Setting the Turkeys Free! A Whiteboard Story

I used this skit in preschool story time as part of a Thanksgiving theme. It's an adaptation of Setting the Turkeys Free by Lisa Nikola. I think the book translated well to telling with the whiteboard.

Puppet:
fox

Props:
hand print turkeys
fist-print boulder
foam stickers for decorating the hand print turkeys
craft sticks for fencing
whiteboard
dry-erase markers

The day before my story time, I dipped my hands in paint and made a few hand print turkeys on heavy card stock. I also painted my fist and stamped it onto a piece of card stock to use as the boulder. Once the turkeys and boulder were dry, I attached a magnet to the back of each and set them aside to use. I then took some craft sticks and put a magnet strip on the back of each to use as fencing.

I told the book as I drew a field on the whiteboard. Then, I added my first hand print turkey and decorated it with foam stickers. Next, I added additional turkeys and decorated them as well. I finished the scene off with the craft stick fence and drew rails on the fence with brown marker.

Using my fox puppet, I introduced fox and brainstormed ways to keep him from my turkeys. As in the book, I put up my fist-print boulder and then erased the fencing so the turkeys could run away.

But, in the end, the turkeys came back to my little green field!

We're Going to the Story Time Farm!

Super-simple puppet song for toddlers.

Puppets:
various animals

Props:
none

We're Going to the Story Time Farm
[tune: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush]

We're going to the story time farm,
story time farm, story time farm;
we're going to the story time farm,
listen carefully . . .
SHHHH

Then, I make an animal sound while holding the puppet inside my tote bag where the children can't see it. I have them guess the animals.

Continue until they're disinterested.

Good Bye!

I found the list online for all of those silly kid's goodbyes because I'm tired of the same old line: "See you later, alligator!" Using what I found as a template, I got out some puppets and taught some new goodbyes to my toddlers. This is easy, fun, and uses puppets you may have on hand.

See you later, alligator.
After while crocodile.
In an hour, little flower. (I have a plush and bendable flower.)
Or maybe two, kangaroo!
Adios, hippos!
Bye-bye, butterfly!

Simple.

Who's in the Old Tree?

Using a tri-fold presentation board, I made what sort of resembles an oak tree. I covered it in crumpled brown kraft paper, so it would look like bark and cut a hole in the center. I added kraft paper tree limbs and faux autumn oak leaves.

Since I was using this skit with my toddler group, I placed the tree up high on our lectern and I could easily manipulate the puppets behind the tree. The children were mesmerized, especially when the spider popped out.

I used a familiar song we sing and adapted it to this skit.

Puppets:
As many animals and insects as you want to live in your oak tree. I used:
a cardinal
a squirrel
a spider

Props:
A tree with a cut-out for the animals to peek out of.

"Who's in the Old Tree?"
Who's in the old tree,
the old tree, the old tree?
Who's in the old tree?
I don't know!
Let's find out!

This was easy and satisfyingly simple.

Five Little Apples

This is a puppet and flannel board combination skit. Very simple and effective. I used it this morning with my preschool group and it was a sweet addition to our stortytime.

Puppets:
caterpillar (or worm)
horse
pig
goat
squirrel

Props:
flannel board tree with five removable apples

"Five Red Apples"
Five red apples on the tree,
the farmer didn't care, so guess who came to eat?

CATERPILLAR!
Munch! Munch! Munch!

Countdown until you get to one.

The tree is bare,
there are no more apples there.
But when next Fall comes around,
guess who will be found?
Caterpillar, horse, pig, goat and squirrel!

The Stubborn Pumpkin (Pre-K)

I modified The Stubborn Pumpkin by Laura Geringer to suit a Halloween/Pumpking storytime. I wanted a little more drama than the original story. In my story, the farmer, Bell, Nell, Fifi, Pup, and Mop are seen by a little mouse wandering through the garden. Little mouse offers help and they all laugh at her. I told the children, "mouse is small, that's true, but mouse is smart," and mouse climbs up on the pumpkin, chews through the thick stem and tells everyone to try pulling now. The pumpkin rolls off, and farmer bakes his famous pumpkin pie, giving mouse the biggest slice.

I used a combination flannel board and puppet to tell this story. All of the pieces are felt, except the mouse. For the mouse, I used my small Folkmanis glove puppet.

