Resources

I'm bringing home my baby bumble bee
Won't my Mommy be so proud of me
I'm bringing home my baby bumble bee -
OUCH!! It stung me!!

I'm squishin' up my baby bumble bee
Won't my Mommy be so proud of me
I'm squishin' up my baby bumble bee -
EW!! What a mess!!

I'm wipin' up my baby bumble bee
Won't my Mommy be so proud of me
I'm wipin' up my baby bumble bee -
Look!! My pants !!

I'm soapin' in my baby bumble bee
Won't my Mommy be so proud of me
I'm soapin' in my baby bumble bee -
I'ts all clean now !! Am gonna go home and kiss my mama !

Suggestion: Old MacDonald Had a Band – Use instrument names, make their sounds and pretend to play.

Game: One child walks aroudn room like an elephoant. At the end of the verse, he chooses another “elephant” to join behind him. At the end of each verse, the last “elephant” chosen selects a new “elephant”. Continue until several children are imitating elephants.

Grandma's Spectacles

Here are Grandma's spectacles
(make circle with each hand's index fingers and thumbs, hold over eyes)
And here is Grandma's hat
(make triangle by putting two hands fingertips touching over head)
And her's the way she folds her hands
And puts them in her lap. (fold hands and put in lap)

All for Baby

Here's a Ball for Baby (touch fingertips of both hands together to make a ball)
Big and soft and round.

Here are the baby's soliders (hold up hands with ten fingers)
Standing in a row. Here is baby's trumpet (hold one fist over the other in front of mouth)
Toot, too, too, too, too.

Here's the way that baby plays at peek-a-boo (cover eyes with fingers)
Here's a big umbrella
(form fist with one hand and extend index finger,

As I travel...

As I travel in the car, (pretend to drive)
I know it doesn't matter (shake head)
how far, I will be safe (hug self)
and strong (flex muscles)
Wearing my seat belt all day long (pretend to buckle seat belt)

Bend and Stretch

(perform actions indicated by rhyme)
Bend and stretch, reach for the stars
There goes Jupiter, here comes Mars
Bend and stretch and reach for the sky
Stand on tip-e-toe, oh! so high!

Bend and Stretch So High

Bend and stretch up so high,
Stand on tiptoe, touch the sky (stretch and reach as high as you can)
Bend and stretch and see me grow, (bend and stretch)
I'm so tall from head to toe! (touch head and feet)

Big A, Little A, Bouncing B

Big A (Open baby's arms wide)
Little A (Bring hands together)
Bouncing B (bounce and clap hands)
The cats in the cupboard (cover baby's eyes)
So he can't see!
Peek-a-boo! I see you!

Chinese New Year's Dragon

There's a great big dragon coming our way,
A great big dragon on this holiday,
(march with others in a weaving line)
Let's grab our lanterns and follow along,
Dancing & waving and singing a song.
(dancing and waving while moving in a line)

There's a great big dragon coming our way ,
Hip, hip, hurray!

Choo-choo Train

Choo, choo, choo (slide hands back and forth together)
The train runs down the track (run fingers down arm)
Choo, choo, choo
(slide hands back and forth together)
And then it runs right back. (run fingers up arm)

Buzzing Bumblebee

Bumblebee was in the barn (circle finger in the air)
Carrying dinner under his arm (move finger closer to child)
Bzzzzzzzzzzzz! (tickle child)

Carrots

See the carrots in the ground
(form a carrot with hands and point to the ground.)
I pull them hard without a sound
(pull carrots out)
I wash and clean them up and down.
(scrub up and down with your palms of your hands)
I love to eat them all year round.
(Pretend to eat carrots)

Dentist

If I were a dentist,
I know what I would do. (Point to self.)
I'd tell all the children, "Brush your teeth." (Imitate brushing teeth.)
"Keep a smile like new." (Make a big smile and point to lips.)
And if a tiny hole should show,
I'd say, "Climb into my chair."
I'd make my little drill go buzzzzzzzzzz, (Make circle with fingers.)
And put a filling there! (Point to teeth.)

Dinosaur, Dinosaur

Dinosaur, dinosaur
Where can you be?
Hiding behind me (hands behind back)
Where you cannot see!
Now you see one (bring one hand out)
It's been waiting for you.
Here comes another (bring out other hand)
And now you see two!

