The second part of this assignment was to perform a classmate's story time. The story box is helpful in the way that it has all the essentials one needs for story time. However, it does take some practice to try and memorize the songs, etc. It does help to have some time to prepare the story time performance. The storytime that I illustrated to the class was "In the Woods through the Seasons," which I was able to modify to a fall/winter theme. The great thing about the story box is that it can be customized by the user to be presented differently by age group or even by what's simple or easy to learn quickly. Here is my apple storytime for preschoolers and my customized fall/winter "In the Woods through the Seasons" story time for preschoolers. Give them a try at your library!
Amy's Preschool Apple Storytime Program
Read-a-loud Books
Davies, K & Oldfield, W. (1994). My apple. WI: Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Dubosarsky, U. (2009). The terrible plop. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Gibbons, G. (1984). The seasons of Arnold
Hall, Z. (1996). The apple pie tree. NY: The Blue Sky Press.
Hutchins, P. (2000). Ten red apples. NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Keller, K. Thoennes. (2005). From apples to applesauce. MN: Capstone Press.
Kroll, S. (2011). The biggest apple ever. NY: Scholastic Inc.
Mayr, D. (2003). Out and about at the apple orchard. MN: Picture Window Books.
Powell, C. (2003). Amazing apples. IL: Albert Whitman & Co.
Priceman, M. (1994). How to make apple pie and see the world. NY: Alfred A. Knopf
Purmell, A. (2002). Apple cider making days. CT: The Millbrook Press.
Robbins, K. (2002). Apples. NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Fingerplays, Clapping and Full-Body Movement Rhymes/Stories
Fingerplays, Clapping and Full-Body Movement Rhymes/Stories
Ten Red Apples
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
Here I have five apples. (hold up five fingers)
And here are five again. (hold up other hands)
How many apples altogether? (shrug)
Why, five and five make ten! (clap)
And here are five again. (hold up other hands)
How many apples altogether? (shrug)
Why, five and five make ten! (clap)
Apple Tree High In The Sky
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
Way up high in an apple tree (point)
two big apples smiled down at me (put fingers on cheeks make smile)
I shook that tree as hard as (shake body)
I could and Down (shout) came the apples
Mm-mm, they were Good (say like Campbell's soup ad).
two big apples smiled down at me (put fingers on cheeks make smile)
I shook that tree as hard as (shake body)
I could and Down (shout) came the apples
Mm-mm, they were Good (say like Campbell's soup ad).
Eat An Apple
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
Eat an apple (pretend to eat fist)
Save the core (put one hand in the other)
Plant the seeds (pretend to plant seeds)
And grow some more (make tree shape over head)
Save the core (put one hand in the other)
Plant the seeds (pretend to plant seeds)
And grow some more (make tree shape over head)
Here Is An Apple
Retrieved from: http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
Here is an apple (make circle with thumb and index)
And here is an apple (make circle with other thumb and index)
And a great big apple I see (make a circle with arms)
Now let's count the apples we've made (shrug)
One, Two, Three (count on hands)
And here is an apple (make circle with other thumb and index)
And a great big apple I see (make a circle with arms)
Now let's count the apples we've made (shrug)
One, Two, Three (count on hands)
Climbing Up The Apple Tree
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
Climbing up the apple tree, (climb in place)
Swinging on a limb (pretend to swing with arms above head)
If I hear a robin, I may (cup hand over ear)
Sing along with him! (whistle)
'And Robin, if you fly away, (wave)
Here's what I think I'll do (Point with one finger)
I'll wish a pair of sparrow wings (flap arms)
And fly away with you (pretend to fly)
Swinging on a limb (pretend to swing with arms above head)
If I hear a robin, I may (cup hand over ear)
Sing along with him! (whistle)
'And Robin, if you fly away, (wave)
Here's what I think I'll do (Point with one finger)
I'll wish a pair of sparrow wings (flap arms)
And fly away with you (pretend to fly)
Songs
Falling Apples
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
(Sung to the tune of "London Bridge
See The Apples Falling Down (Use Arm Motions, Raise hands in air)
Falling down, Falling Down
See The Apples Falling Down
Down To The Ground
Pick The Apples And Throw Them Up
Throw Them Up, Throw Them Up
Pick The Apples And Throw Them Up
Up To The Sky
Falling down, Falling Down
See The Apples Falling Down
Down To The Ground
Pick The Apples And Throw Them Up
Throw Them Up, Throw Them Up
Pick The Apples And Throw Them Up
Up To The Sky
Do you know the apple man?
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
(Sung to the tune of: “The Muffin Man”)
Oh, do you know the apple man,
the apple man, the apple man?
Oh, do you know the apple man
who likes to play with me?
Oh, he has a great big smile,
a great big smile, a great big smile,
Oh; he has a great big smile
and likes to play with me.
Oh, do you know the apple man,
the apple man, the apple man?
Oh, do you know the apple man
who likes to play with me?
Oh, he has a great big smile,
a great big smile, a great big smile,
Oh; he has a great big smile
and likes to play with me.
Apples
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
(Sung to the tune of: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)
Apple, apple tree so tall, I can hardly wait till fall!
When your apples I can pick, Fill my basket, eat them quick.
Apple, apple tree so tall, I can hardly wait till fall!
Apple, apple tree so fair, What do I see growing there!
Green and round and plump and sweet, Soon they will be good to eat.
Apple, apple tree so fair, What do I see growing there!
Apple, apple tree so tall, I can hardly wait till fall!
When your apples I can pick, Fill my basket, eat them quick.
