Cover Sheet – For the Presenter
The following storyhour program is designed for toddlers and preschoolers (primarily 2-3-year olds). This storytime focuses on “sequencing” – putting things in order, which is an important early literacy skill.
You don’t have to read the leader’s comments word-for-word, but try to include the information in your own words especially the asides to the parents. The information that is just for you is in italics – so don’t read that text.
The general outline of our storytime is:
I. Opening Song
II. Welcome/Introductory Comments
III. Action Rhyme
IV. Rhyme
V. Book
VI. Rhyme
VII. Book
VIII. Rhyme with flannelboard
IX. Counting Rhyme/Activity
X. Extra Rhyme
XI. Closing Song
Feel free to substitute your own opening and closing rhymes as well as any rhymes with a similar theme that the children have heard before. Repetition of songs and action rhymes from previous storytimes is better than introducing all new ones.
We have provided several props that we think will be helpful.
*Flannel board cut-outs.
*Some of the rhymes in large print to help the adults join in.
* Craft ideas to offer after your storytime has officially ended.
*Take home materials.
*You may also want to order name tags from SWILSA. See http://www.swilsa.lib.ia.us/collections/Diecuts.htm.
Rainy Days
Opening Song (to the tune of “London Bridge”)
Hello Song
Hi, hello and how are you?
How are you?
How are you?
Hi, hello and how are you?
How are you today?
(Repeat several times as the group settles in.)
Introduction
To the caregivers:
Welcome to storytime. I am glad you could all be here today. We are going to be sharing some rhymes and books. Parents and caregivers, please join in with our rhymes and actions.
Action Rhyme
Use the traditional hand motions for “Itsy, Bitsy Spider.”
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the waterspout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again.
Rhyme
Big Raindrops (to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Big raindrops, big raindrops
Splashing on my nose.
Big raindrops, big raindrops
Falling on my clothes.
On my head, in my hair,
On my shoulders, too.
Big raindrops, big raindrops
What am I to do?
-- I know! (with exaggerated feeling!)
My umbrella, my umbrella
Covering my head.
My umbrella, my umbrella
Is big and bright and red.
It spreads out wide
And looks so cute.
When I hold it high.
My umbrella, my umbrella
Keeps me nice and dry.
~S. Gruber
Now it’s time to settle down for a story. Let’s all reach for the ceiling . . . try to touch our toes . . . turn around one time . . . and sit down in our places.
Book
Read: Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg.
Or choose another book about rain that is good for retelling in sequence.
To the adults:
Putting things in a sequence is an important literacy skill. After you read a story, have your child retell what happened while encouraging him to place events in the right order. Let’s practice this technique now.
Now, retell the story emphasizing the order of events. Use the flannelboard set for Mushroom in the Rain. If you used another book, you might page through the book again asking questions about “What happened next?” before turning each page.
Rhyme
This is an imagination activity. You might ask the children what raindrops are made from and what would it be like if they were made from something else. Allow time for the children to make comments!
If all of the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what fun that would be.
If all of the raindrops were ice cream and cupcakes
Oh, what a party that would be.
If all of the raindrops were soda pop and orange juice
Oh, how sticky I’d be.
If all of the raindrops were spaghetti and meatballs
Oh, what a mess that would be.
But if all of the raindrops grow flowers and trees
Oh, how happy I’ll be.
-3-
Book
Read Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee or one of your favorites about rainy days. These are some suggestions:
Maudie’s Umbrella by Kay Chorao.
In the Rain with Baby Duck by Amy Hest.
The Puddle by David McPhail.
Red Rubber Boot by Mary Lyn Ray.
Rhyme
Use this rhyme (sung to the tune of “Ten Little Indians”) with the flannelboard pieces.
Colorful Umbrellas
Red and blue and green umbrellas
Yellow and orange and pink umbrellas
Black and brown and white umbrellas
Twirling in a rain storm.
White and brown and black umbrellas
Pink and orange and yellow umbrellas
Green and blue and red umbrellas
Now the rain is over.
Counting Rhyme
Counting is another form of sequencing. Use fingers or raindrop flannelboard pieces to count out this song to the tune of “Ten Little Indians.”
One little, two little, three little raindrops
Four little, five little, six little raindrops
Seven little, eight little, nine little raindrops
Ten little raindrops falling.
Ten little, nine little, eight little raindrops
Seven little, six little five little raindrops
Four little, three, little two little raindrops
One little raindrop falling.
Extra Rhyme – Use for fun if time permits.
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside to play
Come again some other day
[Repeat 2 or 3 times with exaggerated expressions. You can substitute another rhyme from pp. 205-206 of 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays, if you wish.]
Closing Rhyme
(Put up a large print copy of the rhyme and ask parents to join you. You will need a wristwatch and a hankie or tissue.)
See you later, alligator (use hand to shade your eyes as if searching)
In a while, crocodile (point to watch or clock)
Bye-bye, butterfly (wave)
Toodle-oo, kangaroo (wave hankie)
Time to go, buffalo (look at watch and shake head as if running late)
Just like that, fat cat (snap fingers)
It’s the end, my friend. (shrug shoulders and throw up hands in a “giving up” gesture)
To the adults:
Feel free to stay a while and visit or check out some books to take home. (Point out any brochures or tip sheets that you have on display for parents, etc.)
-5-
After Storytime Activities:
We like the idea of providing an activity/social time at the end of storyhour. Something simple is fine. This gives parents a chance to visit and it re-inforces what the children learned.
Make paper plate umbrellas: Fold a paper plate in half; attach a pipe cleaner or a bendable straw (or something similar) for the handle; and tape or staple edges together. Decorate with stickers, glitter, etc. Red paper plates would be nice to go along with today’s rhyme!
A coloring page of an umbrella is provided.
You might also practice counting with flannelboard raindrops (if you made those) and numbers.
-6-
Rainy Days
Take-Home Sheet
Tips for Parents & Caregivers
Putting things in sequence is an important skill in learning to read. Ater you read a story, have your child tell you what happened and help her get the order correct. Ask questions like “What happened first?” or “What came next?”
You can also practice putting objects in order from smallest to largest and so on.
Rhymes from today’s storytime
Learning rhymes also helps your child remember things in order.
Big Raindrops (to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Big raindrops, big raindrops
Splashing on my nose.
Big raindrops, big raindrops
Falling on my clothes.
On my head, in my hair,
On my shoulders, too.
Big raindrops, big raindrops
What am I to do?
--- I know! (with exaggerated feeling!)
My umbrella, my umbrella
Covering my head.
My umbrella, my umbrella
Is big and bright and red.
It spreads out wide, and looks so cute.
When I hold it high.
My umbrella, my umbrella
Keeps me nice and dry.
~S. Gruber
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the waterspout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again.
Which one of these does NOT like the rain?
(Color the squiggly worm and the pretty flower.)
Flannelboard Pieces