Busy Bee Bulletin Main Library 32737 W. Twelve Mile Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 848-4315 Farmington Branch 23500 Liberty Street Farmington, MI 48335 (248) 553-0300 x220 Find Us Online at: www.farmlib.org/wiki/Busy_Bee_Web www.facebook.com/fclbusybees Children’s Outreach Librarian (248) 553-6881
Literacy on the Move Did you know that you can support language acquisition and speaking skills with movement rhymes? According to Dr. Betsy DiamantCohen, movement activities increase blood flow to the brain, which boosts concentration along with memory performance, and helps regulate emotions. Some of the first words babies learn are from movement rhymes repeated over and over, such as “Patty Cake” and “Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” Group movement activities prepare participants to attentively listen to stories and to each other. Add movements to stories you read aloud by asking children to blow breath to make the wind, tap raindrops on knees, extend arms to mimic large animals, or use other actions for different stories.
We Wash Our Hands” or “Clean Up, Clean Up” to encourage children to have fun while completing necessary tasks. The following rhyme, adapted from Marc Brown’s book Play Rhymes (Dutton, 1987), ties animal names to movement and gently guides children to sit quietly: Can you hop like a rabbit? Can you jump like a frog? Can you waddle like a duck? Can you run like a dog? Can you fly like a bird? Can you swim like a fish? And then sit down like a quiet child, as still as this?
The Farmington Community Library offers many books of rhymes and fingerplays for teachers and parents. Our Busy Bee Web has a link to Curriculum Planning Resources including STORYTIMES ONLINE, which offers a comprehensive source of rhymes. The Library’s staff is always happy to help you find fun and meaningful books, music, and activities to share with young children.
Links Busy Bee Web http://www.farmlib.org/wiki/ Busy_Bee_Web Storytimes Online http://youthliterature.com/index.html
Use songs such as “This Is the Way
Busy Bee Bulletin