right on the back
…if your wearing any gray,
go ahead and shout Hurray!
...if you’re wearing any orange,
pretend to sleep and snoreange.
(The kids really like this activity, the only trouble is when we don't have enough time to include every color.)
Book: Little Lola – Julie Saab
(This was a very nice addition. A few of the spreads were a little busy for storytime, but not enough to exclude it.)
Activity: There’s a Dog in School
(A really fun activity. There is a recording available out there, but I like the freedom of including a dinosaur!)
There’s a Dog in School, oh no!
What are we going to do?
As long as there’s a dog in school,
he’ll have to learn the alphabet too.
Ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, etc…
(continue with other animals)
Book: Ollie’s School Day – Stephanie Calmenson
(We do clip a few of the pages, but the kids quite like correcting Ollie's sillyness.)
Activity: Books
(We end our back to school program by giving away free books to the kids!)