Art for toddlers

Today I am covering a class for a friend. This class is a mommy and me class, and focuses on art for toddlers as well as music.

Now I am a crafty person, but thinking this through, I did not know what I was going to do.
Picking a craft for young kids is really hard.

I found something online this morning, that is going to work just perfect.

The first craft we will do is a paint craft. I am going to give them a rectangle piece of paint paper. I will fold it in half, one side behind the other. I will let the kids paint one side, and then take the back folded over piece and make a butterfly picture, by folding over the blank piece on top of the paint to make the mirror image.. Fun.

The second craft, will be sticker art. Who doesn't love stickers. I will cut out a shape and let the kids decorate it with stickers.
I have a tonne of music to incorporate into the music half of the class.
I think this class will be fun. I hope the kids have fun.

The class went really well. I really enjoyed it. It is a 1 hour long class. The first 15 minutes, I let the kids play, and then we sat down for a circle time, where we sang, open them, shut them, counted our fingers and itsy bitsy spider. I showed them a copy I made of the craft they were going to do. The coloring center was already set up with stars, stickers and crayons.
The kids had a great time with the painting, they were thrilled with the butterfly prints. They also enjoyed the stickers, but the painting was more popular.
After all the children had completed their craft and had some more playtime, we cleaned up and then we sat down with musical instruments, and sung head and shoulders, alice the camel, old Macdonald, and the alphabet.
Overall it was a really nice class, the kids and parents were really great with the fact, that I taught the class quite differently from the normal instructor, but everyone enjoyed it. It is a class I could see myself doing more of.

ABC's and 123's

Here are some songs that I use when we do a number or alphabet themed class. They are fun and the kids like them.

Counting Fingerplay

Have children in your circle on their feet, get a beat going with a clap and a stomp & say "Get your potatoes up! And let's count!" Hold up fists (potatoes) to count with fingers up.

One potato, two potato, three potato, four!
Well, I made a batch of hot potatoes and
(bend forward and stir as in a big pot)
Dropped 'em on the floor!!
(look shocked, and put hands on face in surprise)
Five potato, six potato, seven potato, eight!
So I stomped 'em into mashed potatoes
(stomp feet while walking forward a few steps and then back)
And plopped 'em on a plate
(hands out like plopping potatoes on a plate!)
Nine potato, ten potato, can't believe my eyes!
(cover and uncover eyes in surprise)
The children ate 'em up and now they want some french fries!!!
(Say to children "how many?" and march with swinging arms and stomping feet while counting...)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 fries!
(jump up and reach over head to sky on 10)
"Again??"
Do the count again, faster and a third time even faster then plop back down to sitting after the last 10.

ABC Exercise
Do the motions to the letters

Learn the abc's with ease
While getting fit and having fun

A arch B bend C clap
D droop E expand F flop
G grow H hop I itch
J jog K kick L leap
M march N nod O open
P prance Q quake R rock
S squat T turn U uncurl
V vibrate W walk X make an X shape
Y yawn Z zig zag

Movement

In one of my toddler classes the focus is on activities to get kids moving and learning basic movements.
Here are some of the movements I focus on and what I set up for the children to do

Jumping

Jump on mini trampoline
Jump off a large mat
Jump in hoops or on circle pads

Balance

Walking on balance domes
Walking across a line of circle pads on the floor or tape
balance on balance beam

Stacking

stacking cones
stacking domes
stacking blocks
stacking Lego

picking up

anything works
picking up balls
hoops, bean bags, small toys, blocks etc.

pushing

Pushing large ride on push toys
see saw(using legs to push)
Pushing train on tracks
Pushing large cars and trucks

kicking

Kicking balls in tunnels
kicking balls in nets
kicking down block towers

throwing

throwing different sized balls in baskets
throwing bean bags
throwing ribbon bean bags

climbing

climbing over mats
climbing up stairs
climbing up the slide

Crawling

Crawling under things
Crawling through the tunnels

Weather songs

Here are a couple of songs great for the beginning of circle time when you talk about the weather outside. I use the felt board at the beginning and the kids put up clouds, sun, rain, snowflakes etc. Some of these songs could be done as well with the felt board or on their own.

