February 5: Toddler Storytime: Penguins

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The ones listed below are the ones they picked. Additional recommended titles about penguins for two to three year olds are at the bottom of this post.)

Opening song:                                                               

(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap hola like this
We tap ho la like this
Hi-ho cherry

We tap hola like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop hola like this...

We circle hola like this...

We spin hola like this...

We toss hola like this..

We roll hola like this....

We stomp hola like this...

Introduction:
We live where it is warm most of the time and only cold in the winter. Some animals live where it is cold all year round. These animals include penguins. Penguins are a type of bird, but they can't fly. Their fins are for swimming.

Book: "Penguin on Vacation" by Salina Yoon

I gave each parent a copy of the words to the song that went with the theme. 

Action chant:  

“Penguins Having Fun”
(Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)

Penguins, penguins having fun
Waddling in the winter sun.
Waddling fast and waddling slow,
Waddling to and waddling fro.
Penguins, penguins having fun
Waddling in the winter sun.

Action Song using Scarves: "Five Green and Speckled Frogs"

Movement song: "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" followed by "Cabeza, Hombros, Rodilla, y Pies"

Book: "Baby Penguins Everywhere" by Melissa Guion

Movement song:   Stand up and wattle throughout the song to act out the words.

“Ten Little Penguins”

Ten little penguins
Their suits are black and their vests are white.
They waddle to the left and they waddle to the right.
They stand on the ice and they look very neat,
As they waddle along on their little flat feet.

Movement:  

“I'm a Little Penguin Two Feet High”
(Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little penguin,
Two feet high.
I am a bird,
But I can't fly.
Look at how I swim
Out in the sea:
I'm as fast
As fast can be! 

Goodbye Song:
(Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap adios like this

We tap adios like this

Hi-ho cherry

We tap adios like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop adios like this...

We circle adios like this...

We spin adios like this...

We toss adios like this...

We roll adios like this...

We stomp adios like this...

Craft Time: Paper Plate Penguins

     Source: https://thepinterestedparent.com

My example

Materials:

1. 9 inch paper plates

2. Penguin template from source listed above

3. Black paint

4. Brushes

5. Orange construction paper

6. Googly eyes

7. Glue stick for beak and feet

8. Glue gun for googly eyes

9. Scissors

See complete instructions on website.

*All photos are with parental permission.

                     

I always let the children pick which three books I read from the ones I bring with me. These are some additional suggested books that the children didn't pick:

1. "Virgil and Owen" by Paulette Bogan
2. "A Penguin Story" by Antoinette Portis
3."Virgil and Owen Stick Together" by Paulette Bogan
4. "Flora and the Penguin" by Molly Schaar Idle
5. "I Am Small" by Emma Dodd