BIRTHDAY SONG, NEW SHOES, AND LOOSE TOOTH

This song brings back lots of happy memories. Believe it or not, I still call adult friends and sing this to them.

Birthday Song
Today is the birthday of somebody who
Is happy and smiling and right in our room.
Now look all around you and tell me just who…
Is happy and smiling, my goodness, it’s you! (Point to the birthday child.)

Today is child’s name birthday.
Let’s make them a cake. (Pretend to hold a bowl
Stir and mix and mix and stir, and stir.)
Then into the oven to bake. (Put cake in the oven.)
Here’s our cake so nice and round. (Make a circle with arms.)
We’ll frost it with icing white. (Pretend to put on frosting.)
We’ll put _____ candles on it (Hold up age with fingers.)
To make their birthday bright!

*Here’s a video where I demonstrate the song and chant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tgtt4lZsoI

Birthday Cake (Non-edible!)
How about a cake that is sugar free, gluten free, and lactose free? You can make a “human birthday cake” by having all the children in the room hold hands and make a circle. Let the birthday child get in the middle and choose friends (the number for how old they are) to be the candles on the cake. The candle/friends stand around the birthday child and put their arms over their heads like a flame. When the birthday child “blows” them out, they melt to the ground.

Birthday Book
Give each child a sheet of paper and ask them to draw a picture of a gift they’d like to give to the birthday friend. The birthday child gets a big sheet of construction paper to decorate like the cover of the book. Each classmate presents her picture to the birthday child as they say, “Happy birthday (child’s name). Here is (what they’ve drawn) just for you.” Staple their pictures in the construction paper to make a special book.


New Shoes
When children wear a new pair of shoes to school, let them stand in front of the room and dance as you sing this song to them.

Here’s one foot. (Child sticks out one foot.)
Here are two. (Child sticks out other foot.)
Each is wearing a brand, new shoe,
So stand up, turn around, dance around the floor. (Child dances in a circle.)
That’s what these two feet are for. (Point to feet.)


Loose Tooth
Celebrate when a child loses a tooth by using their name I this tune.

Oh, look in child’s name mouth
And what do you see?
A great, big hole where a tooth used to be.
Well, they wiggled it and jiggled it until it wiggled free.
Now, there’s a window when they smile at me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzx_A7eNhEI

Here's a link where you can download these posters:

    

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljTHRzQS1PV1pPeTg/view?usp=sharing

ALL DAY LONG

The songs on this recording will keep your children singing "All Day Long!" There are circle time songs that will help children learn to spell the days of the week and months of the year, as well as tunes for special occasions like having a birthday or losing a tooth There are chants to line children up, clean up, and sit down, plus a hand washing song, "Lunch Time Round-Up," and "Backpack Boogie." Children will sing and learn with songs about using scissors, holding a pencil, coloring, and "Magic Words." You'll guide children with a smile, dance, and song through the transitions in your day.

Look at all these songs:

1. Rise and Shine
2. Happy Days
3. Month Hop
4. Weather Song
5. Surprise Sack
6. New Shoes
7. Welcome Back
8. Loose Tooth
9. Birthday Song
10. Line-Up Cadence
11. Dismissal Song
12. Have a Seat
13. Give Me a Clap
14. Wiggle Them
15. Tidy Up
16. Hi Ho Helpers
17. Scrub a Dub
18. Lunch Time Round-Up
19. Hush, Little Baby
20. Magic Words
21. Name on Your Paper
22. Pencil Grip
23. Scissors Snip
24. A Coloring We’ll Go
25. What Did You Learn Today?
26. Back Pack Boogie
27. Skinnamarinkydinkydink
 

Click to see all the ways you can bring these songs into your classroom. 

THREE LITTLE KITTENS AND JACK BE NIMBLE

Three Little Kittens
The three little kittens, (Fingers together and thumbs extended
They lost their mittens, as if wearing mittens.)
And they began to cry, (Rub eyes and pretend to cry.)
“Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear,
our mittens we have lost.”
“What, lost your mittens? (Hands on hips as if scolding.)
You naughty kittens! (Point finger.)
Then you shall have no pie.” (Shake head “no.”)
“Boo-hoo, boo-hoo, (Pretend to cry.)
we shall have no pie.”

