Enjoy this Do-It-Yourself Storytime on Building whenever you like!*
Story: If I Built a House
• Written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
• Published by Dial Books
• Presented by MissEmsBookworm Read Aloud
A boy with a big imagination dreams up the best house ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G3XOtCpD3I
Instructions to build a cardboard gingerbread playhouse for kids by Inner Child Fun. Includes a link to build a toy-size cardboard house.
https://innerchildfun.com/2013/11/cardboard-gingerbread-house-life-size.html
Story: Pete the Cat – Construction Destruction
• Written and illustrated by James Dean
• Published by HarperFestival
• Presented by Storytime Train
Pete builds a grand new playground for his school.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBU2-yTSOo8
How to make a Construction Zone Sensory Bin from Modern Preschool:
https://modernpreschool.com/construction-zone-sensory-bin/
Story: Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
• Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker
• Illustrated by Tom Lichetenheld
• Published by Chronicle Books
• Presented by The Joyful Bookshelf
At the end of a long work day, the construction vehicles get ready for bedtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQnX6IAvK-w
Awesome STEM building activities from Little Bins Little Hands:
https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/best-structure-building-activities-kids/
Songs:
Construction Machines Song by Bounce Patrol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17nQ74S5SfU
Construction Site Song by Universal Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYU8HAYP7oY&t=3s
Bob the Builder songs (25 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYU8HAYP7oY&t=3s
Rhymes and Fingerplays
The Tools in My Box
(tune: The Wheels on the Bus)
The ruler in my box goes measure, measure, measure,
Measure, measure, measure, measure, measure, measure,
The ruler in my box goes measure, measure, measure,
While I’m at work.
The pencil in my box goes mark, mark, mark
Mark, mark, mark, mark, mark, mark
The pencil in my box goes mark, mark, mark
While I’m at work.
The level in my box goes balance, balance, balance,
Balance, balance, balance, balance, balance, balance,
The level in my box goes balance, balance, balance,
While I’m at work.
The hammer in my box goes up and down
Up and down, up and down
The hammer in my box goes up and down
While I’m at work.
The nails in my box go down, down, down,
Down, down, down, down, down, down,
The nails in my box go down, down, down,
While I’m at work.
The saw in my box goes back and forth
Back and forth, back and forth
The saw in my box goes back and forth
While I’m at work.
The wrench in my box goes turn, turn, turn,
Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn,
The wrench in my box goes turn, turn, turn,
While I’m at work.
The screwdriver in my box goes round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The screwdriver in my box goes round and round,
While I’m at work.
The chisel in my box goes push, push, push,
Push, push, push, push, push, push,
The chisel in my box goes push, push, push,
While I’m at work.
The pliers in my box go pull, pull, pull,
Pull, pull, pull, pull, pull, pull,
The pliers in my box go pull, pull, pull,
While I’m at work.
The tools in my book go build, build, build,
Build, build, build, build, build, build,
The tools in my book go build, build, build,
While I’m at work.
A House for Me
The carpenter’s tape (Pull one hand in and out of imaginary
Goes measure, zip, measure: tape measure)
And her level goes tip, top, tee. (hold hands out and tip from side to side)
She measures and measures
And levels and levels
And builds a house for me.
The carpenter’s hammer (Make a fist of one hand and pound in
Goes rap, rap, rap; palm of other)
And her saw goes see, saw, see. (Move arm in sawing motion)
She hammers and hammers
And saws and saws,
And builds a house for me.
Construction Worker Song
(tune: Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush)
(pretend to do these actions for each verse)
This is the way we measure the wood
Measure the wood, measure the wood
This is the way we measure the wood
When we construct a building.
Other verses:
This is the way we saw the wood
This the way we pound the nails
This the way we drill a hole
This the way we use a screwdriver
This the way we mix the paint
This the way we paint the walls
This the way we stack the bricks
(What other verses can you think of?)
*The Stratford Library encourages families to view internet sites with caution and is not responsible for broken or altered hyperlinks.