Tales for 2's & 3's: Marvelous Me III

Today I used the stretchy band for the first time in a storytime program.  The kiddos had a blast!  I must admit, I did too!  Who would have throught that a giant rubberband covered in rainbow fabric could be so fun?

My plan for today's Tales can be found here

Books

Songs

Welcome Song: 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!

Sing with me, all together,
sing with me, all together,
sing with me, all together,
won't you be my darling?

Stomp with me, all together,
stomp with me, all together,
stomp with me, all together,
won't you be my darling?

Twist with me, all together,
twist with me, all together,
twist with me, all together,
won't you be my darling?

Wave with me, all together,
wave with me, all together,
wave with me, all together,
won't you be my darling?​

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.

High stepping horses,
High stepping horses,
High stepping horses go
jiggety jiggety jog.

High stepping horses,
High stepping horses,
High stepping horses go
jiggety jiggety jog.

The Wheels on the Bus: Stretchy Band Version

The wheels on the bus go round and round (make a rowing motion with the stretchy band)
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus round and round
All through the town

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish (move stretchy band right to left)
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
All through the town

The people on the bus go up and down (move stretchy band up and down)
Up and down, up and down
The people on the bus go up and down
All through the town

The wheels on the bus go round and round (make a rowing motion with the stretchy band)
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus round and round
All through the town

Going to Kentucky
from Jbrary

*Note: We sang this song with the stretchy band. We bounced the stretchy band up and down to the beat of the chant.  When we got to the "shake it, shake it, shake it" part we wiggled the stretchy band.

I was going to Kentucky 
Going to the fair
to see the senorita
with the flower in her hair
Oh shake it, shake it, shake it
Shake it if you can
Shake it like a milkshake
And do the best you can

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat (make rowing motion with stretchy band)
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

Goodbye Song: Now It's Time to Say Goodbye
from Carole Peterson's Tiny Tunes album

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

To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb
Adapted by Nicole Lawton

Now it's time to touch your toes
touch your toes, touch your toes
Now it's time to touch your toes
Touch them now

Now it's time to touch your nose
touch your nose, touch your nose
Now it's time to touch your nose
Touch it now

Now it's time to touch your head
touch your head, touch your head
Now it's time to touch your head
Touch it now

Now it's time to wave goodbye
Wave goodbye, Wave goodbye
Now it's time to wave goodbye
​See you all next time

Action Rhymes

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

Letter of the Week: Aa

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.
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​You can access the file for the Letter Aa handout here