1, 2, 3 Go! Counting, Colors, Clothing

This week's 1, 2, 3 Go! class incorporates many different learning themes including counting, rhyming, repetition, colors and clothing.  Counting aloud not only introduces new sounds and words to help build vocabulary, but also creates a stimulating learning environment.  Rhyming helps young children remember these important concepts and reinforces what they are learning in a positive manner.  Playing dress up and learning about clothing items helps elevate children's imaginations and allows them to embrace their creativity.  Taking these games and including color elements enriches the concept even more.  

For example, when you count evergreens talk about trees and what colors they are throughout the seasons.  When you sing the colorful noses rhyme, children are already using colors in addition to learning new words such as shoe and jumping.  Rhyming is included in almost every rhyme, and it reinforces the ideas in the songs. 

Six Little Evergreens Rhyme
Six little trees standing in a row,
Their prickly needles all covered with snow.
The first tree is short.
The second tree is tall.
The third tree looks like it just might fall.
The fourth tree is skinny.
The fifth tree is stumpy.
The sixth tree’s bark is rough and bumpy!
Six little trees standing in a row,
Their prickly needles all covered with snow.

Colorful Noses Rhyme
Brown bear, brown bear, nose so black, rub your tummy and touch your back.
Brown bear, brown bear, nose so red, pat your legs and nod your head.
Brown bear, brown bear, nose so blue, touch your knee and then your shoe.
Brown bear, brown bear, nose so green, jump up like a jumping bean.
Brown bear, brown bear, nose so pink, close your eyes and make them blink. 
Brown bear, brown bear, nose so white, hide your hands out of sight.   

Bears Are Sleeping Rhyme
Bears are sleeping, bears are sleeping,
In their lairs, in their lairs.  (Pretend to sleep)
Soon it will be springtime, soon it will be springtime,
Wake up, bears!  Wake up bears!  (Pretend to wake up)

Bears are sleeping, bears are sleeping,
In their lairs, in their lairs.  (Pretend to sleep)
Soon it will be springtime, soon it will be springtime,
Wake up, bears!  Wake up bears!  (Pretend to wake up)

It’s Not That Cold Outside Song 
I don’t want to wear my coat, wear my coat, wear my coat.
I don’t want to wear my coat.
It’s not that cold outside.

I don’t want to wear my hat, wear my hat, wear my hat.
I don’t want to wear my hat.
It’s not that cold outside.   

(Repeat verse with other items such as scarf, boots or gloves)

We read these books at 1, 2, 3 Go! this week: 

Kate's Surprise by Ann Burg
Pete wants to play out in the snow, but he doesn't feel well until his sister cheers him up.
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Kitten's Winter by Eugenie Fernandez
A young kitten explores the woods on a cold winter day as other animals shelter from the weather or engage in their usual seasonal activities.
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Clothing and Counting Books

We read several books this week at Story Mix all around the theme of clothing and counting. One of the first learning concepts children are exposed to are numbers and counting.  Counting aloud not only introduces new sounds and words, but also creates a stimulating learning environment.  Learning about clothing items also prepares children to dress themselves as they go to school, in addition to hearing new sounds and words, which increases vocabulary.

Send us your suggestions for clothing and counting books and we might include it in a future posting!


That Pup by Lindsay Barrett George
After having fun digging up acorns, a little dog decides to bury them all again. 
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Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
After reading "Puss in Boots," an adventurous dog sets out to find the perfect pair of shoes to suit his every need. 
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How Many Feet in the Bed? by Diane Johnston Hamm
Count the feet as a family of five tumble in and out of bed on a Sunday morning. 
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Whose Shoes? by Anna Grossnickle Hines
A mouse tries on the shoes of various family members, from Daddy's great big clompy shoes and Mommy's clappy high-heeled shoes to those of Brother and Baby, but only one pair is just right.
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Together by Hazel Hutchins
Explores what keeps clothing and other things together in everyday life. 
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Pete the Cat:  I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat gets into colorful adventures while out walking in his new white shoes. 
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Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing. 
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Chicka, Chicka, 1, 2, 3 by Bill Martin, Jr.
Numbers from one to one hundred climb to the top of an apple tree in this rhyming chant. 
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New Socks by Bob Shea
A chicken is filled with excitement and self-confidence when he dons a new pair of orange socks. 
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Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Wilbur, a naked mole rat who likes to wear clothes, is forced to go before the wise community elder, who surprises the other naked mole rats with his announcement.. 
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Story Mix for Three to Six: Playing Dress Up

Boys and Girls both love to play dress up, whether it be in a fancy princess costume or pretending to be a crime fighting superhero.  This week's Story Mix offers stories for children to incorporate dressing up at playtime! Such active play helps elevate children's imaginations and allows them to embrace their creativity.

