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Bookbug Session Plan: The Button Book
Inspired by The Button Book by Sally Nicholls and Bethan Woollvin, this Bookbug Session Plan invites parents to join in with a song, rhyme and story. It's a great way to celebrate gifting the Explorer Bag and encourage families to sing, rhyme and share stories at home.
Introduction song
Benefits
Familiar start – lets everyone know a Bookbug session has started.
Tips
Smile and use names if you know them.
Familiar rhyme
Benefits
A rhyme which promotes finger play, surprise and anticipation.
Tips
Children love to giggle so have fun changing the words! Make up your own verses like: 'Two little caterpillars sitting on a leaf. One called Anna, one called Keith' or 'Two little dicky birds sitting on a cloud, one called Quiet, one called Loud!'
Familiar song
Benefits
Using a familiar song from the story will encourage grown-ups to join in. Pairing up words with movement and actions is perfect for learning vocabulary. Encourages laughter, motor skills and eye contact.
Tips
Sing the words and demonstrate actions slowly and clearly so that children can see and 'catch' the words.
Song with actions
Benefits
A familiar song with lots of opportunity for actions. Encourages motor skills and coordination.
Tips
Children and grown-ups could try this song in pairs. They can wind their hands around each other – being careful not to bump. For 'pull' they should join hands, pull together and clap each other’s hands.
Story
The Button Book by Sally Nicholls and Bethan Woollvin
Benefits
Here's a button. I wonder what happens when you press it? From a singing button to a tickle button, from a rude sound button to a mysterious white button, there's only one way to find out what they do. A fun, interactive book full of anticipation, helping the child to learn shapes and colours.
Tips
Get the children to press the button and guess what the button will do. Ask the child to make some of the noises the buttons make. If they could design a button to be pressed, what would their button do?
Tickling song
Benefits
An interactive song to encourage tickling between family members or for the child to tickle themselves. A fun way to learn the parts of the body in rhyme!
Tips
Using the simple structure of the song, make up your own verses. For example, There's a spider on my:
toe… how he got there, I don’t know!
finger… I don’t think he will linger.
face… such a tickly place.
hair… let’s shoo her out of there!
Active song
If You're Happy and You Know It
Benefits
An active song, great to get children bouncing, wriggling and moving around the room! Encourages social interaction and community.
Tips
Can the children think of some other actions to do when they're happy? Jump up high, twirl around, wave hello?
Lullaby/calming song
Benefits
This soothing song from the book will make children feel safe, secure and loved. Encourages finger play as the child needs to make different shapes eg. diamond, circle.
Tips
Place a teddy on a piece of lycra or a blanket and rock them gently to sleep while singing the song.
Last song
Benefits
Brings the session to a clear end.
Tips
Thank all of the children and grown-ups for coming. Give them any information they need about the next session.
Please read our guide on permission to read books aloud online(this link will open in a new window).