Frost
Tune: The farmer in the Dell

The frost is on the roof (point hands over head)
The frost is on the ground (point to the floor)
The frost is on the window (make a window with your hands)
The frost is all around (make large circles with your hands)

What's the Weather
Tune: Oh, My Darling Clementine

What's the weather, what's the weather
What's the weather, everyone
Is it windy, is it cloudy
is there rain or is there sun?

Weather
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle little star

Look outside now, can you say
What the weather is today?
Is there sunshine, is there rain
is the wind blowing down the lane?
Look outside now, can you say
what the weather is today

verse 2

Look outside now, can you say
what the weather is today?
are there snowflakes falling down
are there big clouds floating around
look outside now, can you say
what the weather is today?

Clean up songs

There are a few clean up songs out there. I tend to stick with the same one which is

Clean up, clean up
everybody, everywhere
Clean up, clean up
everybody do your share

This is another one I found that I like too.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
time to clean up where you are
put each toy back in it's place
keep a smile upon your face
twinkle, twinkle little star,
time to clean up where you are.

Maybe one day I will incorporate this one into my class just for change.

Fall action songs - Halloween

Last of my fall action songs is Halloween. Here is what I have.

I'm a little pumpkin
Tune: I'm a little teapot

I'm a little pumpkin
round and stout (hold arms to form a circle)
packed full of seeds that you can scoop out (pretend to scoop seeds)
When I get all carved up (pretend to carve pumpkin)
then I'll be
The cutest jack - o- lantern you ever did see.

The great pumpkin
Tune: Did you ever see a Lassie
have the children dance

I am the great pumpkin, great pumpkin, great pumpkin,
I am the great pumpkin, come dance with me
For your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends
I am the great pumpkin,come dance with me.

One Little Pumpkin
Tune: Mary had a little lamb

One little pumpkin rolled round and round (rolling arms)
Round and round, round and round,
One little pumpkin rolled round and round,
For this is Halloween
2. two little goblins hoped up and down (hoping up and down)
3.three little skeletons walked down the street (walking)
4.Four little witches flew threw the air (arms out at side pretending to fly)

Five Little Pumpkins
Action poem

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (five fingers up)
The first one said "Oh my it's getting Late" (Hands on Cheeks)
The second one said "There's a chill in the air" (arms around self)
The third one said "But we don't care" (swing pointer finger)
The fourth one said "We're ready for some fun!" (hand in air)
The fifth one said "Let's run, run, run!" (running motion)
So woooo went the wind, and out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Pumpkins

Tune: Are You Sleeping

Pumpkins are growing
Pumpkins are growing
In the patch
In the patch
Look at all the pumpkins
Look at all the pumpkins
Orange and Round
Orange and Round

Walk in the Dark
Tune: Pop Goes the Weasel

Sometimes I like to walk in the dark
I like to shout and scream.
I walk up behind somebody I know
BOO its Halloween

Spin, Spin, Little Spider
Tune - Ten Little Indians

Spin, spin, little spider,
Spin, spin, wider, wider.
Spin, spin, little spider,
Early in the morning.

Dance, dance, little spider,
Dance, Dance, Dance out wider.
Dance, dance, little spider,
Early in the morning.

repeat second verse using "jump, crawl, run

Fall action songs - Thanksgiving

Here is blog #3 on my fall themed songs. This one will focus on Thanksgiving

Did you ever see a Turkey
Tune: Did you ever see a Lassie
have the kids do the actions below

Did you ever see a Turkey, a Turkey, a Turkey
Did you ever see a Turkey, go this way and that
go this way and that way and this way and that way
Did you ever see a Turkey, go this way and that

(change it up - walk this way, jump this way, wobble this way, gobble this way, stomp this way etc.)

