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.

Over in the Meadow and the Caterpillar song

Sunshine often ends the year on a Meadow theme, just in time for the Mom's Day program.

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)

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

Christmas 2015 ~ A Funny Jingle Bells, The Mitten in the Snow Song

Hi Sunshine Parents!

Here is a list of all our Christmas songs this year. I don't like to teach Christmas music all through November, so if you want to help your kids learn these songs I welcome the help.

Jingle Bells

This year we are not using the "Dashing through the snow" verse,
but are singing our special Sunshine verse instead:

A day or two ago, 

I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon my Sunshine Pals 
were seated by my side. 
Our horse was running fast, 
as fast as he could go,
He tripped over a snowball and we all fell in the snow! OH!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, HEY! 
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, HEY! 

The Mitten in the Snow Song

This simple song is sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell",
and goes through all the animals in Jan Brett's telling of "The Mitten".
If you have a copy of this book, you can sing the song as you tell the story.

The mitten in the snow
The mitten in the snow
Help us please so we won’t freeze!
The mitten in the snow.

A mole squeezes in
A mole squeezes in
Help us please so we won’t freeze!
A mole squeezes in


Then for then next SEVEN VERSES it goes through all the animals who join the mole in the mitten! (For the purpose of our program, we probably won't sing every verse!)

Rabbit
Hedgehog
Owl
Badger
Fox
Bear
Mouse

And finally:

The bear says, “A-choo!”
The bear says, “A-choo!”
All the animals fly out of
The mitten in the snow!

All the other songs...

These songs are described in last year's Christmas post (link)
Peppermint Stick
Up on the Housetop
Ring the Bells
Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer 

And...
Away in a Manger (first verse)
Ring those Bells and Turn Around
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Connie Kaldor's Honey, Honey, Honey! A Song about a Bear and a Bee

This song NEVER fails to bring BIG smiles.

Honey, Honey, Honey by Connie Kaldor

Honey, Honey, Honey

A bear climbs a tree and makes a piece of toast.

He then demands ALL of the honey from a hard working bee.

What happens next?

The reason this song works so well is the simple chorus:

"HONEEEEEY! honey honey honey honey honey"

When I teach it to the kids, we learn this part first, throwing our hands wildly in the air with the first loud "HONEY!", and shaking them down with the five repeated honeys. They love it. We change the emotion of the chorus as the story progresses, and always over the top.

I also made magnets to tell the story: a bear, a piece of toast, a bee, and a jar of jam.

For copyright reasons, here is a link to the lyrics

AND, here is Connie's performance on Youtube!

Lyrics and Music by Connie Kaldor, available as a download through Amazon or other sources, but check out the whole album for other winning tunes.

Standing Movement Songs: Dingle Dangle Scarecrow, Kye Kye Kule, and My Dog Rags

Here are three favorite songs with great movement opportunities. You can find SO many versions of the melodies and movements on the internet! I am listing some youtube versions as well as recordings I recommend.

Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

Here's a cute video!

When all the cows were sleeping (pretend to sleep)

Dingle Dangle Scarecrow
Kathy Reid Naiman
 On Itunes

Lovely Acoustic Performance

And the sun had gone to bed
Up jumped the scarecrow (jump up)
And this is what he said!

CHORUS
I'm a dingle, dangle scarecrow (arms & legs wiggle)
With a flippy floppy hat (head from side to side)
I can shake my hands like this
I can shake my feet like that.

When all the hens were roosting
And the moon behind the cloud
Up jumped the scarecrow
And shouted very loud.
(Chorus)

When all the pigs were snoring
And the stars were shining bright
Up jumped the scarecrow
And shouted with delight
(Chorus)

Kye Kye Kule 

This recording of
Kye Kye Kule
byMommyAmericana LLC
has slightly different lyrics,
but it is easy for young children.

This song from Ghana is widely used in grade school curriculum.
It's very similar to "Head and Shoulders", but with a fun call and response format and rhythm.
I LOVE the presentation and energy in this video.

