storytime katie

It’s back to school and back to the monthly format for Shake, Shimmy, & Dance!

The Plan

Book
Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy! by Tim Harrington
This book is very similar to From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. There’s also a song version available that you can learn to sing the book. The book does end with a quieter tone, but that actually helps me re-set the room for dance. (I turn out the lights at the front of the room so that my Powerpoint is better visable.)

Props
Activity Scarves!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Movin’ Groovin’ — Mr. Jon & Friends
Freeze Dance — The Fresh Beat Band
Again! — Brady Rymer
Jump and Fly — Laurie Berkner
All My Colors — Ralph Covert
Butterfly — Laura Doherty
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

Whoa, hello crowd! I had SEVENTY-ONE people in the library on a single digit temperature day! I was stunned too. My new favorite song is “Again!” by Brady Rymer — this song is all about how kids love when their parents/caregivers toss them in the air and hug them and spin with them; they love it so much they keep saying “AGAIN!”. If you want a sure fire way to get the adults in your program involved, I highly suggest this song for encouraging joint participation.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

It’s back to school and back to the monthly format for Shake, Shimmy, & Dance!

The Plan

Book
Fly, Blanky, Fly! by Anne Margaret Lewis
We acted out all of the pages of this book. Blanky becomes lots of different animals and vehicles — you can choo-choo like a train and slither like a snake as two examples. I had forgotten how wonderful and interactive this book could be until I saw it on the recently returned shelf and it was perfect for Shake, Shimmy, & Dance!

Props
Shaker Eggs!

The Playlist
Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
All Around My Room — Laurie Berkner
Hands Are for Clapping — Jim Gill
Big Fire Truck — Ladybug Music
Dance Til Your Drop — Brady Rymer
We Make Some Noise Together — Emmy Brockman
I Can Shake My Shaker Egg — The Learning Groove
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

I only did two prop songs today and I thought that worked better. Now that it’s the school year, I see more toddlers than preschoolers/school-age kids and three prop songs was pushing it. (You may have also noticed that I tend to not use the parachute during the school year. Too many unsteady feet underneath makes me nervous.) The biggest success this week was “We Make Some Noise Together”.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

It’s back to school and back to the monthly format for Shake, Shimmy, & Dance!

The Plan

Book
Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
This is a great title to get little feet up and moving. Equal parts guessing game and movement book. Lots of different animals to imitate and play along with! The kids had a great time getting up and dancing with me. I was equally happy to have parents and caregivers join us as well.

Props
Activity Scarves!

The Playlist
Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
If You’re Happy and You Know It — Mr. Jon & Friends
Roller Coaster — Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Twist and Shout — Fresh Beat Band
Run Baby Run — Caspar Babypants
Mixing Up Colors — Yo Gabba Gabba!
Juggling, Juggling, Juggling Balls — The Wiggles
There’s a Little Wheel A’Turnin In My Heart — Laurie Berkner Band
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

I had an amazing time with the kids today. I loved all three of our scarf songs (Mixing Up Colors, Juggling Juggling Juggling Balls, and There’s a Little Wheel A’Turnin in My Heart) and they were equally well-received by the kids. Telling the room that they can (and are encouraged) to throw the scarves in the air was the single greatest moment of the day — everyone squealed and began “juggling” with their caregivers and friends.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

It’s back to school and back to the monthly format for Shake, Shimmy, & Dance

The Plan

Book
If You’re Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera
Today was a day off of school for many of my older kids, so I turned to a favorite book and decided that I’d brave the parachute as our special prop for the day. “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is a fantastic read-aloud and I did sing the book. I invited families to participate and the volume in the room got noisy fast! I did skip a few pages so that the book didn’t go too long.

