Flannel Project: Raindrops & Umbrellas

These two flannel projects, raindrops and umbrellas, seem appropriate since we are getting loads of rain and super early tropical storms this year! 

Five Little Raindrops:

Five little raindrops,

Dancing on the walk.

Pitter patter, pitter patter, (pat legs)

That's the way they talk.

Out comes the yellow sun, 

Shining in the sky. (make sun over your head with your arms)

And away goes one raindrop,

Bye! Bye! Bye!

Source: Unknown (listed online on several sources with no original source listed)

Umbrellas:

In past storytimes, we have done an umbrella hiding game with printed umbrellas stuck to felt. I decided to upgrade our umbrellas with a set of actual flannels!

Flannel Project: Baby Storytime Songs

One project that I have been interested in undertaking for awhile is creating more flannels for baby storytime. In the past I have not been as focused on providing visual cues because many young infants are developmentally only able to see their immediate surroundings. But, as I have had many parents continue to bring their older babies and toddlers to baby storytime since they prefer the quieter storytime, I felt it was time to create an inventory of flannels for many of the baby storytime songs we use regularly.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star:

Itsy, Bitsy Spider:

Bumping Up and Down:

Flannel Project: Apples and Bananas

I actually borrowed this sign language song from one of my peer librarians. The first verse is the familiar "I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas" song. But, for following verses, you change it up. Instead of changing vowel sounds, you change some of the words out so the little ones can learn a few more American Sign Language signs. I typically use this at my baby storytimes to teach the parents some common first ASL signs to use with their infant.

Using the ASL sign for EAT, APPLES, and BANANAS, I sing this familiar song using the signs.

I like to EAT, EAT, EAT, APPLES and BANANAS,

I like to EAT, EAT, EAT, APPLES and BANANAS.

I like to EAT, EAT, EAT, APPLES and BANANAS,

I like to EAT, EAT, EAT, APPLES and BANANAS.

Then, I sing the song using the ASL signs for DRINK, MILK, and WATER.

I like to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, MILK and WATER.

I like to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, MILK and WATER.

I like to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, MILK and WATER.

I like to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, MILK and WATER.

For the last verse, we use the ASL signs for MORE, PLEASE, and THANK YOU.

I like MORE, MORE, MORE, PLEASE and THANK YOU.

I like MORE, MORE, MORE, PLEASE and THANK YOU.

I like MORE, MORE, MORE, PLEASE and THANK YOU.

I like MORE, MORE, MORE, PLEASE and THANK YOU.

Flannel Project: Crab and Leafy Tree

I had a couple projects I finished up last week for my virtual storytime (and to use for storytimes when we return to performing in-person).

Crab (and ocean-themed song):

Since my virtual storytime theme was about the Ocean, I created a crab for a song I found via Jbrary, and borrowed a seashell and a whale for the rest of the ocean animals. I focused on sign language, so I found the ASL signs for "crab", "whale", and "clam". The song is called The Waves at the Beach and is sung to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus".

The words I used:

The crabs at the beach go pinch, pinch, pinch,

Pinch, pinch, pinch.

Pinch, pinch, pinch.

The crabs at the beach go pinch, pinch, pinch,

All day long.

Additional verses:

The clams at the beach go open and shut...

The whales at the beach go up and down...

Source: Jbrary

Leafy Tree:

One of my favorite weekly movement songs is "Shakin' Like a Leafy Tree" by The Wiggles. I have used the song at every aged storytime. I can ask parents with really little ones to get super involved and lift their kids up/down for high and low. In the instrumental parts I have the kids move different body parts. It is upbeat and a great song to use regularly. Since I am keeping it in my storytimes for the next session, I thought it was about time to make a flannel to go along with it!

Flannel Projects: Bees and Hearts

I worked on flannel hearts and flannel bees for my latest projects. It has been a great creative outlet for me (and a major de-stressor) while watching webinars and attending virtual staff meetings!


Bees:
This rhyme is a variant of a few others I saw online, I just need to make a beehive!:

Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Let's look inside the hive!
Count them together: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!

Hearts:
This rhyme you can put family member's, friends, puppets, etc. in the blank. Or, if you have a smaller group, you could even give out hearts if you wanted:

Five hearts to give away for Valentine's Day.
"I Love You" is what they say.
I'll give one to ______ today.
Countdown 4, 3, 2, 1

Flannel Projects: Ocean Creatures and Row Boat

I put a few other flannel projects on hold to complete these two projects in a hurry! I have been invited to do one of the virtual storytimes for my library system next week and am planning on doing an ocean-themed storytime. 

SO, without further ado, here are the two flannels I worked on this week.

Slippery Fish is a song I learned about via Jbrary. It is one of my favorite storytime songs to use because it incorporates movement with easy-to-use American Sign Language. I usually cut it down to only three ocean creatures: a fish, an octopus, and a shark!

I also was planning on making a row boat for my baby storytimes to use with Rob Newhouse's recorded "Row, Row, Row Your Boat". What a perfect movement song to add to a storytime about water!