Ear and Whiskers, Paws and Tail…

Due to technical difficulties beyond my control (doesn’t that sound like an old tv announcement?), last week’s blog has disappeared into the blogosphere. Rather than rewrite the entire article, I will just include the stories from last week in this blog.

I don’t’ know about you, but I am tired of the cold. It seems to have seeped into my bones and refuses to be set loose by turtlenecks and sweaters and wool socks and boots. The only thing that keeps it at bay are winter pajamas and thick piles of blankets. It is all I can do to drag myself out from under them in the morning…I feel like the children in Little House on the Prairie! I fear I may be cold until July… at which time I will be the first to bemoan the heat. Yep. I will.

Although it does not make going outside pleasant, cold winter weather does lend itself to some fun stories and we have been reading them since the beginning of January. We have read a number of sleepytime stories and learned some wonderful fingerplays. Feel free to borrow these stories from the library and practice the songs and fingerplays at home.

Stories:

Birds by Kevin Henkes

Sheila Rae’s Peppermint Stick by Kevin Henkes

Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carol Schaefer

The Farmyard Jamboree by M. McDonald

Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Where Do Bears Sleep? by Barbara Shook Hazen

Songs and Fingerplays:

Ears and Whiskers, Paws and Tail

Ears and whiskers, paws and tail, paws and tail

Ears and whiskers, paws and tail, paws and tail

Cheeks and nose and belly and toes

Ear and whiskers, paws and tail, paws and tail

Ten Little Pigs

Ten little pigs rolled in the mud -
Squishy, squashy, felt so good.
The farmer took one piggy out.
"Oink, Oink, oink," the pig did shout!

Continue with nine, eight, seven so forth, then...

No little pigs rolled in the mud.
They all looked so clean and good.
The farmer turned his back and then
Those pigs rolled in the mud again.

Raindrops

If all of the raindrops were lemon drops, and gum drops,
Oh what a world that would be.
Standing outside, with our mouths open wide,
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
If all of the raindrops were lemon drops, and gum drops,
Oh what a world that would be.

If all of the snowflakes, were candy bars, and milk shakes,
Oh what a world that would be.
Standing outside, with our mouths open wide,
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
If all of the snowflakes, were candy bars, and milk shakes,
Oh what a world that would be.

If all of the sunbeams were bubble gum, and ice cream.
Oh what a world that would be.
Standing outside, with our mouths open wide,
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
If all of the sunbeams were bubble gum, and ice cream,
Oh what a world that would be.

Here is a Cave. (bend fingers to form cave)
Inside is a bear. (put thumb inside fingers)
Now he comes out. (thumb out)
To get some fresh air.
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest
For berries to eat. (move thumb in circle)
When snow starts to fall
He hurries inside.
His warm little cave (thumb in)
And there he will hide.
Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug. (cover with other hand)
Inside the bear sleeps
All cozy and snug.

Big Yellow Moon

Big yellow moon shines so bright, (Arms above head in circle shape.)
Glides across the starry night, (Arms move from left to right.)
Looks down at me (Hand shades eyes.)
Asleep in bed, (Hands together at side of face.)
Whispers, "Good night, sleepyhead." (Forefinger in front of mouth.)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done. (Arms above head move down in front of body.)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun. (Arms move above head in circle shape.)
I wake up. (Arms stretch out.)
You go to bed. (Hands together at side of face.)
"Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead." (Forefinger in front of mouth.)