For every post I share a new storytime plan, I’m also going to try and share a plan from last year at my former library system. We had so much fun that I never got around to blogging about!
Here’s a plan I presented with a mixed-age family group when our monthly focus was phonological awareness. This was one of my favorite plans from last year! I loved how all of the books connected with each other and really highlighted our early literacy skill.
*Sing: Good Morning to You
*Welcome & Set Expectations
Rhyme: Storytime Stretch
Stretch up high!
Stretch out wide.
Stretch down to the ground.
Now let’s sit down!
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credit: original
Read: Noisy Night by Mac Barnett
We started off with one of my storytime favorites: a guess-who book full of fun sounds!
Talk: Faces/Feelings (Flannel)
We talked about how each child in the photos feels and how we can tell they feel that way! We circled back to our story and figured out which child feels grumpy like the old man in our book. Then we made connections and talked about what makes us feel grumpy.
Sing: If You’re Happy and You Know It…
We used the photos to come up with extra verses: e.g. if you’re disgusted and you know it, scrunch your face!
*Sing: If You’re Ready for a Story…
Read: Look Out, Suzy Goose! by Petr Horacek
Speaking of connections, we made a text-to-text connection:
“Look at Suzy’s face! How do you think she feels? Her face reminds me of the old man in our first story who was grumpy because everyone was so noisy!”
Sing: Going on a Bear Hunt by Greg & Steve
Read: Night Owl by Toni Yuly
“Suzy ran into lots of animals when she went for a walk in the woods. Do you remember which animals she saw? Our next story is about another forest animal – a little owl! We’re going to have to listen very closely to the sounds in this story to help Little Owl find his mommy. What sound does an owl make?”
Lit Tip: Learning to Listen for Sounds
Grown-ups, I love this book because it encourages us to slow down and listen to all the beautiful sounds around us! When you take listening walks outside and TALK about what you hear, you help your child pay close attention to sounds. Learning how to listen carefully for sounds NOW will help your child when they learn to read and write LATER!
Sing: See the Nocturnal Animals Sleeping…
Owls aren’t the only animals awake at night! We made a list and sang a song about other nocturnal creatures. I was impressed – this group suggested bats, moths and fireflies!
See the little owls sleeping all throughout the day.
They will wake up when it’s night and then they’ll want to play.
The moon is high… in the sky…
Owls fly!
Fly little owls, fly fly fly!
Fly little owls, fly fly fly.
Fly little owls, fly fly fly.
Fly throughout the midnight sky!
Repeat: other nocturnal animals
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credit: original lyrics, adapted from “Sleeping Bunnies” tune
Learning Through Play
*Please visit this page to learn more about my regular storytime songs and routines.
What are some of your favorite phonological awareness songs and stories for storytime? Would love to learn more in the comments below!
Storytime in the Stacks 