Storytime: Opening & Closing Songs

In an effort to "bookend" my storytimes with something familiar each week, I've started using the same opening and closing songs for both my "Littles" (0-2 years) and "Bigs" (2-5 years).

Opening:
1) Greet with puppet
This year I introduced my friend Leo the Lion to the kids. He's a nice lion, his mouth doesn't even open! His favorite thing to do is wave to the kids. Therefore he helps us sing our opening and closing songs. With the older kids I'll often ask if they want to give him a high five before putting him away. Sometimes with the littles we'll sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes and I'll ask various kids to help me find the parts of Leo's body.

2) This is the Way We Wave Hello
(tune: Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wave hello, wave hello, wave hello
This is the way we wave hello, hello, hello, hello! 

This is the way we clap hello, clap hello, clap hello...
This is the way we pat hello (pat thighs), pat hello, pat hello...

Repeat waving verse again with older kids, repeat all 3 verses again with younger.


3) These Are My Glasses - Laurie Berkner
I started using this song before reading our first book each week during my very first Summer Reading Program in 2013, and have used it ever since. The kids know it so well, I think I'd have a mutiny if I ever left it out now. We sing it through (acapella) twice.

These are my glasses (make the letter o with each hand)
And this is my book (hands together)
I put on my glasses (put "glasses" over eyes)
And open up the book (open book hands)
Now I read read read (hold book up in front of face like reading)
And I look look look (put glasses over eyes and look around room)
I put down my glasses and… (lower glasses)
WHOOP! Close up the book. (clap as if closing a book quickly)



Closing:
Do You Know What Time It Is?

(tune: Muffin Man) Early in the season I had to explain to the kids a few times that some grown-ups wear watches on their wrist to see what time it is. One week a little 2 year old, who never talks and never smiles, came up to show me she'd worn her own watch that day!

Do you know what time it is? (tap wrist)

What time it is? What time it is?
Do you know what time it is?
Storytime is over!

Now it's time to stretch up tall (stand/reach up)

Stretch up tall, stretch up tall
Now it's time to stretch up tall
Storytime is over!

Wave goodbye to all your friends (wave)

All your friends, all your friends
Wave goodbye to all your friends
Storytime is over!

(original from Abby)