Balloons Songs & Fingerplays and Games

Found on:  http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/balloons_dice_game.htm

Balloons Dice Game

Balloons is an ideal early learning dice game for little kids. We've got a fun printable and 4 variations to play with different ages.
There are a number of ways to play this game. Print out a stack of “Balloons!” printable sheets (you can use the economy setting on your printer) and choose the most appropriate variation for your child.
Age: 3+
Skills:
Number recognition
Pencil control
Equipment:
One die
Printable sheet
Colouring pencils
Our printable
Variation 1.
Roll the die. Colour a balloon of the correct number. There are no winners or losers – just aim for a colourful picture! Try to have coloured at least one balloon of each number before stopping the game.
Variation 2
A competitive game! The first child to colour in a line of three balloons with the same number wins.
Variation 3
Play until one player has three full lines of balloons coloured in (or for a specified time). This player is not necessarily the winner! Total up your score by adding the numbers on the coloured balloons. The winner has the highest score.
Variation 4
As Variation 3 above, but in this game if you already have a line of three balloons coloured in and throw the same number again, you must “pop” one of those balloons by crossing it out! That balloon no longer counts towards the final score.

Mice Songs & Fingerplays

I Like Mice
by Rose Fylerman

I think mice
Are rather nice.

Their tails are long,
Their faces small,
They haven't any
Chins at all.
Their ears are pink,
Their teeth are white,
They run about
The house all night.
They nibble things
They shouldn't touch
And no one seems
To like them much.

But I think mice
Are nice.

Tiny Mouse

There is such a tiny mouse
(make little mouse with fingers)
Living quietly in my house.

Out at night he starts to creep,
(creep fingers)
When everyone is fast asleep.
(pretend to sleep)

But always by the light of day,
(circle arms over head to form sun)
The mouse quietly, quietly creeps away.
(creep fingers again)


Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice
Three blind mice
See how they run
See how they run
They all ran after the farmer's wife
She cut off their tails with a carving knife
Did you ever see such a sight in your life
As three blind mice.

Little Gray Mouse
In a little round house
Lives a little gray mouse
On a bright sunny day
He runs outside to play.
He spies a cat...
And THAT is THAT!

Creeping Mouse
The little mice go creeping, creeping, creeping.
The little mice are creeping in the barn.
(fingers creeping on lap)
The little mice are eating, eating, eating.
The little mice are eating in the barn.
(nibbling motion at mouth)
The little mice are sleeping, sleeping, sleeping.
The little mice are sleeping in the barn.
(rest head on "hand"pillow)
The old gray cat comes slinking, slinking, slinking.
The old gray cat comes slinking in the barn.
(snake motion with hand)
The little mice are running, running, running.
The little mice are running 'round the farm.
(running motion all over the air)

Five Little Mice
Five little mice on the pantry floor,
(run fingers on table top)
This little mouse peeked behind the door,
(wiggle thumb)
This little mouse not a sound did make,
(Wiggle middle finger)
This little mouse took a bite of cheese,
(Wiggle ring finger)
"Ah-choo", sneezed the kitten
(sneeze)
And "Squeak!" they cried
(Make fingers "jump")
As they found a hole and ran inside
(Hide hand behind back).

The Quiet Mouse
Once their lived a quiet mouse
(Hold up finger)
In a little quiet house
(Cover finger with other hand)
When all was quiet as can be
(Whisper this line)
OUT POPPED HE!
(Shout the line then pull finger out of hand)

Hurry, Scurry
Hurry, scurry, little mouse
(wiggle fingers on one hand)
Starts down at your toes)
(point to toes)
Hurry, scurry, little mouse,
(wiggle fingers up leg)
Past your knees he goes.
(wiggle fingers on knee)
Hurry, scurry, little mouse
(wiggle fingers up body)
Past where your tummy is,
(wiggle fingers up chest)
Hurry, scurry, little mouse,
(fingers on cheek)
Gives you a mousie kiss: (smack)
(on "smack" open hand wide)

Bugs/Insects Songs & Fingerplays

"Take Me Out to the Backyard"
Sung to: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

Take me out to the backyard.
Take me out with the bugs.
Locusts and beetles and dragonflies,
If I look hard I may even see slugs.
Let me look, look, look in the bushes
The trees, 'neath rocks and the lawn--
For it's one, five, ten flies I see
And now they're gone!

