Banana Tree Math

This song by Mike Eppley is a big hit! (Link used with permission)


The tune is charming, and it is a great way to expose young learners to early concepts of subtraction and division.

To introduce the song, I explain that to share the bananas with a friend, if we can't have the same number of bananas, you should always give your friend the bigger number (so it's a manners lesson too).

Five bananas on banana tree,
Three for you and two for me. (Three fingers on one hand, Two on the other)
Five bananas on banana tree,
OH! I love those bananas.

One banana fell to the floor.....
And now there are only four.

Four bananas on banana tree,
Two for you and two for me.
Four bananas on banana tree,
OH! I love those bananas.

One banana fell from the tree .....
And now there are only three .

Three bananas on banana tree,
Two for you and one for me.
Three bananas on banana tree,
OH! I love those bananas.

One banana went to the zoo ... (make monkey sounds)
And now there are only two .

Two bananas on banana tree,
One for you and one for me.
Two bananas on banana tree,
OH! I love those bananas.

One banana came undone ....
And now there is only one. 
(At this point I stop to ask them what to do. 
They already had the concept of "half" and were happy to tell me to cut it in half.)

One bananas on banana tree,
Half for you and half for me. (bend your index fingers in half to show two halves)
One bananas on banana tree,
OH! I love those bananas.

Sometimes I'll ask the kids if there were other ways they could have shared the last banana. They loved problem solving on this question.

Love Grows and Planting Seeds of Love

Love Grows One by One
Kathy Reid-Naiman
Album: Reaching for the Stars

Both of these beautiful songs are wonderful program pieces, lend themselves to easy hand motions or sign language, and teach a worthy message.

Love Grows, One by One

Words and music by Carol Johnson
You can hear the entire recording by Kathy Reid Naiman HERE.

Because this piece is copyrighted, I will not give all the lyrics for this gorgeous song. You can find the complete lyrics HERE.

Here are the easy hand motions we are using for the chorus:

Love grows, (crossing hands over heart)
one by one  (single finger on both hands)
Two by two  (two fingers, both hands)
and four by four (etc..)
Love grows (crossing hands again)
'round like a circle (extend arms overhead in circle and opening down at sides)
And comes back knocking at your front door. (right fist taps left palm in rhythm)

The verses lend themselves to easy motions as well - keep it simple. In the second verse the lyrics suggest holding hands, and as we sing "reach for all our sisters and our brothers" we lift up our joined hands. 

I nearly start crying every time.

This link goes to purchase digital
download on Amazon.

Planting Seeds of Love

Words and music by Pam Donkin

Pam Donkin has generously dedicated a website to sharing this wonderful song for FREE. 
Find it HERE at plantingseedsoflove.com
The site also features accompaniment and karaoke tracks AND sheet music, as well as lesson plans and enrichment activities across the curriculum. AMAZING!

Youtube Version HERE

Verse One:
I am planting seeds of love in my heart
I am planting seeds of love in my heart
And as they grow, I’ll take them everywhere I go
I am planting seeds of love in my heart

Other verses feature planting seeds of Peace, seeds of Song. 

Chorus:
And as they grow
They overflow
In every part
Of my heart
Heart to heart
Friend to friend

Pam Donkin suggests adapting this song for children to sing the song directly to their parents by singing "YOU are planting seed of love in my heart"
See her adaptation HERE.

This song lends itself to using American Sign Language. There are video dictionaries online to help choreograph this. I recommend keeping it VERY simple.
Here's "Love" from ASLpro.com
Here's "Grow" from signingsavvy.com

PDF of complete lyrics

Apple Starts with "A", GREAT Phonics Song!

Just before storytime, I teach the kids one new letter of the alphabet, and we practice making its sound. Then we practice saying the names of the letters we have learned so far, and finally we sing The Learning Station's ABC Phonics song - just up to our new letter.
So far this year we are up to the letter K.

They are always so eager to move on to the next letter. This week they were so disappointed they could not sing the letter L for Lion until after Christmas!

The pace is lively enough to make it fun, but not too fast. The melody is super simple. I'm always impressed how much the kids enjoy singing this; they take learning their letters very seriously.

ABC Phonics 

by The Learning Station

Apple Starts with A,
ah - ah - apple,

Bear Starts with B,
b - b - bear, 

... and so it goes. So simple and effective.

Over the Sea, Sailors and Pirates -- Whole Body Movement

"Going Over the Sea" and "Over the Deep Blue Sea" have different melodies, but the lyrics are nearly identical. I liked them both so much that we did one the first half of the year, and learned the next one for our Pirate Party in May.

