Kansas READS to Preschoolers

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Kansas Reads to Preschoolers 2007 Storytime Ideas

Prepared by Joyce Steiner, Lawrence Public Library

Provide on this page are ideas for:

► Preschoolers

► School age

► Family situations

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(PDF Format)

The joy of having three featured books this year is that you can choose to use all three, or select only the one that best fits the way you plan to use it.

If you are doing a baby or toddler storytime, you can adapt the preschool program selecting the easiest suggestions and shortening it.

Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)

If you have any opening routine, you may wish to start your storytime that way.

Then a brief introduction about Kansas Reads to Preschoolers and the theme of Safety.

Book: Kurtz, Jane. Do Kangaroos Wear Seatbelts? 2005. (ages 3-6)

Song: This is the Way We All Stay Safe, by Joyce Steiner

(Sung to tune of This is the Way We Wash Our Clothes)

This is the way we all stay safe, all stay safe, all stay safe.

This is the way we all stay safe, all throughout the day.

(walk in place swinging arms)

This is the way we buckle seatbelts, buckle seatbelts, buckle seatbelts.

This is the way we buckle seatbelts, when we take a ride.

(move hand from above one shoulder down across yourself and pretend to buckle a seatbelt)

This is the way we hold mama’s hand, hold mama’s hand, hold mama’s hand.

This is the way we hold mama’s hand, when we cross the street.

(reach up and pretend to take hold of a large hand)

This is the way we put on our helmets, put on our helmets, put on our helmets.

This is the way we put on our helmets, when we ride our bikes.

(pretend to put helmet on head and fasten strap)

This is the way we say no to strangers, say no to strangers, say no to strangers.

This is the way we say no to strangers, when no parent’s near.

(shake head and index finger to indicate no)

This is the way we all stay safe, all stay safe, all stay safe.

This is the way we all stay safe, all throughout the day.

(Optional: Ask the children for suggestions of things they do to stay safe and sing about those)

Book: Hamilton, K. R. Firefighters to the Rescue. 2005 (ages 2-5)

Yee, Wong Herbert. Fireman Small. 1994. (ages 4-6)

Song: Fire Safety
(Sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)

Never, never, play with matches
If you do, if you do,
You might burn your fingers, you might burn your fingers
That won't do, that won't do.

Never, never, play with fire
If you do, if you do,
You might burn your house down, you might burn your house down,
That won't do, that won't do.

Never, never, play with fire
If you do, if you do,
You might burn the forest, you might burn the forest
That won't do, that won't do.

from Fire Safety Storytime

www.geocities.com/mystorytime/firesafety.htm

(see this site for other Fire Safety Rhymes)

Or use fingerplay: A Fireman

This brave fireman is going to bed
   (hold up right thumb)
Down on the pillow he lays his head
   (right thumb on left palm)
Wraps himself in his blanket tight
(curl fingers around thumb)
And plans to sleep this way all night
    (close eyes)
But the fire alarm rings! He opens his eyes!
   (open eyes)
Quickly he's dressed and down the pole he slides
(right hand slides down left arm in a grip from elbow to wrist)
Then he climbs on the truck to go, go, go.
(hands manipulate imaginary steering wheel)

from Gayles Preschool Rainbow—Community Helpers

www.preschoolrainbow.org/helper-rhymes.htm

Book: Rathmann, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria. 1995. (ages 4-8)

Simmons, Jane. Come Along, Daisy! 1997. (ages 2-5)

Action Rhyme: Stop, Look, and Listen (traditional)

Stop, look, and listen before you cross the street.

(hold up right hand with palm out to stop, turn head to look both ways, cup ears)

Use your eyes, use your ears, and then use your feet.

(point to eyes, ears, and then walk in place)

Or use: Five Little Ducks (traditional)

Five little ducks went out to play,

Over the hills and far away.

(hold up hand with five fingers spread apart and “waddle” out to play)

Mother duck went,

“Quack, quack, quack.”

(put two palms together to form duck bill and clap on the quacks)

But only four little ducks came back.

(Repeat using correct number of fingers until “no” ducks come back.)