Bumblebee on My Nose
Sung to: Jingle Bells

Bumblebee, bumblebee,
Landing on my toes.
Bumblebee, bumblebee,
Now he's on my nose.
On my arms, on my legs,,
On my elbows.
Bumblebee, oh bumblebee,
He lands and then he goes!
                                           -Jean Warren

Bugs

Sung to: "Frere Jacques"

Big bugs, small bugs, big bugs, small bugs,
See them crawl on the wall?
Creepy, creepy, crawling, never, never falling.
Bug, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs.

The Little Cricket

(Point to one finger at a time.)
The first little cricket played a violin.
The second little cricket joined right in.
The third little cricket made a crackly song.
The fourth little cricket helped him along.
The fifth little cricket cried, "Crick-crick-cree.
The orchestra is over and it's time for tea?

Flutter, flutter, Butterfly

Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Flutter, flutter, butterfly.
Floating in the summer sky.
Floating by for all to see,
Floating by so merrily.
Flutter, flutter, butterfly,
Floating in the summer sky.

Ant Hill

Once I saw an ant hill with no ants about. (fingers curled under, concealed)
So I said, "Dear little ants, won't you come out?"
Then, as if the little ants had heard my call,
One, two, three, four, five come out? (as numbers are called, fingers are
extended)
And that was all!

Oh, the ants are busy!

Sung to: "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain"

Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
See them dig and dig and dig.
Lots of tunnels, oh, so big.
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.

Roly-Poly Caterpillar

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Into a corner crept, (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)
Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)
Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)
Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Wakening by and by, ("stretch" right pointer finger)
Found himself with beautiful wings
Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)

Ladybug Fly

Sung to: "Three Blind Mice"

Fly, fly, fly
Ladybugs fly
Fly over here
Fly over there
They fly up high and they fly down low.
Around and around and around they go.
They fly fast, and they fly slow.
Oh, ladybugs fly

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 and 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

Ants Go Marching

Sung to: "When John Comes Marching Home"

The ants came marching two by two, Hurrah! Hurrah!
(Students walk in pairs of 2 side by side each other in a circle)
The ants came marching two by two
The little one stopped to tie his shoe.
They all go marching down around the town.
Boom, Boom, Boom.
Other Verses:
The ants came marching three by three...
The little one stopped to climb a tree.
The ants came marching four by four....
The little one stopped to shut the door....
The ants came marching five by five...
The little one stopped to take a dive....
The ants came marching six by six....
The little one stopped to pick up sticks....
The ants came marching seven by seven....
The little one stopped to go to heaven...
The ants came marching eight by eight...
The little one stopped to shut the gate...
The ants came marching nine by nine...
The little one stopped to scratch his spine...
The ants came marching ten by ten
The little one stopped to say THE END!

Insect Song

Sung to: "The Wheels on the Bus"

The firefly at night goes blink blink blink
Blink blink blink blink blink blink
The firefly at night goes blink blink blink
All around the town

The bees in the flowers go buzz buzz buzz....
The ants in the grass go march march march...
The crickets in the leaves go chirp chirp chirp...
The caterpillar in the field goes creep creep creep....

Can you move with me?

Sung to: "Do Your Ears Hang Low"

Can you wiggle like a worm?
Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl upon the ground
Like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?

Can you flip? Can you flop?
Can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you give a little shake?
Can you dance like bee
Who is buzzing round a tree?
Can you move with me?

A Fly is on my toe

Sung to: "Farmer in the Dell"

A fly is on my toe,
A fly is on my toe,
Hi-ho, just watch me blow.
A fly is on my toe

Other verses: A fly is on my nose ,my head, my ear, my elbow, my knee,
etc..

I'm a Firefly

I'm a little firefly
Look at me!
I'm as happy as I can be.
See my light flicker and shine so bright
Now watch me fly into the night!

Firefly

A little light is going by,
It is going up to see the sky.
A little light with wings.

I could have never thought of it,
To have a little bug all lit
And made to go on wings.

Bug FIngerplay

1, 2, 3 ( hold up fingers)
There is a bug on me! (point to shoulder)
Where did it go? ( brush off)
I don't know ( Shrug Shoulder and look really puzzled)

Never Hurt a Ladybug

Sung to: "Yankee Doodle"

Ladybugs are in my yard.
Just look at them devour
Those pesky aphids on the leaves
Of Mother's pretty flowers.
Never hurt a ladybug.
We need them in the garden.
Ladybugs help flowers grow
So we must never hurt them.

