When winter gets closer, it’s impossible not to do a storytime about polar bears, penguins, and hibernators! See my Winter Storytime and Alternatives to Holiday Storytimes for more ideas!
Books
for the tots
If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor
No Two Alike by Keith Baker
Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera
Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson
for preschool+
Little Penguin and the Lollipop by Tadgh Bentley
Activities
“That Penguin’s as Cute as Can Be”
I used a penguin puppet for this little rhyme, making him “slide” and “jump” and wiggle his feathers. You can also do it as an action rhyme!
“The Penguin Slides Over the Ice Bank”
The penguin slides over the ice bank,
The penguin jumps into the sea,
Look at his black and white feathers,
That penguin’s as cute as can be.
“There’s Something in the Snow…”
This is another one of those great activities that can be adapted for just about any theme! Decorate a box and put puppets (or flannels) inside. Say the rhyme, make the sound, and see if the kids can guess which animal it is. Then bring the animal out of the box to tell the answer! I’ve found that kids of all ages love a good guessing game!
“There is Something in the Snow”
There’s something in the snow, now what can it be?
There’s something in the snow that I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…HOWL
a wolf is what I found! HOWL
…CAW, A cardinal is what I found!
…GRR, A bear is what I found!
…WADDLE, A penguin is what I found!
“Polar Bear, Polar Bear”
And of course….
“Polar Bear, Polar Bear”
Polar bear, polar bear turn around,
Polar bear, polar bear touch the ground,
Polar bear, polar bear bend down low,
Polar bear, polar bear touch your toe.
Polar bear, polar bear slide on the ice,
Polar bear, polar bear spin around twice,
Polar bear, polar bear reach up high,
Polar bear, polar bear wave goodbye.
2 thoughts on “Cold Weather Animals Storytime”