This is a cute poem about Spring can be done as a flannel board activity. It is great for colors and position. Spring A big green frog sat on an old brown log. A black and yellow bee in a little green tree, A red and yellow snake by a blue lake, All sat and listened to a red bird sing. "How happy I am, It's Spring, it's spring!" Rain on the doghouse Rain on the dog Rain on the duckpond Rain on the log Rain on the grass and Rain on the tree Rain on my umbrella but not on me! Have a felt board for this song: On black rectangular pieces of felt for each line, glue a felt doghouse on one, dog on another, etc. Then paint on the details with the paint you squeeze from a bottle. Make raindrops all around on every one with silver glitter paint. It was very quick and easy to make details with the paint and it's quite visually appealing. Five Little Ladybugs... Five little ladybugs climbing up a door One flew away then there were four Four little ladybugs sitting on a tree One flew away then there were three Three Little ladybugs landed on a shoe One flew away then there were two Two little ladybugs looking for some fun One flew away and then there was one One little ladybug sitting in the sun She flew away and then there were none (May be used on a flannel board) Kite Fingerplay Five bright kites I bought at the store. Along came a strong wind, and now I have four. Four bright kites flying over the sea. Along came a big wave, and now I have three. Three bright kites, I'll give one to you. Three bright kites, now I have two. Two bright kites flew to near to the sun. Poor little kites! Now I have one. One bright kite-that's enough for me, I'll keep it away from the kite-eating tree! (Have is 5 colored kites with string hanging from them. Put on 5 bows on each one. ) These two poems are good for using with flannelboards; Little Bird One little bird with feathers of blue; Flew beside the green one and then there were two. Two little birds singing in the tree; The red bird came to join them and then there were three. Three little birds, wishing there were more; Along came the purple bird and then there were four. Four little birds, happy to be alive; Found a little yellow one, and then there were five. Five little birds as happy as can be. Singing beautiful songs - just for you and me! Feathered Birds Five feathered birds sitting on the door; One flew away and then there were four. Four feathered birds singing in the tree, One flew away and then there were three. Three feathered birds looking at you, One flew away and then there were two. Two feathered birds sitting in the sun, One flew away and then there was one. One feathered bird looking like a hero, He flew away and now there are zero! Pretty Birds (Sing to the tune "Ten Little Indians" - this is great on a flannel board too.) One pretty, two pretty Three pretty birdies. Four pretty, five pretty, Six pretty birdies. Seven pretty, eight pretty, Nine pretty birdies, All sitting in a tree. Counting Pigs Cut ten pig shapes out of pink felt and a big brown mud puddle shape out of brown felt. Place the puddle shape on a flannel board. As you sing the first verse of the following song, place the pig shapes on the mud puddle one at a time. Then remove the pigs as you sing the last verse. Sung to: "Ten Little Indians" One little, two little, three little pigs, Four little, five little, six little pigs, Seven little, eight little, nine little pigs. Ten are in the mud. All are pink with pudgy noses, They don't smell a bit like roses, Curly tails that look like hoses. Rolling in the mud. Ten little, nine little, eight little pigs, Seven little, six little, five little pigs, Four little, three little, two little pigs. One is in the mud. We're on the way to Grandpa's Farm by Raffi. We're on the way, we're on the way, On the way to Grandpa's farm. We're on the way, we're on the way, On the way to Grandpa's farm. Down on Grandpa's farm there is a big brown cow. Down on Grandpa's farm there is a big brown cow. The cow, he makes the sound like this________ The cow, he makes the sound like this________ We're on the way, we're on the way, On the way to Grandpa's farm. We're on the way, we're on the way, On the way to Grandpa's farm. Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little yellow duck, Down on Grandpa's farm there is a little yellow duck, The duck, he makes a sound like this: "Quack, Quack!" The duck, he makes a sound like this: "Quack, Quack!" We're on the way, we're on the way, On the way to Grandpa's farm. We're on the way, we're on the way, On the way to Grandpa's farm. Then repeat We're on the way...and add a new animal. Use the flannel board with each animal. Five Friends/Flannel Board (Put up pieces for sun & five friends--have children help count them.) Five good friends went out to play. It was a bright & sunny day. One good friend said,"I can't stay." Then there were four friends left to play. Repeat for 4,3,2,1. You can use little bugs ,green snakes etc... instead of friends. Start with stories you know, for example, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Henny Penney, Cinderella, or Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? These are all stories that will be easy for you to remember and retell and you should be able to find the patterns in coloring books, curriculum books from the library or simply trace the patterns from the actual picture books. So Many Fish (Flannel Board Story) There are so many fish in the deep blue sea, What color fish does ____ see? Alternate Version: There are so many fish in the deep blue sea, How many fish does ___ see? (use variety of colored fish, fill in child's name in blank) CLANCY the CLOWN. Start out with a flannel board with a noseless Clancy, the clown, saying hello. He asks the children to help him find his "Big Red Round Nose" to get ready for his show. Have all the shapes pieces hiding behind the flannel board. As you put the different shapes on the board the children will tell you if it is the right shape. Keep putting the wrong shapes on Clancy. The children quickly learn their shapes and colors. Play as long as the children are still interested, until Clancy finally gets the right nose! Circle / Social activities: Hula Hoop Pass Put children & adults in a circle. One person holds a hula hoop on their elbow. All Join hands!- The key is to get the hula hoop all the way around without letting go of hands! Cooperation/Problem solving fun! COPYCAT: Let's play copycat just for fun, Let's copy ____, she's the one, Whatever she does, we'll do the same, Cause that's how we play the copycat game! Everyone copies the names person's actions for a minute or two and then I start the rhyme again using another name. Stretch It! (While sitting in a circle ask the children to do the following motions.) Reach up with your arms as far as you can. Stretch! Sway from one side to the Other. Stretch one arm up high. Now stretch the other up high. Alternate stretching first the other arm (to the count of 8 (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8). Stretch your arms out to the side. Stretch your arms out in front of you. Stretch your arms behind you. Ask the children to move other parts of their bodies, such as make your hands, move your elbows; try your shoulders; move your head from side to side. "Stretching" (Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") Everybody reach up high, stretching stretching to the sky Swaying left and swaying right, Swaying to the sky. Give each child a bean bag. Have children follow directions, such as "Put the beanbag onyour foot", "Put the beanbag between your knees", "Put the bean bag under your chin",etc. In the Doghouse Make a giant square on the ground(use rope, or pieces of tape). The square represents the doghouse. Have the children be puppies learning to play in and out of the doghouse. "Puppies hop into the doghouse". "Puppies jump up and down in your doghouse". "Puppies skip around the outside of your doghouse". "Puppies march around the inside of your doghouse". "Puppies crawl out of your doghouse". "Puppies tiptoe inside your doghouse". "Puppies lie down in your doghouse". String Toss/Spider Web Place all children in a circle. One person wraps a peice of string around a finger, with other hand tosses the ball of string to another child. That person wraps it around their finger and throws it with the other hand. Continues to form a giant web. Human Dominoes Give each child a colored circle on each forehead, another on their right foot. One child starts and lays on floor. Another child matches either the color on the forehead/foot to the color on the childs forehead/foot laying down Continue! Social Cooperation! (some kids forget which color is on their forhead and they will ask a friend! Color Song (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) Pre-cut shapes from colored paper & laminate (if you have it avalabel) I would do one of each color for each child. Substitute the color each time you sing the song. Put your Red shape in the air Hold it high & leave it there. Put your red shape on your back Now please lay it in your lap. Hold your red shape in your hand Now everyone please stand. Wave your red shape at the door Now please lay it on the floor. Hold your red shape and jump, jump, jump. Throw your red shape way, way up! Color Game Cut colored construction paper in half--to give each child a half--making sure each will have a partner to match. Go around in a circle singing this song: Colors, colors all around See them here and there When the singing finally stops Find a friend to share As they are going around the circle you