Storytime: It's Time to Say Good Night

Discussion Questions:

We have some nighttime stories today. What animals come out only at nighttime? Do you know remember what we call animals that only come out at night?

We often discuss nocturnal animals, so this is always a good refresher or a good lesson!

Story Selections:

    

    

Story/Flannel Activity: Bats at the Library by Brian Lies*

This is a bit longer than stories I usually present for this age group, but they did very well with sitting through it. We took breaks to discuss bats (including echolocation and the fact that they are the only mammals that fly!), what we do in the library, and some favorite books the children have.

Scarf Intro Song: Scarf Hokey Pokey

You put your scarf in.
You put your scarf out.
You put your scarf in
And your shake it all about!
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn your scarf around.
That's what it's all about!

Second verse: You put your scarf high/low ... And you shake it to and fro!

Scarf Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! We're Going to the Moon! with scarves (from Jbrary)

When do bats come out? And what do we see in the sky at night? The moon! Let's visit the moon today and get in out big rocket ships! 

Zoom zoom zoom we’re going to the moon
Get your ship and take a rocket trip.
Get your ship and take a rocket trip.
Zoom zoom zoom we’re going to the moon 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... Blast off! (jump up)

Scarf Song: Tchaikovsky's Russian Dance from "The Nutcracker"

I often play this song for both toddler and baby storytimes. We pretended to be in our rocket ships, flying among the stars and zooming through space! Really we were just tossing our scarves around and twirling in circles to the music, but that's the power of imagination!

Scarf Song: Popcorn Kernals (from Jbrary)

After a trip to the moon, we needed a snack. 
Popcorn kernels (repeat)
In the pot (repeat)
Shake them shake them shake them (repeat)
Till they pop! (repeat)

NOTE: This whole routine may seem familiar. That's because I used it for our Bird storytime just last month! The kids don't mind repeats and the repetition is great for brain development and encouraging participation as the kids know the songs even better!

Scarf Goodbye Song: Scarf is Sleeping (inspired by Getting Giggles)

Scarf is sleeping, don't wake it up.
Scarf is sleeping, don't wake it up.
Scarf is sleeping, don't wake it up.
Now we're very quiet. Shh...

Wake up scarf, it's time to play!
Wake up scarf, it's time to play!
Wake up scarf, it's time to play!
Now we're very loud!

Repeat "scarf is sleeping," then put scarves away.
 

Story: I Just Want to Say Good Night by Rachel Isadora*

Lala's village is getting ready for bed, but she just wants to say good night first (to the cat and the chicken and the ants...). The kids were enthralled by the colors on each page and had fun saying "good night" to each animal. The final page was the best; Lala read Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and the storytimers flipped shouting, "I have that book!" It was fantastic that they all connected with Lala so well! We all finished by saying "good night" to the moon.

Craft: Bats are Mammals!

• Ellison shape bats (white) 
• Yarn snippets (black) 
• Glue bottles 
• Glitter glue (or glitter, if you're brave)

Kids got to decorate their own bat with black yarn for their fur (as bats are mammals, which came up early on in the discussion!) and glitter for the moonlight and starlight hitting their wings.

*Links for books are to Amazon; I am not affiliated with the company.