DIY Storytime Smackdown: Birds

Storytime is a wonderful experience for parents and children to spend time with each other and helps you develop your child's early language and literacy skills.

Tweet, tweet birds are so sweet! Enjoy this feathered friends storytime. 

Storytime chant or song: 

(Clap and dance around enthusiastically as you perform with the children) 

*Tip: Use simple instruments such as a triangle, baby rattle, or even pots and pans to beat out a catchy tune*

Storytime, storytime

here we come

storytime, storytime

we'll have so much fun!

reading, and singing, and dancing around.

come on let's get ready by sitting down!

Storytime chant by Jennifer


Read the following book or books: Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson  or Twoo Twit by Kes Gray 

Perform this action rhyme: 

Little Birds Action Rhyme 


Little birds, little birds, fly to the door!
Little birds, little birds, sit on the floor!
Little birds, little birds, jump up and down. 
Little birds, little birds, don't make a sound!
Little birds, little birds, tip toe to me. 
Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep. 
Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep. 


(Source: http://www.greatestresourcechildcare.com/THEME.htm)


Sing the following song: 


(Tip before singing: Show your child several different nests built by different species of birds. Ask your child which nest she would like to live in if she were a bird and why. To reinforce this topic sing the following song and create a matching game by photocopying two sets of several nests. Mix the photocopies up and place face down on a table and have your child flip over one of the photocopied nests. Then have her find the "matching" nest within the photocopied sheets.)


Build A Nest 
(Tune: "The Hokey Pokey") 


You weave some grass in. 
You pull some twigs out. 
You weave some string in 
And you feather it all about. 
You build a lovely nest, 
Sturdy cause you know - 
That's where your eggs will go!


Jean Warren


(Source: http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station04/music_station3_may04.shtml)


Use the following rhyme as a fingerplay:

(Perform the following movements with your hands and body as suggested by the rhyme) 


Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out one day (flap and waddle like duck)
Over the hills and far away. (make wave motion with hand)
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." (make talking motion)
Four little ducks came waddling back. (flap and waddle like duck)
Repeat with:
Four little ducks.
Three little ducks.
Two little ducks.
One little duck.
Then Daddy duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."And five little ducks came waddling back.

(Source: http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/preschool-finger-plays.html)


Make a Pete the perky peacock craft!
(This project teaches your child color recognition and physical differences in birds.) 

1. Draw a bowling pin shape for the peacock's body on medium blue paper.
2. Cut out the peacock's body with scissors. 
3. Count out 10 lime green foam Popsicle sticks and set aside. These will be used to decorate the peacock's tail feathers. 
4. Use a large platter as a stencil for the peacock's semi-circle tail feathers. Draw around the platter with a white or light-colored pencil and cut out semi-circle shape. 
5. Select several buttons and fake flat-backed plastic jewels to use as decoration for the peacock. 
6. Find a set of googly eyes. 
7. Cut 2 long strips out of gold or mustard-colored card stock to create the peacock's limbs. 
8. Cut out 2 small hearts from gold or mustard-colored card stock. These will serve as the peacock's feet. 
9. Cut a small triangular beak from the remaining gold or mustard-colored card stock. 
10. Go to the floral section of your craft store and buy a plume of peacock feathers. 
11. Cut 2 peacock plumes off of the peacock floral decoration and set aside. 
12. Begin to glue your lime green foam Popsicle sticks on the blue foam in an evenly spaced semi-circle. You may want to start with the foam Popsicle stick which will be above the peacock's head. You may need to trim the foam Popsicle sticks in order to fit 
13. Glue your 2 peacock feathers onto the top of the  blue semi-circle for peacock's head plumage. 
14. Glue bowling pin shaped peacock body on top of the lime green Popsicle sticks and peacock plumes. 
15. Glue on your 2 googly eyes and small triangular beak to create peacock's face. 
16. Glue buttons onto the blue foam which serves as the peacock's tail feathers. I stacked my buttons to give my peacock a three-dimensional look. 
17. Scatter and glue flat-backed plastic jewels onto the blue foam. 
18. Glue the 2  gold or mustard-colored card stock strips to back of blue foam. These will create the peacock's limbs. 
19. Glue the 2 small gold or mustard-colored hearts bottom-side down to the peacock's limbs. 

Sing a storytime goodbye song:

TICKLE THE CLOUDS 

(Suit actions to words)

Tickle the clouds.

Tickle your toes.
Turn around
And tickle your nose.
Reach down low.
And reach up high.
Storytime’s over –
Wave  goodbye!

(Source: Sunflowerstorytime.com Opening and Closing Songs for Storytime/)