​These are the songs that we listened to before storytime began.  If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

I used a Jedi Name Generator to create my Jedi name for storytime today.    I wanted my introduction to be in the Star Wars Reads Day spirit, so this is what I said: "Hello Jedi, Padawans, Ewoks, Wookiees, and Droids! My name is Jedi Lawni Curos and I will be leading this morning’s Star Wars Reads Day storytime!"

​These are the songs that we danced to during storytime.  If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

Credit: NASA
Adapted by Nicole Lawton

5 little podracers ready to zoom.
The first one says “There’s not enough room.”
It starts its engine; ready to fly,
Looks at the others and waves goodbye.

4 little podracers ready to zoom.
The second one says “There’s not enough room.”
It starts its engine; ready to fly,
Looks at the crowd and waves goodbye.

3 little podracers ready to zoom.
The third one says “There’s not enough room.”
It starts its engine; ready to fly,
Looks at the crowd and waves goodbye.

2 little podracers ready to zoom.
The fourth one says “There’s not enough room.”
It starts its engine; ready to fly,
Looks at the crowd and waves goodbye.

1 little podracer is ready to zoom.
The last one says “There’s not enough room.”
It starts its engine; ready to fly,
Looks at the crowd and waves goodbye.

Credit: Mel’s Desk

Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you’d like to take a trip, climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon

5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF!

Credit: Camp Songs
Adapted by Nicole Lawton (with some help from MLaw)

Wookies one, Wookies all
Let’s all do the wookie call
(Hrrrrrrrrrrghhhh)

Wookies two, Wookies three
Let’s all stomp our Wookie feet
(Stomp)

Wookies four, Wookies five
Engage the Falcon’s hyperdrive
(Zoom!)

Wookies six, Wookies seven
Run away or else get shaven
(Run in place)

Wookiee’s eight, Wookiee’s nine
Stop!  It’s wookie time!

Credit: Nicole Lawton
To the tune of: If You’re Happy & You Know It

If you’re going to Dagobah, wear your boots
If you’re going to Dagobah, wear your boots
If you’re going to Dagobah, this is what you have to do
If you’re going to Dagobah, wear your boots

If you’re going to Hoth, wear your coat
If you’re going to Hoth, wear your coat
If you’re going to Hoth, this is what you have to do
If you’re going to Hoth, wear your coat

If you’re going to Tatooine, wear your hat
If you’re going to Tatooine, wear your hat
If you’re going to Tatooine, this is what you have to do
If you’re going to Tatooine, wear your hat.

​These are the songs that we listened to after storytime.  If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

I made a word find with all of the items that Minli packed into her bag before she left to find the Old Man of the Moon.  I used this Word Search Maker on The Teacher's Corner to generate the wordsearch.

Going to Kentucky
from Jbrary

Everybody
Credit:  Nicole Lawton

Everybody stomp, stomp, stomp
Everybody jump, jump, jump
Everybody slap, slap, slap (slap knees)
Everybody tap, tap, tap (tap head)
Everybody twist, twist, twist
Everybody bend, bend, bend
Everybody clap, clap, clap
Everybody sit, sit, sit

Tickle the Clouds
Adapted by:  Nicole Lawton
Original version from Laptime Songs

Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around
And tickle your nose
Tickle your shoulders
Tickle your knees
Let’s read another story
Sit down please

I created a handout for caregivers that have some ideas for activities that they could do at home with their child based on the letter of the week.
​
​You can access the file for the Letter Aa handout here

I found a really neat school themed I-Spy activity on Teachers Pay Teachers.  I-Spy books are very popular at my library so I thought a pre-storytime I-Spy activity would be just the ticket!

