Shake, Rhythm & Rhyme Story Time: "Feel the Beat!"

We were feeling the beat and dancing around the room this month! Shake, Rhythm & Rhyme is our inclusive story time for children of all abilities, ages 2 - 6. It is adapted with a visual schedule, dimmed lighting, and multi-sensory experiences (similar to our SENSEational Story Time). Here is this month's plan:

Welcome Song: "Shirt Song" (borrowed from Barbara Klipper)

Calling up the children by name, or bringing the board with the flannel shirts to a child with a mobile disability, I have the child choose the color shirt they are wearing and then place it on our large flannel board. We go around the circle until everyone's "shirt" is on the board.

___________ is wearing a (color) shirt,

a (color) shirt, a (color) shirt, 

and ________ is here with us today!

Yoga pose: "Dancer"

(I like to use the Yogarilla card set, which has the pose on one side and an adapted version of the pose on the other side.) I show them both versions, so they can decide which one they want to try.

ASL rhyme: "I Went to a Concert and What Did I Hear?"

(source: Storytime Stuff)

I taught them the ASL signs for piano, guitar, and drums to use when saying this rhyme:

I went to a concert and what did I hear?

The sound of a piano in my ear!

I went to a concert and what did I hear?

The sound of a guitar in my ear!

I went to a concert and what did I hear?

The sound of drums in my ear!

I also used the Garage Band app to play the sounds of the instruments for them. Love this app!

Flannel: "Five Dancing Ballerinas"

Five dancing ballerinas

prancing on their toes.

They twirl and spin and jump

then off the stage she goes.

Continue counting down.

(source: Storytime Katie and adorable tutus for flannel dancers made by our wonderful Clerical Assistant, Jennifer D.)

Story: I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison

I gave one of our story time parents our drum to keep the steady beat going as it does throughout this rhythmic story.

Sensory diet rhyme with scarves: "Dance Your Scarves"

Dance your scarves up.

Dance your scarves down.

Dance them to your side,

And dance them all around.

Dance them on your shoulders.

Dance them on your head.

Dance them on your tummies,

And put them to bed!

Story: The Nuts: Sing and Dance in Your Polka-Dot Pants by Eric Litwin

Story time gold! It's got rhythm, repetition, and movement... and it's just so adorable!!

Story-related sensory activity: Doing the "Polka-Dot Dance!"

I handed out large colored dots to everyone and we did the Polka-Dot Pants Dance (located at the end of the story) waving our dots around. The best part about this dance? It can be done seated or standing!

Parachute activity: "Ring Around the Rosie"

Goodbye Song: "Tickle the Clouds"

Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.

Turn around and tickle your nose.

Reach down low.

Reach up high.

Story time's over--

Wave goodbye!

Sensory craft and playtime: 

We made shakers with plastic eggs, rice, and colorful duct tape. And of course... we got out our instruments for the kids to play with!