If you're thankful and you know it
Tune: If your happy and you know it

If your thankful and you know it, clap your hands (clapping hands)
If your thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If your thankful and you know it, and you really want to show it
If your thankful and you know it, clap your hands

(change it up - stomp feet, shout hurray, blow a kiss, etc)

I'm a little Turkey
Tune: I'm a little teapot

I'm a little turkey, my name is Ted
Here are my feathers, here is my head (show hands, pat head)
Gobble, gobble, gobble is what I say (say gobble, gobble)
Quick, Run, It's Thanksgiving day (run feet)

Turkey Song

Turkey in the barnyard what does he say
Turkey in the barnyard what does he say
Turkey in the barnyard what does he say
Gobble, gobble, gobble all day

Turkey on the table, what do you say
Turkey on the table, what do you say
Turkey on the table, what do you say
Yummy, yummy, yummy all day

Turkey in my tummy, what do I say
Turkey in my tummy, what do I say
Turkey in my tummy, what do I say
I ate to much turkey on Thanksgiving day

Ha, Ha, Turkey in the Straw
Tune - Skip to my Lou

Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha,
Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha,
Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha.
Turkey in the straw, my darling.

Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho,
Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho,
Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho.
Turkey in the snow, my darling.

Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi,
Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi,
Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi.
Turkey in the sky, my darling.

Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn,
Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn,
Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn.
Turkey in the barn, my darling.

Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn,
Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn,
Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn.
Turkey in the corn, my darling.

Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee,
Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee,
Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee.
Turkey in the tree, my darling.

TURKEYS ALL AROUND

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Turkeys, turkeys all around
On the fence, on the ground.
On the haystack, on the chair.
All around, everywhere.
Turkeys, turkeys all around.
Gobble, gobble what a sound!

WALK LIKE A TURKEY
(A movement rhyme)

Walk like a turkey,
Woddle, woddle, woddle.
Talk like a turkey,
Gobble, gobble, gobble.
Run like a turkey
‘Round and ‘round.
But when it’s Thanksgiving
Don’t make a sound!

Fall action songs - apples

Here is blog #2 of my fall themed action songs. This one will focus on Apples.

All around the apple Tree
Tune: Mulberry bush
Doing actions as listed below

Here we go round the apple tree, the apple tree,the apple tree
Here we go round the apple tree
on a cold and frosty morning
This is the way we climb ladder
-pick the apples
-wash the apples
-peel the apples
-cook the apples

Apple Seed
Tune:eensy weensy spider

Once a little apple seed
was planted in the ground (touch floor)
Down came the raindrops (flutter fingers)
falling all around
Out came the bright sun (hold up arms to form a circle)
as bright as bright can be
and the little apple seed
grew up to be an apple tree (arms up high spread out)

Ten little apples
Tune: 10 little indians
counting fingers

1 little, 2 little, 3 little apples
4 little, 5 little, 6 little apples
7 little, 8 little, 9 little apples
10 little apples on the tree

10 little, 9 little, 8 little apples
7 little, 6 little, 5 little apples
4 little, 3 little, 2 little apples
1 little apple on the tree

Have you ever seen an apple
Tune: Have you ever seen a lassie

Have you ever seen an apple, an apple, an apple
have you ever seen an apple that grows on a tree?
A red one, a yellow one, a red one, a green one
Have you ever seen an apple, that grows on a tree?

Two red apples
Tune: This old man

Way up high, in a tree (raise hands over head)
Two red apples smiled at me (smile)
So I shook the tree as har-rd as I could (pretend to shake tree)
Down came the apples, mmmm they were good (rub tummy)

Five Little Apples

Sung to Five Little Monkeys

Five little apples swinging in a tree (hold up five fingers)
I sure wish one would fall to me
One fell down
And hit the ground (touch the ground)
Now how many apples do you see?(hold up 4,3,2,1,0 fingers)

Keep singing until all apples have fallen.