The kids loved both of them.

Going Over the Sea

Here is a link to a youtube video of this recording by Goin' Monkey.

There are many recordings of this on Itunes, but I chose this one because it has a gentle tempo, it's a playful acoustic performance and the brief interludes between verses allow time to remind the kids what number comes next. Just perfect!

We started with just a few numbers and gradually worked our way up to seven. This was enough for us.

Here are the motions we chose for this song:

Start each verse with the correct number of fingers

When I was one, I ate a bun, (act out)
Going over the sea. (one arm moves up and down like waves)
I jumped aboard a sailorman's ship, (jump)
And the sailorman said to me, 
(bend knees like a bowlegged sailor, thumbs up by waist, elbows out, arms swinging side to side)

Chorus
"Going over, going under, (arms reach up, arms reach down)
stand at attention, like a soldier, (salute at attention) 
With a one, two, three." (still at attention, stomp three times)

Verses 2-10
When I was two, I buckled my shoe, going over the sea...
When I was three, I banged my knee, going over the sea...
When I was four, I shut the door, going over the sea...
When I was five, I learned to dive, going over the sea...
When I was six, I picked up sticks, going over the sea...
When I was seven, I went to heaven, going over the sea...
When I was eight, I learned to skate, going over the sea...
When I was nine, I climbed a vine, going over the sea...
When I was ten, I caught a hen, going over the sea...

Over the Deep Blue Sea (Pirate Ship)

Here is a link to a youtube video of this song in live performance by Susan Salidor


This one is a little fast, but very fun.
The motions in the verse are similar, although some of the number rhymes are different.
In the chorus we sing:

He said "Go this way, that way, (arms stretch out to one side, then the other)
Forward, Backward (arms stretch forward, pull backward)
And Over the Deep Blue Sea!" (reach high and low like cresting a wave)

Rain, Rain, Go Away Welcome Song

I have a large (5 foot), beautiful sounding rainstick, a miniature (14") rainstick, and a pair of thick drinking glasses for this welcome song/activity.

If you don't have a rainstick, the internet is full of DIY craft instructions for recycling paper tubes into rainsticks.

INTRODUCE THE RAINSTICK

It's so fun to ask the kids what they think it is, what a good name for it might be, what it is made of.

Then produce the sound, and ask them what it sounds like. You will get many answers. Mostly they will want to start guessing what is inside. Since I don't know what is in mine, it is fun to keep it a mystery.

Ask them: "Could it be marshmallows?"
They will say "NO!"
"Could it be feathers?" "Why not?"

They understand so much about acoustical properties already.

Each child now gets a turn to tip the rainstick. They discover that lifting it slowly produces softer sounds, lifting it quickly makes louder sounds, and some will shake it.

While they have their turn, we sing:

Rain, rain, go away
Come again another day
(Child's Name) wants to play
Rain, rain go away

Week one I use the large rainstick, then for another week or two I use the little one which is easier to pass around the circle.

INTRODUCE THE WATER GLASSES

For the last week of using this welcome song, I bring two thick water glasses or jars from home that I know will give me the first two tones of the song (Sol Mi). Usually I have to tune one or both by adding a little water for the perfect pitch.

First, I preach a little to them about asking their parents before banging on their glasses at home! I show them mine are very thick and not likely to break.

Then using a spoon or a triangle beater I demonstrate playing the water glasses to our tune, but I only use the first two lines this time.

 sol       mi     sol    sol     mi       sol      sol    mi     x    sol    sol     mi
Rain,  rain,   go     a-    way    Come   a-   gain   a-   no-  ther   day

Each child then gets a turn playing the water glassses. I help them just a little if they need it. Some get very excited and want to sing the whole song. That's OK too!

Count to ten with "Once I Caught a Fish Alive"

Everyone loves the "Fishy Song"

This is one of my favorite settling songs for storytime, 

but it is also a great song for counting to ten.

You can find many melody variations online. Here are my hand motions.

I prepare the kids by having them hold their hands out in front, fingers in their palms.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

(count out first five fingers)

Once I caught a fish alive

(scoop out to "catch fish" and then wave imaginary catch 

between fingers & thumb)

6, 7, 8, 9, 10

But I let him go again!

(Throw both hands out like tossing something, then 

vigorously swipe hands in rhythm to "go again")

Why did you let him go?

(Sounding impatient)

Because he bit my finger so!

(a little crying sound in the voice)

Which finger did he bite?

