Toddlertime 7-11-18: Shapes

After our hello this morning, the first story for shape-theme Toddlertime was Box Meets Circle by Aaron Hartline. I knew the art in this book would be a hit with the toddlers because it's fun to look at and draws your attention. It's also a cute story about friendship with few words per page, and introduces the basic idea of squares and circles. To get the kids involved in the reading, and therefore engaged instead of distracted, I had them name the shapes on each page ("Who is this again?" "CIRCLE!")

The first movement song of the day was "Follow the Leader" by Ella Jenkins. This song is an old/new discovery of mine. I knew Ella Jenkins as a child and went to a few of her concerts when I was in preschool, but have recently re-discovered her and have begun using her call-and-response songs in storytime. I especially like "Follow the Leader" because it's mellow and strangely enchanting. As soon as I put it on and start clapping along, the kids immediately calm down and start following me.

In lieu of a second book, I like the second story in Toddlertime to be an interactive felt story. Today I had regular old felt shapes I cut out myself, and we sang a call-and-response song for each one:

Do you know what shape this is?
Shape this is, shape this is?
Do you know what shape this is,
In my hand?

Circle is what shape it is,
Shape it is, shape it is.
Circle is what shape it is,
In your hand.

Lather, rinse, repeat with at 3-5 shapes. We did circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and star.

Jbrary has a similar song. It's been a while since I shouted out those awesome ladies, so here's their version. The tune they sing to is the same one I use with the felt shapes and song above.

Our final movement song was "Clap Your Hands," which is always a hit with the extra-wiggly toddlers.

Click here for the version of "Clap Your Hands" that I use. 

And then we sang "Peek-a-Boo" and said goodbye to our friends with bubbles and toys.