Hooray! An easy addition to your puppet-story repetoire.

The Very Busy Spider (Pre-K)

One of my annual favorites is telling Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider with a spider puppet glove. The story moves so quickly and fluidly, it lends itself to easy narration. I have a large piece of square cardboard that I have cut into an octagon shape. With the puppet, I hold a skein of yarn in my hand, under the puppet, and wrap it around the cardboard as I tell the story.

The trick is to take your time and wrap the yarn slowly around the cardboard web. It builds excitement as the children watch a web forming right in front them.

At the end, I have a little pipe cleaner fly I stick under the yarn.

Simple and effective.

Props:
a large octagon-shaped piece of cardboard
a skein of yarn

Puppet:
a spider glove puppet

I'm Not Cute!

I adapted Jonathan Allen's book I'm Not Cute! into a short puppet skit for my preschool storytime. It was very easy and the kids loved the hugging parts.

I didn't have all the animals in the book, so I used puppets on hand and it still worked out great. Use puppets that have arms, legs or wings you can get your hands into so they can really hug!

Puppets:
baby owl finger puppet
Mama owl puppet
kangaroo
bat
beaver

Props:
a small nest (or you can simply cup your hands into a nest)

One day, baby owl took to the woods. Walking along the trail, he ran into kangaroo. "Hello, baby owl!" she called. "Aren't you the cutest thing? You're so cute and cuddly!" (kangaroo hugs baby owl) And she hopped away. "I'm not cute!" baby owl cried out. "I am a scary and sleek hunting machine!" and baby owl continued walking. Next he saw bat swoop down from the sky and land on the trail in front of him. "Hello, baby owl!" said bat. "Oh, you are so cute and so fluffy!" (bat hugs baby owl) And bat flew back into the sky. "I'm not cute!" baby owl cried. "I am a scary and sleek hunting machine!" and continued following the path before him. He came upon beaver. "Hello, baby owl!" beaver said. "You are sooo cute! and sooo sweet!" (beaver hugs baby owl) and beaver hopped into the stream and swam away. "I am not cute!" baby owl cried. "I am a scary and sleek hunting machine!" and off he went, kicking stones down the trail.

He bumped into Mama owl. "Hello darling," she said. "Mama, it's not fair!" cried baby owl. "Kangaroo, bat, and beaver all think I'm cute, cuddly, fluffy, and sweet--and I AM NOT! I AM A SCARY AND SLEEK HUNTING MACHINE!"

"Of course you are," Mama owl said. "You aren't cute or cuddly or fluffy or sweet."

Baby owl thought for a moment. He started to cry. "I am cute!" "I am cuddly, and fluffy, AND SWEET!" he shouted.

"Oh, baby owl," said Mama owl, "you're tired. Let's put you to bed." Mama owl took baby home and tucked him into his nest. Soon, he was fast asleep.

"Baby owl," Mama whispered, "you are cute, cuddly, fluffy, and sweet . . . for a scary and sleek hunting machine, that is. And I love you."

THE END

The Cardinal and the Watering Can

I found this simple story online from the NY Public Library. I had to adapt it, since the original is a bluebird and a watering can and I only have a cardinal. Super-easy and quick. A good chance for little ones to practice listening skills.

Puppet:
Any bird you have on hand

Props:

A watering can
a nest
stones

(Pass one stone to each child to hold during the story. Tell them it's part of little cardinal's plan.)

One day a little cardinal was flying home. She was very tired and very thirsty. But she couldn't find water to drink anywhere! She flew high and low, looking for a stream or a puddle and there were none to be found. She stopped on a tree limb to rest. (Perch her on your arm. Pant.) She was so thirsty!

Just then, she spotted a green watering can next to the flower bed. Maybe it has water in it! she thought.
She flew down and perched on the edge of the can. Yes! There was water inside!
But little cardinal couldn't get all the way in the bottom where the water was--she might get stuck. So she thought and thought and came up with a plan:  if she could tip the watering can over, she may be able to pour water to the edge of the can and have a drink.
Little cardinal pushed and pushed and pushed, but she couldn't turn the watering can over! She was so thirsty!