Going to Africa

I'd like to go to Africa, (Point to self)
Where natives build straw huts like this,
(Join fingertips of hands to form roof)
Where elephants have big, gray trunks
(clasp hands and swing arms in front like a trunk)
Where natives’ arrow seldom miss, (Pretend to shoot arrow)
Where lions shake their manes and roar (Shake head & roar)
I'd like to go to Africa. (Point to self)

I Love Mommy
(To the Tune of: Frere Jacques)

I love Mommy, I love Mommy,
Yes, I do, yes, I do,
Mommies are for hugging, (Hug yourself)
Mommies are for kissing, (Blow a kiss)
I love you, yes I do! (point to mother)

Make a Cake

Mix the batter, stir the batter
(make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Shake some flour in
(make a shaking motion with one arm/hand)
Mix the batter, stir the batter
(make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Place it in a tin (pretend to pour)
Sprinkle in some raisins in (pretend to sprinkle)
Pop it in the oven (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)
Open wide the oven door (pretend to open door)
And out comes the cake!
(open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)

Monster, Monster

Monster, monster, turn around.
Monster, monster, touch the ground.
Monster, monster, reach up high.
Monster, monster, squint your eyes.
Monster, monster, show your teeth.
Monster, monster, stamp your feet.

My Hands

(follow the action in the rhyme)
My hands upon my head I place
On my shoulders, on my face
On my hips I place them so
Now I raise them up so high
Make my fingers fairly fly
Now I clap them, one, two, three
Then I fold them silently

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom (rub hands)
I'm going to the moon (fly hands upward)
If you want to take the trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship (pretend to climb imaginary ladder)
Zoom, zoom, zoom (rub hands)
I'm going to the moon!

Your Fingers
(To the Tune of: )

(do the motions indicated by the rhyme)
Put your fingers in the air, in the air,
Put your fingers in the air, in the air,
Put your fingers in the air, but don’t put them on your hair
Put your fingers in the air, in the air.
Put your fingers on your nose, on your nose,
Put your fingers on your nose, on your nose,
Put your fingers on your nose, but don’t put them on your toes
Put your fingers on your nose, on your nose.
Put your fingers on your belly, on your belly,
Put your fingers on your belly, on your belly,
Put your fingers on your belly, and make it shake like jelly
Put your fingers on your belly, on your belly.
Put your fingers on your knees, on your knees,
Put your fingers on your knees, on your knees,
Put your fingers on your knees, and give a great big squeeze,
Put your fingers on your knees, on your knees.

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the Hill (extend hands flat, palms down, and climb them up)
To fetch a pail of Water
Jack fell down and broke his crown (one hand falls quickly into lap)
And Jill came tumbling after (other hand falls jerkily into lap)
Up got Jack and said to Jill (raise on hand and then the other)
As in his arms he caught her (cross arms and hug shoulders)
If you're not hurt, brush off the dirt (brush off clothes)
And then we'll fetch the water.
S-l-o-w-l-y, s-l-o-w-l-y, up the hill
(climb hands slowly)
This time they spilled no water
They took it home to Mother dear (close fist and carry pretend bucket)
who kissed her son and daughter)
(kissing sound)

Where is Baby?

Where is (Child's Name), where is (Child's Name) ?
There she is, there she is
I am glad to see you, I am glad to see you
Peekaboo! I see you!
(cover and uncover eyes)

Easter Bunny Hop
(To the Tune of: Pop goes the weasel)

Easter bunny, Hippity hop, (hop)
Hide 'til Easter morning.(crouch down)
Easter bunny, Hippity hop,
UP! pops the bunny. (jump up and hop around)

Tiny, Tiny Worm

A tiny, tiny worm (wiggle index finger like a worm)
Wiggled along like this
Without a sound
It came to a tiny hole (make circle with your thumb and index finger)
A tiny hole in the ground
It wiggled right inside
Without a sound (wiggle finger up baby’s arm and tickle)

Three Little Ladybugs

One little ladybug (hold up one finger)
With spots on its wings
Landed right beside me (tap sides)
As I played on the swings (sway forward and backward)
Two little Lady Bugs (hold up two fingers)
Flew around a flower, (move two fingers in a circle)
Then crawled beneath a leaf (children cup one hand over two fingers)
To nap for half an hour. (children lay their heads on their hands)

Black Sheep

Baa baa black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full
One for my master (clap)
And one for my dame (clap)
And one (clap)
For the little boy
Who lives down the lane

Animals

(make actions which follow the rhyme)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
Can you jump like a frog?
Can you walk like a duck?
Can you runlike a dog?
Can you fly like a bird?
Can you swim like a fish?
And be still like a good child,
As still as this?

Use hand puppet or finger puppet or pictures of the animals as you say the animal name.

(count off using fingers) Five little puppies were playing in the sun,
This one saw a rabbit and he began to run,
This one saw a butterfly and he began to race,
This one saw a kitty cat and he begin to chase,
This one tried to catch his tail and
he went round and round,
This one was so quiet he never made a sound.

