Over the last few years I've accumulated quite a collection of verses, rhymes, finger-plays, songs and stories...and the collection is always growing. I thought it would be nice to have a page of all the verses we love and use with the little ones, somewhat organized, in one place. We love to use verses throughout the rhythm of our days, especially at transition times. It will take me a while to get all our favorites up here, so I'll be adding more all the time...check back often!
Morning
"Morning has come, night is away, we rise with the sun, to welcome the day."
"Good morning dear earth, good morning dear sun,
good morning dear rocks and flowers, everyone.
Good morning dear beasts, and birds in the trees,
good morning to you, and good morning to me!"
"Good morning, dear leaves, So pretty and bright!
Good morning dear moon - I'll see you tonight!
Good morning dear squirrels, And birds flying free.
Good morning to you, And good morning to me!"
"I open my eyes, and look up at the sky. Morning, hello! Night time, goodbye!"
"Day is breaking, the birds are waking, and calling to the children, to wake up from their dreams."
Meal time
"Blessings on the blossom and blessings on the root, blessings on the leaf and stem and blessings on the fruit. And blessings on our meal."
"Earth we thank you for our food,
for rest and home and all things good.
For wind and rain and sun above,
but most of all, for those we love."
"The rain falls down,
the grain grows up.
Bless my plate and bless my cup."
(We do hand motions for the rain and grain.)
"Wash hands, wash and dry them on the towel. Soon it's time to eat our snack so wash our hands now."
Clean-up
"I met a little dusty gnome. He said it's time to clean our home! Toys in the basket, books on the shelf, time to be a busy elf!"
"The dust fairies are sleeping, the dust fairies are sleeping, the dust fairies are sleeping, all over the house.
The dust fairies are sweeping, the dust fairies are sweeping, the dust fairies are sweeping, all over the house.
The dust fairies are flying, the dust fairies are flying, the dust fairies are flying, all over the house!"
(We start the first verse very quietly, while pretending to sleep. Then we pick up the children and pretend to sweep with them on the second verse. Then we pick up the children and fly and swing them around on the last verse.)
Candle Lighting
"Sun sun it shines so bright above, it strengthens all I do, so let me take this bit of light, so I shine brightly too."
"Warm our hearts, O sun, and give, light that we may daily live; growing as we ought to be, true, and good, and strong, and free."
Group Circle Time (Many of the other verses are used for our circle times as well...these are just more specific to our group circle times.)
"Come along with me,
we're walking, walking in our circle,
come along with me,
it's circle time again.
Come along with me,
we'll dance and sing together,
come along with me,
it's circle time my friend."
"Who will come to my wee ring, my wee ring, my wee ring?
Who will come to my wee ring and make it a little bit bigger?
Will Mason come to my wee ring, my wee ring, my wee ring,
will Bella come to my wee ring and make it a little bit bigger?"
(We continue singing this until we've used every child's name.)
This next one is a child favorite...the Tide, which I got from the lovely book The Breathing Circle, by Nell Smith. To do this one we join hands and, as we sing we bring our circle in, and out, in, and out.
"The tide comes in and the tide goes out. The tide comes in and the tide goes out. The tide comes in and tide goes out, and when the big wave comes we all run out!"
Our Goodbye song:
"Goodbye, goodbye, blessings on your way, may the sun shine brightly in your hearts today."
Movement
"Giant folk take giant steps,
Stepping, stepping giant steps.
Giant folk take steps like these,
Clap your hands and slap your knees!"
(We continue in this manner, with the kids choosing what to do next, like tiny gnomes, hopping bunnies, quick kittens, etc.)
Cooking/Baking
"Chop, chop, chippety chop,
Cut off the bottom and cut off the top.
What we have left, we'll put in the pot.
Chop, chop, chippety chop."
"The farmer gave us golden grain
For us to grind and grind.
Now it's flour brown and white,
Soft and very fine.
Add the water, yeast and honey,
Mix it with our hands.
When it's soft and not too runny
Let it stand and stand.
Shape the dough into a loaf.
Put it in to cook.
When it's crusty, crisp and brown,
We'll have a little look." Chop, chop, chippety chop."
Painting/Coloring
"Color fairies, come and bring
Colors bright and clear.
Help me bring the colors bright
To my paper here."
"Now I take the brush so gently
In my hand with loving care.
Watch the color flow so softly
On the paper clean and clear."
"I have my little basket,
With crayons so clean and neat.
I have a little table.
I have a little seat.
I have my paper ready,
I sit up tall, just so.
My crayons are here
and I am here -
It's time to draw you know.
Centering
"Dip, dip, dip,
my blue ship.
Sails along the water like a cup and saucer,
dip, dip, steady, I am ready."
"The earth is firm beneath my feet,
The sun shines bright above,
And here I stand so straight and strong,
All things to know and love."
(We usually begin circle time with this one.)
I can be as small as a tiny seed. (Crouch down like a seed.)
I can be as tall as a towering tree.(Stand up and stretch up like a tree.)
I can be as wide as the whole wide world. (Stretch out as wide as wide as you can.)
Or I can just be me. (Bring hand to heart.)
Autumn
Squirrels:
"Whisky Frisky, hippety hop, up he goes, to the tree top.
Whirly twirly, round and round. Down he scampers to the ground.
Furly curly, oh what a tail, soft as a feather, can curl like a snail.
Where is supper? Look in the shell, snip, snip and crackle, and out the nut fell."
Sing this to the tune of She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain:
"I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone...
And I'll put them all inside my little home...
And I'll eat the nuts until the winter's gone...
Then I'll do it all again come next fall."
"5 little squirrels with acorns to store, 1 went to sleep and then 4.
4 little squirrels hunting nuts in a tree, 1 fell down and then there were 3.
3 little squirrels wondering what to do, 1 fell down and then there were 2.
2 little squirrels tossing acorns for fun, 1 got tired and then there was 1.
1 little squirrel playing in the sun, he ran away and then there were none."
Winter
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the sparrow do then,
Poor thing?
He’ll sit in the barn
And keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing,
Poor thing.
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what shall the robin do then,
Poor thing?
Oh do you not know?
He left long ago,
For a country much warmer than ours,
Poor thing.
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow.
And what will the door mouse do then,
Poor thing
Rolled up like a ball
In his nest snug and small,
He’ll sleep till the weather turns warm.
Poor thing.
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the children do then,
Poor things?
When lessons are done,
They’ll jump, skip and run,
And that’s how they’ll keep themselves warm,
Poor things. Poor things. Poor things.
Snow:
This one is fun to act out while singing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star:
"Let's go walking in the snow,
Walking, walking on tiptoe.
Lift your one foot way up high,
Then your other - keep it dry.
All around the yard we skip,
Watch your step or you might slip!"
"Snow is falling, falling down,
Falling gently to the ground...
Snowing, snowing...
Flurries, Flurries...
Blizzard!"
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