So she thought and thought and came up with another plan. (One child interjected that little cardinal could go find a grown-up to pour the water out of the can; another child offered his stuffed bunny to help little cardinal push the can over!)
Next to the can, she saw a pile of stones. One by one, she dropped the stones into the can. (I let children help with this part and put their stone into the watering can.) Do you know what happened? Each stone she dropped in the can caused the water to rise a bit. With each stone, up and up the water rose until it was high enough in the can for cardinal to take a sip.

What a good plan! Little cardinal was no longer thirsty, and flew on to her nest.

So, when you encounter a problem, stop and take time to think. You CAN solve your problem, even if it's one small stone at a time.

Zoo Ah-choooo Pre-K

I adapted Peter Mandel's Zoo Ah-choooo! as a short puppet skit for a recent animal-themed preschool storytime. I used puppets we have here at my branch and tweaked it a bit for the audience. In all, it worked out great and was fun.

Puppets:
zebra
elephant
lion
monkey
penguin
bat
hippo

Props:
None
(Though you could use a bottle marked "medicine" to give the animals.



It was a slooow day at the City Zoo. All of the animals were sleepy and slow. Not much was happening. A slooow day.
When, all of a sudden, there was a long LOUD sound.
It was a ZOO-AH-CHOOOO!
Where did it come from? I think it was . . . zebra. What did he do? He went AH-CHOOOO! Zebra sneezed—just one sneeze.
But, African elephant heard the sound. She raised her trunk . . . RRRrrr-eeeEEE-ahh-PHOO! Elephant sneeze! Stand back. A tree was down; a fence was flat.
The ZOO-AH-CHOOOO! WAS CATCHING. 
Lion, lazing in the sun, felt a tickle in his whiskers. The zookeeper came running with nose drops and tissue, but it was too late. R-R-R-ROAR-AH-CHOO!  Lion covered everyone in dust.
Zookeeper tried to wash zebra with spray cleaner.
Even monkey woke up and found his washcloth to scrub.
Over in the ice pond, penguin felt a tickle in his beak.  ZOO-AH-CHOOOO!
Even bat, deep asleep in her cave, was awakened by the urge to . . . ah-choooo! (very quiet bat sneeze.)
What was the zookeeper to do? He called the Animal Doctor! The doctor made a fizzy solution for all the animals to drink. No more ZOO-AH-CHOOOO.
All was quiet again at the City Zoo.
It was a slooow day. Not much happening. Until—what was that? Not a sneeze. Not a burp. A hippo’s YAWN. Just one. (But it might be catching.) Did anyone hear it? Did the elephant? Did the penguin? Did you?! (OH NO!)

The Spider and the Hippo

I adapted this simple skit from a longer puppet show script I found in Library Sparks. I don't have an ant puppet, as the original calls for, but I figured I could make my spider puppet work just as well--and it did!

First, I explained that hippos live far away in Africa. I told them that Africa is a hot and dry place, and that animals often congregate at a watering hole to drink and bathe. I encouraged them to help with the story by pretending to be trees:  sitting on their trunks, their arm-limbs in the air and their hand-leaves waving in the breeze. I told them that spider would point out the trees to hippo, and they would know when to pretend to be trees.

At the watering hole, with hippo in the water.

Hippo:  (Sobbing.) Oh, this just won't do! How am I ever going to have clean toes again?
Spider:  Hello, hippo. I heard you crying. Are you ok?
Hippo:  (Hippo looks around) Who's there?
Spider:  Down here, hippo. Are you ok?
Hippo:  Oh, hello spider. I have dreadfully dirty feet.
Spider:  But, you're in the watering hole, hippo! Can't you just wash your feet?
Hippo:  (Sniffling.) I have. As a matter of fact, I've washed my feet 20 times already! But every time I try to get out of the watering hole, I step in mud and they're all dirty again! (Sobbing continues.)
Spider:  Hmmm. What about a bath mat to step out on.
Hippo:  (Sobbing.) I don't have a bath mat!  (More crying.)
Spider:  Hmmm. Listen, I think I have an idea, hippo.
Hippo:  Really? An idea? (Sniffling.)
Spider:  Yes. Do you see those trees out there? I can collect all the leaves and put them around the watering hole, so you'll step out on nice clean leaves instead of the mud.
Hippo:  (Sniffling.) But, how will you get up the trees?
Spider:  I have eight legs, silly. I can climb very well.
Hippo:   But, how will you get the leaves out of the trees?
Spider:  I am very strong. I can shake the trees and all the leaves will fall to the ground.
Hippo:  But, how will you get all the leaves?
Spider:  I am very fast. I will run and gather them all!
Hippo:  Please try, spider! Or I may be stuck in here forever! (Sobbing.)

