Jump! Jump! Jumping!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on September 17, 2014.

Books:

Jumping Day by Barbara Juster Esbensen, illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Hop, Hop, Jump! by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Songs:

Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)



We're Jumping Up and Down
(tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We're jumping up and down.
We're jumping up and down.
We're getting lots of exercise.
We're jumping up and down.

Let's bend and touch our toes...
Let's reach and touch the sky...
Let's kick our legs up high...


Rhyme:

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey...


Popcorn!

Pop! Pop! Pop!
(clap in rhythm each time you say "pop")
Pour the corn into the pot.
(rub palms of hands together briskly)
Pop! Pop! Pop!
(clap in rhythm each time you say "pop")
Take and shake it 'til it's hot.
(rub palms of hands together)
Pop! Pop! Pop!
(clap in rhythm each time you say "pop")
Lift the lid. What have you got?
(rub palms of hands together)
Pop... pop... pop...
(clap in rhythm each time you say "pop")
POPCORN!
(raise arms and jump into the air!)


Enrichment Activities:

I started a new weekly activity this year, borrowing from a similar practice developed by Tammy Henry, my former assistant.  (Thanks Tammy!!)

Since Toddler Storytime ends at 9:45 AM, and Preschool Storytime begins at 10:00 AM - in the same room! - I need to watch the clock carefully so that I have time to say goodbye to the toddlers, then help Michelle set up for her storytime.
As a way to extend the toddlers' experience at storytime, I have begun offering several enrichment activities in the Children's Area (and outside, weather permitting) for those who want to stay a little longer.

At the end of Storytime I bring out my Green Box... 

and we sing this song:

What's in the Green Box?
(tune: "Sally Wore a Red Dress")

What's in the green box,
The green box, the green box?
What's in the green box
For us to play?

In keeping with this week's "Jumping" theme, I offered these activities:

Coloring sheets: In support of Every Child Ready to Read I have added several conversation starters along the bottom of each page. I hope these will help remind adults of the importance of talking with their little ones and will also encourage them to provide a rich language environment for their children.

Hula Hoops: Children could head out to the library lawn and enjoy the challenge of jumping through hoops scattered on the grass.

Sack Races: Toddlers can begin to experience the sensation of hopping, rather than taking off running across the grass.  For many of them...a skill not yet tried or mastered!

Felt Board Stories: 

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
(words are provided above)

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool 
where it was nice and cool
Then there were four green speckled frogs. (ribbit, tibbit, ribbit, ribbit!)

Four green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool 
where it was nice and cool
Then there were three green speckled frogs. (ribbit, tibbit, ribbit!)

Three green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM!  (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were two green speckled frogs. (ribbit, tibbit!)

Two green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there was one green speckled frogs. (ribbit!)

One green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log 
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)   
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool 
Then there were no green speckled frogs. (silence!)

Five Little Bunnies

One little bunny, wondering what to do,
Another bunny came along, and then there were TWO.

Two little bunnies, hopping with glee,
Another bunny came along and then there were THREE.

Three little bunnies, jumping by my door,
Another bunny came along and then there were FOUR.

Four little bunnies, so fluffy and alive,
Another bunny came along and then there were FIVE.

Five little bunnies, ready for some fun,
Hopped away in the warm Spring sun.



Closing Rhyme: 

Open, shut them,

Open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap!

Open, shut them,

Open, shut them,

Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!

Waving, waving, waving, waving,

High up in the sky, sky, sky.

Wave to me...I'll wave to you.

Now let's all say goodbye, bye, bye.

We always say this rhyme at least twice, increasing the speed with each repetition!

Each Toddler Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.