The three little kittens, (Hold up “mittens” again.)
They found their mittens,
And they began to cry, (Bounce up and down.)
“Oh, mother dear, see here, see here, (Show “mittens.”)
our mittens we have found.”
“What, found your mittens, (Stretch out palms.)
you darling kittens! (Hug self.)
Then you shall have some pie.”
“Meow, meow, (Pretend to purr.)
we shall have some pie.”

Activities: Choose children to be the kittens and mother and act out this song as you sing.

                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDMz5zOZlik  

Visual Matching
Cut mittens out of a wallpaper book or wrapping paper. Cut two out of each pattern and then mix them up. Give children clothespins to clip the matching ones together. Introduce vocabulary to describe various patterns, such as “stripes,” “checked,” “plaid,” “solid,” “polka dots,” “animal print,” etc.

             
*Make mitten matching games with upper and lowercase letters or with pictures and beginning sounds.
*Make mitten matching games with antonyms or snynonyms.
*How about a matching game with math facts and answers?

                                       

Hint! Hang a piece of string between two chairs so the children can hang up their matching mittens.

Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble. (Hands behind back.)
Jack be quick.
Jack jump over (Jump forwards.)
The candlestick.
Jump it lively.
Jump it quick.
But don’t knock over (Jump backwards.)
The candlestick!

                                           

Activities: Place a block on the floor to be the “candlestick.” Children take turns jumping over it as you say their name in the rhyme. For example: “Tasha be nimble, Tasha be quick…”

JACK AND JILL AND HUMPTY DUMPTY

Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill (Stick thumbs up and move up in air.)
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown, (Bring one thumb down.)
And Jill came tumbling after. (Bring the other thumb down in circular motion.)

More!  Jack and Jill's Happy Ending
So up got Jack (Thumbs up.)
And said to Jill
As in his arms he took her. (Thumbs hug.)
You’re not hurt, brush off that dirt.  (Brush thumbs together.)
Now, let’s go fetch that water.
So up got Jack and (Thumbs move up in they air.)
Up got Jill to fetch that pail of water.
They brought it back to mother dear
Who thanked her son and daughter. (Fold hands and hug self.)

                    
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_POur6Kp58

Trace around the puppet pattern on heavy paper. Challenge the children to make the puppet look like “Jack” on one side and “Jill” on the other side. Attach a straw and use as a puppet.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljTHpaLUk4MXVJY1k/view?usp=sharing


Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. (Extend arms in a circle.)
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. (Pretend to drop something.)
All the king’s horses,
And all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty (Shake head “no.”)
Together again. (Hold palms up.)

                                   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRn73-KB0E

What happened to Humpty Dumpty?
So the good children got
Some tape and some glue
And they fiddled and faddled
Til’ he looked like new.
Then they carefully placed him
Back on the wall
And said, “Humpty Dumpty,
Please don’t fall!”

Give children ovals and ask them to decorate it like Humpty Dumpty. Next, have them cut the ovals into 5-7 pieces. Ask them to "put Humpty Dumpty back together again" by gluing the pieces on another sheet of paper.
                          

 
Websites
Here are some good websites where you can download free nursery rhyme posters:

curry.virginia.edu/go/wil/rimes_and_rhymes.htm
enchantedlearning.com
prekinders.com

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS AND BINGO

Here's one of my favorite "oldies but goodies."

The Wheels on the Bus 

The wheels on the bus (Move hands in circular motion.)
Go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus
Go round and round,
All around the town.

Wipers – swish, swish, swish… (Palms up and move back and forth.)
Horn – beep, beep, beep… (Pretend to beep horn.)
Lights – blink, blink, blink… (Open and close fists.)
Doors – open and shut… (Palms together, then spread apart.)
Driver on the bus…”Move on back”… (Stick up thumb.)
Children on the bus – bounce up and down…(Bounce up and down.) 

bit.ly/drjeanWheelsGoRound

The Letter Bus
The letters on the bus all make their sounds,
Make their sounds, make their sounds.
The letters on the bus all make their sounds
All around the town.
The A on the bus goes /a/ /a/ /a/
/a/ /a/ /a/ /a/ /a/ /a/
The A on the bus goes /a/ /a/ /a/
All around the town.
*Continue singing different letters and making their sounds.

If you have a toy bus, write the letter on an index card and tape it to the bus as you sing.