And spider did just what he promised. He climbed each tree. He shook the trees. (have children shake) And all the leaves came down, just like he said. (have children pretend their hands are leaves, falling to the ground.) Then, he ran as fast as his eight little legs would go and collected all the leaves. He put them down on the mud and hippo stepped out of the watering hole.

Hippo:  This is perfect, spider! I feel like dancing! (make hippo dance and be silly.)
Spider:  Hippo! Look out! Down here!
Hippo:  Sorry, spider! I got carried away--I'm just so happy! Thank you! I'm going home now to paint my clean toenails!

And that's just what she did.

The End.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Super-simple puppet song I used with the toddlers.

Puppets:
butterfly, duck, crocodile
(You could use any water-related puppets on hand.)

Props:
none

Row, row, row your boat
see a butterfly
flapping her lovely wings as she flutters by.

Row, row, row your boat
see a hungry duck
quack his bill
and shake his tail
digging in the muck.

Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream
if you see a crocodile,
don't forget to scream!

Who Said Meow? Polushkin

I told the book Who Said Meow? with a little adaptation. It was a simple skit, with the children helping make animal sounds.

Book:  Who Said Meow?--Polushkin

Props:  None

Puppets:
dog
mouse
bee
bird
frog
cat

Fleagle the puppy is sleeping when he hears a "MEOW!" Awakened from his sweet puppy dreaming, he goes in search of the source of the meow and encounters different animals along the way. He asks each one, "Did you say MEOW?" and each answers with their own sound. (Children love helping with this part).
Finally, he gives up, goes back to his nap and is again awakened by a "MEOW!" He sees cat. Of course, she is the source of the "MEOW!"

Very simple. Very effective.

I Spy Toddler Puppet Rhyme

I Spy With My Little Eye . . .

Any number of puppets can be used. For example:
     "I spy with my little eye
     a red bird flying by.
     I spy with my little eye
     a brown kangaroo hopping by."

You can go as long as they're interested.

Easy and simple.
    

Bugs!

A really simple puppet song; good with toddlers.

Puppets:
bugs, whatever you may have on hand


Props:
none

This particular day I used:  a bee, a butterfly, and a grasshopper.

"The Bugs in the Field"
[tune:  The Wheels on the Bus"]

The bee in the field goes bzzz bzzz bzzz . . . all day long
(Repeat with as many bugs as hold children's interest.)

Counting

A quick counting puppet skit for toddlers.

Puppets:
One puppet, two of the same puppets, three of the same puppets
Props:
None

I told the children I had puppets in my bag:
"I have puppets in my bag, wanna see?
They will help us count to three!
Can you help me count to three?
1,2,3!"

I used one pink pig.
Then, pulled out two green frogs.
Finally, three red birds.

The Animals on the Bus

Modeled after Larry Hort's Seals on the Bus, this is a simple animal-sounds puppet skit, perfect for toddlers.

Puppets:
Your choice. On this particular day, I used a bee, a duck, and a lion.

Props:
None.

"The Animals on the Bus"
[tune: "Wheels on the Bus']
The bee on the bus goes
buzz! buzz! buzz!
Buzz! buzz! Buzz!
buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The bee on the bus goes
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
All through the town.

Continue with as many animals as you wish.

Easy-peasy.

The King, the Mice and the Cheese

Or, as I called it, The King, The Mouse, and The Cheese.

I used this skit as part of a "royalty" themed storytime. I have to say it was one of the most successful stories I've tried with the preschoolers so far. The story is simple, repetitive enough for kids to help with, and funny. It took little prep effort and reaped big rewards. Some of the children stayed after our craft to reenact the story with the puppets again--magic.

I can't take credit for adapting this book to a puppet story; Steven over at Beyond the Book Storytimes (http://btbstorytimes.blogspot.com/) recently posted this idea and I ran with it.