could have them either hold the color behind their back or show it as they're walking. At the end of the song, they find the color that would match theirs. Extend this activity by then having the friends that match talk about things that are that color, find something in the room that is that color, etc. Colored Feather Game Cut feather shapes out of selected colors of construction paper and place them in a paper bag. Have the children sit in a circle. let one child at a time reach in the bag and take out a feather. Explain that in order to keep the colored feather, the child must name something that is a matching color (a red apple, a yellow banana, my blue shirt, etc.). Continue the game as long as desired, making sure that everyone ends up with the same amount of feathers. Songs: Hello - Song - Sung to Are You Sleeping? Hello (child's name). Hello (child's name. How are you? How are you? We're so glad to have you We're so glad to have you Here today, here today! Hello Song - Sung to Three Blind Mice Hello (child's name). Hello (child's name). How are you? How are you? We're glad you're here to laugh and play We hope you'll have some fun today You're welcome, welcome everyday To our playschool. Glad To See You - Song - Sung to Are You Sleeping? Adult: We Welcome You - Song - Sung to Mary Had A Little Lamb Welcome - Song - Sung to Happy Birthday We welcome you here We welcome you here We welcome everybody We welcome you here! Greeting Song - Sung to The Farmer In The Dell Adult: I'm glad you came today I'm glad you came today Hello to everyone (wave hello) I'm glad you came today Children: We're glad we came today We're glad we came today Hello, hello to everyone (wave hello) We're glad we came today All: We'll work and play today We'll work and play today Hello, hello to everyone (wave hello) We'll work and play today Start The Day With A Smile - Song - Sung to The Mulberry Bush This is the way we start the day Start the day, start the day This is the way we start the day So early in the morning First we smile and shake a hand Shake a hand, shake a hand First we smile and shake a hand So early in the morning Then we sit down quietly Quietly, quietly Then we sit down quietly So early in the morning We listen very carefully Carefully, carefully We listen very carefully So early in the morning Hello Children - Song - Sung to Good Night Ladies Hello children, hello children Hello children, I'm glad you're here today The More We Get Together - Song The more we get together, together, together The more we get together, the happier we'll be For your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends The more we get together the happier we'll be Why can't we get together, together, together Why can't we get together, the way it should be Your friends could be my friends, and my friends could be your friends Please let us get together, the way it should be There's Adam and Benjamin, Danielle and Joshua There's Rachel and Ryan and Steven too There's Tamara and Tanya and brothers and sisters There's moms and dads and of course there is you. Who's Here? - Song - Sung to London Bridge How many friends are here today Here to learn, here to play How many friends are here today Let us count them. Story Time - Song - Sung to Sing A Song Of Sixpence It's time to watch and listen We're going to read a book We'll sit down on the rug And use our eyes to look We'll look at pictures And hear the story, too Oh, what fun it is to share This story time with you. Welcome Song - Sung to If You're Happy And You Know It Good morning, good morning, how are you? Good morning, good morning, how are you? How are you this special day We're glad you came to play Good morning, good morning, how are you? Greeting - Song - Sung to We Wish You A Merry Christmas We wish you a happy Monday We wish you a happy Monday We wish you a happy Monday All day long! People Puzzles (game) Materials: Masking Tape Make a very large shape on the floor with masking tape. It's fun to make letters and numbers.One by one the children fit their bodies along the outline shape until the puzzle is complete. Let some children watch as the people puzzle comes to life. Kid Connections (game) Each child finds a partner. As you call out body parts, each child connects with his partner. 