TRANSITION ACTIVITIES
Finger Plays and Rhymes for Transitions
A CIRCLE WE WILL MAKE
[Tune: The Farmer in the Dell]
A circle we will make
A circle we will make
Hi ho the dairy-o
A circle we will make.
Shimmy shimmy cocoa pop (shake hands)
Shimmy shimmy breakdown (chopping motion against
arm)
Mama, mama sick in bed
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
Get the rockin’ in your head
Get the rockin’ in your shoulders
Get the quietness in your voice
Get the stillness in your fingers
Get the stillness in your body.
The circle will go fast
The circle will go slow
Hi ho the dairy-o
The circle will go slow.
BUSY FINGERS
This is the way my fingers stand,
Fingers stand, fingers stand.
This is the way my fingers stand,
So early in the morning.
I HAD A FLY
I had a fly who flew on me.
First on my elbow, then ankles and knees.
I tried to catch him while he was on my toes.
But, as I hit him he flew to my nose.
He landed on my shoulder, then my wrist.
And, as I grabbed, the fly did twist.
As I turned my neck, he flew to my heel.
And, I decided the fly had wheels.
He flew on my fingers, my thumb &how!
Here he comes on my hip & head
Oops, he flew to my feet & now he’s dead.
This is the way they dance about,
Dance about, dance about.
This is the way they dance about,
So early in the morning.
[This is the way I fold my hands.]
[This is the way they go to rest.]
CLAP YOUR HANDS
Clap your hands, clap your hands
Clap them just like me.
Touch your fingers, touch your fingers
Touch them just like me.
Shake your head, shake your head
Shake it just like me.
Clap your hands, clap your hands,
Now let them quiet be.
HI, MY NAME IS JOE
Hi, my name is Joe
I have a wife and three kids and
I work in a button factory
One day my boss came up
And said “Hi Joe, are you busy?”
I said “No”
Turn the button with your hand
(Continue movements)
Other hand
Food
Other foot
Head
Tongue
(End with “Are you busy, I said “Yes!”
COME FOLLOW
Come follow, follow, follow,
Come follow, follow, me.
Come follow, follow, follow.
And here is where you’ll be.
[clap, wave hands]
IT’S TIME TO MAKE A CIRCLE
[Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star]
It’s time to make a circle now
Find your place and take a bow
Wave your hands one, two, three
Clap your hands,, touch your knee
It’s time to make a circle now
Find your place and take a bow.
DOWN DOWN BABY
Down down baby
Down the roller coaster
Sweet sweet baby (hug self)
I will never let you go
Shimmy shimmy cocoa pop (shake hands)
Chimmy chimmy rah (raise hands)
PEAK Best Practices
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THIS IS THE WAY WE MAKE A CIRCLE
[Tune: Mulberry bush]
This is the way we make a circle, make a circle, make a
circle
This is the way we make a circle, so early in the morning.
I WIGGLE MY FINGERS
I wiggle my fingers,
I wiggle my toes
I wiggle my shoulders,
I wiggle my nose.
Now no more wiggles are left in me.
So I will be still, as still as can be.
TIME FOR STORY TIME
Now it’s time for story time, story time, story time.
Now it’s time for story time, it’s story time right now.
MY HANDS
My hands upon my head I place,
On my shoulders, on my face,
Now I raise them up so high,
And make my fingers fairly fly.
Now I clap them one, two, three. (clap)
Then I fold them silently.
TOOTY-TA
Repeat the following directions in order, adding a new
movement each time. The children echo your words and
copy your movements. As you reach the final position in
each round, sway back and forth and chant the words
,”A-tooty-ta, a-tooty-ta, a-tooty-ta-ta! A-tooty-ta, atooty-ta, a-tooty-ta-ta!”
NOW IT’S TIME TO GO TO SLEEP
Now it’s time to go to sleep.
Put the baby in the bed.
Cover the baby in the bed.
And kiss the baby good night.
But the baby got up!
What does baby need? A bottle (Add children tell what
baby needs and add each answer to the song)
“Thumbs up!” (extend arms in front with thumbs up)
“Elbows back!” (pull elbows back even with waist with
thumbs still up)
“Feet apart!” (move feet about 1 foot apart)
“Knees together!” (touch knees together)
“Bottom up!” (raise bottom in air)
“Tongue out!” (stick out tongue)
“Turn around!” (turn in a circle)
“SIT DOWN!” (sit down)
Now it’s time to go to sleep.
Put the baby in the bed.
Cover the baby in the bed.
Give the baby a bottle.
And kiss the baby goodnight
But the baby got up!
What does baby need?
WE’RE GLAD TO SEE YOU
We’re glad to see you,
We’re glad to see you,
We’re glad for our friends,
We’re glad to see you.
[We missed seeing you]
SUSY Q
Big apple, little apple Susy Q
Here we go walkin’ down the avenue.
Boogie to the left
Boogie to the right
Boogie to the middle
And out of sight.
WIGGLE THEM (TOUCH, BEND SHAKE)
Wiggle them, wiggle them
Wiggle them so
Wiggle them high
Wiggle them low
Wiggle them to the left
Wiggle them to the right
Wiggle them, wiggle them
Out of sight.
TEN FINGERS
I have ten fingers
And they all belong to me.
I can make them do things,
Would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight
Or open them wide.
I can put them together
Or make them all hide.
I can make them jump high,
I can make them jump low,
I can fold them quietly and hold them just so.
PEAK Best Practices
HAVE A SEAT
[Tune: Shortnin’ Bread]
Everybody have a seat,
Have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody have a seat on the floor.
Not on the ceiling. Not on the door.
Everybody have a seat on the floor!
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