Ladybugs

Lady bug, lady bug,
How are you today?
Lady bug, lady bug,
Are you going to stay?
Lady bug, lady bug,
Or will you fly away.

Pretty Ladybugs

Sung to: "The Muffin Man"

Ladybug has 1 black spot,
1 black spot, 1 black spot;
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
Pretty ladybug!

8 Ants

One ant two ants, three ants four.
Our picnic is their grocery store.
Five ants, six ants, seven ants, eight.
They are crawling on my plate!
Eight ants, seven ants,
Stomp around.
Six ants, five ants
On the ground.
Four ants, three ants,
On the run!
Two ants, one ant,
No more fun.

Once I saw an Ant Hill

Once I saw an anthill
With no ants about;
So I said, "Dear little ants
Won't you please come out?"
Then as if the little ants
Had heard my call,
One, two, three, four, five came out,
And that was all.

Bumble Bee

Sung to: "Jingle Bells"

Bumble Bee, bumble bee,
Landing on my nose,
Bumble bee, bumble bee,
Now he's on my toes.

On my arms, on my legs,
On my elbows.
Bumble bee, oh bumble bee
He lands, and then he goes.

Buzzing Bumble bees 

6 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around the hive
One buzzes off and that leaves 5.
5 buzzing bumblebees
Flying near my door,
1 buzzes off and that leaves 4
4 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around a tree,
1 busses off and that leaves 3
3 buzzing bumblebees
In the sky so blue
1 buzzes of and that leaves 2
2 buzzing bumblebees
Flying by the sun
1 buzzes off and that leaves 1
1 buzzing bumblebee
Looking for some fun
It buzzes off and that leaves none.

Bee Fingerplay

Here is the bee hive (hold fist together)
But where are all the bees (hold up hands)
Hiding very carefully
1,2,3,4,5 (Hold up fingers one at a time)
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (Walk and try to sting someone)
(You can also use both hands and have 10 bees.)

Caterpillar Chant

A caterpillar looks so small.
It is hardly there at all.
It munches on green leafy treats,
And it gets bigger as it eats.

It eats and eats, 'til pretty soon,
It wraps up tight in a cocoon.
When it wakes up it blinks its eyes
And says, "I'm now a butterfly!"

Lady Monarch Song

Sung to: "Yankee Doodle"

Lady Monarch made a hat
of flowers, leaves and spring things,
Went to town to show it off
But she forgot her earrings.
Lady Monarch cried and wept,
She was very sad,
Then two bees sat on her ears,
So she was very glad.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar

Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar in the garden creeps
He spins himself a blanket and soon falls fast asleep.
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by
To find he has wings of beauty, changed to a butterfly.

Pretty little butterfly, what do you do all day?
I fly around the flowerpots, nothing' to do but play.
Nothing' to do but play, darling', nothing' to do but play.
So fly butterfly, fly butterfly, don't waste your time away.

Little Butterfly

Sung to: "I'm A Little Teapot"

I'm a little butterfly
I have wings
I fly around
And see all things.
When I see a flower
That looks great
I call out
To all of my mates.

I'm a Butterfly

Sung to: "Skip to My Lou"

I'm a butterfly, come fly with me
I'm a butterfly, come fly with me
I'm a butterfly, come fly with me
Come fly with me, my darling

A butterfly, come drink nectar with me
A butterfly, come drink nectar with me
A butterfly, come drink nectar with me
Drink nectar with me, my darling.

A butterfly, now sleep like me
A butterfly, now sleep like me
A butterfly, now sleep like me
Come sleep like me, my darling.

We're going on a bug hunt

Sung to: "We're going on a bear hunt"

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh my! A bee!
A black & yellow bee,
Flying over the flowers.
BUZZ.....

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! An ant!
A tiny, black ant,
Crawling through the grass.
Shh...

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! A grasshopper!
A big, green grasshopper,
Hopping around the tree.
Boing, boing...

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! A butterfly!
A pretty, orange butterfly,
Floating in the sky.
Whoosh, whoosh...

We're going on bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh my! A spider!
A big black spider,
Creeping on the tree. Creep, creep...

Now take the class out on a real BUG HUNT. Keep the bugs only for a day. Then set them free. We call them part- time pets.

