"Songs help children hear words broken down into syllables because there is a different note for each syllable. This promotes an important early literacy skill called phonological awareness, the ability to hear the small sounds that make up words. This skill helps children sound out words when they begin to read.” (School Library Journal; “Storytime Lessons,” March 1, 2006.)

CHILDREN ARE VERY FORGIVING WHEN IT COMES TO SINGING. They love learning new songs, and sing familiar songs with enthusiasm. 

IDEAS FOR USING SONGS IN STORYTIME

Substitute new words to familiar tunes---

If you're happy and you know it...becomes:

If you want to be a mouse, nibble cheese...

If you want to be a train, go choo-choo...

If you want to be a dinosaur, give a roar... 

see also: http://www.nancymusic.com/index.htm

              Chants

              Opening & Closing Rituals

              Songs for Storytime

TITLE                                   LYRIC/TUNE SOURCE       SUBJECTS

Sailing, Sailing                                                    K                                (sea)

School Days, School Days                                 K                                (school)

Shake My Sillies Out (Raffi)                                R                               (silly, action)                    

Sharing Song (Raffi)                                           *I*                              (sharing)

She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain               B-K-N                        (horses, action)      

+ Sing a Rainbow                                               N                                 (colors)

+ Six Little Dogs                                                 N                                 (dogs, counting, sounds)          

+ Six Little Ducks                                               B-K-R                          (ducks, counting, sounds)

Skinnamarink (Sharon, Lois & Bram)                K                                  (love, action)                    

Smile Was on the Crocodile                              K                                   (monkeys, crocodiles, action)          

Somewhere Over the Rainbow                         *I*                                  (rainbows, lullaby)

Spider on the Floor                                           SS                                 (spiders, body parts)          

Summertime                                                      *I*                                 (summer, attitude)

+ Susie Snowflake                                             *I*                                 (snow, action)          

Take Me Out to the Ballgame                             K-N                              (baseball)

Tap, Tap, Tap Go Baby Shoes                                                                 (shoes, babies)

Teddy Bear’s Picnic                                           *I*                                   (bears, picnics)

Tender Shepherd                                               *I*                                   (sheep, sleep, counting)

+ There Was A Crooked Man                            B-K                                (MG, silly)          

+ There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly B-K-N                     (MG, animals, silly)

There Was a Princess Long Ago                        *I*                                 (royalty, fairy tales)          

There Were 10 In the Bed                                  *I*                                 (action)

+ There’s A Hole In the Bottom of the Sea         K                                  (sea, sequencing, action)

This Is a Story About Sammy                                                                  (shopping, animals, action)          

This Is The Song That Never Ends                     B                                  (silly)          

This Land Is Your Land                                       SS                                (America, folk)

This Little Light of Mine                                       K                                  (light, positive thinking)

This Old Man                                                      B-K-S                           (numbers, action)

Three Little Fishies (Itty Bitty Pool)                     N                                 (fish, sea)

Thumbelina                                                         N                                 (size, action)

+ Today Is Monday                                             K-S                              (food, days of the week)

Together Tomorrow  (Tom Chapin)                     S                                 (friendship, goodbye) 

Turn Around Song                                              S                                 (movement, body parts, goodbye)       

Waddly Acha                                                       *I*                               (silly, action)

Waves on the Beach                                                                             (ocean life, action)          

We’re Following the Leader                                *I*                               (play, action)          

What Did Delaware, Boys?                                  B-K-SS                      (States, camp)

What Shall We Do With a Piece of Paper                                             (recycling)

Wheels on the Bus                                               B-N                           (buses, action)

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling                                K                              (St. Patrick’s Day, eyes, smiles)          

When I Build My House                                                                        (building, action)

When You Wish Upon A Star                               N                              (stars, wishes)

Where is Thumbkin?                                            B-K                           (MG, fingers, action)

Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?      B                              (MG, dogs)                    

Where’s My Pajamas?                                         *I*                             (sleep, action)          

Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?      *I*                             (community workers)                    

Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?     *I*                             (rhythm, cookies, action)

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?                       N                             (wolves)

Wringle-Wrangle                                                  *I*                           (cowboys)          

Yankee Doodle                                                    B-K-N-SS               (patriotic)          

You Are My Sunshine                                          N                            (happiness)

SOURCE KEY

MG ---Mother Goose

B --- www.bussongs.com

K --- www.kididdles.com

L --- www.lyricsandsongs.com

N --- www.niehs.nih.gov/music.htm

R --- www.rainbowsongs.com

S --- www.songsforteaching.com

SS --- www.scoutsongs.com

*I* --- various sites on the internet