Bookbug Session Plan: Bunnies on the Bus

The Hello Song

Benefits

Familiar start – lets everyone know a Bookbug session has started.

Tips

Smile and use names. Clap or tap along to the beat and use signs if you know them.

Creeping, Creeping Goes the Little Cat

Benefits

This is a great rhyme to promote movement, sounds and spatial awareness. For babies, it can be relaxing as it promotes positive touch.

Tips

Babies can be tickled so it feels like the paws of a cat. Anticipation builds when they are bounced on the lap. Younger children can prowl like a cat, then jump up and down like a rabbit. Encourage children to make the sounds of a cat. Scarves and ribbons can also be used by the children to swirl like a cat’s tail.

Little Peter Rabbit

Benefits

This song introduces movement and can inspire and motivate children to use their gross motor skills to form ears and curly whiskers. The soothing melody can be relaxing for babies when they are stroked on the ears and face.

Tips

Try gently stroking your baby’s ears (floppy ears) and each side of their mouth (curly whiskers). Let your little one try and copy your actions as you sing the song – make bunny ears with your hands, touch your nose and flap your hands to fly away.

A Big Red Bus

Benefits

An upbeat energetic song full of actions and rich vocabulary for children to learn about different types of transport.

Tips

Try getting active and moving around as you sing the song – slowly like a big red bus, faster for a Mini, spinning around for a helicopter. You could try and introduce other types of transport e.g. train, rowing boat, rocket etc.

I wonder what's in my bag today?

Benefits

Builds anticipation and captures the attention of the children.

Tips

Use Bookbug to help engage the children in singing the ‘I wonder what’s in my bag today?’ song. Use Makaton to support different communication needs. Sing the song to the tune of ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush’, i.e.:

‘I wonder what’s in my bag today, bag today, bag today I wonder what’s in my bag today, come and take a look. . . At Bookbug’s favourite book.’

Bunnies on the Bus by Philip Ardagh and Ben Mantle

Watch out! Move out of the way! Hold onto your tails! There are. . . Bunnies on the Bus! And they aren't stopping for anyone! A hilarious read-a-aloud rhyming book for children to explore sounds, movement and actions. The repetition of the phrase ‘Bunnies on the Bus’ will help children join in with the story.

Tips

There are lots of opportunities to explore sounds and noises throughout this story. Encourage the children to join in with the animals' sounds throughout the story, or turn themselves into a rumbling bus, noisy police car or whistling train.

The Wheels on the Bus

Benefits

This song can help with a child’s gross motor skills as they are using different parts of their body to do the actions. It can help them with their balance, co-ordination and muscle development. The repetition of language throughout the songs can help them join in and memorise the song.

Tips

With babies or younger children, have fun trying out different actions, such as touching your nose (or your child’s) for ‘the horn on the bus...’ or moving their hands gently from side to side for 'the wipers on the bus...' Ask the older children for suggestions. Who or what do they see on the bus? What actions could they use?

Here We Go on Our Ponies

Benefits

An active song to encourage lap bouncing, sounds and movement. This song also encourages interaction with others – the chance to meet others and say hello or have a wee chat.

Tips

Bounce your baby or toddler on your lap facing forward or encourage them to bounce as they stand. For ‘woah – woah – woah!’ you can lift your toddler in the air or swing them side to side! Use names of family members or friends for the hello section. 3–5 year olds will enjoy pretending to ride a horse! Repeat at different speeds – can they gallop fast or maybe even in slow motion? For the stop section, can they stand still? Encourage children to make sounds like ‘clip clop’ or ‘neigh’.

Sleeping Bunnies

Benefits

A soothing song to share at quiet times or nap times. It can also be made more active to support children with movement, e.g. jumping or hopping. Children love anticipation and the structure of the song can help toddlers with focus and listening skills before engaging in actions at the end.

Tips

Cradle baby in your arms and rock as you would if they were going to sleep. Wake them up with a quiet voice and stroke their face. Lie your toddler on the floor and gently stroke their arms, legs, etc. to help them feel relaxed. Help them to their feet or bounce them on your knee when it’s time to hop, hop, hop! Pause between the sleeping section of the song and when you wake the children up. Use your voice boost the excitement. Children will stand up and then can jump up and down like bunnies!

The Goodbye Song

Benefits

Tells everyone the session is coming to an end.

Tips

Wave, smile and use names if you know them. If you know Makaton, you can support this song with signs.