Two Little Blackbirds

Two Little Blackbirds sitting on a Hill (hold both hands up)
One named Jack (hold up one hand)
The other named Jill (hold up the other hand)
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill (hands behind back)
Come back Jack, come back Jill (hands back in front)

This Little Squirrel

This little squirrel said, Let's run and play
(point to each finger following rhyme)
This little squirrel said, Let's hunt nuts today
This little squirrel said, Yes, nuts are good
This little squirrel said, Yes, they are our best food
This little squirrel said, Come climb this tree
(hold up arm with open hand, run fingers of other hand upwards quickly)
And crack these nuts, one,two, three
(clap hands)

This Little Piggie

This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried
Wee, wee, wee,
All the way home.

This Little Doggie

(Hold up your hand, and Count off on your fingers)
This little doggie ran away to play. (take one finger away)
This little doggie said, "I'll play all day." (take next finger away.)
This little doggie began to dig and dig.

(pretend to dig with next finger, then take it away.)
This little doggie danced a funny jig.
(pretend to dance with next finger, then take it away.)
This little doggie cried, "Woof, woof, woof! I wish I were big."
(take last finger away.)

This Little Cow Eats Grass

(touch each finger, like This Little Piggy)
This little cow eats grass
This little cow eats hay
This little cow looks over the bridge
This little cow runs away
And this little cow does nothing at all
But lie in the fields all day
Let's chase this little cow.
(tickle tummy)

This Little Bear

(Hold up each finger as rhyme indicates)
This Little Bear has a fur suit (thumb)
This Little Bear acts very cute (pointer)
This Little Bear is bold and cross (middle finger)
This Little Bear says, You're not the Boss! (ring finger)
This Little Bear likes bacon and honey (little finger)
But he can't buy them, he has no money!

The Zoo is Fun!

(Count on your fingers as indicated)
1, 1 the zoo is lots of fun!
2, 2 see the kangaroo!
3, 3 see the chimpanzee!
4, 4 hear the lions roar!
5, 5 watch the seal dive!
6, 6 there's a monkey doing tricks!
7, 7 elephants eleven!
8, 8 a tiger and his mate!
9, 9 penguins in a line!
10, 10 I want to come again!

The Turkey

(Open left hand, palm facing forward, place right hand fist in center of left palm with thumb extending outward)
Gobble, Gobble
Says the Turkey
(wiggle thumb so show turkey speaking)
Soon t'will be Thanksgiving Day
Will you eat me?
How you treat me!
I will run away!
(wiggle fingers and move both hands quickly behind back as turkey runs away)

The Easter Bunny

(Stand up)
Easter bunny's ears are floppy, (Place hands by ears and flop)
Easter bunny's feet are hoppy. (hop)
His fur is soft, (stroke arm)
And nose is fluffy, (touch nose)
Tail is short and powder-puffy.
(wiggle hands behind back)

The Cat and the Bunny

Creeping, creeping, creeping (creep fingersup one arm)
comes the little cat
But bunny with his long ears (hop fingers up other arm)

Ten Turkeys

10 fat turkeys standing in a row (hold up ten fingers)
They spread their feathers and tails like so (spread fingers)
Thye strut to the left
They strut to the right (move fingers left and right)
They say Gobble, gobble, gobble
in the bright sunlight

Ten Fluffy Chickens

Five eggs and five eggs
that makes ten (hold up ten fingers)
Sitting on top is Mother Hen (place one hand on top of the other)
Cackle, cackle, cackle (clap three times)
What do I see?
Ten fluffy chickens, (hold up ten fingers)
As yellow as can be

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around (perform actions)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, show your shoe
Teddy bear, teddy bear, that will do

Teasing Mr. Shark

(Hold up Five fingers and count down as fish disappear)
Five little fishes
Swimming in the sea
Teasing Mr. Shark
You can't catch me
Along comes Mr. Shark
As quiet as can be...
SNAP!
Four little fishes
Swimming in the sea

(continue until there are no fish left No little fishes swimming in the sea.)

The spotted giraffe is tall as can be,
(raise one arm as high as you can),
His lunch is a bunch of leaves off a tree,
(nibble with fingers of hand of outstetched arm)
He has a very long neck and his legs are long too,
(point to raised arm and legs)
And he can run faster than his friends at the zoo!

