I love this conceptual storytime theme because there are countless rhymes, songs, and books to switch in to keep the theme fresh! And I’m always surprised by some of the opposite sets that kids think of! Let’s dive in.
Introduction: After talking about the word “opposites” and asking the kids what they know about it (or if they have any examples of them), we get officially ready for storytime by singing our opening song. Singing the same opening song for storytime is a really great cue to help the kids know it’s time to sit and listen.
Sign of the Day: For today’s theme, I usually pick a couple sets of opposites, such as Happy/Sad or Same/Different and teach the sets to the kids. Usually, I try to make sure it’s a set that comes up in one or more of our books for the day so the kids get a chance to use them throughout the storytime.
Book: Extreme Opposites by Max Dalton
This is a fun book because it introduces the concept of opposites in a really relatable manner to kids. It uses examples that kids are familiar with, making it easier to map the intangible concept onto what they already know about the world.
Song: Pick your favorite classic!
*The Grand Old Duke of York
Matching Game: Using some clipart or felt pieces, I ask the kids to help me match opposites. Below are some examples from ShutterStock. Just print, cut apart, laminate if you can, then add a piece of hooked velcro to the back to use on a felt board.
Book: Marta! Big and Small by Jen Arena
Marta is such an adorable and fiesty character and I love sharing these books because it brings in yet another language as well as opportunities for kids to see either their own world or other’s worlds in their representation.
Rhyme/Song with Shakers:
Shake Your Shakers
Shake your shakers up,
Shake your shakers down.
Shake your shakers in, and out,
and all around!
Shake them on your shoulders,
shake them on your head,
shake them on your belly,
then put them all to bed!
Shake it to the East
Shake it to the east
Shake it to the west
Shake it all around
and then you take a rest
Shake your shakers up
Shake your shakers down
Shake it, shake it, shake it,
and then you settle down.
Felt/Oral: Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle. There are a lot of good versions of this story, but I first learned it through John M. Feierabend’s The Book of Pitch Exploration: Can Your Voice Do This? (First Steps in Music series). Here’s an example of it in action from Jbrary:
Closing: We review some of our favorite sets of opposites, our ASL sign of the day, and then sing our goodbye song.
More Books to Check Out:
Librarian Ginny 