We had our first snow this week, but I’m still dreaming of fun summer storytimes! Here’s the last installment of our fun in the sun:
Welcome & Set Expectations
*Sing: Hands are Clapping
Prop Talk: UnPack a Beach Bag
I reached inside my bag for our first book and pulled out… sunglasses! “What are these? Where do they go?” After being told the sunglasses go on my head, I put them on backwards. With much giggling, the toddlers helped me figure out what each of these beach items was for and how to wear them.
Once they helped me get dressed, I asked where they thought I could be going. “Where do you wear a sun hat and glasses and flip flops and a towel? Am I going to play in the snow? NO! I’m going to the beach!”
At the bottom our beach bag, we finally found our storytime book! After all, you can’t go to the beach without books. 🙂
Lit Tip: Talking Builds Background Knowledge
“Grown-ups, the more your child knows about the world, the more they can understand when they read about it some day! Understanding is important because kids who aren’t familiar with what they read usually get bored or discouraged pretty quickly. When you talk with your toddler about the world, you help them build the background knowledge they need to understand what they read!”
*Sing: If You’re Ready for a Story
Read: Little White Fish
I am so glad these books are back in print! They are the perfect toddler titles. In this one, Little White fish gets lost and asks for help finding his mommy from a various colorful ocean creatures. After reading, I asked the kiddos if they remembered some of the ocean creatures we saw with Little Fish.
Flannel: All the Fish Are Swimming in the Water…
Big thanks to my coworker Erin for letting me borrow her flannel!
All the Fish Are Swimming in the Water
All the fish are swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water, swimming in the water.
All the fish are swimming in the water.
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble… SPLASH!
repeat with crabs crawling, octopuses waving, sharks chomping, etc.
_____
Credit: adapted from King County Library System
Sing: Little Fish, Little Fish
The coworker whose storytime I was covering usually does a “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” rhyme, so I wanted to make sure to include something similar. Here’s what I came up with:
Little Fish, Little Fish
Little fish, little fish, swim really slow.
Little fish, little fish, dive down low.
Little fish, little fish, swim up high.
Little fish, little fish, jump to the sky!
Little fish, little fish, swim round and round.
Little fish, little fish, please sit down!
_____
Adapted from traditional “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”
Transition: Wave Breaths
We did some deep breathing exercises and exhaled like a gentle rolling wave to help us settle down and get ready for our next beach book.
Read: Giant Pop Out Ocean!
I LOVE reading guess who books when we focus on background knowledge! They are so great for getting kids to draw on what they know. While reading, I throw out a silly guess every now and then (e.g. “I think it’s going to be an elephant!”). The kiddos fall all over themselves laughing and love telling me why I’m wrong – another great background knowledge building exercise. “Why can’t it be an elephant in the ocean? Where do elephants live?”
Btw, one of the pages in this book is full of seashells and I totally want to make a flannel seashell/pearl guessing game. Next time!
Sing: The Waves in the Sea (stretchy band)
We sang this song three times: first with gentle, calm waves, then moving how the waves would be if it was windy and choppy, and then gently again.
The Waves in the Sea
to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”
The waves in the sea go up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
The waves in the sea go up and down
All day long.
Credit: adapted from Jbrary
Sing: Little Red Sailboat (stretchy band)
“Now that the waves have calmed down, let’s get into our little red sailboats! What a lovely day for sailing.”
THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN! We started off with little bounces, then bigger bounces, then pulled waaaay back on the stretchy band when the boat tipped over. While everyone was swimming for shore, I sneakily gathered up the stretchy band, so there were no tears about letting go. 🙂
Little Red Sailboat
Sailing on the sea in my little red sailboat.
Sailing on the sea in my little red sailboat.
Sailing on the sea in my little red sailboat.
Won’t you be my darling?
Storm’s blowing in and the waves are choppy.
Storm’s blowing in and the waves are choppy.
Storms’ blowing in and the waves are choppy.
Won’t you be my darling?
Wind’s picking up and the boat tips over – WHOAH!
Wind’s picking up and the boat tips over – WHOAH!
Wind’s picking up and the boat tips over – WHOAH!
Swim for shore my darling!
_____
Adapted from traditional “Little Red Wagon”
*Learning Through Play
*Please visit this page to learn more about my regular storytime songs and routines.
Storytime in the Stacks 
1 thought on “Storytime Spotlight: Sand & Sea (Toddler Time)”