Family Storytime – 9/21/19 – Fall

Song – Top of the Morning
This is a fun tune and great for waking up and doing a little stretching. It’s called Top of the Morning.
Hello Rhyme – Everybody Count One!
This is a nice little “rap” to get your storytime started.

Everybody count one, ONE! Storytime has just begun, Everybody count two, TWO! Shake your shoulders, show your shoes, Everybody count three, THREE! Listen very carefully, Everybody count four, FOUR! And put your bottoms on the floor. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ_Pd2Yss1k)

Stretch/Song – The Way We Do It by Greg & Steve

I got this one from a friend of mine. It’s a fun song with lots of movements.
ASL – APPLE / LEAF / CORN
I always teach three or four signs based on our theme in my family storytimes. Check out Signing Savvy or Baby Sign Language to learn these signs.
Book – We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
I know this one isn’t technically about fall but it has repetition and there is just something about it that gives me that fall feelings.
Rhyme – Leaves are Twirling
This is a good leaf rhyme and can be used to settle the kids down… actually, I should probably do it after our game. It’s to the tune of Frère Jacques.

Leaves are twirling, leaves are twirling All around, all around They are falling softly, very, very softly To the ground, to the ground. (https://sunflowerstorytime.com/2015/11/01/fall-leaves/)

Activity – Sleeping, Sleeping…

This is a game my mom taught me. You put the kids to sleep, “sleeping, sleeping all the children were sleeping,” and you wake them up as different animals, “And when they woke up they were….” Just don’t forget to put your animals back to bed and wake them up as children.
Flannel – A-P-P-L-E
This is basically BINGO but with the word apple instead.

I know a fruit that’s good to eat and apple is it’s name-o. A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E And apple is it’s name-o.

Rhyme – Ten Red Apples
Who doesn’t like to count and wiggle!

10 red apples grow on a tree (hold up both hands, fingers spread wide) 5 for you, 5 for me (one hand forward, one hand towards yourself) Let’s shake this tree, together–like so (wiggle in place) And the 10 red apples will fall below. (drop your hands) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10! (count your fingers) (http://www.literaryhoots.com/2015/09/apples-autumn-storytime.html)

Book – The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

This is all about a squirrel too busy to play because he’s preparing for the winter.
Rhyme – Have you ever seen a pumpkin?
Pumpkins are also very fall-y.

Have you ever seen a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin, Have you ever seen a pumpkin, that grows on a vine? A round one, a tall one, a fat one, a small one. Have you ever seen a pumpkin, that grows on a vine? (https://fallingflannelboards.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/storytime-pumpkins/)

Song/Shakers – Rockin’ Robin by Dancin’ Magic
Time to break out those shakers and dance, dance, dance!
Rhyme – If You’re Happy and You Know It
I like to know how happy we are at the end of storytime and this is the perfect one to do that with.
Goodbye Rhyme – Our Hands Say Thank You
Trying out a different goodbye rhyme this time.

Our hands say thank you with A clap, clap, clap; Our feet say thank you with a Tap, tap, tap. Clap, clap, clap! Tap, tap, tap! We roll our hands around, and say, “Good-bye.” (https://anneslibrarylife.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/baby-storytime-scarves/)

Song – Clean It Up! by The Laurie Berkner Band
Everyone helps put our shakers away.
Song – Goodbye, So Long, Farewell my Friends by Music Together
I always put this one on as I go to open the door. Its a nice, slow, peaceful song to wind down on.