Books

“Mouse’s First Snow” by Lauren Thompson
“Go Away, Big Green Monster!” by Ed Emberley
“Monkey and Me” by Emily Gravett

ABC Magnets

I like to start and end the Alphabet program by singing our ABCs. To start I put out all of the letter magnets and have the children tell me what letter is missing, that becomes our letter of the day. After we go through the letter and some words that start with it I invite each child up to take two letters off the board and put it into my bag. At first all the children like to swarm up and will grab as many letters as they possibly can, but after a few weeks they begin to understand that they must wait until they hear their name called. To help them stick with two letters only I count out loud (this program maxes out at 12 children so I know I will have enough letters). The children get very excited when it is their turn, plus this helps them learn patience and how to take turns!

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (race fingers up arm)
The clock struck one (clap once)
The mouse ran down (race fingers down arm)
Hickory dickory dock

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (race fingers up arm)
The clock struck two (clap twice)
The mouse said “BOO!”
Hickory dickory dock

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (race fingers up arm)
The clock struct three (clap three times)
The mouse said, “Whee!” (raise arms up)
Hickory dickory dock

Hickory, dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock (race fingers up arm)
The clock struck four (clap four times)
The mouse said, “No more!” (shake finger)
Hickory dickory dock

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom (rub hands together in the air)
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip (pretend to climb imaginary ladder up arm)
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (count down on fingers)
Blast off! (raise hands)

Source: Jbrary

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (bounce five fingers)
One fell off and bumped his head (tap head)
Mama called the doctor (pretend phone to ear)
And the doctor said, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed” (shake finger)

(count down)

Marching Around the Alphabet by Hap Palmer

This song has become a story time favorite! Every week the children line up on the outside of the alphabet rug and start to march with their adult. When the whistle blows the children stop, bend down and point out which letter they are standing on. I like to participate as well and sometimes I will ask a child what letter they stopped on and the color of the square.

Parachute

The children all grab on and we make some waves (fast, slow, big, small) then I ask the parents to hold on to the parachute. The adults lower the parachute and then pop it into the air, the children then go under (lots of happy squeals) and we gently shake the parachute over their heads. We do this 3 or 4 times, there is always one child that doesn’t want to come out but the parents are pretty good about it. Next I have the children hold on again and place foam letters on the parachute. We shake the parachute and watch the letters fly (again lots of happy squeals)!

ABCs

Craft

I always tell the parents to please do not do the craft for their child, feel free to help them use the glue stick but if they want to put an eye where the foot should be well then that’s just artistic license!

How it Went: How cute is this letter craft? Several parents told me that they are making a letter book or poster with all of the letters their child made!