December 27, 2023, By Library Staff in Early Literacy.
The Youth Services team at ImagineIF Libraries plans and implements early literacy programs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in Kalispell, Bigfork, and Columbia Falls. Our goal in every Storytime is to connect with young children and their caregivers through books, songs, and interactive activities that foster early literacy and social emotional skills.
Explore the Storytime Schedule
Beep Beep! Hop on board and come along to our storytime all about TRUCKS and other Things That Go!
Books Read:
- Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep!
- by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson
ISBN: 9781612545998 - Little Blue Truck Makes a Friend
- by Alice Schertle
ISBN: 9780358722823 - Mucky Truck
- by Ammi-Joan Paquette
ISBN: 9781250263803
- We have so much fun singing along to this story. Kids especially love repeating the phrase: “Bing, bang, chugga, beep, This old car goes bouncing on”!
- Rhyming words, large colorful words (like “BEEP!”) and animal sounds invite plenty of participation for this read aloud hit.
- Full of vehicle vocabulary and messy muddy fun! We followed this story up with the song “Hurry Hurry Drive the Fire Truck” in order to re-enact the fire engine coming to the rescue.
Songs & Interactives:
- Parachute Play: “The Wheels on the Bus”
- A parachute is a great way to practice listening and cooperative group play! We walked in a circle while holding the edge of the parachute as the “wheels on the bus go ’round”, moved the chute side to side for swishing window wipers, and of course went up and down many, many times.
- “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
- “Hurry Hurry Drive the Firetruck”
- This is a fun jump-around activity with the kiddos enacting all the steps—get those bells dinging!
Hurry, hurry, drive the firetruck,
Hurry, hurry, drive the firetruck,
Hurry, hurry, drive the firetruck,
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner,
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner,
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner,
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder,
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder,
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder,
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
Hurry, hurry, Spray the water,
Hurry, hurry, Spray the water,
Hurry, hurry, Spray the water,
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. - “Dump Truck, Dump Truck” Rhyme
Dump truck, dump truck, Bumping down the road (pat knees or bounce)
Spilling gravel as we travel with our heavy load (sway side to side)
Dump truck, dump truck, Bumping down the road
Dump truck, dump truck, dump truck – DUMP! (fall backwards or lift hand up)
Activities:
- Construction Sensory Play
- Black beans, smooth rocks, and small construction toys.
- Dramatic Play: Dump Trucks
- Green Toys big trucks with small cube blocks for transporting.
- STEAM: Build a Truck with Shapes
- Paste pre-cut construction paper shapes together to make a picture.
- Collaborative Art Play
- Butcher paper, road stamps, ink pads, and matchbox cars.
