In the Springtime - A Storytime Outline

The first day of Spring is March 20. Thus it was a perfect time to do a spring themed storytime on the 19th! The children had lots of fun at both programs. The Toddlers, especially, in enjoyed the books the rhymes. The Activity was a lot of fun for the kids. Children will jump at any chance to put or take something from the flannel board! There are so many different ways to do a spring storytime ranging from flowers to bugs to rain. I did a little mixture of everything. I'm already thinking of what I would like to do in 2013, especially in flannel board activities.

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Butterfly, Butterfly: A Book of Colors written and illus. by Petr Horacek (T)
This is a great book! It was just the right length and amount of text. Plus, it had colors and a very colorful butterfly. The children loved the pop-up at the end!

Where is Tippy Toes? written and illus. by Betsy Lewin (T)
This may not necessarily be a Spring book, but Tippy Toes does go to the garden and there even fireflies. It gives the feel of spring to me. Plus, the toddlers loved the kitty cat.

Planting a Rainbow written and illus. by Lois Ehlert (T)
I used the library's Big Book version, which was an awesome choice for the toddlers cause then they could really see the flowers that grow. 

Bear Wants More written by Karma Wilson and illus. by Jane Chapman (P)
Ask the children if they know what bears do during the winter (hibernation) and what happens when they wake up in the spring. This is such a fun book. It always reminds me of Winnie the Pooh when he eats too much honey and gets stuck in Rabbit's front door.

The Singing Chick written by Victoria Stenmark and illus. by Randy Cecil (P)
Another not-so-spring-y book, but it's fun! I tied it in saying that when it becomes Spring you get so excited that the flowers are growing and it's getting warm that you just want to start singing you're so happy! This is a story about a chick that begins to sing. 

Good Morning, Garden written by Barbara Brenner and illus. by Denise Ortakales (P)
This was a pleasant book. I tied it in by saying that when the flowers start to grow that you should say "good morning," "good night," or "hello" to the flowers because they actually like being talked to.

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.

Bumblebee, Bumblebee
make the children make their two pointer finger their bees and make them buzz!
follow actions
Bumblebee, bumblebee,
Landing on my nose.
Bumblebee, bumblebee,
Now he's on my toes.
On my arms, on my legs,
On my elbows!
Bumblebee, Bumblebee,
He lands and then he goes!
Source: Mrs. Jones via Storytime Katie

Five Little Flowers (T, P) - I didn't get to do this rhyme, but it's a good one to have on hand!
One little flower growing just for you.
Up came another and then there were two.

Two little flowers growing near a tree.
Up came another and then there were three.

Three little flowers growing more and more.
Up came another and then there were four.

Four little flowers growing side by side.
Up came another and then there were five.

Alternative Rhyme
Five little flowers standing in the sun
See their heads nodding, bowing one by one.
Down, down, down, comes the gentle rain.
And the five little flowers lift up their head again.
Source: SurLaLune Storytime

The Itsy Bitsy Spider (T) - I didnt' do this rhyme, but I had it as a "just in case" for the Toddler Storytime.
(follow actions with your fingers and arms)
The itsy bitsy spider (move your fingers like a spider going upward)
went up the water spout.
Down came the rain (wiggle your fingers like rain is falling)
and washed the spider out! (sweep with your hands like the a wave of water washed the spider out)
Out came the sun (raise arms overhead in a circle to make a sun)
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider (make your finger spider go upwards again!)
went up the spout again!

Closing Rhyme: 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

Five Little Flowers (T, P)
Even though I didn't end up doing this rhyme during the two programs, I did prep a quick flannel board for it. My library owns a flower die cut that allows you to cultivate very colorful flowers quickly.

Ladybug Spots (T, P)
See the Activity below!

ACTIVITY

Ladybug Spots (T, P)
Bugs come out in the springtime, including Ladybugs. I handed out black spots that were the size of a quarter. Then I showed a large ladybug that had four spots, and ask if the spots looked familiar to something they have in their hands. There must be so many spots that they're meant for a really big.. ladybug! The children had to put their spots on the the ladybug. Afterwards they got to count how many spots it had total.

CRAFTS

Daffodil Flower (T, P)
This was a really simple and adorable craft to do! I must admit that I'm in love this craft! Using a die cut, I made lots of yellow stars. I then cut out 1"x3" yellow strips, which were edge on one long side with a sawtooth scissor. The children had to take the strip into a ring then tape it to the middle of the star. They all got a green straw to tape their flower to. Extremely happy looking flowers were the end results at the end of each program. Some colored their flower to make them more rainbow-y. One little came back to get a crayon to draw a smile on his. So cute! Source: BusyBeeKidsCrafts.com

PICTURES

Daffodil Flower craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Five Little Flowers flannel board,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Ladybug Spots flannel board activity
from Library collection.

MORE BOOKS

Countdown to Spring!: An Animal Counting Book written by Janet Schulman and illus. by Meilo So (T)
This is a ::PERFECT:: book for Toddler Storytime. Next time I'm going to make double sure that I have it in time for the next spring themed storytime!
In the Small, Small Pond written and illus. by Denise Fleming (T)
Splish, Splash, Spring written by Jan Carr and illus. by Dorothy Donohue (T, P)
Wake Up, It's Spring! written and illus. by Lisa Campbell Ernst (T, P)
Spring Song written by Barbara Seuling and illus. by Greg Newbold (T, P)