T is for Thanksgiving

An Outreach Storytime

Five Little Turkeys

5 little turkeys by the barn door
1 waddled off, then there were 4.

4 little turkeys out under the tree
1 waddled off, then there were 3.

3 little turkeys with nothing to do
1 waddled off, then there were 2.

2 little turkeys in the noonday sun
1 waddled off, then there was 1.

1 little turkey--better run away!
Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day!

Book:  'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving Written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey




Five Fat Turkeys
Two fat turkeys standing in a row (hold up two fingers)
They spread their feathers (spread out arms) and their tails like so (wiggle bottom)
They strut to the left (move to the left)
They strut to the right (move to the right)
They say "Gobble, gobble!"
In the bright sunlight! (arms high and move down)

Continue counting up to five

Book:  The Very First Thanksgiving Day Written by Rhonda Gowler Greene; Illustrated by Susan Gaber



Book:  This is the Turkey Written by Abby Levine; Illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye



Thanksgiving Dinner
(Sung to "Frere Jacques")

We eat turkey, we eat turkey.
Oh, so good. Oh, so good.
Always on Thanksgiving, always on Thanksgiving
Yum-yum-yum! Yum,-yum-yum!

Other verses:
Mashed potatoes
Homemade biscuits
Turkey dressing
Pumpkin Pie

You can also ask children what they like to eat on Thanksgiving and sing about that. Be warned: You may be singing about cheeseburgers and spaghetti!

T is for...

Welcome Song

Henrietta’s Basket: turkey webkins

Song: Be my echo: (6 syllables x 2) tiptoe, toothbrush, tractor, trampoline

Sign Language: Letter

Flannel Board: One baby turtle

One baby turtle alone and new.
Finds a friend, and then there are two.

Two baby turtles crawl down to the sea.
They find another, and then there are three.

Three baby turtles crawl along the shore.
They find another, and then there are four.

Four baby turtles go for a dive.
Up swims another, and then there are five.

Book: Whoo! Whoo! Goes the Train (Rockwell)

Song: Once There Was a Tiger
(Tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)

Oh once there was a tiger, a tiger, a tiger
Oh once there was a tiger
With black and orange stripes
He growled and growled
And growled and growled
Oh once there was a tiger
With black and orange stripes.

Additional verses: stalk; pounce; eat; sleep

Rhyme Time Song
Nursery Rhyme: Rub-a-dub-dub

Announcements

Book: The Busy Tree (Ward) or Tools (Miura) Non-fiction
I used Tools on Wednesday and The Busy Tree on Thursday and both went over very well.

ABC Chant

Good bye Chant

Enrichment:
Treasure box: teddy bear counters with pattern pages, make counting teddy bear book (use teddy bear stickers), teddy bear matching, tambourine (and other musical instruments), train dot-to-dot

T is for Turkey

An outreach storytime

Book:  This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story (Laura Krauss Melmed)

Five Little Turkeys
5 little turkeys by the barn door,
1 waddled off, then there were 4.

4 little turkeys out under the tree,
3 little turkeys with nothing to do...
2 little turkeys in the noonday sun...

1 little turkey--better run away!
Soon will come Thanksgiving Day.

Book:  One is a Feast for a Mouse:  A Thanksgiving Tale (Judy Cox)

Stand and Stretch [Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes]

Thanksgiving Dinner
(tune: Frere Jacques)

We eat turkey, we eat turkey
Oh, so good, oh, so good.
Always on Thanksgiving, always on Thanksgiving
Yum-yum-yum!  Yum-yum-yum!

Additional verses:
Mashed Potatoes
Homemade biscuits
Turkey stuffing
Pie and ice cream (or pumpkin pie)

Book:  Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep (Maureen Wright)

A is for Asia

During our 2nd week this summer we visited Asia!  I've found the bringing in a globe to show the children where we are (Nebraska), where we visited last week, and where we are "traveling" today has been very helpful.

Welcome Song

Wesley and Henrietta

Henrietta’s basket:  Panda puppet

Flannel Board: Five Little Orangutans

I brought my baby orangutan puppet, Pip, to show the children before we did the flannel board (he is so cute!)

Five little orangutans and no more

One waddled off and then there were four.
Four little orangutans sleeping in a tree
One fell out and then there were three.
Three little orangutans said “What can we do?”
One ate some fruit and then there were two.
Two little orangutans playing in the sun.
One heard his mother hoot and then there was one.
One little orangutan left all alone.
He got up and ran right home.

Book:  Little Mist (McAllister and Fox-Davies)

Stand-up song:

Once There Was a Tiger

(Tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)

Oh once there was a tiger, a tiger, a tiger

Oh once there was a tiger
With black and orange stripes
He growled and growled
And growled and growled
Oh once there was a tiger
With black and orange stripes.

Additional verses: stalk; pounce; eat; sleep

Rhyme time song:

Rhyme:

Panda play. Panda Play.
Play all night. Play all day.
I love to tumble on the ground.
Over and over, round and round.

Announcements:

Book:  Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek (HO)

Stand up song:  Panda bear, panda bear turn around…

Book: How many baby pandas? (Markle)

Animal Good-byes

T is for...

Welcome Song

Henrietta’s Basket: Toothbrush
If I have Henrietta bring a toothbrush again I will change the clues she give. After the clues: It starts with the letter 't'; everyone has at their house; it's usually found in the bathroom...the kids all yelled "toilet"!! And they wouldn't give up on that!

Sign Language: Letter

Song: Be my echo (6 syllables x 2) tiger and tooth, tree and tub

Flannel Board: One baby turtle
One baby turtle alone and new.
Finds a friend, and then there are two.
Two baby turtles crawl down to the sea.
They find another, and then there are three.
Three baby turtles crawl along the shore.
They find another, and then there are four.
Four baby turtles go for a dive.
Up swims another, and then there are five.

Book: Whoo! Whoo! Goes the Train (Rockwell)

Song: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around.
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear dance on your toes,
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch your toes.
Teddy bear, teddy bear reach up high
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch the sky!
Teddy bear, teddy bear bend down low.
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch your toe.
Teddy bear, teddy bear stand up now
Teddy bear, teddy bear take a bow!

Nursery Rhyme/short poem: Twinkle, twinkle little star
(I encouraged the children to SAY it instead of sing it)

Book: What Time is it Mr. Crocodile? (Sierra)

ABC Chant

Good bye Chant

Enrichment: ABC dot-to-dot, triangle art, teddy bear counters with pattern pages and Teddy Bear counting book.


My very favorite 't' book: Where's my Teddy? I'll usually "squeeze" this one into storytime somewhere.