Were you ever holding storytime when the fire bell sounded?
It happened at our storytime last week, and although it was a scheduled fire evacuation practice, storytime should have just/almost have finished when the alarm was scheduled. We did have some notice, not enough to re-schedule, but sufficient to change the theme to fire engines. We started off very promptly and set off at a clip, after giving them fair warning of what was to happen.
Song: Hello, How are you? (now my favourite opening song)
1 fire engine [thumb up]
2 fire engines [index finger up]
3 fire engines [middle finger up]
4 [ring finger up]
5 fire engines all in a row [pinkie finger up]
Back to the fire station they all go! [Thumb into palm with fingers folded over the thumb].
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck, [pretend to steer]
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck,
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck,
Ding, ding, ding, ding!
... turn the corner [lean to the right & then to the left]
... Climb the ladder [pretend to climb ladder]
... spray the water [pretend to spray hose]
Slowly, slowly, back to the station [pretend to steer slowly].
Song: If you want to read a book, clap your hands (do this every time)
Action Rhyme: I Wiggle my fingers (do this one everytime too)
Story: Meeow and the big box, Sabastien Braun
Cute black cat makes his own fire engine from a cardboard box and household items. This went down well and was borrowed after, so yeah!
THE BELL RANG NOW!!!!
I cleared the library, saw them out of the building, apologised to the participants. They all went home (so I thought) and Staff and diehard customers walked to the rallying point. After the 'all clear' we returned to the library. All the storytime mums were waiting for us - they hadn't changed their books! They were eager to do some more, so we continued ...
Song: The Wheels on the bus
Story: The journey home from Grandpa's, Jemima Lumley
A story/song about a variety of vehicles seen on the journey to Grandpa's house, including a fire engine. We didn't sing it, I was still in shock from seeing them all again so soon! I wasn't happy with all the repititon (the more the merrier usually), so I skipped quite a few of the lines. It would have been much better to sing it (note to self).
Action Rhyme: Fireman, Fireman Turn Around (adaptation of Teddybear, teddybear)
Fireman, fireman, turn around
Fireman, fireman, touch the ground
Fireman, fireman, show your big work boot [no scanning here!]
Fireman, fireman, that will do
Fireman, fireman, climb the stair
Fireman, fireman, jump in the air
Fireman, fireman, turn out the light
Fireman, fireman, say good night.
Closing Song: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (as per usual)
Extra song we didn't do (the age make-up of the group was too young, and we had to drop something). Actually this would make a good flannel, but I didn't have enough red felt.
Five little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 4 5 lets go.
Jump on the engine with a SHOUT,
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Four little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 4 shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Three little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Two little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 shhh shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
One little firemen standing in a row,
1 shhh shhh shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
I used some of the items for my Rising 3's group later in the week, and we read the books: Touch and feel fire engine, and The journey home from Grandpa's. They really enjoyed the Hurry, Hurry song, although none of them (nor the teachers) were familiar with it previously.