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.

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.

Go to Sleep ** Now Dance! Fun Music Games

Kids love this easy game formula. I often pull up one of these recordings as a fun game at the end of a lesson, especially if I have come to the end of my lesson plan and we still have a few minutes left.

I have four favorites using different animals: Lions, Rabbits, Ponies, and Pigs.

The easiest of all is "Hop Little Rabbits". The children start by "sleeping" on the floor, and then the music calls for them to "Hop little Rabbits". And then they sleep again. Hop again! etc.... Great stuff.

Hop little Rabbits Julia Plaut

Happy Mouse Presents: Hop Little Rabbits

12 Action Songs for young children played withClassical instruments

"Wimoweh" (The lion sleeps tonight) as brilliantly arranged by Laurie Berkner. Same formula, but when the music speeds up, the kids get up and dance. The lyrics do not tell the kids what to do, so I demonstrate the actions.

Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)

Laurie Berkner, Whaddaya Think Of That?

"See the Pony" is a circle game, as the kids start by galloping, but switch to "Coming home, all tired out". There are several versions of this song available in MP3 format.Here's the one I am using.

See the Pony

Sally's Music Circle, Little Red Caboose

"There was an Old Woman and She Had a Little Pig"
The little pigs curl up & sleep, then "the farmer" (my adult helper) wakes them up one by one, and they roll around, and then they go to sleep again.
I found this variation on a classic folk song in a library book, and cannot find a recording or similar text version on the internet. Apparently, the original song usually involves the death of the pig, and the old woman. Here's a link to that version, so you can see the melody.
I am reasonably certain the library book was:

American Folk Songs for Children, in Home, School and Nursery School: A Book for Children, Parents and Teachers

Ruth Crawford Seeger (Author), Barbara Cooney (Illustrator)

Music Storytime with Numbers, Seasons & Reasons

Here are a few more books I have used for storytime so far this year:

The Question Song  

Kaethe Zemach (Author)

We loved this! The book poses a number of problems a child might experience in an ordinary day (spilling juice, can't reach a toy, etc...) and there is a little chorus "What are we going to do?" which we sang. The kids offered suggestions to solve the problem. Then we sang "That's what we will do". 

One Wolf Howls

Scotti Cohn (Author), Susan Detwiler (Illustrator)

This gorgeously illustrated book starts with a single wolf in January and travels through the seasons month-by-month, adding to the wolf pack as the snow melts, flowers bloom & fade, leaves turn and then finally twelve wolves play in deep snow in December. These are pretty abstract ideas for the very young children, so I discovered a couple tricks to keep their attention. First, they love to count the wolves on each set of pages. Very big deal. Second, we howl each time I turn a page, just for fun. 

Ten in the Bed: Of course there are many charming illustrated versions of this out there, and mine is out of print. Oh well! It's a great way to teach or just enjoy this winning song.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Hoberman (Author)

Every year the kids LOVE this imaginative variation of this song they know so well. It never fails to capture their interest, and they seem to empathize with the lamb. Genius. 

The Wheels On the Bus

Maryann Kovalski (Author)

Here's another one that the kids love singing along with, and there's a cute additional storyline with a comical twist, although I have to tell them what a taxi is. Out here we see plenty of tractors -- taxis not so much!