Kye Kye Kule   hands on head

Kye ko-finsa    shoulders

Kofi sa langa     waist

Kaka shi langa   knees

Kum adende      ankles

Kum adende hey!  Touch ankles and jump up!

My Dog Rags

There are so many ways to interpret the motions for this song, and there are many melodies.

My Dog Rags
With Instrumental Version
To use as accompaniment!
Lynn Kleiner
Same as heard in the video clip.

I especially like the motions in this video.

I have a dog.
His name is Rags.
He eats so much that his tummy sags, (hands show big tummy)
His ears flip flop (wave hands by ears)
and his tail wig wags. (either swing hips or hands wig wag)
And when he walks, he goes zig zag. (whole body zig zags like a skiing motion OR cross arms like in video)

He goes flip flop, wig wag, zig zag.
He goes flip flop, wig wag, zig zag.
He goes flip flop, wig wag, zig zag.
I love Rags and he loves me.

My dog Rags, he loves to play.
He rolls around in the mud all day. (roll hands)
I whistle. (whistle)
He won't obey.  (shake finger)
He always runs the other way. (throw thumb over shoulder)

He goes flip flop, wig wag, zig zag.
He goes flip flop, wig wag, zig zag.
He goes flip flop, wig wag, zig zag.
I love Rags and he loves me.

Drums for a Pirate Band and The Silly Pirate Song

Pirate Drums 

I was inspired by Miss Marilee's Music post on Drumming, especially the gorgeous drums she made out of recycled buckets.  I found some wonderful buckets with rope handles at the dollar store that had a good sound quality.

One important thing about these bucket drums was that they had smooth bottoms, so they had a good surface for hand drumming. Inspect them all though -- some had a sharp point that needed filing down.

After warming up with "My Favorite Drum", we used our "Red" and "Purple" rhythms.
I started the kids by chanting:
Red, Red, Red, Red 
and we kept that steady beat. While they kept playing, I played a simple tune on the piano that had a heavy 4/4 quarter note rhythm.

Then I switched them to
Purple, Purple, Purple, Purple
And kept a steady 4/4 eighth note accompaniment using strong repeated open fifths in the left hand, a simple melody in the right hand.

One little boy got so excited he jumped up when it was over and begged to do it all again. "It was so beautiful, when we were playing the drums and you were playing the piano; I almost cried!"

For our Pirate Program I played (on the piano) 16 measures of "The Legend of the Croc" from Peter Pan for the quarter note rhythm, and "What do you do with a Drunken Sailor" (I called it a Silly Sailor) for the eighth note rhythm.

I'm hoping to use drums for every new theme Teacher Teri comes up with!

The Silly Pirate Song by Jack Hartmann

Much like the popular camp song "Once an Austrian Went Yodeling", the pirate is interrupted by a surfer, then a shark, then a helicopter, and on it goes.

This song was very exciting for the kids, and they wanted to learn ALL the verses for this sequencing song! That was a bit much for our program, so we just did a few.

Here is a fun youtube version of the song. Plenty of good motion ideas.

You can also find youtube performances by preschool and kindergarten classes if you need more teaching ideas.

And also VERY helpful, here is a link to powerpoint illustrations from Kellyskindergarten.com to use for teaching the song.

If You're a Pirate and You Know It

So easy, just make up verses and sing to the tune "If You're Happy and You Know It".

Shout "Ahoy!"
Say "Arhhhh!"
Dance a jig
Wave your hook -- swish swish
Raise the sail -- Heave Ho!
Row your boat -- or whatever else you imagine for your pirates

Need more Pirate ideas? See my "Over the Sea" post!

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)

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.

Our Favorite Dad's Night Song "I'm Gonna Wrap Myself in Paper"...

Mail Myself to You

This is just the best Dad's Night song I have ever found. Thanks Woody Guthrie!

Partly because it's just SO FUN.

And also because just before Dad's Night the kids make valentines and visit the post office, so it just works.

I will share our hand motions. Here is a link to the lyrics.