You could also download this pattern to use with magnetic letters.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljR3NjWS1rT1ZZbjA/view?usp=sharing

BINGO
There was a farmer had a dog
And Bingo was his name-O.
B - I – N – G – O,
B – I – N – G – O.
B – I – N – G – O.
And Bingo was his name-O.

Each verse omit a letter and clap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHQMOSXK85U

Hint! Insert children's names and spell in the song.

Here's a "tell and draw" story about BINGO that your kids will love!

https://bit.ly/drjeanBingoStory

ROCKIN' RHYMES AND GOOD OL' TIMES

We are so busy trying to give children what we didn't have 

that we are failing to give them what we did have! 

When my grandson completed kindergarten I asked him if he had ever played “The Farmer in the Dell.” He didn’t know what I was talking about! “The Farmer in the Dell,” “London Bridge,” “Mulberry Bush,” "The Wheels on the Bus" and so many other songs and games are part of what I refer to as our “early childhood heritage.” If children don’t experience these things in pre-K or kindergarten, then they’ll probably never get to do them! And that’s sooooo sad!

The crazier our world gets, the more we need to remember our roots and traditions.

Why?
Three of our leading educational theorists give insight into why these songs and games are so powerful in early childhood. Piaget observed that the more actively involved children are with people and things in their world, the more quickly they will assimilate new learning. Dewey emphasized that educational experiences are intricately interwoven with social experiences. Vygotsky also stressed the importance of social interaction to the child’s ability to construct meaning.

Get ready for some fun with these songs:

1. The Wheels on the Bus
2. Coming ‘Round the Mountain
3. I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
4. Old MacDonald
5. Bingo
6. Home on the Range
7. My Bonnie
8. Skip to My Lou
9. Farmer in the Dell
10. Mulberry Bush
11. Frog Went a Courting
12. Humpty Dumpty
13. Jack & Jill
14. Hickory Dickory Dock
15. Hey Diddle Diddle
16. Little Boy Blue
17. Muffin Man
18. Little Miss Muffett
19. Baa Baa Black Sheep
20. Jack Be Nimble
21. Little Jack Horner
22. Mary Had a Little Lamb
23. I’m a Little Teapot
24. London Bridge
25. Twinkle Twinkle
26. Itsy Bitsy Spider
27. Yankee Doodle
28. Three Little Kittens

THE WORLD FAMILY AND WE HAD A GOOD DAY

THE WORLD FAMILY
(Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
In this song, you’ll have to fill in the name of your school, city, state, country, continent, and planet.

The name of my school is ___, ___, ___.
The name of my school is ___.
That’s the name of my school.

The name of my city is...

The name of my state is...

The name of my country is United States.

The name of my continent is North America.

The name of my planet is Earth.

We’re all part of the world family, family, family.
We’re all part of the world family.
Let’s live in love and peace.

Here are some other tunes to help children learn their phone number, address, and zip code.

Phone Number
Phone numbers can be learned by singing them to “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore.”
                      
213-297-4308
213-297-4308

Address
Addresses can be sung to “Do You Know the Muffin Man?”
                                         
874 Pine Oak Circle,
874 Pine Oak Circle,
874 Pine Oak Circle,
Cincinnati, Ohio

Zip Code
Learn zip codes by singing them to the tune of “BINGO.”
There is a zip code where I live
And I will sing it to you.
54892,
54892,
54892
Now I know my zip code.

WE HAD A GOOD DAY  (Tune: La Cuckla Racha)
We had a good day, we had a great day. (Wiggle back and forth on feet to the beat.)
So pat yourself on the back. (Pat yourself on the back.)
We had a good day, we had a great day.
So pat yourself on the back.

We thought a lot today (One finger in the air and turn in a circle.)
We learned in many ways,
So kiss your brain. (Kiss fingertips and then kiss brain.)
We thought a lot today, we learned in many ways,
So kiss your brain.

It’s time to say so long and end with a song. (Palms up and wiggle wrists to the beat.)
Wave good-bye to your friends. (Wave hands.)
It’s time to say so long and end with a song.
Wave good-bye to your friends.

Click to View Video

 

What Did You Learn Today? (Chant)
Hey, hey, what do you say? (Clap and snap to the beat.)
What did you learn in school today?
When the teacher points your way
What will you say?
(Teacher points to children and they say what they learned.)

Hey, hey, what do you say?
We all had a special day!
Now, turn to a friend and say
What you learned today.
(Children share what they learned with friends.)