Apple, apple tree so tall, I can hardly wait till fall!
Apple, apple tree so fair, What do I see growing there!
Green and round and plump and sweet, Soon they will be good to eat.
Apple, apple tree so fair, What do I see growing there!
A Little Apple Seed
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
(Sung to the tune of: “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”)
Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground
Down came the raindrops, falling all around.
Out came the big sun, bright as bright could be
And that little apple seed grew to be an apple tree!
Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground
Down came the raindrops, falling all around.
Out came the big sun, bright as bright could be
And that little apple seed grew to be an apple tree!
Farmer Had An Apple Tree
Retrieved from: http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station04/music_station_sep04.shtml
(Sung to the tune of: "Bingo")
Was a farmer had a tree.
With apples big and red.
A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E
With apples on his tree!
(Sung to the tune of: "Bingo")
Was a farmer had a tree.
With apples big and red.
A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E
With apples on his tree!
Music CD’s
Music for Little People Choir. (2006). Way up high in the apple tree. On Toddler Favorites Too! [CD]. Los Angeles , CA
Sharon, Lois and Bram. (1984). Five green apples. On Mainly Mother Goose. Toronto , ON
Prop Story- Apple Worms
Retrieved From:
Can also be used as a craft for kids to make their own.
Use with apple-on-a-stick prop. The prop has pre-cut holes to use when the worms’ (your fingers) stick their heads out.
See instructions on website to make prop. I used felt with a large apple pattern and glued it to a large glue stirrer.
Apple pattern retrieved from: http://www.first-school.ws/t/pattern/apple_leafb.htm.
One little worm, crawled up the apple tree. (Poke out one finger and wiggle)
Bit into an apple, it was might tast-y.
Bit into an apple, it was might tast-y.
She called to her friend to join her in the fun
Now two worms are munching apples one by one. (Poke out a second finger and wiggle)
Now two worms are munching apples one by one. (Poke out a second finger and wiggle)
Two little worms, in the apple tree.
Called to another, now there are three. (Poke out a third finger and wiggle)
Three little worms, eating more and more,
Called to another, now there are four. (Poke out a fourth finger and wiggle)
Four little worms, as happy as can be,
Munching all day, in the apple tree.
Called to another, now there are three. (Poke out a third finger and wiggle)
Three little worms, eating more and more,
Called to another, now there are four. (Poke out a fourth finger and wiggle)
Four little worms, as happy as can be,
Munching all day, in the apple tree.
Felt Board Song/Story- My Apple Tree
Retrieved from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/apples/songs.htm
Use with 6 felt apples. Put 6 felt apples on felt board before you begin the story. Pick them off as the story dictates. Sing to the tune of “Skip to my Lou” or just recite as a story.
Pick an apple off my tree (pick an apple off the felt board)
Pick an apple off my tree
Pick an apple off my tree
Pick it for both you and me
Pick an apple off my tree
Pick an apple off my tree
Pick it for both you and me
Pick two apples off my tree (pick 2 apples off felt board)
Pick two apples off my tree
Pick two apples off my tree
Pick them both for you and me
Pick two apples off my tree
Pick two apples off my tree
Pick them both for you and me
Pick three apples off my tree (pick 3 apples off felt board)
Pick three apples off my tree
Pick three apples off my tree
Pick them all for you and me
Pick three apples off my tree
Pick three apples off my tree
Pick them all for you and me
Pick some apples off my tree (hold up the apples)
Pick some apples off my tree
Pick some apples off my tree
Pick them all for you and me
Pick some apples off my tree
Pick some apples off my tree
Pick them all for you and me
For apple coloring sheets go to:
DLTK’s Printable Crafts for Kids
Amy’s Storytime Plan for “In the Woods through the Seasons”
Activity: Prop Story or Fingerplay: 5 Little Chickadees
(Put five Velcro chickadees on glove and fold down a finger with each verse or just use your hand as a fingerplay)
Five little chickadees sitting on the floor
(hold up hand )
One flew away and then there were four.
Four little chickadees sitting in a tree
One flew away and then there were three.
Three little chickadees looking at you
One flew away and then there were two.
Two little chickadees sitting in the sun
One flew away and then there was one.
One little chickadee sitting all alone
He flew away and then there was none.
No little chickadees, with caps so black,
Then the cat went away and they all flew back!
(open hand to show all five birds).
Book: Birdsongs by Betsy Franco
Activity: Fingerplay: Falling Leaves
All the leaves are falling down
(flutter fingers downward)
Orange, green, red and brown
(Flutter fingers in four different directions)
If you listen, you’ll hear them say,
(cup hands around ears)
“Wintertime is on its way.”
(whispering, finger near lips.)
Book: Snow by Manya Stojic
Activity: Felt Board: Hibernating Bear (Need felt board, felt bear, felt cave, felt tree, felt snowballs and felt blanket of snow)
Here is a cave.
(Put cave on board)
Inside is a bear.
(Put bear inside)
Now he comes out,
(move bear out of cave)
To get some fresh air.
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest
(place tree next to bear)
For berries to eat.
When snow starts to fall
(place snowballs on board)
He hurries inside
His warm little cave
(move bear back in cave)
And there he will hide.
Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug
(place snow over cave)
Inside bear sleeps
All cozy and snug.
Book: The Mitten by Jan Brett
Activity: Song: The Bear went Over the Mountain (to the tune of “For he’s a jolly good fellow”)
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see
To see what he could see,
To see what he could see
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see
Was all that he could see,
Was all that he could see,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see!
