Toddlers: Spring Animals

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Charlie Chick by Nick Denchfield & Ant Parker***
Counting Ovejas by Sarah Weeks**
Little Quack by Lauren Thompson
Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox*

Early Literacy Tip
Even little rhymes present knowledge about our world. “Flutter, Flutter Butterfly” tells the story of a butterfly flying in the spring sky, just as real butterflies do.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Anna and the Cupcakes (Bari Koral Family Rock Band)***

Featured Track: #9 Butterfly***

Flannelboard: “Ten Little Sheep”***

Puppet: “Flutter, Flutter Butterfly”***

Props: Butterfly Props (during featured track)***

Repeating Extension Activities

• Everyone Can March**
• Open, Shut Them*
• Roly, Poly**
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Tick, Tock***

How It Went

Tuesday morning
I used “Counting Ovejas” as a parent tip/lesson today. We skipped pages and I reminded parents that we don’t always have to count to ten since a toddler often can’t wait that long in a book. We counted five sheep. Everyone did well with the props, but I did have one child whack his mom, so she took his prop from him.

Thursday morning (9:30)
“Ten Little Sheep” on the flannelboard pulled two of my wanderers back into storytime. This class was utterly delighted to visit my butterfly puppet with their butterfly props for butterfly kisses. “Charlie Chick” is a magic book and I will never give it up. Both “Tick, Tock” and “This Is Big, Big, Big” brought kids back in from the edges of the room.

Thursday morning (10:30)
We had a sudden downpour in the middle of the storytime; loud enough for some of the toddlers to become startled. I led them in a spontaneous rendition of “Rain Is Falling Down” to help calm their nerves. One of my toddlers stood in the middle of the rug during our opening song and modeled all the actions for the other kids.