Circle Time Songs

Listen and sing along to some of our favorite nature-inspired circle time songs! 

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Blue Bird, Blue Bird 

In and out the Windows

Blue Bird, Blue Bird 

In and out the windows

Blue Bird, Bird 

In and out the windows

Oh Kristin aren’t you tired?!

(Each participant gets to choose a bird they would like to be. You replace the Blue Bird with the chosen bird and the name with the name of whoever is flying through the windows. We create our windows by all standing in a circle and lifting our arms up – the ‘bird’ flies in and out of these windows.)

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I picked a dandelion clock (Pick your imaginary dandelion from the ground)

And held it near my nose, (Hold your pinched fingers near your nose)

I blew the pretty fluff away

And counted up my blows…

One o’clock, two o’clock, (Give one blow to your pinched fingers before each number)

I took a great big puff, (Take a deep breath)

Three o’clock, four o’clock, (Give one blow to your pinched fingers before each number)

Away went all the fluff. (Flutter your fingers around as ‘the fluff flies away’)

My dandelion clock was right (Point to your wrist as if at a watch)

For mother called to me (Call out through your hands)

Come in and wash your grubby hands, (Rub your hands as if washing them)

It’s nearly time for tea! (Take a sip of your imaginary cup of tea)

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Good Morning Dear Earth

 Good Morning Dear Sun, 

Good Morning Dear Stones 

and the Flowers every one

Good Morning Dear Beasties 

and the Birds in the Trees

Good Morning to You 

and Good Morning to Me

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by Lisa Danhi

Fill my cup with tea,

Fill my cup with love,

Fill my cup with friendship,

And sunshine from above,

Fill my cup with tea,

Fill my cup with love,

Fill my cup with friendship,

And sunshine from above,

Fill my cup with tea,

Fill my cup with love,

Fill my cup with friendship,

And sunshine from above,

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In the heart of a seed buried deep, so deep 

(start curled up into a ball on the floor)

A dear little plant lay fast asleep

 (pretend to be sleeping)

“Wake” said the sun

 (move up to knees, arms above head forming sun)

“And reach for the light”

“Wake” said the voice

Of the raindrops bright 

(move arms down with fingers wiggling like raindrops)

So the dear little plant awoke to see 

(put hand together to form flower in front as you rise up to standing)

What the wonderful outside world might be

 (hands making flower open wide to arms overhead and open like branches)

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In the Willow

In the Willow

The Mockingbird Hides

She is listening

She is listening

On every side

The other birds, they sing the day long

But the Mockingbird tricks them by singing their song

Yes the Mockingbird tricks them by singing their song

(Each child gets a chance to make up a ‘song’, we all imitate)

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by Maya Shoemaker

I am a bird listen to my song

Listen I will tell you what is going on

Feel in your heart if I am calm or alarmed

Let’s play a game, what is my name?

(Bird Call-Children take a guess at who it is)

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Little rabbits sleeping 

(children curled up sleeping)

‘Til it’s nearly noon

Shall we go and wake them

With a merry tune

Oh so still…..

Are they ill?….

(stretch the time you have them lay before the next line!)

Wake up now!

(Children jump up and start hopping)

Hop little rabbit 

Hop hop hop

Hop little rabbit

Hop hop hop

Hop little rabbit 

Hop hop hop

Hop little rabbit

Hop hop hop

Tra la la, tra la la

Tra la la la la la la

Tra la la, tra la la

Tra la la la la la la….

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Pitter patter, pitter patter,

Listen to the rain,

Knocking on my window sill

And on my window pain,

Who does love the rain?

(mice)

Mice love the rain.

Pitter patter, pitter patter,

Listen to the rain,

Knocking on my windowsill

And on my window pane,

Who does love the rain?

(take turns choosing something that loves the rain)

_______ Loves the rain.

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This song is for the moments when the children’s voices get too loud for the space.  It is a kind and gentle way to ask them to lower their voices. We use it every day with the wee ones!  And just so you know, there WILL be times where some children hear this song and just to test you, they start to scream louder. They are just wondering if you really mean it.  In that moment, try singing the song so softly that they have to hush to hear what you are singing. They will see your mouth move and not be able to hear the words and most often their curiosity is stronger than their desire to test you.

