Action Rhymes
Once There Was a Snowman
Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman
(Pretend to build a snowman)
Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall
(Reach up as far as you can)
And in the sun he melted, melted, melted
(Get smaller and smaller)
In the sun he melted, small, small, small
(End up on the ground)
If You're Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet…
If you’re excited and you know it, jump in the air….
If you’re sad and you know it, have a cry, wah, wah,…… (rub eyes)
If you’re frightened and you know it, cover your eyes….
The Grand Ol' Duke of York
The grand ol' Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half way up,
They were neither up nor down.
He marched them to the left,
He marched them to the right,
He marched them round and round the town,
And he marched them out of site.
Tick Tock
(Hold child on lap and gently rock back and forth to the rhythm of a ticking clock. OR Stand up and rock from side to side.)
Tick tock tick tock
Listen to the cuckoo clock
Tick tock tick tock
Now it’s almost three o’clock.
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
(Gently lift child up on each “cuckoo”. For a less strenuous version simply play “peek-a-boo”.)
Tick tock tick tock (Rock back and forth)
Listen to the cuckoo clock
Tick tock tick tock (Rock back and forth)
Now it's time for me to STOP! (Stop suddenly)
Let's Clap Our Hands
*Let’s clap our hands together
*Let’s clap our hands together
*Let’s clap our hands together
Because it’s fun to do.
* Substitute other actions
Sleeping Bunnies
(Children lie down on the floor, pretending to sleep.)
See the little bunnies, sleeping until noon.
Can we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh, so still…. Are they ill?
Wake up sleeping bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
(Stand up and jump up and down until the end of the song when “stop” is sung.)
Wake up sleeping bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Wake up sleeping bunnies, hop and stop!
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
(Hold hands with child and row)
Row, Row, Row your boat,
**Gently down the stream.
*Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Variations: *If you see a crocodile, don’t forget to scream, AHHH!
**Gently to the shore, If you see a lion, don’t forget to ROAR!!
Going on a Bear Hunt
Going on a bear* hunt (repeat back)
We’re not scared (repeat back)
Uh-oh, grass** (repeat back)
Can’t go over it
Can’t go under it
Got to go through it
Swish swash, swish swash, swish swash
**Alt. Verses:
A forest – stumble, trip
Mud or swamp – squelch squerch
A river or lake – splash splosh
A mountain or hill – chug, chug
A cave – tip toe
One wet shiny nose, two big googly eyes, two big furry ears. It’s a bear*!!! (then go back through the verses in reverse)
We’re not going on a bear* hunt again!!!
*substitute lion or tiger etc.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, (Hold up 5 fingers and countdown)
Blast off! (Lift child up)
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
Upside down and all around,
I’ll take you where the stars are found.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, (Hold up 5 fingers and countdown)
Blast off! (Lift child up)