February 26: Toddler Storytime: Black History Month

(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 migration and hibernation 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: I explained that, in addition to focusing on the 100 Acts of Kindness and Valentine's Day, February is also Black History Month. I pointed to the pictures from my Black History Month display that is on the wall behind me.  All of these people are remembered for doing something to make the world a better place. We all look the same on the inside. No matter the color of our skin, we all are special. 

Book: "I Like Myself" by Karen Beaumont

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

MOVEMENT AND SHAKER SONG:

“I Am Special”
(Tune: "Are You Sleeping?")


I am special, I am special,
Look at me, look at me.
A very special person, A very special person
That is me, that is me.

You are special, you are special
Everyone is special, everyone is special
Oh, you are special
Everyone is special
In his or her own way

MOVEMENT SONG: (We sang the song over ten times, once about each child attending storytime.)

“Everyone's Important”
(Tune: "Did You Ever See a Lassie")

(Child's name)'s important, important, important
(Child's name)'s important to me and you
In work and in play
(H/she) does (his/her) best each day
(Name)'s important to me and you.

MOVEMENT SONG: (We stood up and danced with scarves while singing the words.)

"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
           followed by

“Special Me”(Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Special, special, special me
How I wonder what I'll be
In this big world I can be
Anything I want to be
Special, special, special me
How I wonder what I'll be

Book: "Honeysmoke" by Monique Fields

Movement song:  

“If You're Friendly”
(Tune: "If You're Happy, and You Know It")

If you're friendly and you know it, wave hello.
If you're friendly and you know it, wave hello.
If you're friendly and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're friendly and you know it, wave hello!

If you're friendly and you know it, shake hands.
If you're friendly and you know it, shake hands.
If you're friendly and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're friendly and you know it, shake hands!

If you're friendly and you know it, blow a kiss.
If you're friendly and you know it, blow a kiss. 
If you're friendly and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're friendly and you know it, blow a kiss!

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: Imitating the art of Alma W. Thomas, African American abstract painter

First, I showed a picture of her to the children, and I told them a little bit about her. She was first an art teacher for 35 years, and at the age of 68, she began studying to become a professional artist. Next, I showed them some of her paintings using the book Alma W. Thomas: a retrospective of the paintings by the artist herself. I explained that her art is abstract art. It isn't meant to look like anything specific. She painted using small, separated tile-like marks or spots of bright colors. Spots of the same color were either grouped in  vertical rows or in layers of circular shapes.

 Materials:
1. Cardstock paper
2. Dot markers in a variety of colors
3. Picture of Alma Thomas
4. Examples of her work

My examples

*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. "Shades of People" by Shelly Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly
2. "Happy in Our Skin" by Fran Manushkin
3. "Happy to be Nappy" by Bell Hooks
4. "I Love My Haircut" by Natasha Tarpley
5. "I Love My Hair" by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
6. "Hey Black Child" by USenia Eugene Perkns
7. "This Jazz Man" by Karen Ehrhardt