Puppets:
mouse
cat
dog
lion
dragon (in the book it's an elephant)

Props:
a faux block of cheese
a small paper crown that fits your mouse

I adapted the story a little to suit our needs. I kept all of the animals singular, I changed the elephant to a dragon, and in the end I made the dragon afraid of mice so that he flew away--the king was so elated to be rid of the mean lion that he crowned the mouse and decided to share his cheese.

It worked really well and was a lot of fun!

Spring Puppet Song

Puppets:

Any animal could be adapted for this song. I used:

cardinal

cat

sheep

Props:
none

Our Spring Song
[tune:  Slippery Fish]

A small red bird,
a small red bird
sitting on her nest
a small red bird,
a small red bird
tweet! tweet! tweet!

A tabby cat,
a tabby cat
sleeping in the sun
a tabby cat,
a tabby cat
meow! meow! meow!

A soft white sheep,
a soft white sheep

grazing in the field

a soft white sheep,

a soft white sheep

baa! baa! baa!

You could continue with as many animals as hold their interest.

Mom and I Got on the Bus

Puppets:
any animals, as many as you want

Props:
None

Mom and I got on the bus
a ______ sat down next to us
What does ______ say? (Make animal sound)
What a fuss!

I usually end with a weird puppet, like a dinosaur or alligator or spider
and I say
We got off that bus!

In the Pond

I used this song in conjunction with Walt Whippo's Little White Duck, so I used puppets pertaining to the narrative. You could use any puppets related to pond life.

Puppets:
tiny mouse
white duck
green frog

"The Animals at the Pond"
[Tune: The Wheels on the Bus]

The mouse at the pond goes
squeak, squeak, squeak,
squeak, squeak, squeak,
squeak, squeak, squeak
The mouse at the pond goes
squeak, squeak, squeak
all day long.

Continue with the other animals.

Easy and fun!

Luella Frizelle--Our New Biddy Buddy

How in the world did I meet Luella Frizelle? When I received this puppet in a new order batch, I thought her a funky, confused, and oh-so-sweet biddy. Her neck moves wonderfully, and she can high-five! How cool is that?

So, I decided to try Luella in storytime as a stretcher between books and before "Shake Our Sillies Out." It was a fun and easy activity.

Puppet:
Chicken

No props needed.


I introduced Luella Frizelle and explained that she and I had been practicing a song all week long to sing in storytime. I asked the children what sound a chicken makes, and they happily imitated their best chicken clucks. I explained that Luella knew that when I tapped her she was supposed to cluck. So we tried it: I tapped her and she clucked. Easy.

I began the song, "When Chickens Get Up in the Morning," and when I tapped her, she mooed! So I had to interrupt the song and remind Luella that chickens do not moo. The children laughed and I asked them again what kind of sound a chicken makes. "Cluck!" They all shouted. So we tried again . . . and again, Luella mooed!

I asked the children to help me sing the song, very loud, and cluck so that maybe Luella would remember what she was supposed to say. They did--it worked!

I'm going to try this stretcher for a while, using a different animal sound each week and see how it goes.

Wow, I like this chicken!

Crockett Crocodile Brushes His Teeth

Puppet:
crocodile (or alligator) puppet

Props:
small pieces of faux food
paintbrush
hairbrush
toilet brush

toothbrush

(Before bringing Crockett out, hide a few small pieces of food in his mouth. Flat pieces work well. Keep his mouth clamped closed so the children can't see into his mouth.) Introduce Crockett. Ask him if he's brushed his teeth this morning. He nods his head. "Well, it's a good thing you brushed this morning, Crockett, so you'll be nice and minty fresh for us to count your teeth. Boys and girls, how many teeth do you think Crockett has? Let's count, shall we?" Open Crockett's mouth and act shocked. "Crockett! You have a whole orange in your mouth, and an entire strawberry . . . There is NO way you brushed your teeth this morning. Sorry, boys and girls, before we can count Crockett's teeth, he has to go brush. Crockett, go get your toothbrush!"

Crockett disappears into the storytime bag and returns with a paintbrush, then a hairbrush, then a toilet brush, and finally, his toothbrush. (You could continue as long as children are interested.) "That's your toothbrush, Crockett. Good job! Boys and girls, do you know the tooth brushing song? Let's learn it together:

"Brush, brush brush your teeth
brush them everyday
Up and down
and round and round
brush the germs away."

