Storytime: Fall!

The days are already getting shorter and the sun is rising later and setting earlier. Fall is coming and it’s my favorite time of year! Comfy sweater weather, spiced coffees and baked goods are everywhere, the world is crisp and oh-so-colorful, and you can literally smell Fall. And, of course, it makes for a fun and informative storytime that has many facets. Pumpkins, apples, harvest, animals getting ready for hibernation, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and so much more! However, today I’ll be sharing a general Fall storytime,

Introduction: Fall! I talk about my favorite Fall things and then ask the kids what they like about this time of year. Sometimes we’ll do a short felt game to learn the seasons and their order, but then we sing our hello song!

Sign of the Day: Of course we learn the ASL sign for “Fall/Autumn”

From Lifeprint.com

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

This is possibly one of my favorite titles from Nancy Tafuri about a squirrel who is busy collecting food for the winter. There are tons of good discussion opportunities in this one, and the kids are always delighted to talk about the animal friends squirrel runs into.

Rhyme with Felt: Five Little Leaves. Using felt leaf shapes, and a few simple actions, we all say the rhyme together. You can also sing it to the tune of “Hush Little Baby.”

Five little leaves, so bright and gay,
Were dancing about the tree one day.
The wind came blowing through the town
One little leaf came tumbling down.
(repeat 4,3,2,1)

Book: Bella’s Fall Coat by Lynn Plourde

A celebration of Fall is evident in this title! But with it comes the lesson of letting go and finding new uses for loved items such as a coat.

Rhyme: I Have A Turkey

I have a turkey, big and fat. (Make a fist)
He spreads his tail and walks like that. (spreading fingers)
His daily corn he would not miss. (Poke with thumb at floor)
And when he talks, it sounds like this: Gobble Gobble Gobble

Book: Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

This is what one of my regular preschool kids call a “magic book” due to its’ interactive nature. They love seeing the leaf patterns in the tree and laugh and laugh at the funny images they find there!

Shaker Eggs: John McCutcheon has a music series centered on the four seasons of the year. This track, It’s Fall, is one of my favorites from his Autumnsongs album because it’s got a real nice catching beat and kids can pretty much dance however they want to with it. Sometimes with this song, I like to have us all stand in a big circle with our shakers and for eight beats at a time, I’ll lead them in different movements. Shaking eggs high or low, walking in a circle to the right while shaking, or even having the circle step in on itself to get the kids to move toward each other.