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Writer's picturedeborahfagnan

September Toddler Storytime: The Zoo

Updated: Dec 1, 2018

Introduction: This Storytime is developed specially for children two and three years old and their caregivers. Enjoy 45minutes of books, songs, rhymes, fingerplays, socialization and a craft with other young children and their caregivers. Each session of toddler storytime consists of a variety of activities that incorporate reading, writing, singing, talking and playing.




Date: Every Wednesday

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Age Range: 2 to 3 years old

Skills Supported: Vocabulary, motor skills, visual tracking skills, and socialization.

Frequency: Weekly

Attendance: 20 children and their parent/caregiver

Staff or Volunteer Needed: 1 staff member, 1 volunteer

Format: Registration is required. No drop-in patrons are refused.

Budget: None

Supplies:

  • Dear Zoo Puppets Template (Copy can be found at the Parent/caregiver Resource pathfinder page)

  • Lamination Paper

  • Popsicle Sticks

  • Paper Plate

  • Scissors

  • Yellow and Orange Colored Paper

  • Glue Stick

Books shared: (from storytime)

  • Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

  • Two at the Zoo: A Counting Book by Danna Smith

Other books to display on book cart at storytime:

  • Construction Zoo by Jenn Marie Thorne

  • Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo by E.S. Redmond

  • My First Zoo: Let's Meet the Animals by DK

  • Zoo Animals by Cailou

  • Zoo Parade by Harriet Ziefert

Storytime Prep:

  • Print out the Dear Zoo Puppets, and laminate.

  • Cut out animals and glue sandpaper to the back of the animals.

  • Glue popsicle stick to each animal


 

1. Storytime Introduction:

Welcome to Toddler Storytime. My name is Ms. Debbie. I am so glad to see you today. Our storytime is designed to be participated by everyone. We will share books, rhymes, and songs with your children. We encourage everyone to participate, but no worries if this doesn't happen. Sometimes when a child sees you participate, they might join in, but if your child is not in the mood, that is okay too. Our storytime can tend to be a little chaotic, but that is okay as well. If your child becomes disruptive, please take them outside the program room and then join us again when your child has settled down. This is normal, it is part of the process. So let's start with our opening song.


2. Opening Song:










(Credit: No Time For Flash Cards. 2016, January 30).

How Many Friends are Here Today

Lyrics:

How many friends are here today?

How many friends are here today

Let's count it out!

Let's clap it out!

Let's dance it out!

There are ______ friends on their feet!

Now it's time to take your seat!

3. Early Literacy Aside: Explain:

Today's early literacy skill is focusing on vocabulary. Vocabulary is knowing the meaning of words, including words for things, feelings, concepts, and ideas. The more words children know, the easier it is for them to learn to read. Today, in storytime I will point out ways you can support vocabulary development.


4. Action Song:

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Lyrics:

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

(Credit: Childhood)


5. Book:


Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo by E.S. Redmond

(Credit: Goodreads, n.d.)











6. Shakers Shaker Song - 

Sung to the tune of “London Bridge"

Lyrics:

Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,

Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

Shake your shakers, shake, shake, shake,

Shake your shakers!


Other Verses:

Shake your shakers high, high, high,

Shake your shakers  low, low, low,

Shake your shakers  fast, fast, fast,

Shake your shakers  slow, slow, slow

(Mulvenna, L. (2013, January 17)


7. Early Literacy: Example

Our early literacy tip of the day is on vocabulary. Knowing the meaning of lots of words will help children read. At this age children are learning so many words so quickly. I'll be pointing out some ways you can help your child learn new words as you sing, talk, read, write, and play together throughout the day (Ghoting & Martin-Diaz, 2013, p. 126).

8. Puppet Show:

As I read the book, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, volunteers will use the puppets to put on a puppet show.

(Print out the Dear Zoo Puppets from the Parent/caregiver Resource pathfinder page).


9. Book:


Two at the Zoo: A Counting Book by Danna Smith

(Credit: Goodreads, n.d.)










10. Song:

Animals at the Zoo (Tune: Wheels on the Bus)

Lyrics: The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar, Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar, All day long!

The snakes at the zoo go hiss, hiss, hiss, The hyenas at the zoo go ha, ha, ha, The monkeys at the zoo go oooh, oooh, oooh

(Credit: Cleland, 2015, July 27)


11. Early Literacy Aside: Empower

As you talk and play with your children this coming week see if you can think of ways to expand their vocabulary, to build on what they already know. You can talk about feelings and use some specific feeling words or just add new words as you play together (Ghoting & Martin-Diaz, 2013, p. 129).


12. Action Song:

If You're Friendly and You Know It

Lyrics:

If You're friendly and you know it, clap your hands.

If your friendly and you know it, clap your hands.

If your friendly and you know it, and you really want to show it,

If your friendly and you know it, clap your hands!

Other Verses:

stomp your feet, pat your head, stand up-turn around-sit down....

(Credit: Childhood)


13. Closing Song:

Goodbye Bubbles

(Librarian/staff associate will blow bubbles while the parents/caregiver and children sing the song).










(Credit: L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. (2014, September 28).

Goodbye Bubbles

Lyrics:

Goodbye Bubbles

Goodbye Bubbles

Time to Go

Time to Go

I will help you

I will help you

With a blow

With a blow


14. Storytime Activity:



















(Credit: Fagnan, 2018)


Children and their parents/caregivers can play with the toys on the rug, and read the books that have been selected on the theme of Zoo. The craft for today is a Lion mask. Together children and their parent/caregiver will make this mask. Copy of the craft can be found on the Parent/Caregiver's Resource pathfinder page.


15. Takeaway: Parents/caregivers are given the Early Literacy Newsletter for Toddlers. (copy can be found on the Parent/caregiver Resource pathfinder page.


 

References:


Cleland, A. (2015, July 27). Zoo Toddler Storytime [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://yogibrarian.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/zoo-toddler-storytime/


Fagnan, D.(2018). Lion Mask. [Digital Image].


Ghoting, S.N., & Martin-Diaz, P. (2013). Storytimes for everyone!. Chicago, IL: ALA


Goodreads. (n.d.) Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6817441-felicity-floo-visits-the-zoo


Goodreads. (n.d.). Two and the Zoo: A Counting Book. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4033199-two-at-the-zoo


Johnson County Library. (2011, February 8). Polar Bears and Penguins [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.jocolibrary.org/kids/storytime-blog/polar-bears-and-penguins-storytime


L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. (2014, September 28). Goodbye bubbles. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RXXQqVx0gT0


Mulvenna, L. (2013, January 17). Shake Shake Shake [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://lisaslibraryland.blogspot.com/2013/07/shake-shake-shake.html


No Time For Flash Cards. (2016, January 30). Circle Time Chant. [Video]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ECHXNMFVumM





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