BARNYARD

BARNYARD Preschool Storytime

Saying Hello:

First, we woke up Nutmeg, our funny and feisty storytime-rat puppet, with a loud and cheerful, "Good morning, Nutmeg!"  

After Nutmeg said her good mornings and 'counted' all the children, we opened storytime with our Good Morning song that incorporates sign language.  Check out Jbrary's video for the correct signs.  The words to the song go like this:

Hello, friends
Hello, friends
Hello, friends
It's time to say hello. 
[Credit: Dana and Lindsey, Jbrary.com]

Each word is said while integrating sign language.  The more we do this (and our good-bye song), the more the kids enjoy it.

Songs:

"If you're Ready for a Story"  
[tune: If you're happy and you know it]

* Clap Your Hands!
* Nod Your Head!
* Sit so still!  (Expect some giggles when the kids try to 'sit so still'.)
* Do All Three!


"In the Barnyard"  
[tune: Down by the Station] 

Out in the barnyard early in the morning  

                    (stretch as if waking up)

See the little yellow chicks standing in a row

                    (stand up fingers)

See the busy farmer giving them their breakfast

                    (pretend to scatter seed)

Peep, peep, peep, peep, off they go!

                    (run fingers away)

Out in the barnyard early in the morning

                    (stretch as if waking up)

You can hear the piglets squealing up a storm

                    (cup ear with hand)

Here comes the mama pig, she will feed her babies

                    (sway back and forth like large pig walking)

Oink, oink, oink, oink, on the farm!

                    (spread hands)

[credit: http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/webfm_send/53]  

Fingerplay:

"Ten Fluffy Chicks"

Five eggs and five eggs, that makes ten

                    (hold up ten fingers)

Sitting on top is warm Mother Hen

                    (place one hand on top of the other)

Cackle, cackle, cackle, what do I see?

                    (clap three times, hold out hands)

Ten fluffy chicks, as yellow as can be

                    (hold up ten fingers)

[credit: http://www.perrypubliclibrary.org/webfm_send/53] 

Books:

I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! by Jill Esbaum; illustrated by Gus Gordon --- 
When Nadine the cow bragged about not be afraid of anything, the kids quick to tell her what she should be afraid of, but once Nadine entered the "Deep. Dark. Woods.", the kids all went silent.

  Down by the Barn, written and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand --- 

This is a great book for storytime with the lyrical text and fun beat.  The kids enjoyed singing, "Off we go!"

Little Mouse:

This game works on colors, counting and 'paying attention' (the other kids will let you know if a certain color has already been called.)  After our books are read, we play a round or two of Little Mouse.  See Nutmeg's Debut! for more information about our Little Mouse game.

Saying Goodbye:

We closed storytime with our new goodbye song.  The words to the song are very similar to our Hello song:

Goodbye, friends
Goodbye, friends
Goodbye, friends
It's time to say goodbye.

Again, check out Jbrary's video for the correct signs.  

When storytime came to an end, the kids lined up and fed Nutmeg imaginary food they had in their pockets, gave her high-fives, or just pet her head. Today, she ate birthday cake, apple pie, oatmeal cookies, M&M's, two carrots and a handful of corn.