Props
Parachute!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Jump Up (It’s a Good Day) — Brady Rymer
The Airplane Song — Laurie Berkner
Reach for the Sky — Fresh Beat Band
Take the Sun — Caspar Babypants
Freeze! — Michael Plunkett
Falling — Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

I had such a great time in SSD today. I wasn’t feeling 100% since I had a busy weekend and the program really lifted my spirits and got me energized to be here for the rest of the week. During “Jump Up”, I had kids high five each other for the line “making friends”. I demonstrated with one of my regulars at the front and then had a line of kids who wanted to high five me. We had to take a high five break. I dropped leaves on the parachute for “Falling” and stayed underneath for a lot of it to make sure that the leaves fell towards each of the kids. A perfect autumn treat!

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

It’s back to school and back to the monthly format for Shake, Shimmy, & Dance

The Plan

Book
Music Class Today! by David Weinstone
If you lead a music and movement program, you need to get your hands on this book! It talks about all that goes on during a music class: shaker eggs, rhythm sticks, scarves, singing, dancing, etc. I chose to read it at this particular session because I always get a different crowd during the school year than I do during the summer. This crowd tends to be younger and this book has a wonderful reassuring refrain about deciding when YOU (the child) wants to join in. The kids who were familiar with the format of my program just acted out the book with me.

Props
Shaker Eggs!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Sunny Day — Elizabeth Mitchell
Get Your Move On — Mr. Jon & Friends
Rocketship Run — Laurie Berkner
Silly Dance Contest — Jim Gill
I Can Shake My Shaker Egg — The Learning Groove
We’re Going to the Market — Kathy Reid-Naiman
Shake Your Sillies Out — The Wiggles
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

This was a great “opening” session. I had so many friends from the summer come back and I made so many new friends too! Our most successful song for today was definitely “Rocketship Run”. I had a lot of toddlers and older babies in this class and it works both as a great lift song and a great jumping song for preschoolers. I did wind up skipping “Silly Dance Contest” because we were running short on time and that song works much better with older kids.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

During the summer, we’ve switched to a weekly format again! I’m packing in between 60-120 people in a room and we are DANCING ourselves silly!

The Plan

Book
How Can You Dance? by Rick Walton
I picked another repeat for this last week of Shake, Shimmy, and Dance. “How Can You Dance?” is always a crowd pleaser and I’m happy to report that it remained a hit in this week’s session. I love seeing the kids follow the actions in the book, but if I’m pressed to confess, I might enjoy watching the parents more.

Props
Parachute!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
If You’re Happy and You Know It — Mr. Jon & Friends
Tricky Way — Emmy Brockman
Let’s Dance Now — Jim Gill
Rolling Ball — The Learning Groove
Fast and Slow — Laurie Berkner
Popcorn — Laura Doherty
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

I saved our most challenging prop (the parachute) and a most challenging dance (“Tricky Way”) for the last session of SSD this summer. My group handled them both beautifully. The last session is always bittersweet and this was no exception. I’m saying goodbye to kiddos who are starting full-time school or going to preschool or moving away. Luckily, we went out on a high note with an excellent SSD line-up.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

During the summer, we’ve switched to a weekly format again! I’m packing in between 60-120 people in a room and we are DANCING ourselves silly!

The Plan

Book
Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat by Gene Baer
I had the kids clap and stomp during this book which meant that I had to get very loud for everyone to hear my voice. Luckily, that’s not a problem for me. The kids did have a little trouble getting quiet as the book wound down, but since they were still engaged, I was happy.

Props
Activity Scarves!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Movin’ Groovin’ — Mr. Jon & Friends
There’s a Little Wheel A’Turning — Laurie Berkner
Wiggle Your Lah-De-Dah — Ralph Covert
Hula Hoop — Laura Doherty
Under the Sea — Georgiana Stewart
Twist and Shout — The Fresh Beat Band
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

I don’t know if there’s anything sweeter than watching kids dancing to “There’s a Little Wheel A’Turning”. Our last three songs were all scarf songs. We spun our scarves in a circle for “Hula Hoop”, swam with our scarves being fish for “Under the Sea”, and did a modern twist (ha!) on a classic with the Fresh Beat Band’s cover of “Twist and Shout”. Mr. Jon & Friends has become my favorite new discovery of the summer and “Movin’ Groovin'” continues the trend of thrills from the kiddos!

