Sensory-Friendly Storytime Theme: Polka-Dots

Today I have four storytimes at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit where children with disabilities go to preschool.  I see a wide range of disabilities, so the best thing for me to do is bring great tried and true storytime books that are interactive and fun!  The kids really loved Press Here which is quickly becoming one of my most favorite storytime books ever!  It works one-on-one and with a large group and the kids find the book absolutely magical.  That by interacting with it, it changes what is happening – it’s so cool to see! 

We did a lot of counting which was great too and the kids had a lot of fun playing with the bubbles.  I’m going to be using the same lesson plan for my sensory storytime on Saturday in the library and hope to get some kids to come to that program as well.  It’s a lot more difficult to get families that have children with disabilities to come into our library, so we’re going to try again and hope for the best!  At least I know this program has worked with the kids today!

Storytime Plan

Opening Song: Open, Shut Them

Book: Press Here by Herve Tullet

Flannel Board/Folder: Ladybug, Ladybug
http://wiki.kcls.org/index.php/Counting_Spots
Ladybug here’s what we can do, we can count the spots on you.

Activity (Gross Motor): Bubbles (No More Monkeys by Asheba – Putumayo Kids present Animal Playground)

Book: 10 Black Dots by Donald Crews

Rhyme (Fine Motor): 5 Little Ladybugs
http://lesathestorytimelady.blogspot.com/2013/04/bugsinsects-songs-fingerplays.html

• Five little ladybugs climbing up a door One flew away then there were four.
• Four Little ladybugs sitting on a tree One flew away then there were three
• Three little ladybugs landed on a shoe One flew away and then there were two
• Two little ladybugs looking for some fun One flew away and then there was one
• One little ladybug sitting in the sun She flew away and then there were none

Song: “Shake Your Scarves” (Shake Your Scarves by Johnette Downing – The Second Line)

Book: Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd (flannelboard)

Closing Song: We Wave Good-Bye Like This
We wave goodbye like this,
We wave goodbye like this,
We clap our hands for all our friends,
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap goodbye like this,
We clap goodbye like this,
We clap our hands for all our friends,
We clap goodbye like this.
We stomp goodbye like this,
We stomp goodbye like this,
We clap our hands for all our friends,
We stomp goodbye like this.