Chorus:
"wrap" swing alternating hands across body "wrapping" ourselves up.
"daub with glue" one hand "daubs" shoulders, side to side
"stamps on my head" one hand, palm up, sweeps up and plants palm down on head.
"to you" big motion whole arm, point finger to someone

Verse 2 (I skip verse 1, but it's good too)
"mailbox" shade eyes to look in mailbox
"Cut" fingers make scissors motion "let me out" hands move apart, fingers extended
"Wash"  rub fingers in washing motion
"bubble gum" point to open mouth

Repeat Chorus:

Verse 3
"Take me out" jump, moving hands away from body
"Wash" Rub top of head
"Pour" tip head back, pour motion with hand
"bed" sleep hands under head

This year we have had a lot of kids out with colds and other bugs, so I have asked Teacher Teri to play a recording of the song during the week to help the kids learn it in time. I found a very nice version on Itunes by "Russ"; it is not too fast, and it's in a good key.

Here is a link to it on CD Baby.

Note to Sunshine Parents: If you buy this song, I do not use the first verse in school -- I only use verses 2 and 3. They are all fun to sing, I just like to keep things simple.

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.

Christmas Songs 2014

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas to all the wonderful Sunshine Parents and kids!

Here is the list of some of the songs we are working on this year in anticipation of the annual Christmas Party. I don't like to start teaching Christmas songs too early, so that means I welcome your help.

Especially Rudolph!! That song has soooo many words.

Peppermint Stick (tune: 99 bottles of pop on the wall)

Oh I took a lick of my peppermint stick (hold hand in front of face) 
And was it ever yummy. (Rub stomach)
It used to be on my Christmas tree. (crook finger & hold up over head) 
But now it's in my tummy! (pat tummy)

Up On the Housetop

Up on the housetop the reindeer pause, (arms overhead to make housetop)
Out jumps good old Santa Claus; (jump and open arms to sides)
Down through the chimney with lots of toys, (raise hands overhead & slide them down)
All for the little ones' Christmas joys
Ho Ho Ho! (hold hands in front for Santa's belly) 
Who wouldn't go! (hands up)
Ho Ho Ho! Who wouldn't go! (same motions)
Up on the housetop, click click click, (clap over head)
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

Ring the Bells (tune: Row, row your boat)

Ring, ring the bells, Ring them loud and clear
Tell the people everywhere That Christmas time is near

Jingle Bells

We need help with the verse!

Dashing through the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
bells on bob tail ring
making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.


Little Green Tree  (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)
Here is one youtube video of this cute song. 
(our motions are just a bit different)

I'm a little green tree by the house. (Arms out by sides in /\ shape like a tree)
Here is my trunk, (Hands to sides)
here are my boughs. (Arms out wide)
Decorate me now with lights so fine, (Flash fingers like video)
Then plug them in and watch me shine! (Move open hands around "glowing")

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer  ("antlers" hands by ears)
Had a very shiny nose. ("flashing" fingers by nose)
And if you ever saw him, (One hand shading eyes "looking")
You would even say it glows. ("flashing" fingers by nose)
All of the other reindeer ("antlers" hands by ears)
Used to laugh and call him names.  (cover mouth & point)
They never let poor Rudolph  (shake head) Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say: (Make Santa Belly)
“Rudolph with your nose so bright, Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” (hands holding reins)
Then all the reindeer loved him  (Put your hands over your heart)
As they shouted out with glee,(YIPPEE!)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, ("antlers" hands by ears) You’ll go down in history!

S-A-N-T-A (Tune: BINGO)
teaching video on youtube from "Super Simple Songs"

Red hat, (Point to head)
white beard, (Touch chin)
twinkle in his eye. (Point to eye)
Santa is his name-o.
S-A-N-T-A  S-A-N-T-A  S-A-N-T-A  And Santa is his name-o.

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.

Pony Boy & Great Big Candy Roundup

This month we are all about cowboys!