Apple
Tune: BINGO

clapping hands

I know a fruit that grows on trees,
An apple is its name, oh!
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
An apple is its name, oh!

In summer and in early fall
It's time to pick an apple!
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E

It may be sweet or may be tart,
It's red, or green, or yellow!
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E

A McIntosh or Granny Smith,
A Winesap or Delicious!
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E

Make applesauce or apple juice
Or apple pie with apples!
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E

Apples, Apples
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle

Apples juicy, apples round, (make hands into fists)
On the tree or on the ground. (make a tree, and then point to the ground)
Apples yellow, apples red,
Apple pie and juice and bread!
Apples crunchy, apples sweet,
Apples are so good to eat! (pretend to eat apples)

Fall themed action songs - Leaves

I seem to have quite the collection of fall themed songs. I am going to make a few different blogs on these because I have so many. This one will focus on leaves.

Leaves on the trees
Tune: Wheels on the bus
Have kids standing

The leaves on the trees turn orange and red (rolling arms)
orange and red,orange and red
The leaves on the trees turn orange and red
all around the town

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down (flutter fingers)
tumbling down,tumbling down
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down
all around the town

The leaves on the trees go swish, swish, swish (arms side to side)
swish, swish, swish,swish, swish, swish
The leaves on the trees go swish, swish, swish
all around the town

We'll rake them up and jump right in (pretend to rake, and jump in pile)
jump right in, jump right in
We'll rake them up and jump right in
all around the town

Leaves are falling down
Tune: Hi ho the derry oh

Leaves are falling down (fluttering fingers)
Leaves are falling down
red, yellow, orange and brown
leaves are falling down

Little Leaves
Tune: 10 Little indians
counting fingers

1 little, 2 little, 3 little leaves
4 little, 5 little 6 little leaves
7 little, 8 little, 9 little leaves
Blow them all away, whoosh!

Leaves are falling
Tune: Jingle Bells

Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
One fell on my nose (point to nose)
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
One fell on my toes (point to toes)
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
One fell on my head (pat head)
Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
Yellow, orange and red

The leaves are falling down
Tune: The farmer in the Dell

The leaves are falling down (fingers flutter)
The leaves are falling down
School is here and fall is near
The leaves are falling down

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
some are red and some are brown
The leaves are falling down

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
They tickle your nose and touch your toes (touch nose and toes)
The leaves are falling down

Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Tune : Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
have kids standing

Scarecrow, Scarecrow turn around (turn around)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow jump up and down (jump)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow arms up high (put arms up high)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow wink one eye (wink)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow bend your knee (bend knees)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow flap in the breeze (flap your arms like you are flying)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow climb into bed (pretend to climb in bed)
Scarecrow, Scarecrow rest your head (rest your head on hands)

Falling, Falling
Tune - twinkle Twinkle little star

Falling, Falling, Falling Leaves (flutter fingers)
Mother Nature, did you sneeze? (sneeze aaachooo)
Red ones, yellow ones, orange and brown,
Big ones, little ones on the ground.
Falling, Falling, Falling Leaves, (flutter fingers)
Mother Nature did you sneeze? (sneeze aaachooo)

Winter themed action songs

Here are a list of winter and Christmas action songs that I use for my classes.

Snow

Snow is falling down (flutter fingers)
Snow is falling down (flutter fingers)
Clean, white nice and bright
Snow is falling down (flutter fingers)

The Snowkey Pokey
Tune: Hokey Pokey
use the same actions as hokey pokey

You put your right mitt in
you take your right mitt out
You put your right mitt in and you shake it all about
you do the snowkey pokey and you turn yourself about
That's what it's all about. Shout!

