I’m not sure what made me want to do this theme…. It’s a bit narrow for my normal taste. However, it proved to be pretty fun!
Books
Bathtime for Little Rabbit by Jorg Muhle
Water by Frank Asch
Be Brave Little Penguin by Giles Andreae
Dirt + Water = Mud by Katherine Hannigan
Activities
“Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
I use this song and it’s additional verses all the time. Use an alligator and lion puppet and break them out at the right time to get oohs, awes, and screams from the little ones who always thing they are real!
“Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Rock, rock, rock your boat
gently down the stream
If you see an crocodile,
don’t forget to scream
Row, row, row your boat
gently to the shore
If you see a lion there,
don’t forget to roar
“Splish, Splash, I’m in the Bath”
A super cute little action rhyme that is not only great for storytime, but is also great for bathtime!
“Splish, Splash, I’m in the Bath”
Splish splash, I’m in the bath. (splashing motions)
First I’m a whale with a great big tail.
(Cross forearms and wave over head like a whale’s tail)
Now I’m a boat with wind in its sail.
(Put hands upward with forearms together like a sail)
Splish splash, I’m in the bath.
I can be a fish swimming for home. (Put hands together and wiggle like a fish)
Now I have a beard of soapy foam. (Stroke chin)
Splish splash I’m in the bath.
Pull the plug – no more time to play. (Pretend to pull the drain plug.)
I’ll be a shark another day. (Show teeth and look mean.)
“What Goes in the Tub?”
This is a flannel activity and to do it, you will need a bathtub flannel and various items, some that go in the bath tub (like soap, bubblebath, and a rubber ducky) and some that don’t belong (like pizza, an elephant, and shoes). (1) Sing the rhyme, (2) ask about an item and (3) put it in or out of the bathtub depending on whether it belongs. Repeat until all the items are categorized!
“What Goes in the Tub?”
Rub-a-dub-dub I’m in the tub
And I am getting clean.
Rub-a-dub-dub
What goes in my tub?
Can you help me please?
Making a Rainstorm
This is super fun and gets all the parents and caregivers involved as well. I did it towards the end as a wrap up because it can get pretty high energy!
Script
Sometimes, it sprinkles a little bit of rain and sometimes we have big thunderstorms. Let’s make our very own rainstorm today. Grownups, I think we’re going to need your help today to make a really great rainstorm.
(Start by rubbing hands together to make wind,)
the wind is rustling the leaves in the trees
(Snap fingers for raindrops.)
the raindrops start falling
(Pat hands on lap)
the raindrops are falling faster
(Stomp feet)
there’s some thunder too
(Pat hands on lap)
the rain is slowing down
(Snap fingers)
now we have just little raindrops
(Rub hands together)
the rain stopped, and now all we have is the breeze through the leaves on the trees