Brain Tickets
Purchase raffle tickets at a dollar store or run off your own tickets. Before children leave each day they have to tell you something they learned to earn a brain ticket. Encourage parents to ask their children what they did to earn their brain ticket each day.

 

 

Download Printable Brain Tickets 

 

FIVE SENSES AND PARTS OF A FLOWER

Senses are like pathways to the brain, and children can learn about them with this song.

Senses (Tune:  BINGO)
There are five senses that we use to help us learn each day.
See (Point to eyes.)
Hear (Point to ears.)
Smell (Point to nose.)
Taste (Point to mouth.)
Touch (Hold up hands.)
See, hear, smell, taste, touch,
See, hear, smell, taste, touch,
We use them every day.

 

Click to View Video

Sense Walk
*Go on a walk and have children touch various objects. “How does it feel?”
*Have them close their eyes and try to identify objects by their sense of touch.

*Take a listening walk where children close their eyes and try to identify different sounds in the environment.

Descriptive Writing 


Give children a clipboard and encourage them to explore the playground as they fill in the blanks (write or draw pictures). Let children share their findings with classmates and then put their pages together to make a class book.

Parts of a Flower  (Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”)
Flower (Hands around face.)
Stem (Point to neck.)
Leaves (Stick out arms.)
And roots (Touch feet.) –
Leaves and roots.
Flower, stem, leaves, and roots –
Leaves and roots.
All it takes is sun (Hands up in circle over head.)
And showers (Wiggle fingers down.)
And a seed (Hold out palm.)
Grows into a flower. (Spread fingers of right hand up through left fist.)

 

Click to View Video

Flip Book

Make a flip book where children can label the parts of a flower. To make a flip book fold a sheet of paper into eighths. Open and fold in half. Cut down the three creased lines to the middle to make flips. Turn vertically as shown. Write “Flower," "Stem," "Leaves," "Roots” on the four sections from the top to the bottom. Open and draw the appropriate part of the plant under each label. Don’t forget to draw the seed!
  

Eating Plants

Discuss what parts of a plant you eat. What roots do you eat? What leaves? What stems? What flowers? What seeds?
*Divide a sheet of paper into fourths and label, “seeds,” “roots,” “stems,” “flowers.” Have children write or draw different foods they eat from each category.

                                     

ALPHABET IN MY MOUTH AND SPELLING NUMBER WORDS

The Alphabet in My Mouth
(Tune: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”)
I’ve got the whole alphabet in my mouth,
I’ve got the whole alphabet in my mouth.
I’ve got the whole alphabet in my mouth
and I can read!
I’ve got A - /a/ /a/ in my mouth
I’ve got B - /b/ /b/ in my mouth
I’ve got C - /c/ /c/ in my mouth
And I can read!
I’ve got D…Z
I’ve got all the sounds in my mouth and I’m ready to read!

Hint!  Make sign language letters as you sing.

 

Click for video

Your children will LOVE making this book to go with the song. First, take a close up digital photo of each child with their mouth wide open. Enlarge the picture and glue it to a sheet of paper. Next, cut letters out of construction paper and glue to the tongue on their picture. Write words for each page to go with the picture, such as “I’ve got D /d//d/ in my mouth.”

*If you don’t have 26 students, then use the principal, secretary, custodian, etc. to complete the letters in the alphabet. 

 



Letter Baby

What fun for your kids to use "Letter Baby" to spin the wheel around and display the letters as they sing!  

 

Click to Download Pattern

SPELLING NUMBER WORDS
(Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”)
Z - e - r - o spells zero. (Hold up fist.)
Z - e - r - o spells zero.
Zero is our hero.
Z - e - r - o spells zero.

O – n – e spells one. (Hold up 1 finger.)
O – n – e spells one.
Spelling numbers is such fun.
O – n – e spells one.

T –w –o spells two. (Hold up 2 fingers.)
T –w –o spells two.
I can spell and so can you.
T – w – o spells two.

Three – It’s as easy as can be….

Four – I can spell even more…

Five – I can spell and I can jive…

Six – Number words are a trick…

Seven – We’re so hot we are sizzlin’…

Eight – We are smart. We spell great…

Nine – Spelling good and feeling fine…

Ten – You’ve spelled “ten” and that’s “The End”…

*Make a class book where children illustrate the set for each number word.

