6 Picture Books for Preschool Music Class, Storytime Part Two

Here are the books I have used so far this year.

Going to Sleep on the Farm

I made up a simple lullaby melody, and sing the sweet rhyming text. The kids like to volunteer what they know about how animals sleep. I ask them if they would like to sleep like the animals in the story: in the hay, standing up, in a nest, or in a pig pile! 

The Boy With a Drum

"There Once Was a Boy with a Little Toy Drum, rat a tat, tat a tat, rum a tum tum"...

This enchanting story just begs for a drum to help with the telling. I use my Bodhran as a hand drum; my adult helper holds the book & turns the pages.
I ask the children to repeat some of the phrases in tempo, or just make animal sounds: "cluck cluck cluck" in rhythm -- but the drum never stops! At the end of the story, I kept the drum going, and we marched around the circle, making the various animal sounds from the story.
You might have to search for this wonderful book, but it is well worth it!

I am Porkchop  
by Ray Nelson, Kyle Holveck (Illustrator), Aaron Peeples (Illustrator), Julie Mohr-Hansen

Yet another book I picked up at a garage sale, and now realize it is out of print. If you can find a copy, this one is hilarious. Porkchop and his piggy friends have a band, and the farm animals sing along. The text is minimal, the illustrations are over-the-top crazy! The ducks are dressed up like jazz back up singers, the cows look like crooners in tuxedos, the dog is an Elvis impersonator, and the cat -- is Brunhilde -- complete with horned helmet and, um, costume.

I encourage participation by having the kids help me make the sounds of the instruments, or "sing" like the animals in the pictures.

The Owl who Became the Moon

I discovered the key to telling this story is to practically whisper the beautiful text, dramatically -- almost like a ghost story. I read the title first, and asked the children if an Owl Could Become the Moon, and when they said "No!", I told them we would find out in the story. This seemed to get them curious.
The pictures are dazzling, and the kids get very excited to point out the animals. The high train trestle fascinates them as well. They help me with all the sounds throughout the book: the train whistles: choooo choooo, the owl calls: whoooo, whoooo.

I Know a Wee Piggy

 Based on the song "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly", the piggy is too little to win a ribbon in the pig show, so he runs through the fair, wallowing in things to turn himself into a work of art -- to win a ribbon in the art competition! The story concept was hard for the kids to grasp, but they enjoyed identifying the colors and where they came from: pink was cotton candy, green was freshly cut grass, white was milk, etc... I sang the text, but we spent a lot of time discussing each wonderfully illustrated page.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

This one helps the kids start listening to the world around them. On every page, I had the kids ask the animals what they hear, (with the repetitious chant in the text) and on every page, they made the animal sounds suggested.  At the very end, there are magical illustrations of children in animal costumes. This makes it one of my favorites to use just before Halloween.

The Harvest Game

When I was little, I always wanted my Mom to play "Fruit Basket Upset" when we had parties. Here is a spin-off from that classic game.

I created little cards with pictures of fruits & vegetables, and "laminated" them with packaging tape. I usually use 2 of each kind, but have 3 -- just in case I get a larger group.

I have the children stand around the circle and hand each one a card. Then I sing: (tune I use is like "Bumping up & Down in My Little Red Wagon" -- or "Hurry Hurry Drive the Firetruck")
Where oh where can I find some apples?
Where oh where can I find some apples?
If you're an apple --- jump up and down! (pause while the kids with the apple card jump)
And sit down in my basket!

At that the "apples" sit down in the middle of the circle & stay there. I used to sing "jump into my basket", but some of the kids were a little too energetic doing this and I feared someone was going to get hurt!

Then I will pick a different fruit or vegetable and sing that verse with their motion. Here are the motions I use, but you might think of something better.

• apples -- jump
• grapes -- stomp their feet
• corn --- flap your arms 
• carrots -- spin around
• pumpkins -- jump and turn
• peas  -- run around the circle (just once -- must be the last one to avoid collisions!)

Now all the kids are sitting in the center of the circle. I have them hold their cards up in the air to make it easy for me to collect the cards, and they return to standing around the circle. We will play this one more time, and they must get a different card than the one they had before.

Favorite October Music part three: Knock Knock & I'm a Pumpkin

Knock Knock

There are many versions of this out there. I modified it to be a counting fingerplay.

I created an illustration for this song with
one child in a fairy costume 
two pirates,
three princesses
four kids in superhero costumes
five ghosts (children in costumes -- not scary)


Knock, knock, 
Sounds like more, 
Trick-or-treaters at my door!
(slap palm with fist to "knock" in rhythm with the words)

Open the door and what do I see?
(Spread hands out to "open door")

One little fairy is smiling at me!
(hold up one finger)

Go through all the verses, and at the end, the ghosts say BOO!


I'm a Pumpkin

Here's another that is everywhere on the net!