So mother duck went

“Quack, quack, quack.” (clap & say loudly)

And all five little ducks came running back!

(hold up all five fingers again)

Book: Christelow, Eileen. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. 1989 (ages 2-5)

Shore, Diane Z. and Alexander, Jessica. Look Both Ways: a Cautionary Tale. 2005. (ages 4-7)

Cuyler, Margery, Please Play Safe! Penguin’s Guide to Playground Safety. 2006 (ages 3-6)

Action rhyme: Green Says Go

Green says, “Go!” (march in place quickly)

Go! Go! Go!

Yellow says, “Slow!” (march slowly)

Slow...slow...slow.

And red says, “Stop!” (stop suddenly)

Go! Go! Go! (march quickly)

Slow...slow...slow. (march slowly)

And STOP! (stop suddenly)

From Storytimes for Two-year olds, 2nd ed. Judy Nichols, 1998.

(Make a simple flannel stoplight using a rectangle of black, and three circles: red, yellow, and green. After the children learn the rhyme, do it using the stop light, adding one color at a time.)

Book: Penton Overseas, Inc. It's Time to Call 911: What to Do in an Emergency. 2005 (ages 2-5)

Song: Safety Song

(sung to tune of One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians)

What do you dial if there's a fire,
What do you dial if there's a fire,
What do you dial if there's a fire,
Dial 9-1-1!

What do you do if someone collapses,
What do you do if someone collapses,
What do you do if someone collapses,
Dial 9-1-1!

What do you do if you eat poison,
What do you do if you eat poison,
What do you do if you eat poison,
Dial 9-1-1!

Adapted by Joyce Steiner from The Fire Safety Song

from Fire Safety Storytime
www.geocities.com/mystorytime/firesafety.htm

Other books you could use for preschool storytime:

Bridwell, Norman. Clifford, the Firehouse Dog. 1994 (ages 4-6)

Lenski, Lois. Policeman Small. 1962. (ages 4-6)

Lodge, Jo. Moo, Moo Goes to the City. 2002 (ages 2-4)

-Use for toddler or baby alternate. It has movable parts, so not good for circulating.

Pitzer, Susanna. Not Afraid of Dogs. 2006 (ages 3-6)

Wellington, Monica. Firefighter Frank. 2002 (ages 3-6)

School Age (ages 5-7): Let’s Act it Out!

For this age I would probably opt for a more interactive program, and have the children act out one or two stories. For those that prefer a storytime, see below.

Brief opening about the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Safety theme. Then explain that you will first read the following book(s) and then, on the second reading the children will all get parts to play. Letting them know this ahead of time gets them to listen more carefully and be ready to take on a part.

Books: Shore, Diane Z. and Alexander, Jessica. Look Both Ways: a Cautionary Tale. 2005 (ages 4-7)

Characters: Filbert; soccer friends; Mama; cat; bike rider, people driving cars; Granny; neighbor. Choose older children for the main part, and have the younger ones play the non-speaking parts. You can have as few as one soccer friend or many, same with bikes & car drivers. This allows everyone to have a part no matter what size your crowd.

You can have props if you wish, but they are not needed. Filbert could have a baseball cap. If you have a large space, you can have a soccer ball (though I’d use an indoor friendly ball myself); Mama could have an apron; the cat could have cat-ears; the bike rider could have on a bike helmet, and those in cars could have paper plates decorated to look like steering wheels; Granny a white wig and a bag of nuts to give Filbert; and the neighbor an gentleman’s hat or tie.

As the storyteller reads the book, kids just act out the actions. Explain to kids ahead of time no actual physical contact is needed during the crash. Depending on the length of your program, you can do it more than once, switching parts.

and

Rathmann, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria. 1995. (ages 4-8)

Characters: Officer Buckle; Mrs. Toppel; Gloria; school children; Claire; TV news team; the principal. You will definitely want to choose an out-going child to be Gloria. Again, props are optional. How much you want to do with props may depend on the size of your group. You can also make name tags on yarn strings to hand out. Instruct the school children to yawn and pretend to sleep at Officer Buckle’s solo performances, and cheer and laugh at the duo. Having a large envelope of letters with one star shaped letter might be a nice addition. Be creative and let the children be creative.