                        

*Give children flash cards of number words to hold up as you sing.
                                              

Say, Spell, Write, Read
Here’s a little formula to help children remember words.
1st Say the word.
2nd Orally spell the word.
3rd Write the word. (You could do this in the air or on your palm.)
4th Read over the word.

KISS YOUR BRAIN!

As the academic push continued, so were requests where children could sing and master skills. It's much more fun to learn phonics, math, science, and social studies with a tune and movements. This CD starts with a friendship song and handshake and includes "Who Let the Letters Out?" "Spelling Number Words," "Five Senses," "Parts of a Flower," and "My World Family."

Take a look at the songs on this recording:

1. Kiss Your Brain
2. Twinkle Friends
3. Shake a Hand
4. Who Let the Letters Out?
5. Letter Aerobics
6. The Alphabet’s in My Mouth
7. Bitty Bi Bo Bu
8. Vowel Cheer
9. When You Come to a Word You Don’t Know
10. Singular and Plural
11. Verbs
12. Singing the World Wall
13. Spelling Numbers
14. Counting Cadence
15. Penny, Nickel, Dime
16. Insect’s Body
17. Macarena Bones
18. The Water Cycle
19. Litter Patrol
20. Five Senses
21. Parts of a Flower
22. Seasons
23. The World Family
24. We Had a Good Day

Click to see many ways to access the songs on Kiss Your Brain.

THE COUCH POTATO POKEY AND THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER

This is a fun version of a traditional song that children can do sitting or standing.

                                
Couch Potato Pokey
You put your thumbs in. (thumbs out in front)
You take your thumbs out. (thumbs behind)
You put your thumbs in, (thumbs in front)
And you wiggle them all about. (wiggle thumbs)
You do the couch potato pokey, (wave arms in air)
And you roll your arms around. (roll hands over)
That’s what it’s all about! (slap, clap, snap)

You put your noses in…

You put your elbows in…

You put your eyebrows in…

You put your chins in…

You put your pinkies in…
Give a microwave with your pinkies
And say good-bye today,
Cause that’s all we’re going to play!


The More We Get Together (Traditional Tune - Sing in sign language.)
The more we get together, together, together.
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
For your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

The more we learn together…

The more we play together…

The more we sing together…

Here's a video where you can watch me sing these songs:

                  
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-iry-fullyhosted_011&hsimp=yhs-fullyhosted_011&hspart=iry&p=dr+jean+time+to+say+good-bye#id=2&vid=ec60aa2a3f8c6f6048d70f620f92aaab&action=click

Good-Bye Chant
Put your thumbs up if you learned something new today. (Put thumbs up.)
Clap your hands if you had fun today. (Clap hands.)
Give yourself a hug if you were a kind friend today. (Hug self.)
See you tomorrow for another special day. (Wave and smile.)

Pat on the Back
Cut hand shapes out of construction paper. Write a positive comment about each child on a hand. Tape the hand to their back before they leave at the end of the day.




Partner Share
Children turn to a friend and tell their favorite thing they did at school that day.

LETTERCISE AND SEVEN LITTLE LETTERS

Phonics is so much more fun with a song and a dance!

Lettercise
All right! Everybody up so we can lettercise.
We’re going to say each letter, then punch the sound like a boxer. In between we’ll get in shape
by jogging, jumping, and exercising our bodies and brains.

A /a/, B /b/, C /c/, D/d/, E/e/, F/f/, G/g/

Now run in place.

H/h/, I/i/, J/j/, K/k/, L/l/, M/m/, N/n/

Let’s pretend to jump rope.

O/o/, P/p/, Q/q/, R/r/, S/s/, T/t, U/u/

Time for jumping jacks.

V/v/, W/w/, X/x/, Y/y/, Z/z/

Super job! Now wave your arms in the air and dance around like the winner you are!

Rapper Necklace
Cut letters out of heavy cardboard. Let children decorate them with fake jewels, glitter, or stickers. Punch holes in the letters and tie on string. Children can wear these as you sing this song.

Seven Little Letters
(Choose 7 children to wear letter vests.)
Seven little letters went out one day, (Children hold hands in a circle.)
Over the hill and far away.
When the teacher called /f/f/f/f/
Only the letter f came back.
(Child wearing “f” skips to the teacher.)

Continue with /t/, /f/, /g/, /d/, /s/, /p/…

*Adapt for vowels and other consonant sounds.