Never Squash a Bug

Sung to: "Row, row, row, your boat"

Never, never squash a bug,
There mother nature's friends.
Catch one in a plastic jar,
Then let it go again.

Bumble Bee

Sung to: "Are you sleeping"

Bumble bee, bumble bee
Don't sting me, don't sting me.
Just fly to your home,
And leave me alone.
Don't sting me, don't sting me.

Oh Butterfly!

Sung to: "Oh Christmas Tree"

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly
How I love your colors.
Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly
How I love your colors.
You fly so high and beautiful,
Your so soft and gentle.
Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly,
How I love your colors.

Catching Bugs

Sung to: "Mary had a little lamb"

Catch some bugs, and look at them,
Watch them, feed them.
Catch some bugs and look at them,
Then please let them go.

Keep Bugs Safe

Sung to: "Make New Friends, But Keep the Old"

Keep bugs safe, and let them go.
They belong in nature, yes the great outdoors.

Pretty Firefly
Sung to: " This little light of mine"

See this pretty Firefly,
Flying in the midnight sky.

See this pretty Firefly,
Flying in the midnight sky.

See this pretty Firefly,
Flying in the midnight sky.

This firefly's light is so bright.

Pretty Butterfly

Sung to: "Up on the House Top"

First comes a butterfly and lays an egg,
Out comes the caterpillar with many legs.
Oh, see the caterpillar spin and spin,
A little cocoon (chrysalis) to sleep in.

Oh, oh, oh, look and see
Oh, oh, oh, look and see
Out of the cocoon (chrysalis) my, oh, mym
Out comes a pretty butterfly.

Ladybug

Sung to: "This Old Man"
Ladybug, show your spots.
You have red winds and black dots.
We will count those seven dots
On your shiny shell.
Lady, your spots are swell!

Hunting Bugs

Sung to: "A- Hunting we will go"

A-hunting we will go
A -hunting we will go
We'll catch a (insert any insect here)
and put it in a box
(loudly) and then we'll let it go!

The Little Caterpillar

Sung to: "Itsy, Bitsy Spider"

The little caterpillar crawled up into a tree,
Spun his cocoon and slept so quietly,
All through the winter he didn't make a sound,
He dreamt of his new life when he'd be flying all around.
While he was sleeping the snow did gently fall,
Winter came and went, then her heard the robin's call,
Come on Mr. Butterfly, out of your cocoon
Spread your wings and fly for me, while I sing my tune.

Caterpillar

Sung to: "Addams family"

Refrain:
My tummy is fat (snap, snap)
I like it like that (snap, snap)
I wiggle around
I jiggle around
I wiggle around
My tummy is fat (snap, snap)

I'm a striped caterpillar
I'm such a chubby feller
I love to eat and eat,
Those leaves are such a treat

Back to refrain

Caterpillar Crawled

A caterpillar crawled (extend left arm and crawl right index finger up it like a caterpillar)
To the top of a tree.
"I think I'll take a nap," said he (wiggle right index finger)
So under the leaf he began to creep. (move under left hand)
He spun a cocoon and he fell asleep. (make fist around index finger)
For two long weeks he slept in that cocoon bed,
Till spring came along and said,
"Wake up! Wake up! You sleepy head." (shake arms)
Out of the leaf he did cry. (hook thumbs and spread fingers to make a butterfly)
"Lo, I am a butterfly."

The Life Of A Butterfly

Sung to: "Skip to My Lou"

I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
What'll I be, my darlin'?

A chrysalis, now sleep like me.....
What'll I be, my darlin'?

A butterfly, come fly with me...
Come fly with me my darlin'.

Now all together, lets do all three.
A caterpillar, a chrysalis, a butterfly -- three.
Move your body like this with me.
The life of a butterfly, darlin'.

Do you like to Buzz? 

Sung to: "Do your ears hang low"

Do you like to buzz.
Are you covered all in fuzz?
Do you call a hive a home
In the garden where you roam?
Do you know how to make honey,
Are your stripes a little funny?
Do you like to buzz?

