More Whale Tales.

I’ve put together some early years

• whale rhymes
• felt board ideas
• books
• and video clips
• you’ll also find the beautiful sound of whales singing!

They’ll all add to sharing  Whale in The Bath by Kylie Westaway and Tom Jellet, Allen and Unwin.

Whales are HUMUNGOUS, so lets start  with a rhyme about whales swallowing up lots of other fish- rather like the Old Lady!

Slippery Fish.

I can imagine the fun the kids will have with the last line ! Download our PDF below.

We also have a felt board pattern on our Pinterest rhythm and rhyme board.

Whale rhyme to go with whale in the bath Slippery Fish

Songs and fingerplays.

I’m a Big Whale

I’m a Big Whale

I am swimming, I am swimming, I am swimming in the sea.

I’m a big whale and I’m swimming I am swimming in the sea.

I am singing, I am singing, I am singing in the sea.

I’m a big whale and I’m singing, I am singing in the sea.

I am spouting, I am spouting, I am spouting in the sea.

I’m a big whale and I’m spouting, I am spouting in the sea.

Thanks to Canton public library

https://www.cantonpl.org/youth/parents/poems/fingerplays/s-z

 

Printable Whale Rhyme

A whale is not as small as us                   (Shake head and finger)

Most whales are bigger than a bus         (Stretch arms out wide)

A whale is not a fish in the sea                (Shake head and finger)

A whale breathes air like you and me.     (Take a deep breath)

A whale can’t walk upon the ground       (Shake head and finger)

A whale must swim to get around         (Make a swimming motion)

A whale is a mammal like you and me   (Nod head, point to self and kids)

But his home is in the deep blue sea.    (Make wave motion)

Thanks to Making Learning Fun

http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/Ocean-FingerPlaysandRhymes.htm

 

Rhyme with felt board elephants.

5 Elephants in the bathtub- this fits really well with Whale In The Bath- one whale was big enough- imagine five elephants!

Felt boards can be books, boards, trays, or large ones for storytelling – all simple for kids to use.

This set looks easy to make and the rhyme is one kids could quickly catch on to.

http://storytimekatie.com/2011/09/30/flannel-friday-elephants/

Thanks to Storytime Katie on Flannel Friday

 

The next link downloads directly as a .doc document.

It has a wealth of ocean rhymes, play based and craft activities.

Here are a couple:

Big Gray Whale

I swim in the ocean,

I swim in the sea.

I’m a big gray whale,

Come and watch me. (cup hands above eyes)

I love to spray water

Up through my sprout.

If you get any closer,

You’d better watch out! (thrust arms up and make whooshing sounds)

 

Bobbing Whales in a bottle craft.

Fill a clear plastic 2 – litre bottle one quarter full with water.

Add a few drops of blue food coloring.

Blow up two small balloons, release most of the air and tie the ends closed.

Push the balloons into the bottle and replace the cap securely.

When you have finished, you will have an ocean in a bottle with two bobbing whales inside.

Let the children hold the bottle on its side and gently rock it back and forth to make the whales swim.

 

Other Whale books.

• The Snail And The Whale by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler,Koala books, is very popular.This is an author /illustrator combination that most kids enjoy.(Find more of their books on our 100 Stories Before School booklist.) The tiny snail heads off for adventure on the whale’s tail, and then finds how to help when the whale is in trouble.

• The Little Yellow Digger Saves The Whale, by Alan and Betty Gilderdale, Scholastic NZ. (This is one of an iconic series from New Zealand . It has now been released in a larger size.)

The story talks about a whale stranding and how the whole community, including children, help the whale. It has a warm feel and could easily lead on to children enjoying the series.

Some ideas for sharing the story:

http://p-2literature.weebly.com/the-little-yellow-digger-saves-the-whale.html

 

 

Mrs Mac from Wodonga library has a reading of a Little Yellow Digger book on “Storytime Anytime” – find it here:

 

• Book Island who have quality books, (also from New Zealand) recommend :

Mr. Miniscule and the Whale

“This rhyming adventure tells the story of Mr Miniscule, a teeny tiny explorer with a BIG dream who sets off on the vast ocean in search of a big blue whale, only to find a big blue island. Or could he be wrong?”( from Book Island website)

• If your kids like the Rainbow Fish series try:

The Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale, by Marcus J Pfister, North SouthBooks.

The book comes in a range of languages.It has themes of “friendship, feelings and conflict resolution”.( Goodreads)

• Amos and Boris by William Steig,Farrar, Straus and Giroux, is an old favourite first published 1971.

The book comes in different languages, and is available as an e book.

It’s a bit of a lion and the mouse idea- the whale saves the mouse from drowning and later the mouse is able to help the whale.

Your local library is your treasure trove of books and videos.

Always check out your local library.See the library finder on our families website tab.

Libraries tend to have newer books, so you may need to purchase older books .

My search of picture books at my local library online found:

Whale in the Bath is on order with quite a few copies( yeah!) and:

Whale gets stuck / Karen Hayles ; [illustrated by] Charles Fuge.

Hayles, Karen

Mascot, N.S.W: Koala Books 2008.

Videos

• If you live in Sydney you may remember a baby Southern White Whale being born in the harbour.

Show your kids the lovely pics on this news clip.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/whale-born-in-sydney-harbour-20120718-22991.html

• The Whale in the Bath story doesn’t say if the whale was singing in the bath but I bet it was!

Listen to the sounds whales make here:

Pinterest

Whales Storytime board

http://www.pinterest.com/storytimes/whales-storytime/

Kylie has a board as well, linked through her website.

My little Story Corner Blog

Romi Sharp has thorough teaching notes for Whale in the Bath on her Australian blog .

I really like the mathematical activities, which could be used or adapted for younger children.

 

If you would like to add more to our list just let us know.

Kids love whales- have fun!