Letter Vests
Make copies of highway letters using the link below.  Punch holes at the top and tie on string so     the children can wear these in the song.

                   http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/RacecarABCcards.htm

RULES RAP AND ITSY BITSY SPIDER

Rules help children feel secure and know what behavior is expected of them. Here are a few simple rules that children can learn in a fun way. 

Rules Rap
Chorus:
The rules, the rules, the rules of the classroom. (Snap fingers.)
The rules, the rules, the rules of the classroom.

Follow, follow, follow directions, (Point index fingers.)
Follow, follow, follow directions. Chorus

Feet and hands, feet and hands, (Point to feet and hands.)
Feet and hands to yourself. Chorus

Small voices inside, tall voices on the playground.
(Quiet voice, then loud voice.)
Small voices inside, tall voices on the playground. Chorus

Work together, don’t fight, or you’ll get in trouble.
(Clasp hands, then hold nose.)
Work together, don’t fight, or you’ll get in trouble. Chorus
YEAH!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z60vA7vVYUY

After teaching the class the “Rules Rap” discuss why rules are important. Say, “I know everyone in our class has a good rule to share with us.” Give each child a sheet of paper to draw a rule. Older students can write the rule and younger students can dictate the rule. Put their rules together, make a cover, and bind to make a book. Explain that when adults agree to do something they sign a contract. “Everyone made these rules. Are you all going to obey these rules? (Of course, they’ll agree!) Then I’m going to let you put your thumb on an ink pad and stamp your thumbprint on our book to show that you will abide by these rules.” 

When children are doing something they shouldn’t be doing take the book and point to a page as you say, “Look, it says _______ in the book. Show me the right thing to do.” (Most of them can’t read anyway, so you can turn to any page in the book!)

I hope you won't need THE RULES OF THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM, this coming school year, but just in case...

Chorus:
The rules, the rules of the virtual classroom.
The rules, the rules of the virtual classroom.

Get ready and have your supplies.
Get ready and have your supplies.
Chorus

Sit, sit up straight in your chair.
Sit, sit up straight in your chair.
Chorus

Look, listen, and you will learn.
Look, listen, and you will learn.
Chorus

Sing, dance, and make new friends.
Sing, dance, and make new friends.
Chorus

Click to download Virtual Rules Rap.

https://bit.ly/drjeanVirtualRR


The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider (Fingers pretend to
Went up the water spout. climb up in front of you.)
Down came the rain (Wiggle fingers down.)
And washed the spider out. (Cross arms.)
Out came the sun (Make circle above head.)
And dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider (Take fingers and climb
Went up the spout again. in front of you.)

The big, fat gorilla… (Sing this version in a loud voice
and make large, exaggerated movements.)

The teensy weensy ant… (Sing in a quiet voice and make very
small motions with your fingers.)

More Spider Versions (Sharon Howard)
After singing the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” let children change what kind of spider it is. It could be happy, mad, mean, angry, silly, pretty princess, etc. Then children decide how that spider would go up the waterspout.

Spider Puppet
You will need paper plates, construction paper, an old sock, markers, and a stapler to make this project. Decorate two plates to look like a spider’s body. Staple the plates together leaving an opening at the top and the bottom. Cut eight - 8” x 1” strips for the spider’s legs. Glue 4 legs on either side of the body. Draw a face on the sock and then stick it through the center of the plates.

    
                      
*You can also make a simple puppet for children by tying a spider ring to a piece of string or yarn.

Spider Applause
Bend down thumbs and touch four fingertips from each hand. Tap gently!

IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?

I want you to know that what I've done in my professional career has never been about ME. It's always been for teachers and children. Please know how HAPPY and GRATEFUL I am for all of you that sing and have fun with me!!!!

You'll be able to sing, dance, and learn with the "Rules Rap," "Lettercise," "Vowel Song," and "Macarena Math."

Here are the songs you'll find:

1. If You’re Happy
2. Couch Potato Pokey
3. Button Factory
4. Nursery Rhyme Medley
5. The Itsy Bitsy Spider
6. Ride That Pony
7. Hand Dance
8. Rules Rap
9. Junior Birdmen
10. Money Song
11. Gummy Bears
12. Planet Poem
13. Lettercise
14. Vowel Song
15. Letter Dance
16. Compound Boogie
17. Seven Little Letters
18. The More We Get Together

 

Click here for links to access the songs on the Is Everybody Happy? CD.