'Toe to toe! Elbow to elbow! Knee to knee!' Then try calling 'finger to shoulder' or 'lips to ear' or 'heel to back.' Experiment with connecting cheeks, thighs and knuckles.The children will watch and learn as they successfully bond in these 'kid connections.' They will discover more and more body parts and all the ways these different parts move, bend, twist, turn. Have children sit in a circle and place a box of blocks to one side. Have one child begin by choosing a block from the box and placing it in the middle of the circle. Then let the children take turns choosing blocks and adding them to the first to create a block sculpture.. When al the blocks have been used, put them back in the box and start all over again. Mirror, Mirror (game) Standing face to face, the children imitate each others movements. Have them take turns being the reflections and the person looking into the mirror. They should move slowly and keep a closeeye on their mirror images while making identical whole-body movements and facial expressions. Tommy Thumbs up, Tommy Thumbs down, Tommy Thumbs dancing all around the town. Dance them on your shoulders. Dance them on your knees. Dance them on your head, and (Kiss, kiss) tuck them into bed. The actions are self-explanitory but make sure that on the kiss part, literally kiss your thumbs. (That's their favorite part.) Active You You wiggle your thumbs and clap your hands, And then you stamp your feet. You turn to the left, you turn to the right And make your finger meet. You raise them high and let them down; You give another clap. You wave your hands and fold your hands, And put them in your lap. Finger Song Sung to 'ABC Song' 1,2,3,4,5 fingertips, I can touch them to my lips. I can cover up my eyes, I can clap them on my thighs. Now let's do the other hand, Are you sure you understand? Following Directions Please stand on tip toes. (Caregiver) I will stand on tiptoes. (Child) Wiggle your nose. I will wiggle my nose. Please reach up high. I will reach up high. Point to the sky. I will point to the sky. Wave your right hand. I will wave my right hand. Stand and look grand. I will stand and look grand. Please jump in one place. I will jump in one place. Please cover your face. I will cover my face. Head And Shoulders Head and shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes, knees and toes, Head and shoulders, knees and toes, Eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat, Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat, And hair and hips and chin and cheeks, Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat. I Can Bend And Touch The Floor Sung to 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' I can bend and touch the floor, touch the floor, touch the floor. Put your hands on the floor, Now let's walk around. Show Me If You Can Sung to 'In and Out The Window' Where is your finger? Where is your finger? Where is your finger? Show me if you can. Good, now where's your nose? Now, where is your nose? Now, where is your nose? Show me if you can. (Use other body parts.) Ten Little Fingers I have ten little fingers, They all belong to me. I can make them do things, Would you like to see? I can shut them up tight, I can open them wide. I can put them together, And I can make the hide. I can make them jump up high, I can make them jump down low, I can roll them around And fold them just so. Touch My Nose Sung to 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' Wiggle wiggle little toes Oh! my goodness what a pose. Up above my head so high Dancing way up in the sky. Wiggle, wiggle little toes Won't you come and touch my nose. Circle / Social activities: Hula Hoop Pass Put children & adults in a circle. One person holds a hula hoop on their elbow. All Join hands!- The key is to get the hula hoop all the way around without letting go of hands! Cooperation/Problem solving fun! COPYCAT: Let's play copycat just for fun, Let's copy ____, she's the one, Whatever she does, we'll do the same, Cause that's how we play the copycat game! Everyone copies the names person's actions for a minute or two and then I start the rhyme again using another name. Stretch It! (While sitting in a circle ask the children to do the following motions.) Reach up with your arms as far as you can. Stretch! Sway from one side to the Other. Stretch one arm up high. Now stretch the other up high. Alternate stretching first the other arm (to the count of 8 (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8). Stretch your arms out to the side. Stretch your arms out in front of you. Stretch your arms behind you. Ask the children to move other parts of their bodies, such as make your hands, move your elbows; try your shoulders; move your head from side to side. "Stretching" (Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") Everybody reach up high, stretching stretching to the sky Swaying left and swaying right, Swaying to the sky. Give each child a bean bag. Have children follow directions, such as "Put the beanbag onyour foot", "Put the beanbag between your knees", "Put the bean bag under your chin",etc. In the Doghouse Make a giant square on the ground(use rope, or pieces of tape). The square represents the doghouse. Have the children be puppies learning to play in and out of the doghouse. "Puppies hop into the doghouse". "Puppies jump up and down