Little Monkeys
2’s and 3’s, 4’s and 5’s
1. Storytime – Starting Song
Walking Through the Jungle (Have children pretend to be the animal seen!)
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some green and scaly crocodiles were snapping at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some slippery, slimy snakes were hissing at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some funny little monkeys were laughing at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some great big lions were roaring at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some nice quiet children were waiting for me!
(Children sit quietly for next part of program!)
2. Read first story “Hug” or “Big Little Monkey”
3. Fingerplay: Five Little Monkeys
Five Little Monkeys sitting in a tree (hold up five fingers, bounce up and down)
Along came a crocodile, hungry as can be. (Other hand is crocodile. Thumb and forefinger opening and closing mouth)
Nah nah nah nah nah, you can’t catch me!
Snap! (Crocodile grabs finger (monkey))
Four little monkeys…..
Three
Two
One…..
Missed me!
Or: Five Little Monkeys
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the bed (hold up five fingers, bounce up and down)
One fell off and bumped his head (Touch finger to head)
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said (Make telephone receiver with thumb and pinkie)
No more monkeys jumping on the bed! (Shake index finger “no”)
…Repeat actions with 4, 3, 2, 1 and “no more” monkeys
4. Read second story "From Head to Toe"
5. Song: Swing Swing Instructions:
Have the children stand in a big circle, holding hands. While singing, get the children to swing their arms up and down with the lyrics.
Lyrics:
Lots of monkeys swinging in a tree, lets hold hands and swing with me. Swing up high and swing down low swing in the tree, now don't let go!
Swing, little monkeys like I do, swing like monkeys in the zoo!
6. Read third story "Caps for Sale" or "Jungle Bullies"
7. Activity: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Instructions:
a) This is a version of the popular group activity, “Simon Says.”
b) Children should copy your actions, but only when preceded with the expression “monkey says.”
c) Have the children stand up and face you, with lots of room around themselves so they don’t bump into each other.
d) Try to think of fun monkey things to do (e.g., monkey says, eat an imaginary banana, beat your chest like a gorilla, wave your arms in the air, go “eee-eee-eee”, etc.)
8. Finger Play: The Monkey Chased the Weasel
All around the cobbler’s bench
The Monkey chased the weasel
(run fingers of one hand in palm of the other)
The monkey thought it was all in fun
POP goes the weasel
(clap on POP)
9. Song: Itsy Bitsy Monkey
The Itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.
(“climb” up the tree by alternating cupped hands one on top of the other in the air)
Down came a coconut and hit him on his knee – OWWWW!
(make a double fist above head and hit your knee on “ow!”)
Out came a lion a-shakin’ his mighty mane – ANNND –
(Frame your face with your hands, fanning fingers out for mane. Shake head and hands. Slow down tempo on “ANNND”)
The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again.
10. Crafts: Gorilla Puppet–
You can find a gorilla outline at http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/gorillatakehome.asp. Print off the outline, and use it to cut the gorilla’s head out of black construction paper. You can cut out his nose using white, and then if you wish you can color it grey or brown. For variety, you can also make your own noses with different expressions, and if available, you can use googly eyes instead of printed eyes. Also, to add personality, you can use different colors of construction papers to make hair bows, bow-ties, top hats, ect. You can glue the gorilla on a popsicle stick in order to make it a puppet.
Supplies
-Outline
-A variety of construction papers (including black and white)
-Glue
-Scissors
-Popsicle sticks
-Googly eyes (optional)
Walking Through the Jungle (Have children pretend to be the animal seen!)
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some green and scaly crocodiles were snapping at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some slippery, slimy snakes were hissing at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some funny little monkeys were laughing at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some great big lions were roaring at me!
Walking through the jungle and what did I see? (walk around in circle)
Some nice quiet children were waiting for me!
(Children sit quietly for next part of program!)
2. Read first story “Hug” or “Big Little Monkey”
3. Fingerplay: Five Little Monkeys
Five Little Monkeys sitting in a tree (hold up five fingers, bounce up and down)
Along came a crocodile, hungry as can be. (Other hand is crocodile. Thumb and forefinger opening and closing mouth)
Nah nah nah nah nah, you can’t catch me!
Snap! (Crocodile grabs finger (monkey))
Four little monkeys…..
Three
Two
One…..
Missed me!
Or: Five Little Monkeys
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the bed (hold up five fingers, bounce up and down)
One fell off and bumped his head (Touch finger to head)
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said (Make telephone receiver with thumb and pinkie)
No more monkeys jumping on the bed! (Shake index finger “no”)
…Repeat actions with 4, 3, 2, 1 and “no more” monkeys
4. Read second story "From Head to Toe"
5. Song: Swing Swing Instructions:
Have the children stand in a big circle, holding hands. While singing, get the children to swing their arms up and down with the lyrics.
Lyrics:
Lots of monkeys swinging in a tree, lets hold hands and swing with me. Swing up high and swing down low swing in the tree, now don't let go!
Swing, little monkeys like I do, swing like monkeys in the zoo!
6. Read third story "Caps for Sale" or "Jungle Bullies"
7. Activity: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Instructions:
a) This is a version of the popular group activity, “Simon Says.”
b) Children should copy your actions, but only when preceded with the expression “monkey says.”
c) Have the children stand up and face you, with lots of room around themselves so they don’t bump into each other.
d) Try to think of fun monkey things to do (e.g., monkey says, eat an imaginary banana, beat your chest like a gorilla, wave your arms in the air, go “eee-eee-eee”, etc.)
8. Finger Play: The Monkey Chased the Weasel
All around the cobbler’s bench
The Monkey chased the weasel
(run fingers of one hand in palm of the other)
The monkey thought it was all in fun
POP goes the weasel
(clap on POP)
9. Song: Itsy Bitsy Monkey
The Itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.
(“climb” up the tree by alternating cupped hands one on top of the other in the air)
Down came a coconut and hit him on his knee – OWWWW!
(make a double fist above head and hit your knee on “ow!”)
Out came a lion a-shakin’ his mighty mane – ANNND –
(Frame your face with your hands, fanning fingers out for mane. Shake head and hands. Slow down tempo on “ANNND”)
The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again.
10. Crafts: Gorilla Puppet–
You can find a gorilla outline at http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/gorillatakehome.asp. Print off the outline, and use it to cut the gorilla’s head out of black construction paper. You can cut out his nose using white, and then if you wish you can color it grey or brown. For variety, you can also make your own noses with different expressions, and if available, you can use googly eyes instead of printed eyes. Also, to add personality, you can use different colors of construction papers to make hair bows, bow-ties, top hats, ect. You can glue the gorilla on a popsicle stick in order to make it a puppet.
Supplies
-Outline
-A variety of construction papers (including black and white)
-Glue
-Scissors
-Popsicle sticks
-Googly eyes (optional)
