These materials were written by Susan M. Dailey, but were not included in A Storytime Year or Sing a Song of Storytime.
Ball of Fur--fingerplay
I have a little ball of fur. (cup hands together) When I pet it, hear her purr. (stroke one fist with other hand, then purr) |
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Cleaning My Room--fingerplay
I picked up my toys (pretend to pick up) And dusted my room (pretend to hold duster, make quick up & down motions with one hand) I swept the floor (pretend to hold broom, make back & forth motions) With a broom.
I shined my mirror (make circular motion with open palm And made my bed. (pretend to pull up blanket) "You did great!" (hug self) My mother said.
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Dinosaurs Stomp--activity
Dinosaurs stomp! (do motions as indicated) Dinosaurs roar! Dinosaurs chomp! Dinosaurs snore!
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Get 5 boxes and fill them with the items mentioned in the song.
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It’s Bedtime I brushed my teeth Mom read me a book Knock,
Knock, Who's There?--fingerplay
Knock,
knock, who's there?
(pretend to knock, hold out hands in questioning position)
Two little feet that go tap, tap (hold up correct number of fingers, do motions as indicated)
Knock,
knock, who's there?
Two little knees that go slap, slap
Knock,
knock, who's there?
Two little hips that go wiggle, wiggle
Knock,
knock, who's there?
One little tummy that goes jiggle, jiggle
Knock,
knock, who's there?
Two little arms that go flap, flap
Knock,
knock, who's there?
Two little hands that go clap, clap
Knock,
knock, who's there?
Two little eyes that go blink, blink
Knock,
knock, who's there?
One little head that goes think, think
Knock,
knock, who's there?
Open
the door and see.
(pretend to open door) Knock,
knock, who's there?
It's every part of me. (wiggle whole body)
Although this fingerplay is long, it's not hard to learn because of the repetition. It is also very popular with children for this reason. To memorize the rhyme, remember that the fingerplay starts at the feet and moves upward. The following pattern exists--2, 2, 2, 1-- and then is repeated, e.g. two feet, two knees, etc. The highlighted words should assist in learning the fingerplay.
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Light Bulb
Hunt--activity with
props (Christmas)
Make a large Christmas tree out of paper or corrugated cardboard. The tree we're using is about 4 foot tall. Put several pieces of Velcro on the tree. I put the sticky half on the tree. Then make paper light bulbs in red, yellow and white. Put the other half of the Velcro pieces on the back of the bulbs. We laminated the bulbs before putting on the Velcro. Hide the light bulbs around the library. The children can find the bulbs and "decorate" the tree.
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The Moon I look for the moon every night. Sometimes it looks just like a ball. On some nights, half the moon will hide. Possum Mr. Moon, what do you see? Repeat with two, then one. Mr. Moon, what do you see? Pumpkins
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Ready
for a Story--quiet down fingerplay
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle around. Stop! Don’t make a sound.
Ears to listen, eyes to see, Lock your lips. Hide the key.
Hands in your lap, one and two, Now I have a story for you.
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Turkey Hide-and-Seek--fingerplay
On
a fine Thanksgiving Day
Two
little turkeys went out to play
(hold up both thumbs)
One
said, “Let’s play hide-and-seek.
(wiggle right thumb)
Close
your eyes and do not peek!”
(put left thumb down, shake head “no”)
Should
he hide high? Should he hide
low?
(move right thumb up, then down)
Should
he hide far? No, no, no!
(move right thumb away from body, shake
head “no”)
Should
he hide left? Should he hide
right?
(move right thumb to left, then right)
Should
he hide back out of sight?
(hide right thumb behind back, shake head
“yes”)
The
other turkey looks around,
(bring up left thumb)
But
his friend just can’t be found.
(shake head “no”)
Is
he hiding high? Is he hiding
low?
(move right thumb up, then down)
Is
he hiding far? No, no, no!
(move right thumb away from body, shake
head “no”)
Is
he hiding left? Is he hiding
right?
(move right thumb to left, then right)
Is
he hiding back out of sight?
(hide right thumb behind back, shake head
“yes”)
“I
found you!” the turkey shouts.
(bring out left thumb, wiggle thumb)
“Gobble,
gobble, come on out!”
(bring out right thumb)
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Washing Clothes--fingerplay
Put the clothes in the washer.
(pretend to put clothes in)
The water trickles in.
(wiggle fingers, move downward)
The clothes go round and round.
(move arms in back & forth circular motion)
Then they spin, spin, spin.
(move finger quickly in circular motion)
Now put them in the dryer.
(pretend to put in dryer)
Where they tumble around.
(roll hands over each other)
They tumble, tumble, tumble
With hardly any sound.
(put finger to lips, whisper this line)
But I'm glad when I'm dirty,
(point to self)
I wash in the tub or sink.
(pretend to wash self)
'Cause if I went in the washer or dryer,
(put one hand out to side, then other)
I'd get dizzy I think!
(move body in circular motion)
After doing this fingerplay, we talked about how getting in the washer or dryer wouldn't just make you dizzy, but would also be unsafe.
What Do I Hear?--fingerplay (Christmas)
What
do I hear up on my house?
(put hand to ear, point upward)
Is
it a cat? Is it a mouse?
(meow, then squeak)
No,
it makes a much louder sound
(shake head “no”, slap hands against legs)
It’s
in the chimney! It’s coming
down!
(raise hands, then bring down)
I
see boots and a suit of red.
(point to feet, then move hands upward)
“Ho,
ho, ho,” is what he said.
Do
you know who my guest might be?
(hold out hands in questioning pose)
It
is Santa bringing presents to me.
(nod head, point to self)
But
shhh, I should be asleep
(put fingers to lips and whisper, rest head on
hands)
So
into my bedroom I will creep.
(quietly move hands across legs)
The last two lines are
whispered, which kids really seem to like.
* The participation activities can be used freely in programs, but may not be re-posted, reproduced, or sold without prior permission.