This year we sang along with Laurie Berkner's great rendition of this favorite children's song.
youtube of this recording
The kids really enjoyed making the sound effects for this song, especially the "squeek"!
Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun,
lived an old mother turtle and her little turtle one.
"Dig," said the mother, "I dig," said the one, ("digging")
and they dug all day in the sand in the sun.
Over in the meadow where the Stream runs blue,
lived an Old mother fish and her Little fishies two.
"Swim," said the mother, (palms together, pointing forward, sway hands side to side)
"We swim," said the two,
and they Swam all day where the stream runs blue.
Over in the meadow in a hole in the tree,
Lived an old mother owl and her Little owls three.
"Whoo," said the mother, "We whoo," said the three, (Hands around mouth)
and they Whooed all day in the hole in the tree.
Over in the meadow by the big barn door,
Lived an old mother mouse and her little mousies four.
"Squeak," said the mother, "We squeak," said the four, (Fingers like mousey whiskers)
and they squeaked all day by the big barn door.
Over in the meadow in a snug beehive,
Lived an old mother bee and her little bees five.
"Buzz," said the mother, "We buzz," said the five, (Hands out to sides like little wings)
and they buzzed all day in the snug beehive.
Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz ("Buzzing" motion, raise hands slowly up to over the head)
OVER IN THE MEADOW! (nice and loud!)
Arabella Miller
And we sang this easy fingerplay song, which simply goes up the musical scale.
(On "Do")
Little Arabella Miller (one arm held out, fingers of other hand tickle top of outstretched hand)
(On "Re")
Had a fuzzy caterpillar (tickling hand slowly rises up arm)
(Mi Fa)
First it crawled up on her mother, (up to the shoulder)
(Sol La)
Then up on her baby brother, (Quick, switch arms! and tickle up to other shoulder)
(Ti Do)
They said "Arabella Miller" (Both hands tickle up to top of head)
(PAUSE)
(Descending scale -- fast!)
"PUT AWAY YOUR CATERPILLAR!" (Both hands scurry behind back)