Little Wiggle Worm Song

Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little wiggle worm, watch me go!
I can wiggle fast, or very very slow
I wiggle all around, then back I go
Down into the ground, to the home I know

Freddy Flea

On my toe is Freddy flea (Touch toe)
Now he's climbing up on me (climb fingers upward)
Past my tummy
Past my nose
On my head where my hair grows (wiggle fingers in hair)

On my head is Freddy flea
Now he's climbing down on me (climb fingers back down body)
Past my tummy
Past my knee
On the floor (Stomp foot!) Take that you flea!


The Fuzzy Caterpillar
(tune:  Itsy Bitsy Spider)

The fuzzy caterpillar
Crawled up upon a leaf.
Spun her little chrysalis,
And then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping,
She dreamed that she could fly.
And later when she woke up,
She was a butterfly!

Caterpillar Chant
A caterpillar looks so small
It is hardly there at all.
It munches on green leafy treats,
And it gets bigger as it eats.

It eats and eats, 'til pretty soon,
It wraps up tight in a cocoon.
When it wakes up it blinks its eyes,
And says, "I'm now a butterfly!"

The Caterpillar

Brown and furry,
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf or stalk.
May no toad spy you,
May no little birds pass by you;
Spin and die
To live again as a butterfly.

Butterfly, Butterfly
(tune: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear)

Butterfly, butterfly, flutter around
Butterfly, butterfly, touch the ground.
Butterfly, butterfly, fly so high.
Butterfly, butterfly, land on me!
Butterfly, butterfly, reach the sky.
Buttterfly, butterfly, say Good-bye!

Birth of a Butterfly

A mama butterfly lays all her eggs
Out pops a caterpillar, crawling on its legs.
The caterpillar first is rather thin,
But then it eats until it bursts through its skin.
After growing nice and big, The caterpillar climbs on a leaf or a twig.
It makes a shell where it hangs inside,
The shell then cracks, and the parts divide.
Inside the shell, a change was going on,
The form of the caterpillar now is gone.
When the shell opens, what comes out?
A beautiful butterfly fluttering about!

Little Butterfly
(tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little butterfly
I have wings
I fly around,
And see all things,
When I see a flower
That looks great,
I call out
To all of my mates.

Squirrel Songs & Fingerplays

A Squirrel Song
Sung: "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"
I'll be gathering all  the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns, gathering all the acorns.
Gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
(make collecting motion with their hands)

And I'll put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside, put them all inside.
Put them all inside my little home.
(pretend to place nuts in tree house)

And I'll eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until, eat the nuts until,
Eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
(pretend to eat acorns)

Then I'll do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again, do it all again,
Do it all again come next fall.
(make gathering  motion with hands and arms again.)

Five Little Squirrels
Five little squirrels with acorns to store
One went to sleep and then there were four!
Four little squirrels hunting acorns in a tree.
One fell down, and now there are three!
Three little squirrels wondering  what to do.
One got lost and now there are two!
Two little squirrels tossing acorns for fun.
One got tired, and now there is one!
One little squirrel playing in the sun,
He ran away, now there are none.

Frisky Squirrel
Sung to: "The Grand Old Duke of York"
Oh, the frisky little squirrel
He gathers nuts and seeds.
He hides them for the winter months
So he'll have all he needs.

Refrain:
Oh, up-up-up he goes
And down-down-down he comes.
He runs around - goes up and down.
His work is never done. (repeat refrain)

Grey Squirrel
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your busy tail!
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your busy tail!
Wrinkle up your funny nose
Hold a nut between your toes
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your busy tail.

See the Squirrels
Sung to: "Brother John"
See the squirrels,
See the squirrels,
Climb the tree
Climb the tree.
Hiding nuts for winter
Hiding nuts for winter.
In the tree
In the tree.

Squirrels
Five little squirrels sitting in a tree
The 1st one said, "What do I see?"
The 2nd one said, "Some nuts on the ground."
The 3rd one said, "Those are nuts that I found."
The 4th one said, "I'll beat you there."
The 5th one said, "All right, that's fair."
So they shook their tails and ran with glee!
To the nuts that lay at the foot of the tree!

So bad at this, but trying........................

This blogging thing seemed like a good idea, but I should have known that when I got busy that it would be the first thing to fall to the wayside.  So sorry I haven't been keeping up with posting the story times.  I actually started doing a second storytime here in April...in addition to our standard Thursday evening storytime for families, we have added, just in April, four weeks of Tuesday morning storytimes.  We've had a really good attendance for the first two weeks.  I can see us possibly trying to add something in the fall permanently, we'll see.