Children also love to count and compare, as displayed in the Fancy Valentine rhyme below,  which help them continue to learn. Incorporate such counting and color games into dress up playtime by asking questions such as how many shoes we wear or what color is our hat?  Such games help children get ready to read!


Fancy Valentines Fingerplay Rhyme
5 fancy valentines waiting in the store,
Fancy Nancy bought one,
And then there were 4
4 pretty valentines for you and me,
Fancy Nancy bought one,
And then there were 3
3 pretty valentines wondering what to do,
Fancy Nancy bought one,
And then there were 2
2 pretty valentines thinking up some fun,
Fancy Nancy bought one,
And then there was 1
1 pretty valentine said “buy me and run!”
Fancy Nancy did that,
And then there were none

The Kettles Get New Clothes by Dayle Ann Dodds
When the small town store where they usually buy their clothes changes hands, the Kettles are in for a surprise on their annual shopping trip. 
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Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
A young girl who loves fancy things helps her family to be fancy for one special night. 
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Ooh La La Polka-Dot Boots by Ellen Olson-Brown
Illustrations and brief rhyming text sing the praises of polka dot boots, which add panache to any outfit. 
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Too Purpley! by Jean Reidy
A young girl rejects many outfits before finding the perfect clothes to wear. 
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Terrific Twos: Toe Tapping Fun

It's our third week of toe tapping fun at the Terrific Twos fall program and we have several new rhymes and books to share. Children love to move their feet by dancing, hopping, tapping and running.  The interactive foot movements in the rhyme below help children to think symbolically by connecting the motions with the words.  Clapping, tapping and bouncing to rhythms allows children to also hear syllables and improves motor skills.

My Silly Feet Rhyme
Have you seen my silly feet, (wiggle feet)
Walking down the silly street? (pretend to walk around)
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, (walk fast, then slow)
Sometimes high, sometimes low. (walk high, walk low)

Come and walk along with me, (walk with each other)
Walk just like my feet you see. (walk like you see your child walking)
First we’ll glide on skates, then stop, (pretend to glide on skates, then stop)
Then we’ll spin and hop, hop, hop.  (spin and hop)

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At the beginning of each Terrific Twos program, we sing the song called, "Sing it, Say it, Stamp it, Sway it" by Peter and Ellen Allard.  This music CD is available to check out at the library.  Play the CD in your car so you and your child can sing along while driving.  Or play the CD at home for some toe tapping fun.  For additional resources from Peter and Ellen Allard, visit their website.  

Check catalog availability of "Sing it, Say it, Stamp it, Sway it."

Sing it, Say it, Stamp it, Sway it
Words and Music: Peter and Ellen Allard

Fingers wiggling, fingers wiggling, wiggling 1-2-3
Fingers wiggling, wiggling 'til they stop.

Knees bending, knees bending, bending 1-2-3
Knees bending, wiggling 'til they stop.

Legs marching, legs marching, marching 1-2-3
Legs marching, marching 'til they stop. 

Repeat the song using other motions:
Arms swaying...
Eyes blinking...
Shoulders shrugging...
Bodies moving...

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In addition to activities and rhymes, have fun reading these two books with your Terrific Two Year Old! For more books about shoes and feet, check out this Ready Set Read Terrific Twos post.

Which Shoes Would You Chose by Betsy Rosenthal
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What Shall We Do When We All Go Out? by Shari Halpern
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Terrific Twos: Fancy Feet

The second week of the Terrific Twos fall program continues with our fun and fancy feet and shoes theme!  Using a combination of props, puppets, stories, rhymes and music, children are invited to participate in interactive motions and lively activities.  Different kinds of playtime help children learn about language.   Playing also helps children understand that written words stand for real objects and experiences.  The more language experiences children have, the more words they learn.

Below are two rhymes two year old children will love to tap their feet to!  The first rhyme, "Here We Go", is sung at the beginning of each Terrific Two program. 

