Here are the words to a cheery new song! The Treehouse kids will have to give you the tune.
Greetings my friends and a howdy howdy do!
Where have you been since the last time I saw you?
Greetings my friend and give to me your hand!
You are the best friend that I could ever have.
We recite this rhyme during community time on Tuesdays in the PreK. The children are first given a piece of beeswax to hold in their hands, covering it like a baby they are putting to sleep. They hold the beeswax until it becomes pliable as they listen to the day's story. Not only does this develop patience, as the wax is not pliable with out human warmth for a period of time, but it also develops fine motor skills as the children shape it.Author UnknownBees give us their gift of gold,For you my dears to warm and hold,Story time is here to tell,Come listen to the fairy's spell.
We recite this each Wednesday at school as we bake bread. We teach the children to knead the dough by flouring the dough and their hands, pressing the dough with the heal of their hands into a "pancake", then folding the dough over and pressing into a "pancake" again.Author UnknownFresh baked bread is a yummy treat,Filled with love and warmth and wheat,Knead the dough and let it rise,And soon you'll have a big surprise,From the water, flour, and yeast,Grows a golden, delicious feast.
I am a big believer in the power of family dinner--I remember waiting for my dad to get home and sitting down as a family to dinner most nights growing up. It's a time to come together after a busy day apart. Let the children help chop, stir, and set the table. Try making it special by adding candles or flowers. It may seem painful when they are little and want to run around or when it is "easier" to just do it yourself. Nonetheless, your efforts will stick with them, I promise.As dinner winds down, talk about something special or funny from each family member's day. Maybe let the kids show some...
“Kittens” from Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown
hold up fingers each time a number is used . . .
(hold up fingers to indicate 5) Five little kittens
(hands together at side of head, eyes closed) Sleeping on a chair
(rolling motion with hands) One rolled off,
(hold up fingers to indicate 4) Leaving four there.
Four little kittens,
(Climbing motion up, hand over hand) One climbed a tree
(OK signs around eyes to make glasses) To look...
Head and Shoulders{Children stand and touch body parents when chanting, clap on “one, two, three”}1. Head and shoulders, Baby, One, two, three. Head and shoulders, Baby, One, two, three. Head and shoulders, Head and shoulders, Head and shoulders, Baby, One, two, three.2. Knees and ankles, Baby, One, two, three. Knees and ankles, Baby, One, two, three.Knees and ankles, Knees and ankles, Knees and ankles, Baby, One, two, three.3. Turn around, Baby, One, two, three. Turn around, Baby, One, two, three.Turn around, Turn around, Turn around, Baby, One, two, three.4. Touch...
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow. Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow; Do you or I or anyone know how oats, peas, beans and barley grow?2. First the farmer sows his seed, Then he stands and takes his ease (fold arms). Stamps his foot and claps his hand, And turns around to view the land (shade eyes).3. Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner, Open the ring and take one in, And then we’ll gaily dance and sing.4. Tra la la la la la la,
PreK has been enjoying singing this song and selecting each character in the song--try it at home!The farmer in the dell, the farmer in the dell, Heigh Ho! The Derry O! The farmer in the dell.2. The farmer takes the wife 3. The wife takes the child 4. The child takes the nurse 5. The nurse takes the dog6. The dog takes the cat 7. The cat takes the rat 8. The rat takes the cheese 9. The cheese stands alone
Once there was a rabbit who was very sad because his ears were so long and narrow that he stepped on the all of the time. One day a fairy landed on the bunny's head. She lifted up the bunny's ears and crossed them over like an x. Then, she put one ear through the bottom of the x and pulled. Next, she made each long ear into a loop and made another x like before. She put an ear under that x and pulled again. From then on the bunny remembered how to tie his ears into a bow, and he lived happlily every after.