Drop-In Story Time, 11/20/12 (Thanksgiving Theme)

Friday's preschool story time was one of my best ever, and this Drop-In story time was one of the worst in history. I am stating right now that next year, I will not do a Thanksgiving story time for this age group. The books do not engage the kids or  the nannies, and no one wants to sing Over the River and Through the Woods. It's just not a toddler-friendly theme. In any case, here is what I presented to the large and restless Tuesday morning crowd.

Book: Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
I was disappointed that the adults wouldn't help me say "And Bear says thanks" each time it came up.

Rhyme: We Are Thankful

Book: The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
I think the kids in my neighborhood are the only ones in the world who don't like Todd Parr, but they really do not. The books are too simple for the preschoolers and too sophisticated for the toddlers.

Song: Let's Be Thankful 
I found this song, which goes to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, here, and played it on the ukulele.


Let’s be thankful for this day,
For our friends and for our play.
Let’s be thankful; let’s be glad,
For the food and things we have.
Let’s give thanks for you and me,
And our home and family.


Song: If You're Thankful and You Know It
I was so desperate to regain control that I mentally rearranged the entire story time on the spot and stuck this song in there immediately. I did as many motions as I could think of while I decided what to do next.

Rhyme: Mr. Turkey
In the end, I decided to proceed with the turkey songs and ditch the rest of my books. Then we just sang favorites until story time was over.

Rhyme: Four Little Turkeys
I borrowed the text from Five Silly Turkeys, decreased the number of turkeys from five to four, and shared it on the flannel board. 

Flannel Board Song: We Eat Turkey

Flannel Board Song: Five Little Pumpkins Round
I was so glad I'd brought my pumpkins into the story room. They always love this one. 

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Song: Rum Sum Sum

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Song: Chickadee

One thing I will say about this story time is that a lot of kids did the motions to every song from Rum Sum Sum to the end, many more than I've ever noticed before. I'll call the story time a success on that front, but I will stick to a family theme this time next year!

I use the same hello and goodbye songs at almost every session. Click here for the tunes and words. For descriptions of each of my story times, click here.