A couple of weeks ago, I asked for suggestions for an Earth Day Storytime I was planning and several PUBYACer's came through with wonderful ideas. I thought I'd share in case anyone else is planning something similar this week. :) Carol (FST = Family Storytime for 2-5 year olds; ST=Storytime for ages 3+)
Earth Day
Children enter to music from Tom Chapin’s “This Pretty Planet” (track 1 –“Come Blow Your Horn”
FST/ST book: A Tree For Me –Van Laan
Song/Flannel: A Squirrel Lives in the Tree (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
A squirrel lives in a tree A squirrel lives in a tree He’s as cozy as he can be A squirrel lives in a tree
A snail lives in a shell… Oh, yes it suits him very well
A bear lives in a cave… He comes out to give a wave
A fish lives in the sea… We will all just let him be
A bird lives in a nest… That’s where she goes to take a rest
FST book: The Earth and I – Asch ST book: Mother Earth – Luenn
Song/Puppets: We’ve Got the Whole World in Our hands… (passed around Earth ball and animal puppets as we sang -- suit verses to puppets e.g. “We’ve got the lions in the plains, …the kangaroos and their joeys,… the birds in the air,…the monkeys in the trees, the whales in the seas, …the squirrels in our gardens, etc.)
FST/ST: (song/book): Earthsong – Rogers (acting out the motions)
ST book: Earthdance – 811.54 RYD Ryder
Video: Reading Rainbow: Our Big Earth
Music/Action/Scarves: “Song of the Earth” track 14 on Tom Chapin’s “This Pretty Planet”
Earth Hand stamping to track 15 “This Pretty Planet”
Alt. Books: Ghost Bat in a Gum Tree Earth Mother – Jackson (Kdg.+) I love our earth – Bill Martin Jr. Panda Bear, Panda Bear, what do you see?--Bill Martin Jr Our Big Home 811.54 GLA The Lorax – Dr. Seuss(Kdg.+) People – Spier On the Day You Were Born – Frasier Wanda’s Roses – Brisson (Kdg.+) Here in Space – Milgrim City Green – DiSalvo-Ryan (Kdg.+) Just a Dream – Van Allsburg (Kdg.+) Were You a Wild Duck, Where Would You Go? – Mendoza (Kdg.+) One Child – Cheng Farewell to Shady Glade – Peet (Kdg.+) The Earth Under Sky Bear’s Feet – Bruchac (Kdg.+) Earth Care: World Folktales to Think About – Margaret Read McDonald (Kdg.+) The Dancing Bear and the Foolish Hunter – Kleven Miss Rumphius – Cooney (Kdg.+) Letting Swift River Go – Jane Yolen (Kdg.+) The Mud Family – James Brother Eagle, Sister Sky – 811.3 SEA Resource Books: Earth Day – 333.7 Lowery The Earth is Painted Green (poems) 808.81 Ear Celebrating Earth Day – 394.26 McD Mother Earth, Father Sky (poems) 808.81 Mot Dinosaurs to the Rescue Every Day is Earth Day 745.58 Ros
Alt. Video: Reading Rainbow: On the Day You Were Born
Alt. Songs: “The Year 3000” by Tom Chapin (#8 on “This Pretty Planet”) R*E*C*Y*C*L*E” (#4 on “This Pretty Planet”) “Happy Earthday” (#12 on “This Pretty Planet”) “Sing a Whale Song” by Tom Chapin “Good Garbage” (#6 on “This Pretty Planet”) “Someone’s Gonna Use it” #13 “Passengers” #9
“Mr. Sun” (Raffi) “Thanks a Lot” (Raffi)
Additional fingerplays (photocopy has chapter header “Multicultural Programs” but don’t know book title)
Touch the Earth:
Feel the warmth of the morning sun, (encircle arms overhead) And touch the new sweet earth. (touch the ground) Listen to the whispering wind, (cup hand around ear) And let your heart be filled with joy. (put hands on heart).
Mother Earth:
Mother Earth gives up so many things, (trace the shape of the Earth in the air) Flowers that bloom, (cup hands and move arms up) And birds that sing, (interlock thumbs and flap fingers) The beautiful mountains, (indicate mountain shapes with hands) Lakes and rivers so blue, (make wavy motions with hands) We must protect these gifts, Both me and you. (point to self and children).
Additional suggestions from PUBYAC
The Earth is our Mother, We must take care of her, The Earth is our Mother, We must take care of her, Hey-sanno, Ho-sanna, Heigh-yan-yan.
(sung as a Native American chant)
This pretty planet spinning through space, Your garden, your harbor, your holy place, Oh, golden sun going down, Gentle bule giant spin us around. All through the night, Keep us safe 'til morning's light. --Tom Chapin THIS PRETTY PLANET
>
Good garbage breaks down as it goes, That's why it smells bad to your nose, Bad garbage grows, and grows, and grows, Garbage is suppose to decompose. --Tom Chapin GOOD GARBAGE
>
What shall we do with a piece of paper? What shall we do with a piece of paper? What shall we do with a piece of paper? How can we recycle?
- Turn it over & draw on the back.
- Fold it into an origami bird.
- Toss it into the recycling bin.
That's how we recycle.
>
This little can, made out of tin, I washed and saved to use again. I added paper, I added glue, And I made a present just for you. It's for your trinkets or your pens. You can show it to your friends. It's not empty for you can see, It's full with love to you from me.
> --Leigh Ellenburg
PRIMARY MAILBOX
>
We've been working on recycling, All the trash we can. We've been working on recycling, It's a very simple plan. Separate your glass and paper, Separate your plastic and tin. Take the trash that you've recycled To your recycling bin.
>
Happy Earth Day, Happy Earth Day, We love you. Happy Earth Day, And may all your dreams come true. Forests, fields and water All around we see. We will take good care of them For generations yet to be.
>
OVER IN THE MEADOW as a flannel board and THE GREEN GRASS GROWS ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND for either an activity or flannel board. THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND is another good song, also a book if you have in your collection.