Riders in the Sky have done some wonderful albums for kids,
and one of my favorite songs is  

"There's a Great Big Candy Roundup" 

 

Pony Boy

Bruce Springsteen: Human Touch

 Another great song for our theme is the folksong: "Pony Boy". There are a zillion versions of this song. No one was more surprised than I, to discover a beautiful & tender rendition of this piece by Bruce Springsteen!

We are singing this song without accompaniment, and are only using two verses, but if you want to hear this great arrangement, I'd encourage you to purchase this through Amazon or Itunes.

Creeping Bugs & Race Car Spider -- Easy Motion Songs

Sunshine Moms & Dads, here are some of the songs we learned earlier this year.

For this one, the kids sat with their legs flat out in front, and we placed our hands on our toes for a great stretch! Then as we sing the song, both hands "creep" up to our noses & down again.

Creeping, creeping, little flea.
Up my leg and past my knee.
To my tummy, on he goes.
Past my chin and to my nose.
Now he's creeping down my chin,
To my tummy once again.
Down my leg and past my knee.
To my toe that little flea.....
(pause to build up some excitement)
GOTCHA!

Here's a youtube - slightly different, but you get the idea 

Of COURSE we do the Eency Weency Spider, but with variations...
We also use an easier hand posture than the one I grew up using.
Hook your thumbs together, now wiggle your eight fingers. Easy.

after the Eency Weency Spider, there's the
GREAT BIG SPIDER (we sing in a GREAT BIG VOICE)
and then the teeny baby spider (we sing in a teeny baby voice)

a few years ago one boy (Jackson) asked for a

 Race Car Spider. Why not?
 We sing:

The Race Car Spider went up the waterspout -- VRROOOM!!!
(hold "spider" hands  down until the vroom, and then they shoot up all at once)
Down came the rain VRROOOM!!!  and washed the spider out
Out came the sun & dried up all the rain, and the
Race Car Spider went up the spout again VRROOOM!!!

You could make a game of creating all kinds of spiders. Would you share your ideas with me?

 We have also enjoyed "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes" this year.

Our Christmas Songs for 2012

Every year I search high & low for a special Christmas song to go with the theme for the year. Some years it's a real challenge!
I also teach a few "core" songs every year, because they are expected, and for the most part are songs the kids already know. Sunshine Moms & Dads, it would be great if you can help them with these at home. Every year we have just a few lessons to learn all the songs we sing for the Christmas party, because I won't start before Halloween!

Every year:

• Jingle Bells -- we ring the bells on the chorus, but not the verse. (just one verse)
• Away in a Manger -- one verse with hand motions
• Up on the Housetop -- one verse with whole body motions
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas -- with other verses like "let's all do a little clapping and spread Christmas cheer"
• Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer -- with Teacher Teri's cute hand motions

Two special songs for this year:

Old Toy Trains sung by Terry Kelly

Old Toy Trains
Because we have a western theme this year, but I totally failed at finding an easy cowboy Christmas song, I went for a Country Western song that is sweet & simple. If you want to help your child learn this song, please download the same version we are using in school. This artist sings "boys and girls" in place of the traditional phrase "little boy", so the girls don't get left out.
He also sings it in a perfect range & gentle tempo, and has such a warm voice. 
For the instrumental bit, we chug-a-chug like trains.

Simple hand motions I made up:

Old toy trains, little toy tracks (children move a hand like they are pushing a toy train)
Little toy drums (pretend they are playing drum)
Coming from a sack (lift both hands like taking something from a sack)
Carried by a man, dressed in white & red (one thumb hitched over shoulder like carrying a sack)
Boys & girls, don't you think it's time you were in bed (folded hands on shoulder - the "sleep" motion)

Close your eyes (hands over eyes)
Listen to the skies (one hand sweeps air, look up at hand)
All is calm, all is well (lower both hands, palms down)
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells (mime ringing jingle bells)

Must Be Santa
Because it is easy & cute, and I just can't do the Hippopotamus song every year. We sing the first three verses only. Here's a link to a you tube with nice illustrations.

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 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!