(continue doing left mitt, right and left boots, hat and snow self)

Snowflake
Tune: I'm a little teapot

I'm a little snowflake white and round (hold arms up high to form a circle)
I don't make a sound as I fall to the ground (Flutter fingers downwards)
When you look out your window you will shout (hold hands over head like you are looking into the sun)
I'm putting on my mittens and going out. (pretend to put on mittens)

Dance like snowflakes
Tune: Are you sleeping

Have kids stand and dance

Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
in the air
in the air
whirling, twirling snowflakes
whirling, twirling snowflakes
Here and there
Here and there

Snow is falling all around
Tune: Twinkle Twinkle little star

Snow is falling all around (flutter fingers downwards to the ground)
Falling falling to the ground
I catch snowflakes on my tongue (stick out tongue)
building snowman is such fun (use hands to pretend to build a snowman)
snow is falling all around (flutter fingers downwards to the ground)
falling, falling to the ground

Little snowman
Tune: I'm a little teapot

I'm a little snowman round and fat (make a circle with arms)
Here are my mittens (show hands)
Here is my hat (pat top of head)
Add a little scarf (pretend to put on scarf)
and a carrot nose (point to nose)
you stand so tall when the cold wind blows (blow like the wind)

Snowflakes
Tune: Twinkle, twinkle little star

Snowflakes, snowflakes falling down (flutter fingers downwards)
on the trees and on the ground
I will build a man of snow (pretend to build snowman)
Tall black hat and eyes of coal (point to head and eyes)
If the sun comes out today (hold arms up high to form circle)
I will watch him melt away! (flutter fingers downwards)

Christmas songs

Of course, I will sing the traditional Christmas carols such as Rudolph, Jingle bells, frosty the snowman and Santa Claus is coming to town, including musical instruments such as bells to sing with, but I have a few others I use as well shortly before the holidays to get the kids excited about Christmas.

Let's All
Tune: We wish you a merry Christmas
Have the kids do the actions with you

Let's all do a little clapping
Let's all do a little clapping
Let's all do a little clapping
and spread Christmas cheer

(change it up by jumping, twirling, stretching, stomping, bending, hopping etc)

Santa's coming
Tune: Are you sleeping

Santa's coming, Santa's coming
yes he is, yes he is
hear his sleigh bells ringing, hear his sleigh bells ringing
ding ding dong ding ding dong

Santa's coming, Santa's coming
yes he is, yes he is
Hear him laughing, hear him laughing
ho ho ho, ho ho ho

Santa song
Tune: I'm a little teapot

I'm a little Santa short and fat (hold arms in a circle)
Here is my beard and here is my sack (point to beard, and fling sack over shoulders)
on christmas eve, I hop in my sleigh (hop feet)
with a ho, ho, ho, I'm on my way! (say ho, ho, ho)

Reindeer Pokey
Tune: Hokey Pokey
use the same actions as the hokey pokey

You put your antlers in
you take your antlers out
you put your antlers in
and you shake them all about
you do the reindeer pokey and you turn yourself about
that's what it's all about, shout!

(continue with hooves, red nose, fluffy tail and reindeer body)

Ten Bells

Tune -Ten Little Indians

One bell, two bells, three Christmas bells.
Four bells, five bells, six Christmas bells.
Seven bells, eight bells, nine Christmas bells.
Ten Christmas bells to ring.

I'm A Little Pine Tree
Tune - I'm A Little Teapot

I'm a little pine tree- as you can see,
All the other pine trees are bigger than me.
Maybe when I grow up-then I'll be
A great big merry Christmas tree!

Spring themed circle time action songs

With Spring on it's way, I thought I would start by posting some Spring time action songs, that I have used in some of my classes. I will also include Valentine's songs, and Easter songs.

