Down on the Farm - A Storytime Outline

How fun is it to just play around with farm animals?! Loads! I mean it! I've done a farm storytime for all ages a number of times over the years, and it never, never, ever gets old for me. There are so many good books out there to begin with, but the general concept of animal noises and the fun nature of it all makes this theme a classic!

B = Baby Storytime
T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Clip, Clop written and illus. by Nicola Smee (B, T)
For Baby Storytime, have the guardian gently bounce the baby on their laps while we "clip-clop". For Toddler Storytime have the children clap their hands or pat their knees to the different speeds.

Rosie's Walk written and illus. by Pat Hutchins (B)

Cows in the Kitchen written by June Crebbin and illus. by Katharine McEwen (T, P)
One of my favorite books! It's so fun that you can't help but sing it!

Barnyard Banter written and illus. by Denise Fleming (T)

Cock-a-Doodle Quack! Quack! written by Ivor Baddiel and illus. by Ailie Busby (P)

Z-Z-Zoink! written and illus. by Bernard Most (P)
This book is really funny, especially if you can get the children to go "z-z-zoink!" with you!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
(follow actions)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Sometimes I am Tall (B)
(for Baby Storytime have the guardians help the baby stretch and bend.) 
Sometimes I am tall (stand at full height)
Sometimes I am small (bend down close to the floor)
Sometimes I am very, very tall (stretch on tiptoes)
Sometimes I am very, very small (bend close to the floor)
Sometimes tall, sometimes small (stretch high, bend low)
Sometimes I'm just me (stand normally)
Source: Angie's Toddler Storytime Blog

Row, Row, Row Your Boat (B)
(gently row you baby back and forward) 
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

(gently rock your baby from side to side)
Rock, rock, rock you boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream. 

Trot, Trot to Boston (B)
(trot your baby on your lap)
Trot trot to Boston
Trot trot to Lynn.
Watch out baby you don't fall in!

Trot trot to Boston.
Trot trot to Dover.
Watch out baby you don't fall over!

Trot trot to Boston.
Trot trot to Town.
Watch out baby you don't fall down!
Source: King County Library System

The Itsy Bitsy Spider (B, T, P)
(follow actions with your fingers and arms)
The itsy bitsy spider
went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider
went up the spout again!

Old McDonald Had a Farm  (B, T, P)
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O
With a "moo-moo" here and a "moo-moo" there
Here a "moo" there a "moo"
Everywhere a "moo-moo"
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O 

Continue with other farm animals:
Sheep, Chicken, Pig,

BINGO (T, P) 
There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O
and Bingo was his name-o.

(Clap with you see an *)
There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
*-I-N-G-O, *-I-N-G-O, *-I-N-G-O
and Bingo was his name-o 

(Continue to repeat until you are now
clapping for all the letters)

There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
*-*-*-*-*,*-*-*-*-*, *-*-*-*-*
and Bingo was his name-o.

Touch Your Nose (T, P)
(follow actions)

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARDS

Old McDonald Had a Farm (B, T, P)
BINGO (T, P)
(see flannel board below!)

POEM
"Baby Chick" written by Aileen L. Fisher from the book The Bill Martin Jr. Book of Poetry edited by Bill Martin Jr. (P)

CRAFT

Peek-A-Boo Farms (T, P)
Children got to glue images of animals behind the flap doors of a barn that I created via a die cut. If you don't have die cut then you can find any image of a barn and cut open the door and windows easy enough with some scissors.

PICTURE
BINGO flannel board picture!

BINGO flannel board created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012.
Used the hands to help everyone know when it's time to clap!