Family Storytime: Construction

Graphic created using Picmonkey. Clipart from Krista Wallden of Creative Clips.

Happy Friday!  Spring is sort of here which means that it's officially construction season here in Illinois!  On my commute to school this week, I saw a construction site with a bulldozer.  There was a dad with his little one watching the bulldozer.  I love how kids are so fascinated by how things work. 

So, it was only fitting that today's storytime theme was construction.  The storytime favorites today were Rex Wrecks It (because RAWRing like a dinosaur is the BEST), "She'll be Driving", and "The Carpenter."

Books

Action Rhymes

Cranes
Credit: Storytime Katie

Cranes reach up,
Cranes reach down,
Cranes reach out,
And all around.

Building a Skyscraper
Credit: Jen in the Library

Brick by brick
By brick by brick.
My building’s so high
It’s scraping the sky.      (Place fists one on top of the other, going higher each time.)

Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
My Building will sway
When the wind blows this way.  (Sway left, then right.)

Brick by brick
by brick by brick.
Now I’m ready to stop
And a flag goes on top.   (Open one fist and wave hand left and right.)

The Carpenter
Credit: Jen in the Library

The carpenter’s hammer goes rap, rap, rap. (pretend to hammer.)
And his saw goes see-saw-see. (Pretend to saw.)
He hammers and hammers, and saws and saws, (Pretend to hammer, then saw.)
To build a house for me.  (Form roof shape with fingers.)
​

Clap, Slap, Tap
Credit:  Fingerplays & Action Rhymes

Clap, clap, clap, clap   (clap hands)
Slap, slap, slap, slap  (slap legs)
Tap, tap, tap, tap (tap hands on head)

Songs

We Wave Hello Like This/We Wave Goodbye Like This
To the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”

We wave hello like this
We wave hello like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave hello like this

We wave hello like this
We wave hello like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave hello like this


We Wave Goodbye Like This
To the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”

We wave goodbye like this
We wave goodbye like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave goodbye like this

We wave goodbye like this
We wave goodbye like this
We clap our hands for all our friends
We wave goodbye like this
​

She'll be Driving
Credit: Jen in the Library
To the tune “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”

She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)
She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)
She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)

She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
When she comes.
​

Here's My Toolbox
​Credit: Librarian is on the Loose
To the tune of “Oh My Darling Clementine”

Here’s my toolbox, here’s my toolbox
This is where I keep my tools
Here’s my toolbox, trusty toolbox
Take a look at all my tools.

Here’s my hammer, here’s my hammer
See the hammer pound and pound
Here’s my hammer, trusty hammer
Watch me as I pound and pound.

Here’s my wrench, here’s my wrench
See the wrench turn and turn
Here’s my wrench, trusty wrench
Watch me as I turn and turn.

Here’s a saw, here’s a saw
See the saw go see-saw
Here’s my saw, trusty saw
Watch me as I go see-saw.

Recorded Music

​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!

"The Wheels on the Bus"

"If You're Happy and You Know It"

"These Hands Are for Clapping"