in your doghouse". "Puppies skip around the outside of your doghouse". "Puppies march around the inside of your doghouse". "Puppies crawl out of your doghouse". "Puppies tiptoe inside your doghouse". "Puppies lie down in your doghouse". String Toss/Spider Web Place all children in a circle. One person wraps a peice of string around a finger, with other hand tosses the ball of string to another child. That person wraps it around their finger and throws it with the other hand. Continues to form a giant web. Human Dominoes Give each child a colored circle on each forehead, another on their right foot. One child starts and lays on floor. Another child matches either the color on the forehead/foot to the color on the childs forehead/foot laying down Continue! Social Cooperation! (some kids forget which color is on their forhead and they will ask a friend! Color Song (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) Pre-cut shapes from colored paper & laminate (if you have it avalabel) I would do one of each color for each child. Substitute the color each time you sing the song. Put your Red shape in the air Hold it high & leave it there. Put your red shape on your back Now please lay it in your lap. Hold your red shape in your hand Now everyone please stand. Wave your red shape at the door Now please lay it on the floor. Hold your red shape and jump, jump, jump. Throw your red shape way, way up! Color Game Cut colored construction paper in half--to give each child a half--making sure each will have a partner to match. Go around in a circle singing this song: Colors, colors all around See them here and there When the singing finally stops Find a friend to share As they are going around the circle you could have them either hold the color behind their back or show it as they're walking. At the end of the song, they find the color that would match theirs. Extend this activity by then having the friends that match talk about things that are that color, find something in the room that is that color, etc. Colored Feather Game Cut feather shapes out of selected colors of construction paper and place them in a paper bag. Have the children sit in a circle. let one child at a time reach in the bag and take out a feather. Explain that in order to keep the colored feather, the child must name something that is a matching color (a red apple, a yellow banana, my blue shirt, etc.). Continue the game as long as desired, making sure that everyone ends up with the same amount of feathers. Songs: Hello - Song - Sung to Are You Sleeping? Hello (child's name). Hello (child's name. How are you? How are you? We're so glad to have you We're so glad to have you Here today, here today! Hello Song - Sung to Three Blind Mice Hello (child's name). Hello (child's name). How are you? How are you? We're glad you're here to laugh and play We hope you'll have some fun today You're welcome, welcome everyday To our playschool. Glad To See You - Song - Sung to Are You Sleeping? Adult: We Welcome You - Song - Sung to Mary Had A Little Lamb Welcome - Song - Sung to Happy Birthday We welcome you here We welcome you here We welcome everybody We welcome you here! Greeting Song - Sung to The Farmer In The Dell Adult: I'm glad you came today I'm glad you came today Hello to everyone (wave hello) I'm glad you came today Children: We're glad we came today We're glad we came today Hello, hello to everyone (wave hello) We're glad we came today All: We'll work and play today We'll work and play today Hello, hello to everyone (wave hello) We'll work and play today Start The Day With A Smile - Song - Sung to The Mulberry Bush This is the way we start the day Start the day, start the day This is the way we start the day So early in the morning First we smile and shake a hand Shake a hand, shake a hand First we smile and shake a hand So early in the morning Then we sit down quietly Quietly, quietly Then we sit down quietly So early in the morning We listen very carefully Carefully, carefully We listen very carefully So early in the morning Hello Children - Song - Sung to Good Night Ladies Hello children, hello children Hello children, I'm glad you're here today The More We Get Together - Song The more we get together, together, together The more we get together, the happier we'll be For your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends The more we get together the happier we'll be Why can't we get together, together, together Why can't we get together, the way it should be Your friends could be my friends, and my friends could be your friends Please let us get together, the way it should be There's Adam and Benjamin, Danielle and Joshua There's Rachel and Ryan and Steven too There's Tamara and Tanya and brothers and sisters There's moms and dads and of course there is you. Who's Here? - Song - Sung to London Bridge How many friends are here today Here to learn, here to play How many friends are here today Let us count them. Story Time - Song - Sung to Sing A Song Of Sixpence It's time to watch and listen We're going to read a book We'll sit down on the rug And use our eyes to look We'll look at pictures And hear the story, too Oh, what fun it is to share This story time with you. Welcome Song - Sung to If You're Happy And You Know It Good morning, good morning, how are you? Good morning, good morning, how are you? How are you this special day We're glad you came to play Good morning, good morning, how are you? Greeting - Song - Sung to We Wish You A Merry Christmas We wish you a happy Monday We wish you a happy Monday We wish you a happy Monday All day long! People Puzzles (game) Materials: Masking Tape Make a very large shape on the floor with masking tape. It's fun to make letters and numbers.One by one the children fit their bodies along the outline shape until the puzzle is complete. Let some children watch as the people puzzle comes to life. Kid Connections (game) Each child finds a partner. As you call out body parts, each child connects with his partner. 'Toe to toe! Elbow to elbow! Knee to knee!' Then try calling 'finger to shoulder' or 'lips to ear' or 'heel to back.' Experiment with connecting cheeks, thighs and knuckles.The children will watch and learn as they successfully bond in these 'kid connections.' They will discover more and more body parts and all the ways these different parts move, bend, twist, turn. Have children sit in a circle and place a box of blocks to one side. Have one child begin by choosing a block from the box and placing it in the middle of the circle. Then let the children take turns choosing blocks and adding them to the first to create a block sculpture.. When al the blocks have been used, put them back in the box and start all over again. Mirror, Mirror (game) Standing face to face, the children imitate each others movements. Have them take turns being the reflections and the person looking into the mirror. They should move slowly and keep a closeeye on their mirror images while making identical whole-body movements and facial expressions. Tommy Thumbs up, Tommy Thumbs down, Tommy Thumbs dancing all around the town. Dance them on your shoulders. Dance them on your knees. Dance them on your head, and (Kiss, kiss) tuck them into bed. The actions are self-explanitory but make sure that on the kiss part, literally kiss your thumbs. (That's their favorite part.) Active You You wiggle your thumbs and clap your hands, And then you stamp your feet. You turn to the left, you turn to the right And make your finger meet. You raise them high and let them down; You give another clap. You wave your hands and fold your hands, And put them in your lap. Finger Song Sung to 'ABC Song' 1,2,3,4,5 fingertips, I can touch them to my lips. I can cover up my eyes, I can clap them on my thighs. Now let's do the other hand, Are you sure you understand? Following Directions Please stand on tip toes. (Caregiver) I will stand on tiptoes. (Child) Wiggle your nose. I will wiggle my nose. Please reach up high. I will reach up high. Point to the sky. I will point to the sky. Wave your right hand. I will wave my right hand. Stand and look grand. I will stand and look grand. Please jump in one place. I will jump in one place. Please cover your face. I will cover my face. Head And Shoulders Head and shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes, knees and toes, Head and shoulders, knees and toes, Eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat, Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat, And hair and hips and chin and cheeks, Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat. I Can Bend And Touch The Floor Sung to 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' I can bend and touch the floor, touch the floor, touch the floor. Put your hands on the floor, Now let's walk around. Show Me If You Can Sung to 'In and Out The Window' Where is your finger? Where is your finger? Where is your finger? Show me if you can. Good, now where's your nose? Now, where is your nose? Now, where is your nose? Show me if you can. (Use other body parts.) Ten Little Fingers I have ten little fingers, They all belong to me. I can make them do things, Would you like to see? I can shut them up tight, I can open them wide. I can put them together, And I can make the hide. I can make them jump up high, I can make them jump down low, I can roll them around And fold them just so. Touch My Nose Sung to 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' Wiggle wiggle little toes Oh! my goodness what a pose. Up above my head so high Dancing way up in the sky. Wiggle, wiggle little toes Won't you come and touch my nose.