storytime katie

For the first time in our library’s history, we ran our own summer reading program — Make Some Noise! What better opportunity to do a bi-weekly music and movement dance party? This program was advertised for ages 0-7 and their families.

The Plan

Book
Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson
I love Hilda. I love that the book talks about different kinds of dancing. I love inviting the kids to get up and join me as we romp around the room. I love that Hilda figures out how to keep doing what she loves to do when her friends/fellow animals try to stop her. I think the book worked amazingly as a Shake, Shimmy read.

Props
Parachute! (WARNING: Measure your room before you buy a chute!! This one just fits in our large meeting space, but I almost bought the next size up based on the handles…)

The Playlist
Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Hands Are for Clapping — Jim Gill
Dance, Freeze, Melt — Eric Litwin & Michael Levine
Jump, Jump — Joanie Leeds & the Nightlights
Round in a Circle — Greg & Steve
Hot Poppin’ Popcorn — The Wiggles
Under the Shady Tree — Laurie Berkner Band
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

This was the very first session with the parachute. I had purchased a larger one for this program and I’m glad that I did! When I shook it out, delighted screeching ensued. The kids played with the parachute with such enthusiasm and they absolutely went mad for “Under the Shady Tree” when I let them go under and had the adults lift up and down with me. Parents definitely grew more tired as we went along, doing the bulk of the parachute lifting, but I made jokes about skipping the gym that day and got a lot of laughs.

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

For the first time in my library’s history, we ran our own summer reading program — Make Some Noise! What better opportunity to do a bi-weekly music and movement dance party? This program was advertised for ages 0-7 and their families.

The Plan

Book
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
I chose this one because it’s a classic, storytime gold, and it has great movement opportunities. It served as a great icebreaker for getting the kids up and ready to move. I paperclipped the donkey kick page. It always makes me nervous that someone’s foot will hit someone else’s head.

Props
Shaker Eggs!

The Playlist
Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Take the Sun — Caspar Babypants
Fee Fi Fo Fum — Ralph Covert
Shaky Shaky — The Wiggles
I Know a Chicken — Laurie Berkner Band
Silly Dance Contest — Jim Gill
Turn-Around — Hap Palmer
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

This first week, I was a bit of blur and didn’t take as good of notes as I should have. I had a wonderful experience with this first program. It was a lot of energy and very fun. During this session, I had a grandmother pull me aside and tell me, “You were born to do this program!” Talk about gratifying, right?

Since this was the first session, I introduced the kids to the welcome song and the goodbye song. “Take the Sun” was one of my favorite discoveries while previewing music. The kids enjoyed both “I Know a Chicken” and “Silly Dance Contest” the most out of all the songs. There’s a reason that Laurie Berkner and Jim Gill are staples of Music & Movement programs.

Presentation & Handouts

Behind me, I keep a Powerpoint up for the grown-ups in the room to see basic instruction to help their kids dance along. I did always introduce the song, but I found that this helped keep parents on track.

And as everyone left, I gave out a playlist handout that looked like this:

That’s the end!