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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