Toddler Programs Chapter
“At The Hop”
- Books To Share
- Books to Show or BookTalk
- Bulletin Boards
- Nametags
- Refreshments
- Rhymes and Poetry
- Songs
- Audio Recordings
- Crafts
- Games and Activities
- Videos/DVDs/Films
- Professional Resources
- Craft Materials
Books To Share
- Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan.
- Little White Duck lyrics by Walt Whippo.
- My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann.
- Red-Eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley.
- What Does the Rabbit Say? by Jacque Hall.
Books to Show or BookTalk
- Bunny and Me by Adele Aron Greenspun.
- Here Come Poppy and Max by Lindsey Gardiner.
- Jump! by Steve Lavis.
- Little Bunny Foo Foo: Told and Sung by the Good Fairy illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson.
- Who Hops? by Katie Davis.
Bulletin Boards
We’re Hoppin’ for Reading!
Create a simple outdoor scene such as a meadow or pond. Add titles of books that have frogs, rabbits, or other topics that have to do with hopping or jumping, either invidually or as booklist. Let children place their nametags on the board after the program.
Nametags
Hoppers
Create rabbit or frog nametags using a die cut.
Refreshments
JELL-O™ Fun
Serve the popular 1950’s dessert JELL-O™. In advance, prepare JELL-O™ according to the package directions. After it has set, precut the JELL-0™ into squares or shapes, or chill the JELL-O™ on cookie sheets and let the children cut out shapes with cookie cutters then eat. More ideas are available at Kraft Foods, www.kraftfoods.com/jello/recipes.
If desired, serve other popular foods that were introduced in the 1950’s.
- Tang (1957)
- Chex Mix (1955)
- Marshmallow Peeps (1953)
Rhymes and Poetry
Little Bunny
(Traditional.)
There was a little bunny that lived in the wood, (Make a bunny with your fingers)
He wiggled his ears, as a good bunny should. (Wiggle fingers)
He hopped by a squirrel, (Hop your bunny down the other arm)
He hopped by a tree. (Hop your bunny down the other arm)
He hopped by a duck, (Hop your bunny down the other arm)
And he hopped by me. (Hop your bunny down the other arm)
He stared at the squirrel. (Stare)
He stared at the tree (Stare)
He stared at the duck. (Stare)
But he made faces at me! (Wiggle nose in rabbit fashion)
Here’s Bunny
(Traditional.)
Here’s bunny (Make bunny with fingers)
With nose so funny (Make right thumb wiggle)
This is his home in the ground. (Make a hole with left finger and thumb)
When a noise he hears, (Make ears, fingers, wiggle)
He perks up his ears, (Straighten fingers out)
And jumps into the ground. (Jump right hand into hole in left hand)
Hop, Hop, Hop
(Traditional.Suit actions to words.)
Find a foot and hop, hop hop!
When were’ tired we stop, stop, stop.
Turn around, and count to ten,
Find a foot and hop again!
Songs
Wake Up Little Bunny
(Adapted by Laura Douglas. Sing to the tune of "Frere Jacques.")
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping
Little bunny, little bunny
It is time to wake up, it is time to wake up
Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop, hop.
Audio Recordings
- “Little White Duck” on Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck (And Other Children's Favorites) by Burl Ives.
- “Mr. Froggie Went A-Courtin'” on Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck And Other Children's Favorites by Burl Ives.
Crafts
Cotton Ball Bunnies
Materials
- Rabbit pattern
- Cotton balls
- Glue or glue sticks
- Crayons
Directions
In advance, prepare one copy of the rabbit pattern provided in this program for each child. Let the children color the eyes, nose, and ears. The children can then glue the cotton balls onto their rabbits to create fur.
Hand Shaped Rabbits
(Adapted by Laura Douglas from Hand-Shaped Art by Diane Bonica.)
Materials
- Markers
- Paper
- Cotton balls
- Glue or glue sticks
Directions
Place the paper in front of the child vertically. Trace the child’s hand on the paper, the thumb and the index finger should be extended, the other three fingers held together. Turn the paper horizontally so that the outline of the thumb and index finger are on the top of the page forming the rabbit’s ears. Let the children color their rabbits, adding eyes and smiles, and glue cotton balls at the end of the bottom three fingers for a tail. See the sample photo at the end of this program.
Games and Activities
The Bunny Hop
Play or sing The Bunny Hop by Ray Anthony and lead the children in the dance. Words and tune can be found at NIEHS Kids’ Pages, www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/bunnyhop.htm. To dance, line up single file. Place your hands on the hips of the person in front of you. Kick your right foot out and then place your heel on the ground. Repeat and then switch to the left foot. After kicking the left foot twice, hop forward three times. Most toddlers won’t get their left feet and right feet straight but that’s okay. They’ll enjoy hopping around.
Early Literacy Skills Activities
These activities support six early literacy skills that children need to know before they learn how to read: letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary, and print motivation. For more information on early literacy skills, see the introduction to this manual, or visit Every Child Ready to Read @ your library, www.ala.org/ala/alsc/ECRR/ECRRHomePage.htm.
Little White Duck
As you read Little White Duck by Walt Whippo, invite the group to join you in making the animal sounds. Point to the words on the page as you do so. Sing the song after you read the story. Ask the children the following questions. Who is telling the story? Can you find the mouse in the pictures? Where do you think the duck and the frog went? This story can also be extended with puppets or props.
What Does the Rabbit Say?
Read What Does the Rabbit Say? by Jacque Hall. Then go back and read it again, pausing after naming the animal to let the children fill in the sounds. Cut each of the animals out of flannel and ask, "What does the ____ say?" as you put the animal on the flannel board.
Jump Frog Jump
Extend the story Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan with puppets and props and encourage the children to repeat the refrain, "jump frog jump" to warn the frog and help him escape from impending danger. Find each animal hiding on the page that is about to be introduced in the next page of text. Ask the children what will happen next.
Statements about the six early literacy skills that may be used in the program to educate and inform parents about the importance of early literacy may be found in the book, Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz.
Videos/DVDs/Films
If you have public performance rights, show these videos and DVDs, or segments of them, to the children. Otherwise, display them for home use. The length listed is for the entire film.
A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog.(10 minutes)
Professional Resources
- Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Diaz.
- Hand-Shaped Art by Diane Bonica.
- Every Child Ready to Read @ your library
www.ala.org/ala/alsc/ECRR/ECRRHomePage.htm - This ALA/PLA web site offers information about research on child brain development, the six early literacy skills, and incorporating them into library programs.
- Kraft Foods
www.kraftfoods.com/jello/recipes - These recipes offer lots of ideas for food that wiggles, jiggles, and bounces.
- NIEHS Kids’ Pages
www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/music.htm - This site provides lyrics for an exhaustive list of children’s traditional and modern songs.
Craft Materials
Cotton Ball Bunny Craft
