Storytime with Miss Jennifer: Preschool Storytime: Bears

Opening song: “If You’re Ready”

(to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

If you’re ready for a story, take a seat

Clap your hands and stomp your feet

Make your hands all nice and neat

If you’re ready for a story, take a seat.

(Repeat)

Book: More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt

Song: “Where is Bear?”

(to the tune of “Where is Thumbkin?”)

Where is bear? Where is bear?

Here I am. Here I am.

How are you this winter?

Very tired, thank you.

Go to sleep. Go to sleep.

Our visitor kept falling asleep, but we woke him up to sing again.

Flannelboard rhyme: "The Bear Went Over the Mountain"

The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see
To see what he could see
To see what he could see
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see

Book: Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau

Flannelboard rhyme: “Five Bears in the Bathtub”

One bear in the bathtub, going for a swim (swimming motion)

Knock, knock (clap, clap)

Splash, splash (slap knees)

Come on in!

(repeat, counting up to five)

We used bears in this variation on "Five Elephants in the Bathtub." Our favorite way to do this rhyme is to change the last line to "They all fell in!" and pull the pieces off the flannelboard and onto the floor.

Action rhyme: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground

Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your knees

Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down please.

Book: Thank You, Bear by Greg Foley

Scarf song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”

(to the tune of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”)

We wave our scarves together

Because it’s fun to do!

Wave ‘em up high

Wave ‘em down low

Wave ‘em in the middle

Because it’s fun to do!

We throw our scarves together

Because it’s fun to do!

We throw ‘em up high

We throw ‘em down low

We throw ‘em in the middle

Because it’s fun to do!

Scarf song: “Popcorn Kernels”

(to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)

Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels (wave scarf)

In the pot, in the pot (hide scarf inside cupped hands)

Shake them, shake them, shake them (shake cupped hands)

Shake them, shake them, shake them

Til they pop! Til they pop! (throw scarf into the air)

Flannel board: “Ten Teddy Bears Sleeping in the Bed”

Ten little teddy bears sleeping in the bed,
Five at the foot and five at the head.
One little teddy said, “This bed is TOO full!”
So he grabbed the blanket and started to pull.
He pulled and he pulled and he pulled some more,
Until two little teddies went BOOM to the floor!

(Make pulling motions with PULL and clap with the BOOM)

(Subtract bears in various increments until…)

One little teddy bear sleeping in the bed,
Zero at the foot and one at the head.
This little teddy said, “This is not right!
I don’t want to sleep alone tonight!”

So…

One little teddy bear sleeping in the bed,
Zero at the foot and one at the head.
This teddy said, “This bed is NOT full!”
So he put out his paw and started to pull.
He pulled and he pulled and he pulled some more,
Until four little teddies climbed up from the floor!

(Add bears in various increments until…)

Ten little teddy bears sleeping in the bed,
Five at the foot and five at the head.
One little teddy said, “This is JUST right!”
So ten little teddy bears said, “Good Night!”

Shaker song: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you’re happy and you know it shake your eggs
If you’re happy and you know it shake your eggs
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it shake your eggs

(Repeat and shake up high, shake down low, shout Hooray!)

Shaker song: “Everyone Can Shake, Shake, Shake”

[This teaches the American sign language sign for stop.]

Everyone can shake, shake, shake (shake egg)

Everyone can shake, shake, shake

And now let’s make a stop. (sign for stop*)

(*place one hand sideways into palm of other hand in a sort of chopping motion)

Repeat with:

Everyone can tap, tap, tap (tap egg on baby)

Everyone can clap, clap, clap (clap with egg)

Everyone can wave, wave, wave (wave with egg)

Note: Shaker eggs are great for little hands to grasp, but anything that makes a noise when you shake it will work. Our instrument basket also includes maracas, tamborines, and jingle bells. You can make your own shaker egg by filling a plastic egg with rice or beans and taping or gluing it shut securely. (Be mindful of choking hazards, please!)

Book: Old Bear by Kevin Henkes