SHAPE SONG AND HICKORY DICKORY DOCK

The Shape Song
I am momma circle round like a pie. (Hands over head in a circle.)
I’m baby triangle three sides have I. (Use 3 fingers to make a triangle.)
I am papa square my sides are four. (Draw a square in the air.)
I’m cousin rectangle shaped like a door. (Draw a rectangle in the air and then knock.)
I am brother oval shaped like a zero. (Make oval with arms over head.)
I’m sister diamond with a sparkle and a glow. (Touch thumbs and index fingers and extend.)
We are the shapes that you all know. (Make circles with index fingers and thumbs and
Look for us wherever you go. place around your eyes like glasses.)

Note! Explain that “rhombus” is the correct term for the diamond shape. Sing the song calling sister a “rhombus” instead of a “diamond.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXroY8njjzE

Activities: Divide children into groups of four. Challenge them to lay on the floor and make geometric shapes with their bodies.

Have a shape snack of circles (cookies), triangles (nacho chips), squares (crackers), and rectangles (graham crackers).

Let children make collages out of construction paper cut in geometric shapes.

Play "I Spy" by having children touch various shapes in their home classroom.
For example: I spy a circle. (Children touch a circle.)


Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory dickory dock. (Palms together and tick tock back and forth.)
The mouse ran up the clock. (Wiggle fingers up in the air.)
The clock struck one, (Clap one time.)
The mouse ran down. (Wiggle fingers down.)
Hickory dickory dock.

Two – “Yahoo!” (Continue clapping the appropriate number of times.)
Three – “Whopee!”
Four – “Do more!”
Five – “Let’s jive!”
Six – “Fiddlesticks!”
Seven – “Oh, heavens!”
Eight – “Life’s great!”
Nine – “So fine!”
Ten – “We’re near the end.”
Eleven – “We’re sizzlin’.”
Twelve – “I’m proud of myself.”

Click to download video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQbBksJMjpg

Activities: Use your arms like the hands on a clock. Extend both arms over your head. On “one” bring right arm down to the position of “one” on a clock. On “two” bring righ arm down to the position of “two” and so forth.

Make paper plate clocks and use to sing the song.

SING AND SIGN - NUMERAL SONG

Sign language is quiet, free, provides another pathway to the brain, and keeps those little hands busy! This is a great song to introduce manual signs for alphabet letters.

Sing and Sign
(“Where Is Thumbkin?” – Children repeat each line.)
Where is A? (Hands behind back.)
Here I am. (Make sign for “a.”)
What do you say, A?
/a/, /a/, /a/.
Continue using other letters and making the manual signs.

Here's a video where I share ideas to help children learn with sign language:

Watch Video for ASL

Activities: Make copies of manual signs and pass out a letter to each child. That child holds up her letter as it is sung in the song.


Sign Language Center 

Make a SIGN LANGUAGE CENTER with a pocket folder. Glue a copy of manual signs for letters on the inside of the folder. Write alphabet letters on index cards and place in the pocket. Children choose a card and then try to reproduce that sign. For older children, write sight words or spelling words on index cards for them to practice spelling manually.
     


The Numeral Song (Tune: “Skip to My Lou”)
Come right down and that is all. (Use index finger and middle finger
Come right down and that is all. to do “invisible” writing in the air.)
Come right down and that is all
To make the numeral one. (Hold up 1 finger.)

2 – Curve around and slide to the right…

3 – Curve in and around again…

4 – Down, over, down some more…

5 – Down, around, put on a hat…

6 – Curve in and around again…

7 – Slide to the right and slant it down…

8 – Make an “s” then close the gate…

9 – Circle around then come right down…

10 – Come right down, then make a zero…

We can sing the “Numeral Song”…
And make numerals all day long! 

Note! The term "numeral" refers to the symbol and the term "number" refers to the amount, although most people use them interchangeably.

*Let children suggest other body parts they can write with, such as their elbow, foot, nose, etc.

*Have children do invisible writing on each other’s backs.

*Make writing wands that children can use to make the numerals in the air by taping 18” pieces of caution tape or ribbon to craft sticks.

*Download highway numbers at makinglearningfun.com and let children trace over these as you sing.
Hint! Put a green dot where they start and a red dot where they finish.