Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at story time,
We clap and sing hello!
We wave and sing hello // We stomp and sing hello
Source: Storytime Katie
Song: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands
Clap, clap, clap your hands, clap them now with me.
Clap your hands, let me see, clap them now with me.
Wiggle your feet // Stretch your arms // Zip your lips
Book: Wild About Books by Judy Sierra; pictures by Marc Brown
I don’t know how it took me so long to discover this rhyming book! Great for a zoo story time OR a library/reading story time. A bookmobile librarian mistakenly drive into the zoo and sets up shop. The animals discover a love of books, reading and writing.
Song: You Can Hear (to the tune of She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR, ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR, ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring, you can hear the lions roaring,
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR, ROAR!
Snakes hissing // Bear growling // Frogs croaking
Source: Storytime Katie
Song/Rhythm Sticks: This is the Way We Tap Our Sticks (to the tune of Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we tap our sticks,
Tap our sticks, tap our sticks,
This is the way we tap our sticks,
So early in the morning.
Scrape our sticks // Tap them soft // Tap them loud (hold bumpy stick on the floor and tap with smooth — it’s louder that way!) // Drum the floor
Source: 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children by Abigail Flesch Connors
Song/Rhythm Sticks: The Wheels on the Bus
Source: Jbrary
Song/Rhythm Sticks: We’re Going to the Zoo by Raffi
*sigh* Every time I play a song I don’t sing the kids are all right with it but never as enthusiastic as I want them to be. How can you not dance and jump around to Raffi??
Book: Stop Snoring, Bernard! by Zachariah Ohora
A little otter disturbs his family with his loud snoring so he searches for another place to sleep. Will he ever find a place where he’s welcome? I had the kids snore big snores with me. Always fun.
Flannel: Five Little Elephants
Five little elephants rowing toward the shore,
One fell in and now there are four.
Four little elephants climbing up a tree,
One slid down and now there are three.
Three little elephants living at the zoo,
One walked out the gate and now there are two.
Two little elephants playing in the sun,
One fell asleep and now there is one.
One little elephant isn’t having any fun,
Abracadabra! Now there are none.
Source: King County Library System
Egg Shakers: Shake It by Sally’s Music Circle
Book: Through with the Zoo by Jacob Grant
A little goat lives at the petting zoo and he needs some peace and quiet! Will he ever find a space to be alone? My coworker turned me on to this new book. She said the cover indicates how she feels at the library sometimes. 😀
Song: Baby Shark
Baby shark do do do do do do (shark mouth with two fingers)
Baby shark do do do do do do
Baby shark do do do do do do
Baby shark
Other verses:
Mama Shark (shark mouth with hands connected at the wrists)
Daddy Shark (shark mouth with whole arms)
Grandma Shark (shark mouth like mama shark but with fists)
Grandpa Shark (shark mouth like daddy shark but with fists)
Shark attack (snap arms overhead)
Swim away (swimming motion with arms)
Safe at last (jazz hands)
Source: Adapted from Kindergarten Nation
Closing Song: It’s Time to Say Goodbye to All Our Friends (to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain When She Comes)
It’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!” (tap knees)
It’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
It’s time to say goodbye,
Wave your hands and wink your eye, (wave, wink)
Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our friends, “Goodbye!”
Source: Sunflower Storytime