School Age Storytime (ages 5-7)

If you have any opening routine, you may wish to start your storytime that way.

Then a brief introduction about Kansas Reads to Preschoolers and the theme of Safety.

Book: Rathmann, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria. 1995. (ages 4-8)

Book: Bateman, Teresa. The Bully Blockers Club. 2004 (ages 5-8)

Rand, Gloria. Willie Takes a Hike. 1996. (ages 5-8)

Song: What Should You Do?

(sung to tune of Old Susanna)

What should do if you’re walking and someone says, “Let’s Play.”

Now your mom is expecting you at home. What should you say?

“I’ll ask my mom. If she says yes, Then I’ll come right back and play.

Cause my mom would worry if I’m not home. That is what I’d say.

Chorus:

What should you do? Just listen and you’ll learn

You may be asked a question that might cause you concern.

What should you do if you’re watching an exciting football game,

And you’re offered drugs because a classmate says they’re great?

“No, I don’t think so,” I would say. Then walk away.

“My body is important, no drugs for me today.”

(Chorus)

What should you do if a person approaches you and says,

“Please help me find my puppy. He’s lost—his name is Ned.”

“No, I don’t think so.” I would say, then walk away.

For a grown-up shouldn’t ask children to help them in that way.

(Chorus)

What should you do if you’re shopping and you’re suddenly alone?

You cannot find your family, you’re lost and want to moon.

I’d look around and find a clerk inside the store and say,

“I cannot find my family. I need your help today.”

(Chorus)

Here are some examples of things that you should do.

When you don’t know the answer, then ”NO” is the word you choose.

Stop and ask a person, someone that you have found,

To help you make decisions that will keep you safe and sound.

We know what to do. We’ve listened and we’ve learned.

How to answer questions that could cause us concern.

From Thompson, Kim Mitzo and Karen Mitzo Hilderbrand. Safety (CD). Twin Sisters Productions. p2001, 1995.

Book: Shore, Diane Z. and Alexander, Jessica. Look Both Ways: a Cautionary Tale. 2005. (ages 4-7)

Other titles you could choose from for an older storytime:

Cuyler, Margery. Stop Drop and Roll. 2001 (ages 4-7)

DePaola, Tomie. Trouble in the Barker’s Class. 2006 (ages 4-6)

McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. 1941 (ages 5-8)

O’Neill, Alexis. The Recess Queen. 2002 (ages 4-8)

Pendziwol, Jean. No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons). 1999 (ages 4-7)

Polacco, Patricia. Mr. Lincoln’s Way. 2001 (ages 6-9)

Uhlig, Susan. Things Little Kids Need to Know. 1999 (ages 5-8)

Family / all ages program

One idea for this would be to invite a special guest to talk about safety. A local police or firefighter could be invited. Since Safe Kids Kansas is a co-sponsor of the program this year, one of the local chapters or coalition members could be contacted to come talk about safety. I am providing a list of the local coalitions and their contact people. Or invite a Public Resource Officers with the Kansas Highway Patrol, they do safety programs at the schools and would probably be happy to help with the program. The PROs can be found on the web site of the Kansas Highway Patrol at <www.kansashighwaypatrol.org.> Just click on "Field Operations" and it will show you the 7 regions of the state and the contact person for each region.

I think I would start by reading one of the featured titles, then let them speak. Then close with a second featured title. Which of the three books you choose would depend on the age range of the group you get. Or depending on how long your speaker talks, you may wish to do all three titles.

Featured Titles:

Kurtz, Jane. Do Kangaroos Wear Seatbelts? 2005. (ages 3-6)

Penton Overseas, Inc. It's Time to Call 911: What to Do in an Emergency. 2005. (ages 2-5)

Shore, Diane Z. and Alexander, Jessica. Look Both Ways: a Cautionary Tale. 2005. (ages 4-7)

For those who can afford it or who have a sponsor, having books to give to each family would be great. Or if you can only afford a few, you could have families sign up to win a book as a door prize.