Here We Go Rhyme
Here we go up, up, up.  (hands up in the air)
Here we go down, down, down.  (hands back down to your side)
Here we go forward.  (take one step forward)
Here we go backward.  (take one step backward)
Here we go round and round and round. (turn once around)
Sit down!

Here we go up, up, up.  (hands up in the air)
Here we go down, down, down.  (hands back down to your side)
Here we go forward.  (take one step forward)
Here we go backward.  (take one step backward)
Here we go round and round and round. (turn once around)
Sit down!


Hickory Dickory Dock Rhyme
Hickory Dickory Dock
Let’s put on our socks
We’ll walk around, not making a sound
When we wear our socks.

Hickory Dickory Dock
Let’s put on our socks
We’ll walk around, not making a sound
When we wear our socks.

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In addition to these two rhymes, we read several books at this week's Terrific Twos program.  These books are about shoes, because sometimes two year olds want fancier shoes than plain old sneakers!  For additional books about shoes and feet, check out last week's Ready Set Read Terrific Twos post.

Whose Shoes? by Anna Grossnickle Hines
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New Shoes, Red Shoes by Susan Rollings
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Terrific Twos: Feet are Fantastic!

Do you have a Terrific Two-Year Old?  Then you and your child have probably enjoyed our weekly program especially for boys and girls aged 24-36 months.  The first week of the Fall program introduced several concepts to two-year olds such as hands, feet and the actions of each of these body parts.  With interactive motions children will begin to think symbolically and develop oral language skills.  Through such playtime, children then practice putting thoughts into words.  Rhythmic language through the song and books listed below also engage your child to learn about feet and their motions.


My Two Feet Rhyme
(Sung to the tune of 'Mary had a Little Lamb')
This is what my feet can do, feet can do, feet can do.
This is what my feet can do...
Can you do it too?

Let your feet go hop, hop, hop,
Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop, hop.
Let your feet go hop, hop, hop...
All around the room.

This is what my feet can do, feet can do, feet can do.
This is what my feet can do...
Can you do it too?

Let your feet go march, march, march,
March, march, march, march, march, march.
Let your feet go march, march, march...
All around the room.

This is what my feet can do, feet can do, feet can do.
This is what my feet can do...
Can you do it too?

Let your feet go tip-toeing, tip-toeing, tip-toeing,
Let your feet go tip-toeing, tip-toeing, tip-toeing...
All around the room.

Now your feet can sit right down, sit right down, sit right down.
Now your feet can sit right down, very quietly.

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The story read in this week's Terrific Twos program was My Two Hands, My Two Feet by Rick Walton
In separate rhyming stories, two girls describe how they use their hands and feet.
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For more fun books about feet to read together, try one of these: 

Two Shoes, Blue Shoes, New Shoes by Sally Fitz-Gibbon
A brand new pair of shoes can hop and skip to school better than anything. And nobody is as proud of her shiny footwear as this little girl, who bounces and dances her way through an imaginative adventure that only her two, new, blue shoes can discover.
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Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert
In a lively guessing game format, find out why the feet of tree frogs, and those of eight other animals, are perfectly adapted to their habitats.
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Ooh La La Polka Dot Boots by Ellen Olson-Brown
Illustrations and brief rhyming text sing the praises of polka dot boots, which add panache to any outfit.
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Hello Toes! Hello Feet! by Ann Whitford Paul
A girl takes delight in all the things she and her feet do throughout the day.
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Hooray for Feet! by Susan Pearson
Hooray for Feet! celebrates the many ways our feet are always part of the action: holding us up, hurrying us along, stopping us short, taking us wherever we want to go.
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Harris Finds His Feet by Catherine Raynor
Harris, a very small hare with very big feet, has an elderly Grandad who teaches him the many uses of big, strong feet and other important life lessons.
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I Feel a Foot! by Maranke Rinck & Martijn van der Linden
Five animal friends, awakened by a strange noise, discover a creature in the dark that seems to be a giant-sized version of each of them.
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One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab: a counting by feet book by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre
A counting book featuring animals with different numbers of feet.
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Baby Shoes by Dashka Slater
After taking a walk with his mother, Baby's new white shoes with the blue stripe are covered with a variety of colors.
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Right and Lefty: a tale of two feet by Rachel Vail
Even though Lefty and Righty like different things, they find they must learn to get along together without tripping over each other.

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