Babysitters

Finger Plays and Songs

Ten Fingers
Author Unknown

I have ten fingers (hold up both hands, fingers spread)
And they all belong to me, (point to self)
I can make them do things -
Would you like to see?

I can shut them up tight (make fists)
I can open them wide (open hands)
I can put them together (place palms together)
I can make them all hide (put hands behind back)

I can make them jump high (hands over head)
I can make them jump low (touch floor)
I can fold them up quietly (fold hands in lap)
And hold them just so

April Showers song
(to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")
Author Unknown

Pitter patter rain drops (wiggle fingers to imitate rain)

Falling from the sky (wiggle fingers downward)
Here's my umbrella (actions of opening an umbrella)
Hold it high! (hands over head)
When the rain is over
and the sun begins to glow (make sun with arms)
Little flowers start to bud (kneel down)
then grow, grow, grow!!! (slowly stand up)

Three Little Monkeys
author unknown

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
(tap three fingers on palm of opposite hand)

One fell off and bumped his head.
(one finger falls off, then hold head)

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
(hold phone by ear, dial in air)

"No more little monkeys jumping on that bed."
(shake finger)

Suggestion: Repeat with "Two little monkeys..."
"One little monkey..."

Where is Thumbkin?
(Tune: Are you sleeping?)
author unknown

Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin?
(place hands behind back)

Here I am.
Here I am.
(show one thumb, then the other)

How are you today, sir?
(bend one thumb)

Very well, thank you.
(bend the other thumb)

Run away,
Run away.
(wiggle thumbs away, one at a time)

Begin by hiding your hands behind your back. Bring one fist forward with each "Here I am" line. Move your thumbs to "talk," then hide your hands behind your back again. Continue the verse using other fingers by substituting: pointer, middle man, ringer and pinky for thumbkin.

Open, Shut Them
(Use your hands to do the actions described in the song.)

Open, shut them. Open, shut them.
Give a little clap.
Open, shut them. Open, shut them.
Lay them in your lap.

Creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin.
Open wide your little mouth
But do not let them in!

Leprechaun Song
(sung to "I'm a little teapot")

I'm a little Leprechaun
Quick as can be
I hide my gold
Under a tree
If you see a rainbow
You may find
Where I left
My gold behind

Leprechaun Song
(sung to "May had a Little Lamb")

I'm a little Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
I'm a little Leprechaun
Who likes to hide the gold

Sticker Art
Supply the children with St. Patrick's Day stickers and have them place them on a piece of white paper.

Torn Paper Shamrocks
Draw a shamrock shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of green construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the shamrock shape.

Shamrock Sequencing
Cut out many different sizes of shamrocks. Four or five will be fine. Have the child arrange the shamrocks in order of size, largest to smallest, or smallest to largest.

Hunt for Green
Ask the child to look for things that are green. Write down what they find.

Lucky Four-Leaf Clover
When a rare four leaflet occurs in a clover it is said to be lucky and the leaves represent hope, faith, love and the fourth one, luck.