Toddler Storytime: Trains

Welcome song: Oh hey oh hi hello by Jim Gill

Action rhyme 1: Open shut them

Open shut them

Open shut them, open shut them. [Open and shut your hands.]
Give a little clap, clap, clap. [Clap.]
Open shut them, open shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap. [Pat your legs.]

Letter of the day: T, for T-r-a-i-n

Can everyone draw a T in the air?  Or make a t with your arms?

Book 1: Giant Pop-out Vehicles by Gia

Action rhyme 2: Choo-choo Train

This is a choo-choo train,
   Bend arms at elbows.
Puffing down the track.
  Rotate forearms in rhythm.
Now it's going forward,
  Push arms forward; continue rotating motion.
Now it's going back.
   Pull arms back; continue rotating motion.
Now the bell is ringing,
   Pull bell cord with closed fist.
Now the whistle blows.
   Hold fist near mouth and blow.
What a lot of noise it makes,
   Cover ears with hand.
Everywhere it goes.

Book 2: Freight Train by Donald Crews

Book 3: Train Man by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

Tongue twister:

Aside:  Parents, children hear a letter sound most easily at the beginning of a word. A fun way to help children recognize beginning sounds is with tongue twisters- the repetition will help your child remember the letters and their sounds.

Twister: The 2:20 train tore through the tunnel.

Felt board story: Felt Board Train Song

(Thank you Nancy! http://www.nancymusic.com/Feltboardtrainplay.htm)

Here comes the engine, clickety clack
Shiny and black on the railroad track
Woo woo! Woo woo!

Here comes the blue car, clickety clack
To join the train on the railroad track
Woo woo! Woo woo!
(repeat with yellow and green, and other colors if you want)

Now here comes the ...
Red caboose going clickety clack
At the back of the train on the railroad track
Woo, woo! Woo, woo!

Aside: Parents, trains are great not only for colors but also for practicing counting skills.  if you are stuck at a RR crossing, why not count the trains with your kids?

Book 3: Down by the station by Will Hillenbrand
or The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

Song: I’ve been working on the Railroad

(Pass out shakers or sticks)

Closing: Thank you for coming today everyone!  I hope you had fun reading about trains. All of these books you see are available for checkout.