Hickory Dickory Dock 1-2-3-4

Make a clock pendulum by clasping your hands together, arms extended out in front, and swing them from side to side.

"TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK"

get everyone in rhythm, keep the arms going

and then sing...

Hickory Dickory Dock

The mouse ran up the clock (fingers run up from waist to the top of your head)

The clock struck ONE! (hold up one finger) 

DONG!

The mouse ran down (fingers run down)

Hickory Dickory Dock TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK (back to pendulum)

other verses:

The clock struck TWO
The mouse said BOO!

The clock struck THREE
The mouse said WHEE!

The clock struck FOUR
The mousie snored.

Make sure the clock chimes the correct number of times for each verse.

Here is a nice melody for this nursery rhyme; the lyrics are different, but also fun!

Hickory Dickory Dock | Super Simple Songs

I added a verse each week as I introduced the next number. By the time we got to number five, it was time to start the Halloween "Knock Knock" fingerplay.

Introducing Numbers

Every year I pledge I'm going to get organized about teaching number songs.

This year it's finally coming together!

After our initial welcome song and fingerplay, I have added a brief number activity. It consists of introducing a number, counting out that number on our fingers, sometimes more than one way, and then following up with a number song. The kids have really enjoyed this activity.

For example, here is the page for number 6. After we practiced number six, we sang "This Old Man" up to number six. In the next post I'll describe another fun number song.

6

Hold up 6 fingers

1-2-3-4-5-6

Now hold up three fingers on each hand.

1-2-3-4-5-6

Clap six times

1-2-3-4-5-6

Pat six times

1-2-3-4-5-6

Are You Sleeping? Triangle Welcome Song

I hold a triangle in my hand and ask the kids what it is. Of course it's a triangle! They are so smart.

Then I ask them how to play it. They have good ideas. I produce the beater and make some sounds, and they all agree this is correct.

Then I ask them what would happen if I hold it this way? I grasp it in my hand instead of by the string. They have theories. I play it now, and they are amazed at the difference in the sound. 

Now I ask the child on my right to pretend to sleep while I sing the folksong, but use the child's name instead of "Brother John":

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping

(Child's Name --- Child's Name)

Then I play the triangle gently as I sing

Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing

Ding Ding Dong! Ding Ding Dong!

They almost always know to wake up when the triangle rings, but sometimes I need to instruct this. They soon get the idea.

Now I pass the triangle to the child who pretended to be asleep, and the child to the right of him/her "goes to sleep". I try to make sure the child does not ring the triangle until "Morning Bells are Ringing". 

Everyone gets a turn at being the sleeper and the ringer. 

The last child to get the triangle gets to wake up the whole class. 

A Mouse Game

This one is always a favorite.

The children sit in a circle with some space between them.

One child (mouse) goes in the middle.
Sing the first verse to the tune of "Skip to My Lou".
The child in the middle crawls around "eating" cheese out of the outstretched hands of the other children. They love this.

Mouse in a hole looking for cheese. 
Mouse in a hole looking for cheese. 
Mouse in a hole looking for cheese. 
Watching for the tom cat. 

Now choose a child to be the cat.
Both children stand up and the mouse trots around the outside of the circle.
The cat follows behind, but for safety's sake I can't allow anyone to get tagged. (Our floor is a bit hard)

Cat after mouse, in and out. 
Cat after mouse, in and out, 
Cat after mouse, in and out. 
Mouse runs in the mouse hole.

At the last line, the mouse runs between two of the seated children and sits back down. Now the "cat" can take the center and have a turn as a mouse. Everyone gets a turn to be the mouse and the cat.


I would like to give credit to the source, but can't remember where I found this little game.