I like to use the collage to talk about different objects that begin with the letter of the week.  We sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".  We talked about grilled cheese vs. peanut butter and jellly sandwiches. 

from Let’s Do It Again! by Mary Helen Richards  an ETM Song
To the tune of "Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow"

Come along and hop with me
Come along and hop with me
We’ll hop and hop
and hop and hop
so come along and hop with me

Come along and march with me
come along and march with me
We’ll march and march
and march and march
so come along and march with me

Come along and twirl with me
come along and twirl with me
We’ll twirl and twirl
and twirl and twirl
so come along and twirl with me

​Credit:  Nicole Lawton

Everybody stomp, stomp, stomp
Everybody jump, jump, jump
Everybody slap, slap, slap (slap knees)
Everybody tap, tap, tap (tap head)
Everybody twist, twist, twist
Everybody bend, bend, bend
Everybody clap, clap, clap
Everybody sit, sit, sit

Original version from Laptime Songs
Adapted by:  Nicole Lawton

Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around
And tickle your nose
Tickle your shoulders
Tickle your knees
Let’s read another story
Sit down please

Credit Storytime Katie

Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers to the side, dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on you head
Dance them on your tummy, and put them all to bed

Sing With Me
from Let's Do It Again (p. 112) by Mary Helen Richards of the Richards Institute of Education and Research

This song comes from a music-based literacy approach that I have been studying called Education Through Music.  I like to add in different actions like creep, wiggle, bounce, etc.
I consider it a double bonus when I can add in some moves that get the littles to cross the midline!

High Stepping Horses
from Let's Do It Again (p. 48) by Mary Helen Richards of the Richards Institute of Education and Research

This is another Education Through Music song.  I have the children's arms become high stepping horses and we make the horse step high on our laps, heads, legs, floor, etc.

Goodbye Song: Say Goodbye
from Carole Peterson's Tiny Tunes album

I prefer to sing this without the recording because I don't have time to play the whole song.

Stretching
When I stretch up, I feel so tall (reach high)
When I bend down, I feel so small (make a ball with two hands)
Taller, taller, taller, taller.  (reach up high)
Smaller, smaller, smaller, smaller. (get low on the floor)
Into a tiny ball.

I created a handout for caregivers that have some ideas for activities that they could do at home with their child based on the letter of the week.
​
​​You can access the file for the Letter M handout here

I found this super fun spot the difference freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers.

The letter of the week this week was the letter F. 
I use the collage to help prompt discussion about the LOTW.  We buzzed like flies and croaked like frogs.  We voted if we like to eat french fries with or without ketchup.  

from Let’s Do It Again! by Mary Helen Richards  an ETM Song
To the tune of "Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow"

Come along and hop with me
Come along and hop with me
We’ll hop and hop
and hop and hop
so come along and hop with me

Come along and march with me
come along and march with me
We’ll march and march
and march and march
so come along and march with me

Come along and twirl with me
come along and twirl with me
We’ll twirl and twirl
and twirl and twirl
so come along and twirl with me

​Credit:  Nicole Lawton

Everybody stomp, stomp, stomp
Everybody jump, jump, jump
Everybody slap, slap, slap (slap knees)
Everybody tap, tap, tap (tap head)
Everybody twist, twist, twist
Everybody bend, bend, bend
Everybody clap, clap, clap
Everybody sit, sit, sit

​Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around
And tickle your nose
Tickle your shoulders
Tickle your knees
Let’s read another story
Sit down please

Credit: Storytime Katie

Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down
Dance your fingers to the side, dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on you head
Dance them on your tummy, and put them all to bed

Ten Friends
From Multicultural Storytime Magic (adapted)

One is fun
But two is better.
Three friends, four friends
Play together.

Under the Big Chestnut Tree
From Multicultural Storytime Magic

Under the big chestnut tree,
You and I play happily,
Under the big chestnut tree.

First I’ll Find a Foot
Credit:  Pierce County Library System

First I find a foot,
and I hop, hop, hop. (stand on one foot and hop)
Then when I get tired,
I stop, stop, stop. (make stop motion with hand)
Turn around and
count to ten. (turn around)
Then I find a foot,
And I hop again. (hop on other foot)

I created a handout for caregivers that have some ideas for activities that they could do at home with their child based on the letter of the week.
​
​You can access the file for the Letter C handout here