Story time - winter themes


Needs to be cleaned up!

 

I did a combination Snow and Animals storytime (since I didn’t have two books in our baby storytime collection on snow) a while ago.  I used Snowballs by Ehlert and Print Motivation as our skill.  Our Storytime for Babies usually has just 2 books and lots of rhymes and songs.  I used:

 

 

 

*Snowflakes** (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)*

 

Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, in the air.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, everywhere!

Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground.

 

 

 

*I’m a Great Big **Snowman** (sung to “I’m a Little Teapot”)*

 

I’m a great big snowman,

 

Round and fat

 

Here is my scarf, and

 

Here is my hat.

 

But when the sun gets warmer,

 

I get flat, because I melt into a puddle,

 

Just like that!

 

 

 

*Chubby Little Snowman** suit actions to words*

 

Chubby Little Snowman,

 

Had a carrot nose.

 

Along came a bunny,

 

And what do you suppose?

 

Hungry was that bunny,

 

Looking for some lunch.

 

Saw that snowman’s carrot nose,

 

Nibble, nibble, crunch!

 

 

 

 

 

*Jingle Bells to the tune of Jingle Bells*

 

Listen to my song, about the letter “B”

 

Babies, books and bells, bears and bumblebees!

 

Bananas, boats and beds,

 

Bats and balls and blue,

 

Bye-bye, brothers, boys,

 

Are you ready? Peek-a-Boo!

 

 

 

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

 

Jingle all the way

 

Oh what fun it is to play at

 

Storytime today! (repeat chorus)

 

 

 

The Jingle Bells song can be changed to just about any letter.

 

 

 

 

 

Besides a winter theme you could also use different “cuddle” songs or stories.  For instance *On Mother’s Lap* by Ann Scott (book), Baby Tickle

Tunes: patty-cakes & Peek-a-boos by Tickle Tune Typhoon (CD), One Two Three Four Five I caught a fish alive (Fingerplay), etc.

 

Resources:

 

Baby Rhyming Time.  Ernst, Linda.  Neal-Schuman, 2008.

 

Lapsit Services for the Very Young II.  Ernst, Linda.  Neal-Schuman, 2001

 

Babies in the Library.  Marino, Jane.  Scarecrow Press, 2003.

 

 

 

Books:

 

All you need for a snowman Alice Schertle

 

The Happy Day Ruth Krauss

 

Snowballs Lois Ehlert

 

A winter day Douglas Florian

 

 

 

*Snow Is Falling Down     *(directions for babies & young toddlers)

 

Snow is falling down,       *(Tickle down baby’s body)           (Wiggle

fingers)*

 

Shhhhh!         *(Put finger to mouth—“shhhh”)                  (Put finger

to mouth—“shhh”)*

 

Snow is falling down,      *(Tickle down baby’s body)           (Wiggle

fingers)*

 

Shhhhh!       *(Put finger to mouth—“shhhh”)                  (Put finger to

mouth—“shhh”)*

 

Slowly, slowly, very slowly,  *(Tickle down baby’s body)    (Wiggle fingers)

*

 

 

 

*Warm Hands** (from Ring a Ring O’Roses Flint Public Library,Michigan)*

 

Warm hands, warm,

 

Do you know how?

 

If you want to warm your hands,

 

*(rub hands together while saying above lines)*

 

Blow on them now!

 

*(Blow gently on hands)*

 

**

 

*Colors of Winter* by Nancy Stewart

 

http://nancymusic.com/Wintercolorsplay.htm

 

Professional musician (children’s specialist) who puts a new original song every month on her website <nancymusic.com> with words, tune, sheet music and things to do great resource!

 

Preschool Express website by Jean Warren rhymes, patterns, songs, ideas, etc.

 

http://preschoolexpress.com/

 

*Snowflake, Snowflake*

 

Snowflakes, snowflake

 

twirl around. (Do the “wheels” motion from “The Wheels on the Bus”)

 

Snowflake, snowflake

 

touch the ground. (Have baby’s hands, feet, or bottom even pat the ground.

Or show baby how you pat the ground.)

 

Snowflake, snowflake

 

land on my nose. (Touch baby’s nose.)

 

Snowflake, snowflake

 

freeze my toes. (Give baby’s toes a wiggle.)

 

Snowflake, snowflake

 

in the air. (Lift baby up…)

 

Snowflake, snowflake

 

tickle you everywhere! (and bring baby back down into a tickle!)

 

 

 

Mostly this is a bounce! J But give baby a wiggle on the “shake it ups” and I like to alternate knees for the “bams!” Of course, “pop” baby up on the “pops!” J This one is fun!

 

*Popcorn *

 

Popcorn, popcorn,

Sizzling in the pan.

Shake it up, shake it up,

Bam, bam, bam!*

 

*Popcorn, popcorn,

Now it’s getting hot,

Shake it up, shake it up,

Pop, pop, pop!

 

 

 

*Jack Frost Nose*

 

Where did you get that

 

little red nose? (Touch baby’s nose)

 

Jack Frost kissed it (Give baby’s nose a playful gentle pinch.)

 

I suppose.

 

He kissed it once. (Kiss baby’s nose once.)

 

He kissed it twice. (Kiss baby’s nose twice.)

 

Poor little nose,

 

it’s as cold as ice. (Give baby’s nose a little wiggle.)

