Dancing Feet

Welcome Song: Welcome, Everyone

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Welcome, welcome everyone

Now you’re here

We’ll have some fun.

First we’ll clap our hands just so.

Then we’ll bend

And touch our toe.

Welcome, welcome, everyone.

Now you’re here,

We’ll have some fun

Early Literacy Skill: Our early literacy tip for today is on phonological awareness, the ability to hear with the smaller sounds in words. Researchers say this skill helps children to sound out words when they later learn to read. In this storytime I’ll be pointing out ways you can help your children hear different kinds of sounds.

Big Book: Dance Away by George Shannon

Rabbit's dancing saves his friends from becoming Fox's supper.

Early Literacy Aside: This is an example of a predictable book with a repeated refrain, which allows kids to be active participants in the story.  One fun way to extend the story is to learn the dance steps and do them every time Rabbit says them.

Action Rhyme: Ten Fingers
I have ten fingers.

They all belong to me.

I can make them do things.

Would you like to see?

I can shut them up tight.

I can open them wide.

I can put them on my head.

I can put them at my side.

I can raise them up high.

I can put them down low.

I can set them in my lap,

And fold them just so.

Book: Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Gerald the giraffe is too clumsy to dance with all the other animals at the Jungle Dance, until he finds the right music.

Action Song: If You're Happy and You Know It
v.1 Clap your hands

v.2 Stomp your feet

v.3 Turn around

v.4 Jump up and down

v.5 Shout hooray

Early Literacy Aside: Songs, such as the one we just sang, are a great way for kids to learn phonological awareness.  Because songs have a different note for each syllable, “subconsciously, young children are hearing individual words being broken down into parts (pg. 26).” Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz.

Book: Barn Dance! By Pat Hutchins

After Horse, Sheep, and Pig dance until they must lie down to rest, their little ones sneak out to continue the party.

Action Rhyme: Clap Your Hands

Clap your hands, touch your toes.

Turn around and touch your nose.

Flap your arms,

Jump up high,

Wiggle your fingers

And let your hands fly.

Action Rhyme: Hands
My hands upon my head I’ll place
Upon my shoulders, on my face,
At my waist and by my side,
Then behind me they will hide.
Then I'll raise them way up high,
And let my fingers fly, fly, fly,
Then clap, clap, clap--
One - Two -Three!
Now see how quiet they can be.

Book: Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig

Easy-to-read, rhyming text depicts different animals dancing.

Early Literacy Aside:  This book has great rhythm and rhyme...perfect for introducing phonological awareness to young kids.

Closing Song: Hands Go Up

Hands go up and hands go down.

I can turn round and round.

I can jump upon two shoes.

I can clap and so can you!

I can wave,

I’ll show you how.

Storytime is done for now.

Attendance: 14, 21 (ages 1-6 with caregivers)

Evaluation: This was a FUN program.  All the books had great rhythm and rhyme and held even the youngest kid's attention (for the most part).  Definitely a program to repeat again and again.