Country Storytimes
Africa (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
(Introduce self and say hello to everyone)
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: Africa
Language Learning: Hello in Swahili
Book: Zomo the Rabbit by McDermott
Movement Song: African Drum Music
Book: Kidogo by Anik McGrory
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Hippo Stick Puppets
African Animals (Summer 2021)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” by Eric Litwin
Announce Theme: African Animals
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Book: Monty’s Magnificent Mane by Gemma O’Neill
Game with Flannel Board:
Book: Rain by Manya Stojic
Sing-Along Song:
Book: The Little Little Girl with the Big Big Voice by Kristen Balouch
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Take Home Activity Packet
Decorate an Elephant
Giraffe Coloring Page
Chimpanzee Hand & Foot Comparison (2 pages)
Lion Paper Bag Puppet
Australia (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
(Introduce self and say hello to everyone)
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: Australia
Language Learning: Australian English vs. American English (flashcards)
Fingerplay: Here is Australia
Book: Hunwick’s Egg by Mem Fox
Body Movement: Kangaroo, Kangaroo
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Song: “Waltzing Matilda”
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Australian Animal Coloring Sheets (choice of wombat, koala, platypus, or kangaroo)
Game: Platypus, platypus, where’s your egg?
Australia (January 2013)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” by Larry Groce (Disney Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 4) [It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!]
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still” by Greg & Steve (Kids in Action)
Announce Theme: Australia
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Book: Hunwick’s Egg by Mem Fox
Movement Rhyme: Kangaroo, Kangaroo
Book: Over in Australia by Marianne Berkes
Sing-Along Song: DINGO (with felt letters) or Movement Song: “Waltzing Matilda” sung by Burl Ives
Book: Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Take Home: Koala Coloring Sheet
Australia (January 2017)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” by Larry Groce (Disney Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 4) [It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!]
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still” by Greg & Steve (Kids in Action)
Announce Theme: Australia
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Book: Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under by Marianne Berkes
Sing-Along Song: DINGO (with felt letters)
Activity: Australian Slang
Book: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? By Karen Beaumont
Movement Rhyme: Kangaroo, Kangaroo
Book: Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Australia (January 2019)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” by Eric Litwin
Announce Theme: Australia
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Book: Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under by Marianne Berkes
Song with Flannel Board: DINGO (with felt letters)
Activity: Australian Slang (with flashcards)
Book: Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
Movement Rhyme: Kangaroo, Kangaroo
Book: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? By Karen Beaumont
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Australian Animals (Summer 2021)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” by Eric Litwin
Announce Theme: Australian Animals
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Book: Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields
Game with Flannel Board:
Book: Joey: A Baby Koala and His Mother by Nic Bishop
Sing-Along Song:
Book: Dude! By Aaron Reynolds
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Take Home Activity Packet
Decorate Your Own Surfboard
Build an Ice Cream Cone
Color the Koala
Kangaroo Paper Bag Puppet (2 pages)
China & Japan (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
(Introduce self and say hello to everyone)
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: China and Japan
Language Learning: Hello & Goodbye in Chinese and Japanese
Book: Panda-Monium! by Cynthia Platt
Body Movement: “Panda Bear, Panda Bear”
Counting Rhyme with Flannel Board: Five Little Panda Bears
Book: Yoko’s Paper Cranes by Rosemary Wells
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Koi Fish Craft (fish coloring sheets, 1 inch circles punched out of scrapbook paper: glue on scales and color fish)
France & Italy (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: France & Italy
Language Learning: Hello & Goodbye in French and Italian
Book: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans or Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Pasta Necklaces
Songs: “Funiculi, Funicula” and “Frere Jacques” (play while kids are making necklaces)
India (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
(Introduce self and say hello to everyone)
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: India
Language Learning: Hello in Hindi
Book: Once a Mouse…by Marcia Brown
Movement Song: Traditional Indian Music
Book: Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Tiger Coloring Sheet
Mexico (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
(Introduce self and say hello to everyone)
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: Mexico
Spanish Language Learning: Hello, Goodbye, Numbers 1-10
Share: Mexico pages (72-73) from National Geographic Kids World Atlas
Book: Eight Animals on the Town by Susan Elya or Counting Ovejas by Sarah Weeks
Dance: “Mexican Hat Dance” (pass around maraca for the kids to shake during the song)
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Chihuahua coloring sheet
The UK (Summer 2011)
Opening Song: “The Wheels on the Bus” (It’s time to get on the bus and go to story time!)
Movement Song: “Can’t Sit Still”
(Introduce self and say hello to everyone)
Listening Song: “If You Want to Hear a Story”
Announce Theme: the UK (England, Scotland, Ireland)
Language Learning: British Language Differences (Flashcards)
Share: Western Europe pages (100-101) from National Geographic Kids World Atlas
Book: Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (Big Book)
Movement Song: Irish Jig
Counting Rhyme with Flannel Board: This Little Piggy
Flannel Board Story: Hot Air Balloons
Closing Rhyme: Wave Goodbye by Rob Reid
Craft: Peter Rabbit coloring sheet
Listen: “Scotland the Brave” (Bagpipes)