Moon, Stars, and Planets!

Outline for a Spacey Storytime in keeping with the Summer Reading theme of "Dream Big":

Storytime Apron:  I usually start story time with my storytime apron.  It has seven pockets which hold clues to what the stories will be about.  I tell the children that they can be detectives and try to guess what will be the theme of the stories.  Sometimes the children raise their hands and pick a pocket and other times we look in the pockets together.  I explain that while there are only seven pockets and not everyone can pick a pocket, everyone can be a detective.  Here is my apron:

I made this apron by BUYING a kitchen apron!  Ha!  Then I added Maisy Mouse pockets.  Simple!


Here is what I put in the pockets:

I then ask a tricky question:  How many stars do you see on the flannel board?  They say two and I point out that our Sun is a star!  I also ask if they have ever seen the moon out in the sky while the Sun is still out.  Then we sing:

Mr Moon!  Mr Moon!  You're out too soon!

The Sun is still in the sky!

Go back to bed, cover up your head,

And wait until the day's gone by!

Flannel story:  Four Little Rockets

Four Little Rockets winking at me.

One shot off and then there were three!

Three little rockets with nothing to do.

One shot off and then there were two!

Two Little rockets afraid of the sun.

One shot off and then there was one!

One little rocket alone is no fun.

It shot off and then there were none.

Here are the rockets:

Book:  Here is Space by David Milgrim.  This is a mind-bending story about an adventurous little boy who lives in space since he lives on Earth.  As an introduction, I ask the children to look for the things that this little boy picks up on each page of his adventure.

Then we do these fun activities:

Bend and Stretch

Bend and stretch.  Reach for the stars.

There goes Jupiter.  Here comes Mars.

Bend and Stretch.  Reach for the Sky.

Stand on tip-e-toe.  Oh!  So high!

Zoom!  Zoom! Zoom!

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom.  (Hand in prayer position and push up three times)

We’re going to the moon.  (Point up to the sky)

If you want to take a trip,

Climb aboard my rocket ship.  (Climbing motion)

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re going to the Moon.  (repeat)

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

(Crouch down with hands together)

Blast off!

(Jump up and shoot arms into the air)

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom,

We’re going to the Moon!

Next comes a flannel board story which I made from the book, Eight Spinning Planets by Brian James.  It is so much easier for the children to follow this story in flannel form!  The spinning planets proved to be way too distracting!

I especially like the end of this book which says that only Pluto is left and it's too small to be a planet.  I point to a speck on the flannel board and get a chuckle out of the teachers!

Here are the beautiful planets:

I wish that I had made Mercury out of a hotter color than violet, but there it is!

Then we sing this song, while I point to the appropriate planet: 

The Sun is our day time star!  The sun is our day time star!

Hi!  Ho!  To space we go!   The sun is our day time star!

Mercury's number one!  Oh, Mercury's number one!  (Hi!  Ho!...)

Oh Venus is number two!  Yes, Venus is number two!  (Refrain)

The Earth is third around!  The Earth is third around!  (Refrain)

You could end here with:

The Moon goes round the earth!  The Moon goes round the Earth!  (refrain)

Or continue on with:

Mars is really red!  Yes, Mars is really red!  (refrain)

Jupiter's very big!  Oh, Jupiter's very big!  (refrain)

Saturn has pretty rings!  Yes, Saturn has pretty rings!  (refrain)

Uranus is made of gas!  Uranus is made of gas!  (refrain)

Neptune is really cold!  Oh, Neptune is really cold!  (refrain)

Then, if there's time, I pass out a flannel star to each child and we sing:

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!

I wonder who has a yellow star?

And the children with the yellow, then blue, then white, etc, star bring it forward and place on the night sky of the flannel board.

You could end by singing Twinkle Twinkle as children get a star hand stamp.

Here are all of the lyrics and even a version in Spanish!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.

When the glorious sun is set, when the grass with dew is wet,

Then you show your little light!  Twinkle, twinkle all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark thanks you for your tiny spark.

He could not see where to go if you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep, often through the trees you peep.

For you never shut your eye ‘til the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark lights the traveler in the dark

Though I know not what you are, twinkle, twinkle, little star!

And in Spanish!

Brilla, Brilla Estrellita! 

Que me alumbras con Tu luz!

Tan alto, en el cielo

Tan bonita eres Tu

Brilla, Brilla, Estrellita!

Que me alumbras con Tu luz!

Then it's out to the Bookmobile to check out books!  I always sing this closing song  (a lot of singing, I know!):

Now it's time to say goodbye, say goodbye, say goodbye!

Now it's time to say goodbye, I'll see you in the Bookmobile!

(To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Other books to share:

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee

Voyage to the Bunny Planet by Rosemary Wells

Have fun with your stories and children!  Dream Big!