November 2015

ITSY BITSY SPIDER

(Is Everybody Happy? CD)
The itsy bitsy spider                                      (Touch thumb of one hand to index
Went up the water spout.                               finger of opposite hand, then reverse
Down came the rain and                                 as you move arms up in air.)
Washed the spider out.                                   (Wiggle fingers down for rain.)
Out came the sun and                                     (Circle with arms over head.)
Dried up all the rain.                                       (Cross palms.)
And the itsy bitsy spider                               (Climb fingers up again.)
Went up the spout again.

Activities:

Have children get a partner and take turns giving each other a spider massage.

The itsy bitsy spider                                      (Walk fingers up the back from
Went up the water spout.                               the waist to the shoulder.)
Down came the rain and                                 (Scratch the back in a downwards
Washed the spider out.                                   motion.)
Out came the sun and                                     (Rub the back in circles.)
Dried up all the rain.                                      
And the itsy bitsy spider                               (Walk fingers up the back ending
Went up the spout again.                                by massaging the shoulders.)

Children stand next their partner and wrap inside arms around each other’s waists.   Children use outside arms to sing and make the motions for the “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

Sing silly variations for the song.  You could sing the “teensy weensy spider” with a high squeaky voice or the “big, fat spider” with a loud deep voice. 

Learn the spider handshake.  Children hold up four fingers and then intertwine their fingers with a friend as they wiggle their “eight” legs.

Do the spider cheer by touching fingertips from both hands.  Open and close and tap together.

Use plastic spider and bat rings for math activities, such as sorting, patterning, adding, etc.

 

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TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR

(Nursery Rhymes and Good Old Times CD)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.                           (Open and close fists.)
How I wonder what you are?                         (Point up in the air with index finger.)
Up above the world so high,                           (Move index back and forth.)
Like a diamond in the sky.                              (Make diamond shape with fingers.)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.                           (Open and close fists.)
How I wonder what you are?                         (Point up in the air with index finger.

Sing these words to this familiar tune:
Special, special, special me.                            (Open and close fists.)
I’m as special as can be.                                  (Point to self.)
There is no one quite like me.                         (Shake head “no.”)
I’m as good as I can be.                                   (Nod head “yes.”)
Special, special, special me.                            (Open and close fists.)
I’m as special as can be.                                  (Point to self.)

Special, special, special you.                          (Open and close fists.)
You’re my special friend, it’s true.                 (Point to friends.)
From your head to your toes.                         (Point to head and then toes.)
We’re all special friends you know.               (Hold hands.)
Special, special, special you.                          (Open and close fists.)
I am special - you are, too!                             (Point to self and then a friend.)

Activities:
Cut large stars out of construction paper.  Glue a child’s photo in the center or ask her to draw a picture of her face in the middle.  Ask each child to tell you five special things about herself as you write the words in the points of the star.  Use stars on a bulletin board that says, “We can’t all be stars, but we can all twinkle!”

Cut yellow stars out of construction paper and write high frequency words on them.  Sing this tune to engage children’s attention:
Twinkle, twinkle little star.
I wonder what word you are…
Hold up stars for children to read the words.
Hint!  You could adapt this activity for letters, numerals, etc.

Glue glow in the dark stars to craft sticks and use as pointers.


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SHE’LL BE COMING ROUND THE MOUNTAIN

 

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain                          (Clap hands.)
When she comes.  Yeehaw!                                        (Fist in air.)
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain
When she comes.  Yeehaw!
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain,
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain,
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain
When she comes.   Yeehaw!

Driving 6 white horses – Whoa back!                         (Pretend to pull back on reins.)
We’ll all go out to greet her – Hi ya’ll!                       (Wave hand.)
She’ll be wearing her red pajamas – Scratch, scratch!  (Scratch self.)
She will have to sleep with grandma – Zzzz!  Zzzz!  (Close eyes and snore.)
We will have chicken and dumplings – Yum!  Yum! (Pat tummy.)

Activities:

 

Let children turn their chairs around and straddle them as if riding a horse as you sing.

“Why was she driving six white horses?”  How do people travel today?  Change the words of the song and sing what the children suggest.  For example, she could ride a skateboard, truck, sports car, etc.

 

Change the words in the traditional “Over the River and Through the Woods” and sing:


Over the river and through the woods
To grandmother’s house we go.
We might go by train
We might take a plane.
Or maybe a bus or car.
Through low valleys and mountains high
Now, grandmother’s house I spy.
Hurrah, for the fun!
Is the turkey done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

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THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER

(Sing in sign language.)

The more we get together, together, together.            (Hands in fists.  Touch thumbs
                                                                                    and circle around in front of you.)
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.        (Hands on chest and make circles
                                                                                    up and out.)
For your friends are my friends,                                 (Point to a friend and clasp index
fingers.)
Are my friends are your friends.                                (Point to self and clasp index fingers
                                                                                    fingers.)
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.        (Hands in fists.  Touch thumbs and
                                    circle in front of you.  Make circles up and out from chest.)

The more we play together…                                     (For “play” extend pinky and thumb
                                                                                    and wiggle.)
The more we learn together…                                    (For “learn” extend one palm like a
book and then pretend to pull information from it and put it in your head.)
The more we sing together…                                      (Bend one arm and “strum” with
                                                                                    other hand like an instrument.)

Activities:

Invite the children to create other verses for the song.  For example, “The more we read together”… “The more we clean up together…”

End the day with a hand hug.  Children stand in a circle holding hands.  The teacher starts the hand hug by looking at the child on her right and squeezing their hand.  That child then looks at the friend on her right and squeezes their hand.  The “hand hug” is passed around the circle until it ends up back at the teacher.

Tell children to close their eyes and think about the school day.  They can smile and open their eyes when they think of something new they learned.  Let them share their favorite thing with a partner.

 

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