Drip Drip Drop Drop
Tune: Are you sleeping. Have kids wiggle fingers

Drip drip drop drop Drip drip drop drop Drip drip drop Drip drip drop Rain on my umbrella, rain on my umbrella Drip drip drop Drip drip drop

Rain is falling down
have kids wiggle fingers
Rain is falling down,
rain is falling down
pitter patter, pitter patter
the rain is falling down

Down by the duck pond

Down by the duck pond
Ducks in a row
wibble wobble wibble wobble to and fro (kids wibble/wobble back and forth)
but the one little duck, with the feather on it's back (hand on back)
he led the others with a quack, quack, quack (2 hands together, open and close)

Mr. Sun

oh, Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. golden sun
please shine down on me (hold hands up high bending arms to form a circle)
oh, Mr. sun, sun, Mr. golden sun
hiding behind those trees (hold hands up high spread apart like a tree)
These little children are asking you (point to kids)
to please come out, so we can play with you
Oh, Mr.sun, sun, Mr. golden sun
Please shine down on me (hold hands up high bending arms to form a circle)

Rain
Have children standing

When the rain comes down drip drop drip drop (flutter fingers in front of you)
windshield wipers flip flop flip flop (bend arms and move side to side)
boots in puddles plip plop plip plop (stomp feet)
I wish the rain would never stop
drip drop drip drop (flutter fingers)
flip flop flip flop (arms move side to side)
plip plop plip plop (stomp feet)
Plop (jump)

Clouds are floating
Tune: Frere Jacques)

Clouds are floating, clouds are floating
up so high, up so high (point up to the sky)
floating up above us, floating up above us
in the sky, in the sky

I'll plant a little seed
Tune: I'm a little teapot

I'll plant a little seed in the dark dark ground (point to ground)
out comes the yellow sun, big and round (bend arms up high to create a circle)
Down comes the cool rain, soft and slow (flutter fingers)
up comes the little seed, grow, grow, grow (move hands from floor to sky)

It's raining, it's pouring

It's raining, it's pouring (flutter fingers)
the old man is snoring (pretend to sleep)
he went to bed and bumped his head (knock on head)
and didn't get up till morning

Springtime song
Tune: Did you ever see a lassie

My eyes can see it's springtime, it springtime, it's springtime (point to eyes)
My eyes can see it's springtime, the grass is so green (point to eyes)
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine the showers
My eyes can see it's springtime and I am so glad. (point to eyes)
My ears can see it's springtime,it's springtime,it's springtime (point to ears)
Me ears can see it's springtime the birds sweetly sing (Point to ears)
The birds sing, the lambs bleat, the frogs croak,the bees buzz
My ears can see it's springtime, and I am so glad (point to ears)
My body can feel it's springtime,it's springtime,it's springtime (point to self)
My body can feel it's springtime, the air is so warm (point to self)
The warm air, the breezes, no frost and no freezes
My body can feel it's springtime, and I am so glad (point to self)

Row, row, row, your boat
Different verse from traditional
Have kids rock back and forth

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream
merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream
Rock, rock, rock your boat, gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream (scream ahhh)

Six little Ducks

Six little ducks that I once knew
fat ones, skinny ones, fair ones too
but the one little duck with the feather on her back she led the others
with a quack, quack, quack
Down to the river they would go, wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble to and fro
but the one little duck with the feather on her back
she led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Home from the river, they would come, wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble ho hum, hum
but the one little duck with the feather on her back
she led the others with a quack, quack, quack.

The Fuzzy Caterpillar

Tune - Itsy bitsy Spider

The little fuzzy caterpillar,
Curled up on a leaf.
Spun her little chrysalis,
and then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping,
She dreamed that she could fly,
And later when she woke up,
she was a butterfly.

Valentine's songs

Be my friend
Tune: Mary had a little lamb

Will you come and play with me, play with me, play with me
Will you come and play with me? Please be my friend.

Valentine's day song
Tune: Mary had a little lamb

You're a special friend of mine
friend of mine, friend of mine,
your a special friend of mine,
be my valentine

Easter songs

Bunny Pokey
Tune: Hokey Pokey(do the same actions as the hokey pokey)

You put your bunny ears in (place hands on head to make bunny ears)
you put your bunny ears out
you put your bunny ears in and you shake them all about
you do the Bunny Pokey and you hop yourself around
that's what it's all about! Shout

Use different body parts - Paws(hands) rabbits foot(feet), bunny self(self)

Warm up songs

To get the kids warmed up and ready for whatever activity they might be doing next, I have compiled here are a list of songs, that I use all the time to warm them up. I won't put the lyrics down for the more traditional songs, but any song, that is non traditional to me, I will type up the lyrics. Ever since I started blogging, my typing speed and accuracy has tripled.

