Animals in Autumn
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Note: I have learned a few things since I began these outreach storytimes. One of the major lessons I learned is that I need to do LESS books, and longer books towards the beginning. More songs, fingerplays, and other activities involving props are a good way to mix things up and get the wiggles out. Enjoy!
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Hello song: Hello FriendsThis is a wonderful song that I borrowed from Jbrary. It incorporates American Sign Language (ASL), which is fun to teach to the kids. I love the "friends" sign especially, because the way I describe it is "take both of your pointer fingers and have them give each other two hugs", which is adorable. To encourage all children to do the signs with me as I sang, I went over each individual sign and what it meant before we started singing. I also tried to explain a little bit about ASL, what it is used for (communicating with those who are deaf), and how it can also help little ones who aren't speaking yet communicate their needs and wants.
I've started using this warm-up at the beginning and often times throughout storytime, when the children get wiggly and need to refocus on listening to a story (especially after a song)! It goes like this: 1. Eyes watching (make glasses around eyes with your hands) 2. Ears listening (put hands behind ears) 3. Voices quiet (point to mouth) 4. Body calm (Give yourself a hug) 5. Caring hearts (Put hand over heart)
I found this idea on the Jbrary blog (where, well, I pretty much learn about everything cool and awesome, and end up borrowing everything!), in a post that talks about kindergarten teacher wisdom, and one of the kindergarten teachers uses this "mantra" with her kids. It really works well for calming everyone down, and my regulars have just about got the hang of it so that I only need to ask them for numbers and they know what to do!
Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy TafuriI ADORE this book. From the repetition to the cute illustrations of each animal, it is a joy to read aloud. Plus, each animal makes a different sound, so we all say the animal sound together. It is short and sweet, and the repeated phrase "he was SO busy!" will be easily picked up by children and adults.
Song/Rhyme: The Acorn Song (I'm a Nut)
I love doing movements to songs, so I added some of my own to this one. Here's how I do it:
I'm a little acorn small and round (hands above head, making a circle) / Lying on the cold, cold ground (bend over and reach down to the ground) / People always step on me (stomp) / That is why I'm cracked you see (wag finger and point at audience) / I'm a nut (click click) / I'm a nut (click click) / I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut (click click)
Book: That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George
Another cute read about a puppy who digs up all of a squirrel's acorns! After he realizes he was wrong, he helps the squirrel put them all back.
Stretcher song: We Wiggle and Wiggle and Stop!
This is such a good little tune for getting the wiggles out. I've learned that by mid-storytime, it's a must! As Dana and Lindsey (Jbrary) mention in their video, it's a great song to teach kids how to follow directions. When I first started using this little stretcher in my storytimes, it took the kids a few tries to actually "stop" when I say "stop", but many of my regulars now know just what to do - it's great! Also, during this particular storytime, since we were using scarves, I had them wave their scarves as one activity (we wave and we wave and we stop). Many giggles during this little wiggle release!
Stretcher/Activity: Wave Your Acorns
You may remember this little activity/stretch from my very first post, in which I used shaker eggs to go along with this little mantra. The mantra originates, to my knowledge, from a storytime video posted by the New York Public Library in which the librarian did a little wiggle release that goes: "wiggle your hands way up high / wiggle them way down low / wiggle them side to side / wiggle them on your shoulders / wiggle them on your head / wiggle them on your belly / and then put them all to bed".
Now, for this storytime, I had them use their Ellison-die cut-out acorns that I passed out. So it went like this: "wave your acorns way up high / wave them way down low / etc..." This is a great stretcher!Stretcher/Activity: Two Little Acorns
This is an adaptation I made of a popular little rhyme called "Two Little Blackbirds" (visit the link to see Jbrary perform it). Instead of Blackbirds, I use Acorns to go with my theme. Instead of flying away, they roll away! Read my adapted lyrics in the handout (see link at bottom of this post).
Book: Winter Lullaby by Barbara SeulingI love love love the illustrations in this book. Even if you were in sunny California, you would FEEL the crisp cool autumn air and hear the geese flying south overhead. The lyrics are that vivid and clear. The ONLY part I don't like about the book is that it is called WINTER Lullaby and not AUTUMN or FALL Lullaby, which I think it should be called... it's about what animals do in the autumn/fall to get ready for winter. Just my opinion! I think I feel this way because at the time I did the storytime, I wasn't ready for fall to be over with just yet! :)
Song: Hoot Hoot Went the Little Brown Owl
Another cute song borrowed from Jbrary. They formed this song from the Little Green Frog song. It is really silly, and of course makes zero sense, which had everyone rolling with laughter!
Book: I Know It's Autumn by Eileen SpinelliThis is a nostalgic, simple, lovely book that makes me reminisce what it was like to experience autumn as a child. With minimal text and colorful illustrations, it is great read aloud for autumn.
Song: Animals in Autumn
This is my first song that I wrote completely on my own! I don't have a video or anything of me singing it, but it does have motions. It goes by the tune of "Frere Jaques". Here are the lyrics with the motions for each line:
I am squirrel (I am a squirrel) - make two paws with your hands
What should I eat? (What should I eat?) - put both your arms up and out at your sides, like you're confused
I think I'll have some acorns (I think I'll have some acorns) - act like your eating something by taking your paws and pretending to nibble on some acorns
MMM what a treat! (MMM what a treat!) - rub your belly :)
I am a goose! (I am a goose) - make two wings with your arms & flap them
Where should I fly? (Where should I fly?) - put both your arms up and out at your sides, like you're confused
It's getting really chilly (it's getting really chilly) - shiver and hug yourself
South I will fly (south I will fly) - point downwards
I am a bear! (I am a bear) - make paws with claws with your hands
What should I do? (What should I do?) - put both your arms up and out at your sides, like you're confused
I'm getting really sleepy (I'm getting really sleepy) - yawn
A hibernation should do! (A hibernation should do!) - rest your head on your hands
Goodbye Song: Bread, Butter, Marmalade & Jam
Instead of "hello" we simply substituted "goodbye". This is now my staple, and I use it every time because everyone LOVES it and know the lyrics to it, since I've done it so many times!
Handout:
- storytime plan / song lyrics
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