Storytime Theme: Dinosaurs

I tend to gauge my storytimes on how sweaty I am at the end. The sweatier (usually) the better. But today upped the ante with a hoarse voice (from roaring) and being sweaty. Storytime Theme: Dinosaurs was a great time and hit with kids and adults alike! The group ranges from babies to 5-year-olds and I wasn’t really sure how Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs would go, but the kids listened to the whole thing.  A couple had puzzled looks on their faces, probably because it was a familiar story, but fractured just a little. But, they were enthralled and I had the adults chuckling as well.  

They loved learning about the insides and outsides of dinos and either could guess the dinosaur as I turned the page or would repeat it after me.  And we had so much fun roaring with Dinosaur in Bob Shea’s Dinosaur vs. the Library.  This was such a great time (even after losing my voice!)

Opening & Closing

Opening: “Hello” with sign language
Hello, friends. (x3)
It’s time to say hello.

Closing: “Goodbye” with sign language
Goodbye, friends. (x3)
It’s time to say goodbye.

Puppet Meet & Greet: Meet Woolly (monkey puppet)

Books

• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
• Inside-Outside Dinosaurs by Roxie Munro
• Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea

Transitions

Fingerplay: “One Dinosaur Went Out to Play”
One dinosaur went out to play
On a giant fern one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called for another dinosaur to come:
(Raise hands to cup mouth, and call loudly) Oh, Diiiiiiiiiinosaur!
(Slap hands on thighs to make “running” sounds)
Two dinosaurs went out to play…
Three dinosaurs…
Four dinosaurs…

Five dinosaurs went out to play
On a giant fern one day
They had such enormous fun
That they played ’til the day was done!

Wiggles: “Zoom Zoom Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Blast off!

Music: “We Are the Dinosaurs” Whaddaya Think of That? – Laurie Berkner Band

Caregiver Tips

Early Literacy Tip: Reading together remains the single most effective way to help children become proficient readers. (http://www.kdl.org/kids/go/pgr_five_practices)

Additional Titles

• Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein
• Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton
• Duck, Duck, Dinosaur by Kallie George
• Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap
• Dini Dinosaur by Karen Beaumont