Six Little Penguins

Their suits are black and their vests are white.
They waddle to the left and they waddle to the right.
They stand on the ice and they look very neat,
As they waddle along on their little flat feet.
Six little penguins off an iceberg did dive,
One bumped his beak, then there were five.
Five little penguins swam the ocean floor,
One saw a whale, then there were four.
Four little penguins spun around, whee-ee!
One spun off, then there were three!
Three little penguins, with nothing to do,
One went fishing, then there were two.
Two little penguins, having lots of fun,
One fell off, then there was one.
One little penguin, when the day was done,
Went home to sleep, then there were none.

Six Little Ducks

Six little ducks
that I once knew (hold up two hands, palm out, six fingers extended)
Fat ducks, skinny ducks,
fair ducks too. (wiggle fingers)
But one little duck
with a feather in his back (hold up one finger)
He led the others with
A Quack, Quack, Quack
(hold up two hands, palm out, six fingers extended- one finger leading the other hand)
Down to the river

Shoe the Little Horse

Shoe the little horse. Shoe the little mare. (pat child's feet)
with a tap-tap here and a tap-tap there
But let the little pony run bare, bare, bare (pat both feet together)

Ring Around the Rosie

Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes
We all fall down.

((follow the action in the rhyme)
This is my right hand
I'll raise it up high
This is my left hand
I'll touch the sky
Right hand, left hand,
Roll them around
Left hand, right hand,
Pound, Pound, Pound.

(Clap hands rhythmically)
oll it and pat it (Roll and clap hands)
And mark it with a B (Trace B on palm)
And put it in the oven (extend both hands)
For baby and me (point to Baby and Self)

Ostrich

Here is the ostrich straight and tall, (raise one arm for ostrich)
Nodding his head above us all, (use your raised wrist to 'nod' like an ostrich head)
Here is the hedgehog prickly and small, (hold hands together with fingers together)
Rolling himself into a ball, (cup both hands into a ball)
Here is the spider scuttling around (wriggle fingers like a spider)
Treading so lightly on the ground, (let fingers crawl on arm or leg)
Here are the birds that fly so high,

(interlock both thumbs while rest of fingers spread out like a bird)
Spreading their wings across the sky,
Here are the children fast asleep, (pretend to be asleep)
And in the night the owls do peep, (ring eyes with fingers for owl eyes)

My Turtle

This is my turtle (make fist and extend thumb)
He lives in a shell (hide thumb)
He likes his home very well
He pokes his head out when he wants to eat (extend thumb)
And pulls it back when he wants to sleep (hide thumb)

My Turkey
(To the Tune of: I'm a Little Teapot)

I have a turkey, big and fat.
He spreads his wings (fan hands at hip).
And walks like that. (strut back and forth).
His daily corn he would not miss, (pretend to eat corn).
And when he talks, he sounds like this ( gobble, gobble).

Mr. Turkey went out One Day

Mr. Turkey went out One Day (hold up one hand)
In bright sunshiny weather
He met Mr. Duck along the way (hold up other hand)
They stopped to talk together (hold up both hands)
Gobble, gobble, gobble
Quack, quack, quack
Gobble, gobble, gobble
Quack, quack, quack
And then they both went back (hands behind back)
Quack!

Mr. Bullfrog

Here's Mr. Bullfrog
(make a fist)

Sitting on a rock
(put fist on palm)

Into the water he jumps
(raise arm high)

KERPLOP!
(clap loudly)

Mary had a little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,
That was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
The teacher did reply.

(Clap hands rhythmically)
oll it and pat it (Roll and clap hands)
And mark it with a B (Trace B on palm)
And put it in the oven (extend both hands)
For baby and me (point to Baby and Self)

Little Teapot

I,m a little teapot, short and stout
This is my handle (put one hand on hip)
This is my spout (extend other arm out sideways)
When I get all steamed up, then I shout
Just tip me over and pour me out. (bend body toward extended arm)
I'm a very clever pot, it is true
Here's an example of what I can do.
I can change my handle and change my spout (switch position of arms and hands)
Just tip me over and pour me out. (bend body in opposite direction)

I saw a little rabbit go hop, hop, hop.
(hold up two fingers and go hop, hop, hop)
I saw his long ears go flop, flop, flop.
(place hands above head and flop)
I saw his little nose go twink, twink, twink.
(wiggle nose)
I said, "Little Rabbit, won't you stay?"
(Make beckoning motion)
But he just looked at me and hopped way.
(Make two fingers hop away)

There was a little caterpillar crawling all about
He worked and he worked without a doubt.
(wiggle one finger)
Wrapping himself in a snug cocoon.
Waiting and waiting, will it be soon?
(place finger in palm of other hand, wrap fingers around)
Look, he’s coming out, my oh my!
For now he’s become a beautiful butterfly.
(Cross thumbs and let fingers be flapping butterfly wings)