Quieter voices

Are nicer to hear,

Quieter voices

Are nicer to hear…

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By Lisa Danhi

Hello Scrubbie,

My blue feathered friend,

Waiting for us on the trail,

Loyal to the end,

Soaring the meadow,

Perching on a tree,

Swooping down for almonds,

From my friends and me,

Hello Scrubbie,

Is Bluey by your side,

Chasing you from branch to branch,

Sharing nuts you hide,

We’re grateful for your company,

And for your chirpy song,

Thank you, Thank you,

It’s time to go,

So long.

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By Lisa Danhi

Share the path,

With our friends,

Wish them well,

On their way,

Step aside so they may pass,

And all will have a peaceful day.

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Spring is Here, Spring is Here

Birdies build your nest

Weave together straw and feather doing each your best

Spring is Here, Spring is Here

Flowers are waking too

Daisies, Lilies, Daffodillies 

All are coming through

Spring is Here, Spring is 

All around is fair

Shimmer, glimmer on the river 

Joy is everywhere

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By Lisa Danhi

I’m thankful for the whole,

I’m for the parts,

I’m thankful for my friends,

I’m thankful with my heart,

Please will you pass a piece,

Thank you, thank you,

This is a delicious treat,

You’re welcome.

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The leaves are green 

The nuts are brown

They hang so high above the ground

Leave them alone ‘til frosty weather 

Then they’ll all fall down together

(This song brings us into a seated position, in which we go around and share our name, nature name and something that we are Grateful for) See video for gestures to the songs.

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Wake little leaves

(hands up into the air, fingers wide)

For the springtime is calling you

(hands up on either side of mouth)

Soft blow the breezes

(move hands from left to right in wavy motion mimicking breeze)

And warm is the sun

(hands over head forming sun)

Wake little leaves

(hands up into air, fingers wide)

For the springtime has come at last

(hands come together in front of body, forming flower)

Wake little leaves 

(hands up into air, fingers wide)

For the springtime has sprung!

(jump high into air)

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Way up in the sky, (Look and reach your arms up)

The little birds fly, (Flap your wings)

Way down in the nest, (Look and reach down to the ground)

The little birds rest, (Sleep like the birds)

Shhhhhh, they’re sleeping. (Put your finger to your mouth and “shh…”)

With a wing on the left, (Lift you left arm)

And a wing on the right, (Lift your right arm)

The little birds sleep, (Sleep like the birds)

All through the night, (Reach your arms through the stars)

Shhhhh, they’re sleeping. (Put your finger to your mouth and “shh…”)

The bright sun comes up, (Be the rising sun, arms up in a circular form)

The moon falls away, (Let your arms slowly wave down)

“Good Morning, good morning,

Good morning,” they say.

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By Lisa Danhi

We are adventurers,

Walking on the trail,

We are adventurers,

Faster than a snail,

We stick together,

Help each other out,

And always look for new things

Whenever we’re about. 

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Sensory experiences have a way of triggering emotions. Songs, stories, smells, textures and of course sights, have the ability to bring up many emotions including grief.   With the children in school, I use a part of a Tom Hunter song called “when I’m sad I cry”. The whole song is great but I find that with the little ones, we only need a few words of this song and it is enough.  Out in the woods, when a child is sad I would start singing and many other children would gather around and ask to sing it over and over again. So when your children are feeling sad, or you are, here is a tool you can use to help the tears to flow and acknowledge that it is ok to feel sad.  

When I’m sad I cry,

When I’m sad I cry,

Sometimes things make me sad,

When I’m sad I cry….

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by Maya Shoemaker

Chickweed and mallow, 

filaree and oxalis,

Miner’s lettuce 

And mustard

Nasturtium and Radish

When were out harvesting and it is Spring

These are a few of our favorite grees

When the sun’s out

When the plants grow

When we’ve had some rain

We simply remember our favorite greens

And make wild salad again

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