Little Red Box and more Name Games -

                                       What’s your name?
                                       Puddin and tane.
                                       Ask me again
                                       And I’ll tell you the same

Do you remember that rhyme? Our name is important to us at all ages. Names are also a perfect springboard for creating a classroom community and integrating reading skills. Here are some songs, chants, books, and activities to help children build friendships and feel special throughout the year!


Little Red Box - Cover a small box with red paper. Write children’s names on sentence strips and glue their picture by their name. Pull one name at a time out of the red box and sing to them.

                                       I wish I had a little red box
                                       To put my child’s name in.
                                       I’d take him/her out and go kiss, kiss, kiss, (smack in the air)
                                       And put him back again.

…Continue singing each child’s name.

I Have a Friend - Make a train by standing in a line and placing your hands on the person’s shoulders in front of you. As you “chug” around the room sing this song using children’s names. The tune is “Little Liza Jane.”

                                        I have a friend that you all know
                                        and child’s name is his/her name.
                                        I have a friend that you all know
                                        And child’s name is his/her name.
                                        Get on board, child’s name.
                                        Get on board, child’s name.
                                        Get on board, child’s name.
                                        There’s room for many a more.

Echo Song - The teacher sings the first line and the children answer singing the second line. “Where Is Thumbkin?” is the tune.

                                       Who has two eyes?    (Teacher asks)
                                       I have two eyes.        (Children respond)
                                       Who has one nose?   (Teacher asks)
                                       I have one nose.        (Children respond)
                                       Who has two ears      (Teacher asks)
                                       I have two ears.         (Children respond)
                                       Now we know.           (Clap and sing together)
                                       Now we know.

Continue singing other questions about eye color, pets, siblings, likes, hobbies, etc.

Where, Oh, Where? -

Here’s a song to the tune of “Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch.”

                                        Where, oh, where is our friend, child’s name.
                                        Where, oh, where is our friend, child’s name.
                                        Where, oh, where is our friend, child’s name.
                                        There he/she is wearing color child has on today.

Continue singing each child’s name and the color they are wearing.

How Are You Feeling Today? This song is similar to “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” First, teach children sign language for different feelings, such as happy, sad, sleepy, angry, and scared. (Visit aslpro.com to see a video clip of these signs.)

                                        How are you feeling today?
                                        How are you feeling today?
                                        Show us the sign,
                                        And it will be just fine.
                                        How are you feeling today?

Children make the sign and have the opportunity to discuss their feelings.

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