Siblings: Shapes

For more information on how I plan and prepare my siblings storytimes, check out this introduction post. I starred the materials used in the plan. Some activities go unstarred because I only do this program once a week.

The Plan

Books

Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone (Board)*
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert*

Early Literacy Tip
Knowing shapes lays the foundation for being able to identify letters later on as well as lays the formation for math and geometry. Use blocks or cutout shapes to have your child make something.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Wiggleworms Love You*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”*

Props: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while holding foam stars*

Bounce: “Giddy-up, Giddy-up”
Giddy-up, giddy-up ride to town (bounce babies on knees)
Giddy-up, giddy-up up and down (lift baby up and down)
Giddy-up fast (bounce quickly)
Giddy up slow (bounce slowly)
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, whoa! (dip baby backwards gently)
Credit: Reading With Red

Lift: “Tick Tock”
Start by swaying baby from side to side
Tick tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock
Now I’m chiming one o’clock lift once
More verses: Two o’clock, three o’clock
Credit: My co-worker

Partnering: “Peek-a-Boo”
Toddlers had scarves to hold between themselves and caregiver/baby to play peek-a-boo.
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you! I see you!
I see your button nose and your tiny toes
Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Credit: Read Sing Play

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands
• Open, Shut Them
• Thumbkin

How It Went

This week’s storytime was really fun for my toddlers. They absolutely adored the book Bear in a Square and finding all the shapes in the story. I had one little group of toddlers that crowded around me and my copy of the board book and raced each other to find the shapes. I also had a toddler that wanted to be in my lap instead of sitting by their caregivers during our opening “Name…Oops” rhyme and during “Tick, Tock” — I love that they are so comfortable in class and can also have some one-on-one time.