B is for Bug a Boo, Letter B Toddler Story Time!

For the second week of our alphabetic adventure, we delved into all things LETTER B. Because B is for BUST A MOVE! (see also, Bug a Boo).

Opening Medley: Bread and Butter, Open & Shut Them, ABC song
And guys, Bread and Butter, TWO B WORDS!

Magic Box BALL: My Ball is Round
My magic box holds pictures of things that start with the letter of the week and I use it to introduce new concepts, rhymes, and stories. Every time we look in the Magic Box, I knock on it and use a rhyme I learned from jbrary: Here is the box, and here is the lid, I wonder whatever inside is hid!

Then as a group, we identify the picture, say what letter (and sound) it starts with, and say the word together. Then we do the rhyme/activity/story thing. So for a picture of a BALL, we did one of my favorite rhymes from Intellidance, My Ball is Round.


Book #1: Books Always Everywhere!, by Jane Blatt (SO CUTE)

Stretching: Stretch to the windows, stretch to the door, stretch to the ceiling and stretch to the door!

Interactive activity: Little Bear's Big Day
I am not sure where I originally found this story, but I have been bustin it out on the reg year after year because it is just so much fun!

It goes:

Once there was a little bear who was sleeping in his bed in his nice dark cave.
(sing) "Have a little sleep bear, sleep bear, sleep bear.
Have a little sleep bear, sleep bear, sleep."

The next day the sun came out and the bear woke up and stretched.
"Have a little stretch bear, stretch bear, stretch bear.
Have a little stretch bear, stretch bear, stretch."

And since it was a very sunny day the bear decided to go for a walk.
"Have a little walk bear,."

But this was a very active little bear and soon he became bored with walking and began to run.
"Have a little run bear,."

And after all that running he was hot and sweaty. Before him was a big cool lake, so what do you think he did? Yes! He jumped right in and swam!
"Have a little swim bear,."

And after he swam a little while he climbed out of the water and he was all drippy wet. And do you know how bears dry themselves off when they are wet?
Yes, they shake!
"Have a little shake bear,."

And after all that shaking he looked up and saw a taaall tree. You know how bears love to climb!
"Have a little climb bear,."

And when he got to the top do you know what he saw? Some golden, sweet, delicious HONEY! And you know how much bears love honey!
"Have a little taste bear,."

But you know wherever there is honey there are honeybees. And those bees did not like that bear messing with their honey. Do you know what bees do when they are angry? That's right, they sting!
"Have a little sting bee,."

The bear cried out, "OUCH!" (sing fast and frantic)
"Have a little climb bear, climb bear, climb.
Have a little swim bear, swim bear, swim.
Have a little shake bear, shake bear, shake.
Have a little run bear, run bear, run.
Have a little walk bear, walk bear, walk."

And the bear reached his cave and called out to his Mommy, "Mommy, Mommy! I went for a walk, and a run, and a swim, and I shook off, and then I climbed a tree, and I found some honey, and it tasted good. But the bees got mad and one stung me on the nose!" And his mommy said,
"Awww! Have a little hug bear, hug bear, hug bear.
Have a little hug bear, hug bear, hug."

At the end all the kids are giving themselves (and their parents and friends) big bear hugs and your heart, it will melt.

Magic Box BLACKBERRY: Picked a Blackberry
To the tune of Clementine, from jbrary
Picked a blackberry, picked a blackberry
That was growing in the sun.
Then I washed it, and I ate it, and I picked another one.
(repeat with other berries)

Magic Box BABY Book #2: The Baby Goes Beep, by Rebecca O'Connell

Stretchy band fun, featuring The Wheels on the Bus!
We got this idea from a story time workshop with Jim Gill, and our wonderful and talented cofairyworker Naomi brought it to life. It is basically just strips of stretchy fabric sewn together into a gigantic circle. As a general introduction to it, we practiced sitting with it, walking in and out with it, walking around in a circle with it (working up to that), getting inside of it, and stretching it. Then we sang The Wheels on the Bus using it, lifting it up and down for the windows, in and out for the doors, and rolling it up towards us for the bus driver. More cute chaos.

OMG STRETCHY BANNNDDDDDDDDD!!!

I've got crazy eyes here, but LOOK AT THE BAND!! So cool.

Magic Box BUBBLES!!!! Hello, Bubbles (jbrary again!)
Bubble dance party: I Took a Bath in a Washing Machine (Jim Gill)

Goodbye, bubbles!

Magic Box BLACKBIRDS: Two Little Blackbirds

A story time classic that I'm sure ya'll know and love...

Two little blackbirds, sitting on a hill
One named Jack, and one named Jill!
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill,
Come back Jack, come back Jill!

Book #3: Butterfly, Butterfly, by Petr Horacek (they will go crazy for the gigantic pop-up pretty butterfly at the end!)

Closing: Bread & Butter, Letter B stamp!