While in graduate school pursuing my MLIS at Valdosta State University (highly recommend btw for an affordable and quality program), I took a course called "Programming for Children and Young Teens". My final project was to create a program for children or young teens involving developmentally friendly elements. I chose to create a preschool story time program targeted to ages 3-5. Little did I know that a month after graduating I would be creating these programs WEEKLY. I took what I learned in my coursework, my former youth position, webinars, and what my library offered and morphed it into my own outline!
Here's an example by age group:
Note: added descriptions in red; asterisk (*) means audio and/or video.
Opening Song: Frosty the Snowman & Let it Snow (Michael Bublé)
PP: Preschool Palooza (Ages 3-5)
Hello (ASL)
Open Shut Them*
H, S, K, T faster*
Book 1
Action: Where is Polar Bear
C&R (slide)
Sometimes, when I can't find the perfect action song, I create one! Enjoy this Canva design if you'd like.
Flannel – Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
ABC
Book 2
10
Puppet Show – Poppy Penguin* (Revised version of Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez)
Turn-A-Round* Kids LOVE this, even though it is 50 YEARS OLD! I highly recommend it as a closing song!
Craft - Cotton Ball Polar Bear (image below)
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| Cotton Ball Polar Bear Craft |
TT: Toddler Tales (Ages 18 months to 3 years)
Hello (ASL)
Open/Shut*
Happy and You Know It*
Book 1 (longer book - I chose to read a majority of If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws!)
Action: Where is Polar Bear C&R (slide)
Flannel – Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
ABC
Book 2 (shorter book)
10
Puppet Show – Poppy Penguin* (Revised version of Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez)
Turn-A-Round*
BB Baby Babbles (Ages 0-18 months) (Repeat most songs and fingerplays twice):
Hello
Open/Shut*
Toast in the Toaster*
Book 1
ABC
Tick Tock*
Book 2
Itsy Bitsy Spider*
Twinkle Twinkle*
Peek-a-Boo*
Book 3
2 Little Boats*
Clap/Tap Goodbye
Find the Baby Babbles Lineup slides here!
Books:
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Moose Music
Winter is Here
Moose Tracks!
Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep
A Polar Bear in the Snow
My Little Polar Bear
Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere!
Raccoon’s Perfect Snowman
The Snow Bear
Call and Response: Where is Polar Bear?
Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin.”
Where is polar bear? (Where is
polar bear?)
There they are. (There they are.)
How are you this winter?
(Very tired, thank you.)
Go to sleep. (Go to sleep.)
Where is penguin? (Where is
penguin?)
There they are. (There they are.)
How are you this winter?
(Very hungry, thank you.)
Let’s eat fish. (Let’s eat
fish.)
Where is moose? (Where is
moose?)
There they are. (There they are.)
How are you this winter?
(Very happy, thank you.)
Let’s go walk. (Let’s go walk.)
How do YOU organize story time programs?
How would you do this differently?
Let me know what you think in the comments!