The hokey pokey

Did you ever see a Lassie
Did you ever see a Lassie, a lassie, a lassie
Did you ever see a Lassie run this way and that
run this way and that way and this way and that way
Did you ever see a lassie run this way and that
(change it up to different animals and movements(bear-stomp, penguin-waddle, horse - gallop, frog - jump, bunny - hop))

Wheels on the bus

5 green and speckled Frogs

Looby Loo
Here we go Looby Loo
Here we go looby light
Here we go looby loo
all on a Saturday night
You put your right hand in
you take your right hand out
you give your hand a shake, shake, shake
and turn your self about
Here we go looby loo
here we go looby light
here we go looby loo
all on a Saturday night
(switch actions like the hokey pokey(left hand, right foot, left foot, head and whole self)

Head and Shoulders(slow/fast)

The grand old Duke of York(slow/fast)

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

This is the way

This is the way we touch our toes, touch our toes, touch our toes
This is the way we touch our toes so early in the morning
Change it up (stretch arms, jump up and down, run on the spot, clap hands, roll feet)

My body
Tune: Bingo

My arms have parts that bend and move (point to body parts)
every time I use them
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
and this is how I move them (bend your arms)

My legs have parts that bend and move (point to body parts)
every time I use them
knee, ankle, heel and foot
knee, ankle, heel and foot
knee, ankle, heel and foot
and this is how I move them (move legs)

My trunk has parts that bend and move (point to body parts)
and this is how I use them
neck, back, waist and hips
neck, back, waist and hips
neck, back, waist and hips
and this is how I use them (turn side to side)

I'm made of parts that bend and move (point to body parts)
everytime I use them
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
knee, ankle, heel and foot
neck, back, waist and hips
and this is how I move them (move everything)

I can

I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap,
clap, clap, clap clap, clap, clap
I can make my hands go clap, clap, clap
because there a part of me

I can make my feet/stomp, legs/jump, hands/around(rolling hands), arms/wave, head/side to side, feet/run on the spot, etc...

I do have some more action songs geared more towards a theme or season/holiday, that I will post at a later date. If you know any warm up songs, that I can add to this list, that you are willing to share, please do so.

Fun non- traditional action songs for circle time

I have come up with a number of fun non traditional songs for circle time. It is nice to change things up a bit sometimes and learn new songs.

Fishies in the water - I use this all the time, to go from sitting to standing position during circle time. It goes like this

Fishies in the water(use arms to swim like fish)
Fishies in the sea
We all jump up, with a 1-2-3.

Toe Knee Chest Nut - This song is cute. I think I learned it at one of my kids drop in playgroups way back when. It was a miracle I could remember it.
Pointing to body parts(nut is head) and I love you(point to eyes, Heart, kids)

Toe, Knee, Chest, Nut, Nose I love you
Toe, Knee, Nose
Toe, Knee, Nose
Toe, Knee, Chest, Nut, Nose I love you
That's what Toe, Knee, Nose

It is fun to do this song through a couple of times, getting a bit faster each time.

Look at all the bunnies sleeping - Another one of those from my when my kids were younger in playgroup. Have all the children lie down, and then sing:

Look at all the bunnies sleeping till it's nearly noon
Shall we go and wake them, yes very soon
Are they ill, Shhhhhh
There so stilll, Shhhhh

Wake up,
Hop little bunny, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunny, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunny, hop, hop , hop
and sit back down.