This is the way the elephant goes
(clasp hands together , extend arms, move back and forth)
With a curly trunk instead of a nose
The rhino all hairy and fat
Has a sharp horn in place of a hat
The hippo with his mouth so wide-
Let's see what's inside
(hands together and open wide and close them)
The wiggly snake upon the ground
Crawls along without a sound
(weave hands back and forth)
But monkey see monkey do
is the funniest animal I ever knew!
(place thumbs in ears and wiggle fingers)

Jumbo has a great big trunk
That goes swinging to and fro.
(Clasp hands to make trunk swing. )
And he has tiny, tiny eyes
That show him where to go.
(Put hands to eyes.)
His great big ears go flopping
(Put hands to ears.)
While his great big feet go stomping, stomping, stomping on the ground
(Stomp feet on the ground. )

Horses in the Pasture

Horses in the pasture (point ot side)
Horses in the hay(point to other side)
Horses like to run and jump,(run and jump in place)
Each and every day.(clap along with words)

Hickory-Dickory dock

Hickory-Dickory dock (Run fingers up arm)
The Mouse ran up the clock (to the top of the head
The clock struck one (tap head once)
And down he run (run fingers down other arm)
Hickory-Dickory dock

Five Green Speckled Frogs

(count down on your fingers as indicated) Five green and speckled frogs,
Sat on a speckled log,
Eating the most delicious flies- yum-yum! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool,
which was nice and cool,
And the there were four speckled frogs.

Baby's Nap

This is a baby ready for a nap. (hold up index finger)
Lay him down in his mother's lap (place index finger on open palm of other hand)
Cover him up so he won't peep (wrap fingers around index finger)
Rock him 'till he's fast asleep (rock hands back and forth)

Bears Eat Honey

A bear eats honey (pretend to eat)
He thinks it's yummy
In his tummy (rub tummy)
But the bees don't think it's funny!
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Rubber Ducky, you're the one;
You make bathtime lots of fun.
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you.
(woh woh, bee doh!)

Rubber Ducky, joy of joys,
When I squeeze you, you make noise!
Rubber Ducky, you're my very best friend, it's true!
(doo doo doo doooo, doo doo)

Every day when I
Make my way to the tubby,
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby.
(rub-a-dub-a-dubby!)

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine;
And I'm lucky that you're mine.
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you.

Rubber Ducky, you're so fine;
And I'm lucky that you're mine.
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of -
Rubber ducky, I'd like a whole pond of -
Rubber ducky I'm awfully fond of you!
(doo doo, be doo.)

Barney is a dinosaur
from our imagination
And when he's tall
he's what we call a dinosaur
sensation

Barney's friends are big and small
they come from lots of places
after school they meet to play
and sing with happy faces

Barney shows us lots of things
Like how to play pretend
ABC's, and 123's
And how to be a friend

Barney comes to play with us
Whenever we may need him
Barney can be your friend too
If you just make-believe him!

I was feeling low, I was kinda blue 
But that's all gone since I got something new 

I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
And my new walk suits me fine 

I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
And it makes my spirit shine 

It's a little bit of strut and a lot of smooth 
And a little bit of bouncing fine 
My chin is up, my feet don't stall 
When I walk my walk, I walk real tall 

I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
And it shows how good I feel 

This little piggy went to the market 
This little piggy stayed home 
This little piggy got a whole new walk 
And look at these pig feet take me home 

I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
And it shows I've got some sense 

I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
And I walk with confidence 

I got a new way, way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 
I got a new way to walk 
(Walk, walk) 

(repeat and fade)

Well, I'd like to visit the moon
On a rocket ship high in the air
Yes, I'd like to visit the moon
But I don't think I'd like to live there
Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the places and people I love
So although I might like it for one afternoon
I don't want to live on the moon

I'd like to travel under the sea
I could meet all the fish everywhere
Yes, I'd travel under the sea
But I don't think I'd like to live there
I might stay for a day there if I had my wish
But there's not much to do when your friends are all fish
And an oyster and clam aren't real family
So I don't want to live in the sea

I'd like to visit the jungle, hear the lions roar
Go back in time and meet a dinosaur
There's so many strange places I'd like to be
But none of them permanently

So if I should visit the moon
Well, I'll dance on a moonbeam and then
I will make a wish on a star
And I'll wish I was home once again
Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the places and people I love
So although I may go I'll be coming home soon
'Cause I don't want to live on the moon
No, I don't want to live on the moon

1. Wee Sing Children’s Songs and Fingerplays. By Paemla Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp

Collection of

Children Finger Play / Nursery Rhymes