(Sounding concerned)

The little finger on the right.

The Seven Song

This Old Man took us up to number six, and could have gone all the way to 10, but then I found

"Seven Steps"

Here is a link to the video on youtube from "Super Simple Songs"

So simple. Maybe that's why the kids LOVED it!

What I loved about this is we count forward twice, and then we count backwards from seven twice.

But I don't have magic numbers lighting up over my head as they do in the video, so I made magnet numbers.
My magnet board was too small, so in a pinch I used the back of a jelly roll pan. Next year I hope to make a larger magnet board for my letters and numbers songs.

I point to the numbers as we sing.

Once we mastered the Seven Song, I added a number 8 -- it works with the tune just fine. We did it like a little mouse squeak just for fun!

Cut out star taped to yellow paper with packing tape
(DIY  laminating)
Cut this out and glue magnet to back.

Reading Red Rhythms! and purple too

This year's Sunshine class has been very excited about learning to read rhythms.

Every year this is a favorite activity for many kids. I love seeing their eyes light up as they start to "get it" and fall in love with making new rhythm patterns to clap.

Here's my simple strategy -- borrowed and modified from where? I'd love it if someone told me where I got this idea.

I drew some red quarter notes and double purple eighth notes on 3x5 index cards. My cards are getting so old! It's time to make some new ones.

First I show the kids a single red quarter note, and ask them what they see. Of course it's red. We also see it has a round part -- a head, and a long line -- a stem.

I tell them we will call it "red" like its color, and when I point to it, we will all say "RED".

Then they learn that when I point to the note, we will say "RED" AND clap one time.

Next I line up four red notes. We practice saying the name first: 

           RED                       RED                       RED                      RED

Now clapping hands ready! We clap and say RED for each note.
So GOOD!
Ready for something more?


I show them the eighth note pair on a single card. What is different?
It is purple. Good! What else? This will take a little time, but we discover it has two heads!
Would you like to have two heads? 

I teach them to say PUR-PLE when I point to the note. I point to each note head.

We then learn to clap for each note head (syllable), so we clap two times. PUR-PLE

Now there are four cards of purple notes. We say them first.
Then we clap them.

          PUR-PLE          PUR-PLE           PUR-PLE           PUR-PLE

Ready for something more?

I line up the four red cards, and under them the four purple cards. We say them first, going left to right, top line to bottom line. (Reading readiness)

Now, clapping hands ready! We say and clap both lines.

           RED                     RED                   RED               RED
           PUR-PLE        PUR-PLE         PUR-PLE       PUR-PLE

Ready for something more? (Yes, they are!)









Rearrange the cards to create a very simple mixed rhythm. Say it first, Then clap and say.

               RED                 RED                    PUR-PLE             PUR-PLE 

I try not to go too long with this activity at any one time, because one or two children may not ready for this, and they get very frustrated or bored. The ones who understand will get enthusiastic and want to grab the cards to start creating patterns. Next time! They are so full of great ideas.

Transition: 
Now stand up and stomp our last rhythm!
RED  RED  PUR-PLE  PUR-PLE 
RED  RED  PUR-PLE  PUR-PLE

Follow up:

Lately I have been inserting our rhythm cards briefly before storytime. I "warm up" the kids by doing our 4 reds & 4 purples, and then choose one child to create a mixed pattern. I'm keeping track, so everyone will eventually have a turn. We always say it first, then clap it together.

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

More Horse Songs for Preschool & Horse Math!

I use these nearly every year, even when we don't have a cowboy theme.

Easy & fun hand motion song:

cup hands & clap in rhythm

Horsey, Horsey Don't You Stop, just let your feet go clippety-clop
slide palms together for a swishing sound
Your tail goes swish 
 roll hands
and the wheels go round,
 cup hands & clap in rhythm
Giddy-up we're homeward bound!

Here's a link to a cute youtube version. (much longer)

Horse Math!
Then I use the same melody to do "Ten Fine Horses", but we start instead with Two Horses.
I have a picture of two horses and the number 2. One horse is grey, one is brown.
I have the kids hold up one finger on each hand, and say with me: "one plus one makes two"
Then we sing:

our two "horses" (fingers) wave in the air
Two fine horses came to town
wiggle one finger, and then the next
One was grey and one was brown
raise & lower hands, wiggling fingers
They galloped up and they galloped down
both hands go behind back
Then they galloped out of town.

Of course on the next page I have four horses & the number 4, and we mirror that with two fingers on each hand, etc..., all the way up to the number 10.

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

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)

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.