Enjoy this DIY Storytime on the theme of Elephants whenever is convenient for your family.
Do-It-Yourself Storytime
ELEPHANTS
BOOKS
Elmer, the Patchwork Elephant
• Written and illustrated by David McKee
• Published by HarperCollins
• Presented by Bianca Cebotari
All the elephants of the jungle were gray except Elmer, who was a patchwork of brilliant colors. But one day, he got tired of being different.
https://video.link/w/SDx5c
The Imagination Tree has directions for making an Elmer figure using a milk jug and tissue paper.
https://theimaginationtree.com/milk-jug-elmer-elephant-craft/
Never Mail an Elephant
• Written by Mike Thaler
• Illustrated by Jerry Smith
• Published by Troll
• Presented by Planet Shnars
A boy runs into trouble when trying to mail an elephant to his cousin for her birthday.
https://video.link/w/aEx5c
How to Draw Dumbo by Art for Kids Hub:
https://video.link/w/kEx5c
Have You Seen Elephant?
• Written and illustrated by David Barrow
• Published by Gecko Press
• Presented by Learning Tree TV
See if you can find the elephant hiding in the story!
https://video.link/w/tEx5c
DLTK’s Crafts for Kids has printable templates and directions for making a paper bag elephant puppet:
https://www.dltk-kids.com/ANIMALS/mbagelephant.htm
SONGS
Elephant Dance Song from Maple Leaf Learning Club:
https://video.link/w/5Ex5c
Elephants Have Wrinkles by Howdytoons
https://video.link/w/AEx5c
One Elephant Went Out to Play by The Kibommers
https://video.link/w/IEx5c
(To make a game out of this song, place a long string or ribbon on the floor and have your child “tight- rope walk” along it.
For a group of children: Tuck a dish towel in the back of each child’s waistband. As each child is called, they grab the other end of the paper strip to make a long line of walking, swaying elephants.)
RHYMES AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES
The Elephants Are Here!
(tune: The Farmer in the Dell)
The elephants are here! (Point to invisible elephants)
The elephants are here!
Look at all the elephants!
The elephants are here!
They’re exercising now. (March in place, pumping arms)
They’re exercising now.
Look at all the elephants!
They’re exercising now.
They’re jumping up and down! (Jump up and down)
They’re jumping up and down!
Look at all the elephants!
They’re jumping up and down!
(Add other activities for kids to act out)
They’re doing push ups now…
They’re touching all their toes…
They’re spinning ’round and ’round…
(Keep going until kids are tired out.
Then sing the last verse slowly as they sink to floor and lie down.)
They’re all exhausted now…
They’re all exhausted now…
Look at all the elephants…
They’re all exhausted now…
ZZZZZZZ (Lots of snoring)
Elephant Parts
The elephant has a great big trunk (put arms together and swing in front of your body)
That goes swinging to and fro
And he has tiny, tiny eyes (make little circles with fingers and hold up to eyes)
That show him where to go.
His great big ears go flopping around (hold arms out wide and wiggle them)
While his great big feet go STOMP on the ground. (stomp feet)
If You’re an Elephant and You Know It
(tune: If You’re happy and You Know it)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Wave your trunk (put arms together and swing in front of your body)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Wave your trunk (put arms together and swing in front of your body)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Wave your trunk. (put arms together and swing in front of your body)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Stomp your feet (stomp, stomp)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Stomp your feet (stomp, stomp)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Stomp your feet. (stomp, stomp)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Wiggle your ears (put hands near your ears and wiggle them)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Wiggle your ears (put hands near your ears and wiggle them)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Wiggle your ears. (put hands near your ears and wiggle them)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Do all three (swing, swing, stomp, stomp, wiggle, wiggle)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Do all three (swing, swing, stomp, stomp, wiggle, wiggle)
If you’re an elephant and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re an elephant and you know it
Do all three. (swing, swing, stomp, stomp, wiggle, wiggle)