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

During the summer, we’ve switched to a weekly format again! I’m packing in between 60-120 people in a room and we are DANCING ourselves silly!

The Plan

Book
Hiccupotamus by Steve Smallman
All of the animals make noise to create music, but what has Hippo been doing this whole time? Lots of participation options for making noises and moving around which is perfect for opening a Shake, Shimmy, & Dance! program. The book does run a little bit longer though, so I won’t be able to use it during the school year where my age range skews more towards babies/toddlers.

Props
Shaker Eggs!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Clap Your Hands — They Might Be Giants
Dance All Day — Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Marching Medley — Ralph Covert
Fruit Salad Salsa — Laurie Berkner
Shakeable You — Imagination Movers
Milkshake — Old Town School of Folk Music
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

Since we’re several weeks into summer by now, the families are very much used to the routine. I love seeing all of my regulars and I’m continually welcoming new people as well. “Fruit Salad Salsa” is a great egg shaker song and cannot say how much I appreciate Laurie Berkner’s music in this program. This summer I have been incorporating some television show music tie-ins (Fresh Beat Band, Imagination Movers) and those has been great successes since the families recognize the musicians.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

During the summer, we’ve switched to a weekly format again! I’m packing in between 60-120 people in a room and we are DANCING ourselves silly!

The Plan

Book
Tanka Tanka Skunk by Webb
This is a constant winner. The kids love clapping or stomping along to the rhythm of this book. And I love reading it out loud! This is also another book that can be shortened if you wind that you’re losing your audience or if your audience skews much younger than you anticipated. I did skip a few pages this week in the middle since the kids were primed and ready to dance!

Props
Parachute!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Hands Are for Clapping — Jim Gill
We Are the Dinosaurs — Laurie Berkner
Tap It Out — Fresh Beat Band
Jump Up! — Imagination Movers
The Shimmie Shake — The Wiggles
All You Need Is Love — Caspar Babypants
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

This was my biggest “We Are the Dinosaurs” success ever! Every kid wound up marching behind me and playing along and it was so magical. It’s always a hit, but to get this kind of 100% participation in a drop-in, all-ages, it’s crazy awesome sauce! The parachute was a wonderful tool for today. The kids love it so very much and I had a caregiver who always sits down and doesn’t participate leap up when that chute came out. I even got compliments from our Technical Services department (right next to our big meeting room so they hear everything) on my choice of “All You Need Is Love” which I played while tossing foam hearts onto the parachute!

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)

During the summer, we’ve switched to a weekly format again! I’m packing in between 60-120 people in a room and we are DANCING ourselves silly!

The Plan

Book
Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy! by Tim Harrington
This new book to the Shake, Shimmy rotation this summer was billed to me as the new “From Head to Toe” at ALA Midwinter. I was really excited when the book came into the library and it was clear to me that it would make a great choice for this program. The kids didn’t get as involved as they do with “From Head to Toe”, but this was definitely a winner!

Props
Activity Scarves!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Let’s Get Together — Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Everybody’s Jumping — Aaron Nigel Smith
If You Got 1 — Justin Roberts
Walking, Walking — Old Town School of Folk Music
Little Cloud — Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights
Wave Your Ribbons in the Air — The Wiggles
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

This was my first Shake, Shimmy after coming back from ALA and I always have SUCH energy after conference that it made this a great day. “If You Got 1” was a perfect song for the older kids and “Let’s Get Together” is a new favorite to add to the regular SSD rotation. I was a little bit nervous doing “Walking, Walking” since it has running mentioned, but I made sure to prep the kids by reminding that that we were only going to run in place and not around the room. It worked!

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)