I really like the Wee Sing version:

I'm a pumpkin large and round,
 (arms out wide)
Sitting on the cold cold ground,
 (pat floor)
Now it's time to leave this place
 (hitch thumb over shoulder)
Take me home and carve a face
 (circle face with finger)

Make some eyes -- clap -- clap
 (point to eyes -- clap -- clap)
And a mouth -- clap -- clap
  (point to mouth-- clap -- clap)
And a nose -- clap -- clap
  (point to nose-- clap -- clap)


I'm a jack-o-lantern now,
Not a pumpkin on the ground.
 (shake finger for "no")
Put a candle in for light,
 (hold finger out for a candle)
I will glow throughout the night.
 (other hand waves behind finger for "glow")

Halloween -- clap -- clap
Halloween -- clap -- clap 
Halloween -- clap -- clap  

shhhhhhhh!
(finger to lips)
(whisper)

Halloween -- clap -- clap 
Halloween -- clap -- clap  
Halloween -- clap -- clap

Favorite October music part two: action songs!

These two come from the Wee Sing for Halloween CD.

click here to find mp3 downloads of these songs

First is "Spooky Loo", a cute Halloween version of Looby Loo.

It's too early in the year to worry about right hand & left hand, etc.. we just put in one hand, and then try to use "the other hand" on the next verse.

When we are walking around the circle, I encourage the kids to make up a spooky walk. They are so creative!

This is easier than the hokey pokey, so it's good for even the youngest children.

Next favorite is "Fly Little Bats" an action song that encourages children to act out flying bats, creeping spiders, stomping monsters, crawling cats --- but that is where I stop the song. The following actions would be great fun (dancing skeletons, floating ghosts) but I have found some children are frightened by skeletons & ghosts, so I just don't go there. They don't seem to mind the monsters.

Favorite October Music part one, The Wide-Eyed Owl

Yesterday, one of the boys in my class was so glad his Mom was there to learn how to sing "The Wide Eyed Owl" with us. "I've been trying to teach you that!" he exclaimed. 

I tried to find an example of this on the internet, and realized that I think have combined an old song about owls that my mother used to sing for me as a child -- with a fingerplay poem.

Here is a link to the page I probably found the fingerplay on originally: atozkidsstuff.com/owls

I am also posting a little video so you can hear the tune.

The Wide Eyed Owl 
 

There's a wide-eyed owl, (circle fingers around eyes)

with a pointed nose, (make a pointy beak with fingers over your nose)

with two pointed ears, (with index fingers on head)

and claws for toes. (make hands into claws)

He lives in a tree. (arms in big circle over head)

And looks down on you (one hand over brow, looking around the room)

flaps his wings, and cries,  (flap elbows)

"Whoooooo." (cup hands over mouth, allow voice to slide down a fifth to "do")

Just for fun, here is the song my mom used to sing (this is where the melody came from)

The wise old owl is a curious fellow he has

Ears like a cat and his eyes are yellow!

He lives on mice and grasshoppers too,

And late at night he cries: whoooooooo!

Polly Put the Kettle On, as a teaching game

This is the first game we play, and the kids always love it!

First I sing the song, Polly Put the Kettle On, and show them where I have taped a card to a low bench or table with the word: off
Then on the other end of the room I have taped a card to a low bench or table with the word: on

Then, placing a simple tea kettle (nothing that can be broken, preferably nothing with sharp edges in case someone trips) on the "off" table, I briefly describe how to carry the kettle "without spilling a drop!", and how putting it "on" means it could be very hot on the stove. We can even discuss stove top safety.

Then sing the first verse while a child carries the kettle from the "off" table and places it on the "on" table. Use their name instead of Polly:

Michael put the kettle on,
Michael put the kettle on,
Michael put the kettle on, we'll all have tea.

Praise them for walking (never running!) and carrying the kettle so steadily! They take their seat in the circle, and the next child is asked to take it off:

Mary take it off again,
Mary take it off again,
Mary take it off again, they've all gone away.

Go around the circle so everyone gets a turn.

THEN, one of the Mom helpers is asked to pretend to pour us all a cup of tea. We cup our hands, and when we receive our tea, we MUST say "Thank You!"

This year, I also added the rule that NOBODY gets to drink their tea until the Mom helper sits down again. Even pretend tea parties can use good manners. :)

Of course "I'm a little teapot" is a natural companion song!

Music Story Time

After a few good action songs, it's good to settle down for Story Time.

We'll use a quick Transition song:

(Here's the one I use at the beginning of the year)

Put Your fingers in the air, in the air,
Put Your fingers in the air, in the air,
Put Your fingers in the air, now put them in your hair!
Put Your fingers in the air, in the air,

Put your fingers in your lap,
Now give a little clap,
Put your fingers in your lap & leave them there.

