"doing the pigeon" and other bird-brained ideas

Thankfully there are a ton of great resources out there for librarians, teachers, day care providers and parents who do things around theme, or just want a catchy song or activity--hours of my life have been spared because so many people share said resources online. I will try and post my "lesson plans" for my storytimes and programs. Last week I had a public school visit with a class full of Kindergarteners.

Let me first say A. I love school visits  B. I try and have lots of movement in my storytimes, especially with younger kids--not only to make things more fun, but also to help keep their attention.  C. I HEART Sesame Street to pieces and will probably ALWAYS feature some of their music in my programs. There are so many choices!  And so many funny song!  D. Our storytimes are roughly a half an hour long (this one ran about 35 minutes)

The pigeon who wants to drive the bus. Found here.

1. Introduce myself and theme: BIRDS!
2. Now before we begin, let’s all stand up and shake our sillies out!”:
   “Shake Your Sillies out,” More Singable Songs, #13
3. Rhyme/Movement: "The Owl"
   There's a wide eyed owl (thumbs and forefingers around eyes)
   With a pointed nose, (forefinger makes a v at end of nose)
   Two pointed ears, (forefingers extended up from head)
   and claws for toes, (fingers and arms bent in front of chest)
   When he sits up in the tree, (point to tree)
   and he looks at you, (point at a child in the group)
   he flaps his wings, (fold arms into arm pits and flap)
   And he says 'Whoo Whoo.'
   ~Submitted by Cheryl's Sweethearts ChildCare
   
   "So, now what do you think the first book is going to be about?"
4. Book 1: Owl Babies, M. Waddell
5. Rhyme/Finger Puppet: “5 Little Birds”
   
   *encourage the kids to hold up 5 fingers and count down while rhyme is happening*
   
   5 little birds went out to play,
   over the hills and far away,Mother bird called *used bird puppet w/chirp*
   and only 4 birds came back...
   4 little birds, etc...(repeating until there are no birds left)
   Then mother bird calls again and ALL birds come back      
    
*I used storytime mitt w/5 bird (velcro-backed) finger puppets and the mother bird was this AWESOME Audobon series hand-sized puppet that actually chirps. The kids loved it.*
6. Music/Movement: “If you’re happy and you know it,”
   “The next book is about a bird and his feelings—what do you think he is
   feeling?” (Show the cover of the book) 
7. Book 2: Grumpy Bird, J. Tankard
8. Music/Movement: "Alright, everyone get up and spread out, we're: “Doing the pigeon,” Bert, Sesame Street Platinum All-Time Favorites, #6
   
   “After dancing to that song, what do you think our last book is about?”
9. Book 3: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Mo Willems
10. Music/Movement: Rhythm Sticks tapping to “Rock and Roll Freeze Dance,” Hap Palmer’s “So Big,” #5 
    
    P.S. I copied and pasted my lesson plan from word, so please excuse this wonkey layout!
    

    

    Tankard' Grumpy Bird, pursued by friends. Here.