Large Group Storytime Tess Goldwasser Amanda Ellington Early

Large Group Storytime

Tess Goldwasser Amanda Ellington Early Childhood Community Liaison Lexington Park Library tgoldwasser@stmalib. org Youth Services Supervisor Lexington Park Library aellington@stmalib. org

The Rules of Storytime 1. Story time is for Grown Ups too 2. It’s okay to take a break! 3. Have fun!

Storytime Format Announcements Opening song Book (Long of the two books) Song Book (or flannel story or skit) Song Activity Closing song (or rhyme, or ritual) Handout (optional)

Introduction Story time rules: 1. Story time is for grown ups too (please participate, and leave discussion for later) 2. Everyone has a bad day (it’s okay to leave, or leave and come back) 3. Have fun! Reminders: Stories and More on Friday Dr. Seuss Birthday Party- March 5 th Feb 24 th @ 3: 00 LEGO FUN 3 -6 years Circus Promo Amanda Opening Song “Days of the Week” by Greg and Steve What is the month? What is the weather like? What day is it today? Amanda Non Fiction “The Wish” by Ann Friday “Wish” by Dorothy Brown Thompson from “Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young” Tess Amanda Book “The Sheep Fairy” by Ruth Symes Tess Song Twinkle Little Star Book “Yes Day!” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Song Jump Up, Turn Around by Jim Gill Jump Up Turn Around Stop Your Feet Touch the Ground Amanda Prop Story “The Wishing Well” from Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel Amanda will read the story while Tess will use the props. Tess and Amanda Activity Wishing Well Each kids will get a coin to drop into the wishing well to make a wish. Tess Closing Song “Shake My Sillies Out” by Raffi Shake sillies out, clap, jump, yawn, stretch (big noisy stretch), shake again Amanda Twinkle Fingers Point Up to the Sky Make a Diamond with fingers Twinkle Fingers Tess Amanda

Opening Song Toddler“Oh What a Miracle” by Hap Palmer Pre-School“Days of the Week” by Greg and Steve

Storytime Themes Dragon Tails Monkey Business Snowflake Dance Make a Wish Best Buds The Shape of Things Rainbow of Colors Outer Space Castle Tales/ Fairy Tales Wet & Wacky Weather Whoo’s That? Dinosaur Stomp Froggy Hop Just Ducky Spring Fling We Love Our Earth Zoo Escape! Silly Storytime Favorites Port Side Pirates Dr. Seuss on the Loose

Dialogic Questions What do you think this book will be about? Can you help count the [blank] on this page? What color is the [blank] on this page? What do you think will happen next?

Which Books work best with Big Groups? Reading with a lot of emotion, or using different voices, or props, like a puppet, can make books more engaging. Try to use a big book with large, colorful illustrations, or a pop-up book!

Get them involved! We try to choose that encourage audience participation.

Windows and Mirrors

Books You Can Sing!

Transitions In between the parts of the story time (from the book to the song, from the song to the activity etc. ) Example: Transition from reading Owl Babies by Martin Waddell to singing “Shakin’ Like a Leafy Tree” by the Wiggles --“We just read a story about some birds who live in a tree, so let’s sing a song about a tree. ”

Types of “Action” Songs Instruction-song in which the singer gives obvious Example: “Jump Up, Turn Around” by Jim Gill Prop- song in which it might be appropriate to hand the children something to manipulate during the song, like a streamer, or a flag, or a musical instrument, like a shakey egg. Example: “I Know a Chicken” by Laurie Berkner Pretend- song that might not give instructions, but lends itself to “acting out” the words in a pretty simple way. Example: “The Goldfish” by Laurie Berkner

Stories on Stage Skits or “Readers Theatre” can be quite dramatic like…

Non Fiction in Storytime This can be as simple as mentioning a few informative facts when introducing the day’s theme or it can be more involved.

Large Group Activities Sorting Matching Simon Says Parachute

Parachute Play!

Put something on the parachute to bounce around.

Make a bubble

Activity in the Bubble

Parents Play Too!

Magic Trick!

Closing Toddler- “Put Your Hands Up in the Air” by Hap Palmer Preschool- “Shake Your Sillies Out” by Raffi

Tips for a Successful Large Group Storytime Don’t be nervous Focus on the kids Keep it moving Have Fun!

How to Handle Interruptions Ignore them Don’t ignore them (address the disruption in a friendly, humorous, non-hostile way) Stop! (Announce that story time will not continue until disruption is taken care of) Ask the parent for assistance Ask the family to leave

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