 

 

 

*Mix and Stir*

 

Mix and stir (Draw circles on baby’s tummy or overhead.)

 

and pat in the pan. (Pat baby’s tummy.)

 

I’m going to make

 

a gingerbread man (Outline baby’s shoulders with your fingers.)

 

with a nose so neat (Touch baby’s nose.)

 

and a smile so sweet (Touch baby’s mouth.)

 

and gingerbread shoes

 

on his gingerbread feet. (Give baby’s toes a tickle or a pat if they’re not up for tickling.)

 

 

 

Winter Friends by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick

 

Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals (I enlarged this one and use it as a flip story for larger groups).

 

Snowy, Blowy Winter by Bob Raczka

 

Snow by Kathleen Todd (Haven't used this, but might also be candidate for enlarging).

 

Snow, Snow, Snow by Lee Harper.

 

*Old Bear* by Kevin Henkes is my favorite winter picture book.

 

It is Snowing (sung to Frere Jacques)

It is snowing, it is snowing,  (flutter fingers about) All around, all around, Soft and quiet snowflakes, Soft and quiet snowflakes, Not a sound, not a sound.  (put finger to lips)

 

Under My Hood I Have a Hat, by Karla Kuskin Mouse's First Winter All to build a snowman Cat & mouse in the snow In the snow Polar bear Snowballs The jacket I wear in the snow

 

Snowflakes

(To the tune of "Have You Ever Seen a Lassie") http://www.storyblocks.org/videos/snowflakes

 

Three's a snowflake on my head, my head, my head There's a snowflake on my head and it's melting away ...Tummy ...Knee

 

"Five Little Snowmen" Fingerplay (sing to "Five Little Elephants Out to

Play")

Five little snowmen out to play,   (hold up and wiggle five fingers)

out on a snowy winter's day. (trickle hands down like snow)

Out came the sun and stayed all day,   (arms in circle over head)

and one of those snowmen melted away.  (slowly lower one finger) (repeat with 4,3,2,1 snowmen)

 

 "Snowflakes, Snowflakes" Song

(sung to "Twinkle Star")

Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the

ground.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, in the air.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, everywhere.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the

ground.

 

Chubby Little Snowman (action rhyme)

A chubby little snowman,

(Hold hands out to demonstrate "chubby.") Had a carrot nose. (Point to nose.)

 

Along came a bunny, (Hop like a bunny.)

And what do you suppose?

(Shrug shoulders; hold out hands, as if to question.)

 

That hungry little bunny, (Rub stomach.) Looking for his lunch.

(Hold hand above eyes, as if searching for something.)

 

Ate that snowman's carrot nose, (Pretend to eat.) Nibble, nibble, crunch!!

 

10 little polar bears

10 little polar bears stand up straight

10 little polar bears make a gate

10 little polar bears stand and sing

10 little polar bows, bow to the king

10 little polar bears dance all day

10 little polar bears, hide away.

 

IF YOU'RE A PUFFIN AND YOU KNOW IT

sung to the tune of "If You're Happy  and You Know It"

If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings (flap, flap) If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings If you're a puffin and you know it and you really want to show it If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings

 

...waddle your feet (waddle, waddle)

...bite a fish (bite, bite)

...do all three!! (flap, flap, waddle, waddle, bite, bite)

 

I'm a little snowman, round and fat.  (make circle with arms) Here is my broom and here is my hat. (hold up broom & touch head for hat.

When the sun comes out it's time to say, (raise your arms over your head in a circle) That's all of me there is today. (and "melt" down to the ground.)

 

 

I work with this age group and I made a CD last year that focused on winter songs...snowflakes, Cold Weather, Hannuka, Christmas and New Years. It is called 'Sing the Cold Winter Away' by Kathy Reid-Naiman.  I also run training sessions on this theme.  Here is the track list and you can hear clips of all the songs on CDbaby.com . Have fun with this, all the best, Kathy

 

1                  Snowflakes <http://208.106.133.235/music/Snowflakes.mp3>

 

2                  A Chubby Little Snowman

 

3                  It’s Going to be a Long Winter

 

4                  Snow on the rooftopS

 

5                  Rum tum tiCKle

 

6                  The Gingerbread Man

 

7                  Plum Pudding

 

8                  My Turkey Ran Away

 

9                  Dreidle Dance

 

10

<http://208.106.133.235/music/I%20Have%20A%20Little%20Dreidle.mp3>I Have a Little Dreidle<http://208.106.133.235/music/I%20Have%20A%20Little%20Dreidle.mp3>

 

11                Big Belly Ben

 

12                Ring, Ring, Ring Your Bells

 

13                Christmas is Coming

 

14                Almost Day

 

15                <http://208.106.133.235/music/There%20Was%20A%20Pig.mp3>There

Was a Pig Went Out to

Dig<http://208.106.133.235/music/There%20Was%20A%20Pig.mp3>

 

16                Here is the Chimney

 

17                Santa Claus with his Long White Beard

 

18                Santa’s Reindeer

 

19                How Many Miles to Bethlehem

 

20                Children Go Where I Send

Thee<http://208.106.133.235/music/Children%20Go.mp3>

 

21                Child of God

 

22                The Shepherd's Carol

 

23                Brightest and Best

 

24                The Solstice Song

 

25                Welcome Here

 

26                Ring it in

 

27                Stars Shining