Hello, Goodbye - A Storytime Outline

The first storytime of the Winter/Spring 2012 season I did a "Hello, Goodbye" theme. I thought it would be a nice opener with the expression that I want to say "hello" to every newcomer and regular every storytime day! I discovered that Storytime Katie had done the same theme and loved the rhymes and songs she did.

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Hello, World written and illus. by Michael Foreman (T)

Hello, Day! written and illus. by Anita Lobel (T)

Hello, Sun written by Dayle Ann Dodds and illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa (P)

Hello! Is this Grandma? written by Ian Whybrow and illus. by Deborah Allwright (P)
This is always a funny book to dramatize! 

Say Hello! written and illus. by Rachel Isadora (P)
A great book show the different ways of greeting each other. Pronunciations are in the back, which is a big help!

SONGS & RHYMES

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.

We Wave Hello/Goodbye Like This (T, P)
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
(follow actions)
We wave hello/goodbye like this,
We wave hello/goodbye like this,
We clap our hands for all our friends,
We wave hello/goodbye like this.
I use do the hello at the beginning of the program then goodbye at the end.
Source: Storytime Katie

How Do You Say Hi? (T, P)
(follow actions)
Hey! Hi! Howdy! Yo!
There are many ways to say hello!
Wave your hand. Nod your head.
Smile big or wink insead.
Blow a kiss. Tip your hat.
Shake your hands. Give a pat.
Of all the ways to say hello,
Here's the way I like to go ... HELLO!
Source: Transitional Songs via Storytime Katie

Can We Find? (T, P)
Tune: The Muffin Man
Can we find the white sheep?
The white sheep, the white sheep?
Can we find the white sheep?
We ant to say hello!

Continue with other animals:
yellow duck, pink pig
Source: Storytime Katie

Touch Your Nose
(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

Can We Find? (T, P)
I created three animals and three barns with numbers on them. The children had to guess which barn number the animal we sang about was hiding behind. See picture below!

CRAFT

"This is the way I say 'Hello' / 'Goodbye' Talk Bubbles" (T, P)
The children were given a talk bubble that one had space for them or their guardian to write how they say "hello" and, on the other side, "goodbye." The bubbles were taped to a craft stick. It may be best if it was made into a necklace. 

PICTURE
The children loved guessing which barn the animals were hiding behind. Once you're down to one animal, though, everyone knows which barn it is. Yet, it's still fun!

Can We Find? flannel board,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012