Once we sing this through a couple of times, I brush Crockett's teeth as we sing it to him. He's learning! Finally, we can count his teeth.

House for Mouse

Puppet:
mouse

Props:
Flannelboard
Nine felt houses--all different colors
felt mouse, hidden under one of the houses

Introduce mouse and explain that he is looking for his friend so storytime can start. Tell children to be quiet as mice as we help mouse search. We say the following rhyme:

"Little Mouse, little mouse are you in the _____ house?" Continue until we go through all the houses.

Once found, mouse can say that we're ready for storytime.

Dog Puppet

Use "Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" with the dog puppet. It's a good introduction to prepositional words (behind, in front, under, over, top, bottom, etc.). You can move the puppet to match the song.

Berries! A Puppet Feeding Song

(Potentially, a song for when hibernating bear is preparing to sleep in Fall or just waking up in Spring.)

One berry, two berries
three berries, four!
Five berries, six berries
Seven berries more!
Eight berries, nine berries,
Ten berries, then . . .
We count them all over again!

(or let's do it again!)

Carlo Chameleon

As I'm writing this, I have "Carlo, Carlo, Carlo, Carlo, Carlo Chameleon" (a la Culture Club) running through my head. It makes writing easier!

Puppet:
chameleon

Props:
faux food

After reading about chameleons, I learned some important facts I shared with the storytimers:

1) chameleons can't hear very well
2) chameleons have an amazing sense of sight
3) chameleons can't hear very well

With that in mind, I introduced Carlo. The skit went like this:

This is Carlo. He is a chameleon. He's very shy. (Carlo has his head tucked under my left arm.) "Oh, Carlo. It's OK. You can come out, we're with friends."

The thing is, Carlo can't hear very well--chameleons don't have ears like you and I. So when you talk to Carlo, you should probably TALK LOUDLY. Can you tell Carlo good morning, so he feels welcome in storytime today? Maybe a little louder? (Have them get as loud as you want.)

Oh yes, there he is. (Carlo comes out from under my arm.) As I said, Carlo is a chameleon. Can you say "chameleon"? What color is he? Carlo can see very well. His eyes . . . "Carlo!" (he begins chewing my nametag.) I forgot to mention, Carlo loves to chew. (I pull him off my nametag and he chews my finger.) "No chewing, Carlo."

Can you help me tell him no chewing? Loudly, but politely, can you say, "Please, no chewing, Carlo."

Do you think he's hungry? I have some things Carlo may just eat. (Pull food props from my bag.) He spits them all out. Then whispers in my ear. Do you know what Carlo says he wants? A fly! I have a fly right here. (He eats the fly.) Did any of you bring a fly with you today?

We take turns feeding Carlo whatever the children have brought with them to feed him.

Carlo is full. He needs a nap. (We tell him goodbye and put him in the storytime bag.)

THE END

Hooray for Hen!

Puppet: 
hen

Props:
plastic egg
storytime bag

Introduce Henrietta Hen. Since it was a New Year's storytime, we talked a little about "resolutions." I explained that Henrietta's resolution was to lay more eggs in the new year. She wanted to get started, but was having trouble. Would the children be able to help Henrietta lay an egg? I explained the way to help was to sing "The Hen on the Nest."

Hen on the Nest
[tune: Wheels on the Bus]
The hen on the nest goes
cluck, cluck, cluck,
cluck, cluck, cluck,
cluck, cluck, cluck,
the hen on the nest goes
cluck, cluck, cluck
when she lays an egg

We sang it three times, louder each time. Henrietta could not lay an egg. So I thought maybe we should try counting down, like you do on New Year's Eve. We counted 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! And yelled "You can do it, Henrietta!" It worked. She laid an egg in the storytime bag.

Toad on the Road

A really simple puppet song to pair with Jane Yolen's Hoptoad or frog/toad theme.

Puppet:
toad

The Toad on the Road
[tune: Wheels on the Bus]

The toad on the road goes
hop, hop, hop
hop, hop, hop
hop, hop, hop
the toad on the road goes
hop, hop, hop
off that road!