We will often have a quick educational activity after this. For now, we are singing  the Alphabet Song, and then I am taking a song idea from Barbara Milne (maybe later we will sing along with her nice recording -- her pace is perfect)

Only for now we have a different set of words to go with our farming theme, with a big emphasis on healthy fruits & vegetables. We've been covering two letters a week; so far we are up to the letter F.
"Farmer, Farmer, ffff --ffff---ffff"

Letter Sounds (apple apple aaa)

Barbara Milne | Format: MP3 MusicFrom the Album Sounds Like Fun by Barbara Milne 

Then, we have a musical story.
Here's my favorite one to start the year. It demands participation, and is just silly enough. We love this book.

If You're Happy and You Know It! [Hardcover]

Jan Ormerod (Author), Lindsey Gardiner (Author)

Action Songs!

Sunshine Pre School kids love to get up and move!

Here's how we transition from sitting & singing to our action songs.

(tune: London Bridge)

Now it's time to clap your hands
clap your hands, clap your hands,
Now it's time to clap your hands, in music class.

We will do this 3-4 times with different movements, (touch your toes, arch your back, stretch up high, blow in the wind) and by the end we should be standing around the circle.

Then it's time for:

(tune: Frere Jacques)

Walking, walking, walking walking
Hop, hop hop!
Hop, hop hop!
Running, running, running, 
Running, running, running,
Now we stop!
Now we stop!

Sometimes we might add variations to this, but it's a good warm up for the action activity  that follows.

Here are the first two Action Songs we learned this year.

"Let's All Clap Together"

Let's All Clap Together

Julia Plaut | Format: MP3 MusicFrom the Album Happy Mouse Presents: 5 Little Monkeys 16 Action Songs for young children played with Classical instruments

This one is excellent for learning to follow directions with some easy motions. It's very repetitive, (would be perfect for even younger children) so I just use the first few motions, and then we go on to another tune.

"Moving in a Circle"

Moving in a Circle (early elvis)

Eric Litwin | Format: MP3 MusicFrom the Album Smile at Your Neighbor

This is so much FUN! I encourage the kids to come up with their own silly walk, and they are just amazing. By the time we are done with this one (which ends with a lot of twirling) we are ready to sit for awhile. Whew!

Can You Say Your Name For Me?

I regard the "Welcome Song" as a valuable part of every pre-school music class.

• The child gets that guaranteed few seconds of my full attention and receives the greeting.
• All the other children in the class are reminded of each others names. Even though they are together so much, they often do not learn their classmate's names!

I change the welcome song every few weeks, but this is the one I love to start with.

(There are many variations of this one on the web)

Higgledy Wiggledy Bumble Bee (or Higglety Pigglety)

Higgledy Wiggledy Bumble Bee
Can you say your name for me?
(Child answers -- or if not, you say it for them softly)
Let's all say it!
(Child's name)
Let's clap and say it!
(Child's name)
Let's whisper and say it
(Child's name)

You can make up an easy tune. The kids enjoy singing this for each other, and it is GREAT practice for them to get comfortable saying their names in a group.

Here's a kindergarten teacher / wordpress author with a great page of name activities:
sheteaches.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/whats-in-a-name/

Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep

On the first day of pre-school, we sang "Baa Baa Black Sheep", and then explored a few other colors, using my magnet board.

The magnet board is a piece of scrap lumber painted with many coats of magnetic paint, and then covered with a simple farm scene in acrylic paint.

The sheep is a paper cut-out, with magnets AND washers (not aluminum of course!) on the back side. Laminating will make it last longer. Mine are done with clear packing tape.

The washers are there to give the colored "wool" magnets something to attach to.

My Mom helpers made sure each child had a turn to change the sheep's "wool", and we sang for them. Baa, Baa Yellow sheep have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

Welcome to Pre-School!

Howdy Partner!

We have a Western theme this year, and Teacher Teri has the playroom set up with a good old country fair.

I always use very easy songs and activities on the first day of music class. It's important to show the kids what we do in music class and give them some idea of what to expect every Wednesday.

Here's what we do:

Sing in a circle
We will always start with a song or activity that helps us all learn each other's names.
Then we will sing one or two songs we know, and often learn a new one.

Get Up and Move!
We'll always start with the same two action songs to help us transition, but after that we will use various recorded pieces that call on us to listen and follow directions.

Storytime
Might include some reading readiness songs or other  "thinking" kinds of activities. Some of the stories are about music, and some are books we can sing or drum to or participate in making sound effects. Afterwards we might explore using rhythm sticks or clapping to a rhythm.

Expressive Movement or Dance
We might be Bears Going Over the Mountain, Snowflakes Falling with Fluttering Scarves, or Dinosaurs Jumping over a Jump rope. Or we could be learning to Square Dance or do the Hat Dance!
 
Games and Songs
If there is any time left, we might play a game (accompanied by singing directions of course) or sing something silly, like the Five Little Speckled Frogs or Wheels on the Bus.