This was perhaps one of my most favorite story times I've done for a long time. The kids were really pretty upbeat and excited about this very simple concept...we wore our pajamas to story time. We brought our blankets and stuffed animals, read some stories, did a craft and had a "bedtime"snack. When I asked the kids if they enjoyed it, they all said yes with smiles on their faces.
The books we read were:
Russell the Sheep, by Rob Scotton
Goodnight, Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, by Jane Yolen
Song/Fingerplay:
Five Little Monkeys
♫ Five little monkeys [Hold up five fingers.]
jumping on the bed. [Jump up and down.]
One fell off [Hold up one finger and then roll your hand down towards the floor.]
and bumped his head. [Tap your head with your fist.]
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, [Put your pinky to your mouth and thumb to your ear like a telephone.]
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" [Put one hand on your hip and wag your index finger.]
Four little monkeys [Hold up four fingers.]
jumping on the bed.
One fell off
and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Three little monkeys [Hold up three fingers.]
jumping on the bed.
One fell off
and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Two little monkeys [Hold up two fingers.]
jumping on the bed.
One fell off
and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
One little monkey [Hold up one finger.]
jumping on the bed.
She fell off
and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" ♫
Craft:
I cut out different sizes of star shapes, and a moon for each child out of yellow cardstock, and gave each child a half sheet of black construction paper to represent the night sky. The children glued the stars and one moon on the paper. They then painted the shapes with liquid glue, and sprinkled different glitter on them to make them sparkle.
"Bedtime" Snack:
Animal crackers or cookies with juice. If we would have had more time, I would have had the kids string fruit loop cereal necklaces for a ready "breakfast."
Other possible book ideas:
Bedtime!, by Anderson
What Are You Doing in my Bed?, by Bedford
Are You Awake?, by Blackall
No Sleep for Sheep!, by Beaumont
Bubba & Beau Go Night-Night, by Appelt
No Ghost Under My Bed, by Genechten
A Bedtime for Bear, by Becker
Llama, Llama Red Pajama, by Dowdney
