Research shows a strong correlation between early knowledge of nursery rhymes, songs, and finger plays and a child's success in reading and spelling. Fingerplays also increase fine motor skills. Remember to take the nursery rhymes, finger plays, and songs very slowly at first and wait for the child to do the action before moving on. Have fun with these and the kids will too!
Author Unknown
One, two, three, four five! (count with your fingers)
Once I caught a fish alive; (place palms together to make a swimming fish)
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. (count with your fingers)
Then I let it go again. (throw hands in the air)
Why did you let it go? (shrug shoulders)
Because it bit my finger so. (one hand bite pinkie finger on right hand)
Which finger did it bite? (shrug shoulders)
This little finger on my right. (wiggle pinkie finger on right hand)
Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed (hold hand in a fist)
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest (put thumb and fingers up one by one)
They grew and grew (raise hands in the air very slowly)
And did not stop, Until one day
The pod went POP! (clap)
Author Unknown
Five little bells hanging in a row; (Fingers hanging down)
The first one said, "Ring me slow." (Wiggle thumb)
The second one said, "Ring me fast." (Wiggle index finger)
The third one said, "Ring me last." (Wiggle second finger)
The fourth one said, "I'm like a chime." (Wiggle third finger)
The fifth one said, "Ring me at Christmas time." (Wiggle fourth finger)
Author Unknown
Up and down
Round and round (draw circles in the air)
Put your fingers on the ground
Over (hold hands above lap)
Under (move hands below legs)
In between (you've hidden your hands in between your legs)
Now my fingers can't be seen!
Hands in front
Hands behind
Now my hands I cannot find
Here's my left hand
Here's my right
Hands and fingers back in sight (wriggle fingers)
Give your preschooler a head start on pre-reading skills with age-appropriate poems that your child or students will enjoy. Colorfully created packet contain recognizable images and fun actions for the pre-reading activities.
Chorus: (gradually get faster)
I’m inright (point at self)
Outright (point out)
Upright (point up)
Downright (point down)
Happy all the time (clap 3x)
(Repeat)
Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes (Repeat 2x)
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Clap your hands together
(Start slow and gradually increase the speed as you sing and do actions)
By: Jackie Silberg
I use my brain to think, think, think (touch head)
I use my nose to smell (touch nose)
I use my eyes to blink, blink, blink (touch eyes)
I use my throat to yell (touch throat and yell on word “yell”)
I use my mouth to giggle, giggle, giggle (touch mouth)
I use my hips to bump (touch hips)
I use my toes to wiggle, wiggle, wiggle (touch toes)
And I use my legs to jump (jump)
Embark on a kaleidoscope of learning with our Color Packet. Bursting with vibrant colors and endless opportunities for creativity, this printable resource invites children on an exciting educational journey.
The itsy, bitsy spider, climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
So the itsy, bitsy spider went up the spout again
Tune of: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, it's time to end
Next time, let’s do it again
Based on a poem by Jackie Silberg
(Have the child echo each phrase and copy your actions)
This is my right hand (This is my right hand)
I raise it up high (I raise it up high)
This is my left hand (This is my left hand)
I’ll touch the sky (I'll touch the sky)
Right hand (Right hand)
Left hand (Left hand)
Whirl them around (Whirl them around)
Right hand (Right hand)
Left hand (Left hand)
Pound, pound, pound (Pound, pound, pound)
This little piggie went to market. (wiggle thumbs)
This little piggie stayed at home. (wiggle index fingers)
This little piggie had roast beef. (wiggle middle fingers)
This little piggie had none. (wiggle ring fingers)
And this little piggie cried “Wee, wee,” all the way home. (wiggle pinky fingers)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach up high,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wink one eye.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch your nose,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch your toes.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, shut the door,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, count to four.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, climb the stairs,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say goodnight.
Tune of: Frère Jacques or Are You Sleeping
Where is thumbkin? (Start with hands behind back)
Where is thumbkin?
Here I am (Bring right thumb to front)
Here I am (Bring left thumb to front)
How are you today sir?
Very well, I thank you (Wiggle thumbs as if they are "talking" to each other)
Run away (Hide right hand behind back)
Run away (Hide left hand behind back)
Additional verses:
Where is pointer?
Where is tall man?
Where is ring man?
Where is pinkie?
Where is whole family?
All fingerplays and action songs are "Traditional" unless otherwise noted.
