DOOR 2 DOOR STORYTIME

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY SKILLS:  Phonological Awareness

BOOKS TO DISPLAY

Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator by Mo Willems
Gabby & Gator by James Burks
Alligators and Crocodiles by Gail Gibbons
A Frog in a Bog by Karma Wilson
Maybe When I’m Bigger by Christianne C. Jones
Oliver by Birgitta Sif
Counting Crocodiles by Judy Sierra
Alligator Alphabet by Stella Blackstone
Oliver and His Alligator by Paul Schmid

BASIC TIMELINE

1. Intro
2. Hello Song
3. Read-a-Loud Book
4. Action Rhyme
5. Read-a-Loud Book
6. Rhyme
7. Read-a-Loud Book
8. Flannelboard
9. ASL Goodbye Song
10. Craft

READ-A-LOUD BOOKS

Snip Snap! What’s That? by Mara Bergman
There is an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

ACTIVITIES

Action Rhyme: Alligator, Alligator (via King County Library System)
Long and green
Alligator, Alligator
Teeth so mean
Snapping at a fly (pretend to snap your jaws)
Snapping at a bee (pretend to snap)
Snaping at a frog (pretend to snap)
but you can’t catch me! (jump back)

Rhyme: Alligator Pie, Alligator Pie (by Dennis Lee via University of Toronto Libraries)
Alligator pie, alligator pie,
If I don’t get some I think I’m gonna die.
Give away the green grass, give away the sky,
But don’t give away my alligator pie.
Alligator stew, alligator stew,
If I don’t get some I don’t know what I’ll do.
Give away my furry hat, give away my shoe,
But don’t give away my alligator stew.
Alligator soup, alligator soup,
If I don’t get some I think I’m gonna droop.
Give away my hockey stick, give away my hoop,
But don’t give away my alligator soup.

Flannelboard: Five Little Monkeys (via Perry Public Library)
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! You can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be
And SNAPPED that monkey out of the tree!
Four little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! You can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be
And SNAPPED that monkey out of the tree!
Three little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! You can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be
And SNAPPED that monkey out of the tree!
Two little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! You can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be
And SNAPPED that monkey out of the tree!
One little monkey swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! You can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be
And SNAPPED that monkey out of the tree!
No more monkeys swinging in the tree

CRAFT: Crocodylia!

 

I came across the inspiration for this craft last year while exploring Pinterest. However, the original comes from the blog, Skip to My Lou. In order to create my simplified version, I first created a set of templates for the body, lower jaw, and teeth. I used the templates to trace everything out on bright green colored cardstock and white printer paper. Then I cut everything up prior to storytime. I paper clipped each set of craft pieces and then handed out pair of googly eyes. My munchkins really liked this craft and had a blast snapping at one another.

REVIEW:

Suspense is a magic ingredient that commands attendee’s undivided attention. The danger posed by crocodiles and alligators during this week’s storytime sessions kept my preschoolers and toddlers spell bound. The read aloud stories were big hits! I recommend each and every one, especially Snip Snap! What’s That?  My munchkins liked the extension activities. They LOVED my alligator hand puppet, and were enraptured during the telling of Five Little Monkeys.

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