A plumpkin!!
Last week when I was visiting my granddaughter I taught her "This Is Jack O' Happy" and "The Five Little Pumpkins." Now, you know I've been doing those things a LONG time! However, Kalina reminded me that this is all NEW and FUN for most of the children in your classroom. And, it's always interesting to me that there are many teachers who do not know these finger plays either. So, enjoy!!!
P.S. When I was in South Dakota I mentioned tying in feelings with this finger play. I said, "Why do you think Jack is happy?" One teacher said, "Because he has lots of candy."
Then I said, "Why do you think this Jack is sad?" Another teacher answered, "Because somebody took all his candy!" LOL
P.S. When I was in South Dakota I mentioned tying in feelings with this finger play. I said, "Why do you think Jack is happy?" One teacher said, "Because he has lots of candy."
Then I said, "Why do you think this Jack is sad?" Another teacher answered, "Because somebody took all his candy!" LOL
Jack O’ Happy
This is Jack O’ Happy. (Hands circle head and smile.)
This is Jack O’ Sad. (Hands circle head and frown.)
This is Jack O’ Spooky. (Open mouth and eyes wide.)
And this is Jack O’ Mad. (Make a mean face.)
This is Jack in pieces small. (Hold up palms.)
But in a pie he’s best of all. (Circle arms in front as if holding a pie.)
Go to this link to download a book the children can read and color. There is also a version with just the words so the children can create their own illustrations.
http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2010/10_Oct_css/pg00.html
Five Little Pumpkins
(Tune: “Five Little Ducks” – Happy Everything CD)
Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate. (Hold up 5 fingers.)
The first one said, “Oh, my it’s getting late.” (Hold up thumb.)
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.” (Hold up index finger.)
The third one said, “But I don’t care.” (Hold up middle finger.)
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.” (Hold up ring finger.)
The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun.” (Hold up pinky.)
Ooooo! Went the wind, and out went the light. (Blow through hands, then clap.)
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight! (Roll hands behind back.)
Paper Plate Pumpkins
Make pumpkins out of paper plates. Choose five children to hold the pumpkins as you say the rhyme. You could also cut pumpkins out of felt and use on a flannel board.
Pumpkin Play Dough
Make play dough using the recipe below. Add red and yellow food coloring to make it orange. Let the children knead in pumpkin pie spices. They’ll have fun making pumpkins, pies, and other objects.
1 cup salt 2 cups water
2 cups flour 2 Tb. cream of tartar
2 Tb. vegetable oil food coloring
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Cook over medium heat stirring
constantly until a ball forms and sticks to the spoon. Cool, knead, and store in a zip bag.
Pumpkin Centers
Cut out 11 pumpkins and write the numerals 0-10. Ask children to put the pumpkins in numerical order.
Cut out pumpkins of various sizes and ask the children to seriate them from largest to smallest.
Before carving your pumpkin, have the children estimate how many seeds they think it will contain and write down their estimations. Have the children separate the seeds and count them. Who guessed more? Who Guessed less? Who guessed the closest amount? Cook some of the seeds by rinsing them and frying them in a little butter and salt. Save some of the seeds to plant in the spring.
Once I Had a Pumpkin
(Tune: “Lassie and Laddie” – Happy Everything CD)
Oh, once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin. (Circle hands over head.),
Once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.
With no eyes and no nose (Point to facial features and shake head.)
And no mouth and no teeth.
Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.
So I made a jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern.
(Draw a jack-o-lantern in the air.)
So I made a jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern.
With big eyes and a big nose and big mouth and big teeth.
(Draw facial features in the air.)
So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face.
Sing and Draw
Draw a jack-o-lantern on the board or a chart as you sing the song.