2 little hands - found this one online. Cute song
Tune - Twinkle, twinkle little star

Have all the kids standing..
2 little hands go clap, clap, clap(clap hands)
2 little feet go tap, tap, tap(tap feet on floor)
2 little hands go thump, thump, thump(tap hands on floor)
2 little feet go jump, jump, jump(jump up and down)
One little body turns around,
One little child sits quietly down

Open them, Shut them - Here is another song, I learned from a library program my kids were in. Great way to get the kids settled and listening.

Have the kids show their hands

Open them/shut them
Open them/shut them
Give a little clap
Open them/shut them
Open them/shut them
and put them in your lap
Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them
Right up to your chin
Open wide your little mouth
But don't let them in.

One Potato - Not sure where I found this, but somewhere online for sure

Holding up fingers one at a time, count
one potato
two potato
three potato
four,
five potato
six potato
seven potatoes
more!

10 fingers - I learned this one, from another instructor - holding up hands and counting fingers as you go

1 little
2 little
3 little fingers
4 little, 5 little
6 little fingers
7 little, 8 little
9 little fingers
10 little fingers on my hands.. Give them a wiggle, give them a stretch

Then count backwards to 1.

Right hand/left hand - found again, online

This is my right hand(hold up right hand)
I'll raise it up high(hold it up)
This is my left hand(hold up left hand)
I'll touch the sky(hold it up)

Right hand(show hand) left hand(show hand)
roll them around(roll hands in a circle)
left hand(show hand) right hand(show hand)
pound, pound, pound(pound hands together on top of each other)

Roll your hands - another I found online

Roll your hands so slowly(roll hands slowly)
as slowly as can be
roll your hands so quickly(roll hands fast)
as quickly as can be
Clap your hands so softly(clap hands soft)
as softly as can be
Clap your hands so loudly(clap hands loud)
as loudly as can be
Clap your hands so loudly and then
fold them just like me(fold hands on lap)

Ten fingers(different from above)

I have 10 fingers(hold up both hands showing fingers)
and then all belong to me(point to self)
I can make them do things
Would you like to see

I can shut them up tight(make fists)
I can open them up wide(open hands)
I can put them together(place palms together)
I can make them all hide(put hands behind back)
I can make them jump high(hold hands up high)
I can make them jump low(hold hands low)
I can fold them up quietly(fold hands in lap)
and hold them just so.

Rags

I have a dog, his name is rags
he eats so much, his tummy sags
his ears flip flop, his tail wig wags
and when he walks, he walks zig zag

he goes filp flop, wig, wag, zig, zag (hands to head to flip flop ears)
he goes filp flop, wig, wag, zig, zag (twist hips to wig/wag)
he goes filp flop, wig, wag, zig, zag (twist and bend knees zig/zag)
I love rags and he loves me

My dog rags, he loves to play
he rolls around in the mud all day
I whistle - he won't obey
he always runs the other way
he goes filp flop, wig, wag, zig, zag (hands to head to flip flop ears)
he goes filp flop, wig, wag, zig, zag (twist hips to wig/wag)
he goes filp flop, wig, wag, zig, zag (twist and bend knees zig/zag)
I love rags and he love me.

I can wiggle my fingers
(do actions below)

I can wiggle my fingers
I can wiggle my toes
I can wiggle my shoulders
I can wiggle my nose
I can wiggle the wiggles all out of me (wiggle all over)
and I can be still, as still as still can be

Climb aboard the spaceship
Tune: Itsy bitsy spider

Climb aboard the spaceship (pretend to climb in space ship)
we're going to the moon (point to the sky)
hurry and get ready
we're going to blast off soon
put on your helmets (pretend to put on helmets)
and buckle up real tight (pretend to buckle up)
here comes the countdown
let's count with all our might
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1---Blast off!

Engine On The Track

Here is the engine on the track (hold up thumb)
Here is the coal car, just in back (pointer)
Here is the box car to carry freight (middle)
Here is the mail car. Don't be late. (ring)
Way back here at the end of the train. (little)
Rides the caboose through the sun and rain.

For other non traditional or theme related songs, check out this link Here. It is a great site with lyrics and tunes to all sorts of fun songs.