Poems and Fingerplays:

All Around the Barnyard
All around the barnyard
The animals are fast asleep.
Sleeping cows and horses,
Sleeping pigs and sheep. (Rest cheek on folded hands)
Here comes the cocky rooster
To sound his daily alarm.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Wake up sleepy farm!" (Flap arms at sides and crow.)

Baby Frogs (Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)
Tadpoles are little baby frogs, baby frogs, baby frogs.
Tadpoles are little baby frogs
They can swim like fish.
Tadpoles grow four legs, four legs, four legs.
Tadpoles grow four legs.
They can hop, hop, hop.

Baby Robins
Five baby robins watch Daddy Robin soar; (hold up 5 fingers)
One baby leaves the nest, and now there are four. (thumb)
Four baby robins, high up in a tree;
One flies to catch a worm, and now there are three. (index)
Three baby robins had nothing to do;
One tried his new-found wing, and then there were 2.(middle)
Two baby robins frolicked in the sun;
Another robin chased a bug, and then there was one. (ring)
One baby robin, left all alone;
And this baby robin decided to stay home!

Barnyard Song (Tune: If you’re happy and you know it)
If you’re a chicken and you know it say “Cluck, cluck”
If you’re a chicken and you know it say “Cluck, cluck”
If you’re a chicken and you know it, then you really ought to show it,
If you’re a chicken and you know it say “Cluck, cluck”
(repeat song with “pig, say oink, oink”; “cow, say moo, moo”)

Bee Hive
(Put your hand in a fist and say...)
This is my bee hive, but where are the bees?
Hidden inside where nobody sees.
Soon they’ll come
Creeping out of their hive…
One, two, three, four, five (Pop fingers up while counting)
Bzzzzzz! (wiggle fingers around like bees escaping)

Big Dinosaurs (Tune: Ten Little Indians)
1 big, 2 big, 3 big dinosaurs,
4 big, 5 big, 6 big dinosaurs,
7 big, 8 big, 9 big dinosaurs,
Ten big dinosaurs!
They all lived a long, long time ago.
They all lived a long, long time ago.
They all lived a long, long time ago.
Now there are no more.

Big Yellow Moon
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (Arms above head in circle shape.)
Glides across the starry night, (Arms move from left to right.)
Looks down at me (Hand shades eyes.)
Asleep in bed, (Hands together at side of face.)
Whispers, "Good night, sleepyhead." (Forefinger in front of mouth.)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done. (Arms above head move down in front of body.)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun. (Arms move above head in circle shape.)
I wake up. (Arms stretch out.)
You go to bed. (Hands together at side of face.)
"Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead." (Forefinger in front of mouth.)

Birthday Candles
Birthday candles one - two - three. (Hold up fingers on the count)
Birthday candles just for me! (Point to self)
Last year two -- next year four. (Hold up two fingers on left hand and four fingers on right)
Birthday candles, I want more!

Brown Squirrel
Brown squirrel, Brown squirrel, Swoosh your bushy tail
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel, Swoosh your busy tail
Put a nut between your toes
Wrinkle up your little nose
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel, Swoosh your bushy tail

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs (Tune: “Are you sleeping”)
Big bugs, small bugs
Big bugs, small bugs
See them crawl, on the wall
Creepy creepy crawling..
Never never falling
bugs,bugs,bugs!

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.
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,
Fold my hands, fold my hands
This is the way I fold my hands,
So early in the morning.
This is the way they go to sleep,
Go to sleep, go to sleep
This is the way they go to sleep
So early in the morning.

Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman had a carrot for a nose
Along came a bunny and what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny was looking for his lunch...
And he ATE that snowman's nose. .nibble nibble. .CRUNCH

Colors
Blue is the lake,
Yellow is the sun,
Silver are the stars,
When the day is done.
Red is the apple,
Green is a tree
Brown is a chocolate cookie for you and me – YUM!

The Cows On The Farm (Tune: The wheels on the bus)
The cows on the farm go mooo, mooo, mooo
Mooo, mooo, mooo
Mooo, mooo, mooo
The cows on the farm go mooo, mooo, mooo
All night long!

The sheep on the farm go baaaah, baaaaah, baaah
Baaaah, baaaaah, baaah
Baaaah, baaaaah, baaah
The sheep on the farm go baaaah, baaaaah, baaah
All night long!

The pigs on the farm go Oink, oink, oink
Oink, oink, oink
Oink, oink, oink
The pigs on the farm go Oink, oink, oink
All night long!
(For additional verses, ask the children to name their favorite farm animal and what sound it makes.)

Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs lived long ago.
Some walked (stomp in place)
Some swam (pretend to swim)
Some flew, you know! (flap arms at sides)
Some were big (hold hands high)
Some were small (hold hands low)
Some were gigantic--(stretch arms out wide)
V-e-r-y tall! (stretch arms up high)

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs (Tune: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear)
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, stomped around.
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, shook the ground.
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, some gave fear.
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, we wish you were here.

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs (Tune: Row, Row, Row your boat)
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs
Eating fruits and leaves
Take a bite and chew it up
And spit out the seeds -- Phooo!

Down by the Station
Down by the station early in the morning,
See the little train cars all in a row.
Listen to the engineer pull the big whistle.
Toot-toot, toot-toot! Off we go!

Down in the Barnyard (Tune: Down by the station)
Down in the barnyard,
Early in the morning,
See the little piggies
All in a row.
“Oink, oink, snort, snort”
Is how they go!

Feathered Birds
Five feathered birds sitting on the door;
One flew away and then there were four.
Four feathered birds singing in the tree,
One flew away and then there were three.
Three feathered birds looking at you,
One flew away and then there were two.
Two feathered birds sitting in the sun,
One flew away and then there was one.
One feathered bird looking like a hero,
He flew away and now there are zero!

Five Enormous Dinosaurs
Five enormous dinosaurs, letting out a roar,
One went away and then there were four.
Four enormous dinosaurs, munching on a tree,
One went away and then there were three.
Three enormous dinosaurs didn't know what to do,
One went away and then there were two.
Two enormous dinosaurs having lots of fun,
One went away and then there was one.
One enormous dinosaur afraid to be a hero,
He (she) went away and then there were zero.

Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Five green and speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating the most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there's only four green, speckled frogs
GLUB, GLUB (repeat until none left)

Five Little Apples (Tune: Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree)
Five little apples sitting in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Slinky worm "Can't eat me",
Along comes Mr. Slinky worm quiet as can be...
and...CRUNCHED that apple right out of the tree.
(Repeat with:)
Four little apples...
Three little apples...
Two little apples...
One little apple...

Five Little Bears
5 little bears were dancing on the floor one fell down and that left 4
4 little bears climbed up a tree, one found a beehive that left 3.
3 little bears were wondering what to do, one chased a bunny rabbit that left 2.
2 little bears were looking for some fun, one took a swim that left 1.
1 little bear sitting all alone he looked all around then ran home.

Five Little Bears: Counting Up
One little bear
Wondering what to do
Along came another
Then there were two! Two little bears
Climbing up a tree
Along came another
Then there were three! Three little bears
Ate an apple core
Along came another
Then there were four! Four little honey bears
Found honey in a hive
Along came another
Then there were five!

Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out one day (wiggle 5 fingers)
Over the hills (make "hilly" motion with hand)
and far away (shield eyes as if looking out to sea)
Mother duck called them "Quack, Quack, Quack" ("quack with hand as if a puppet)
But only four little ducks came back! (show 4 fingers)

Repeat with:
Four little ducks went out one day...
Three little ducks...
Two little ducks...
One little duck... But NO little ducks came back!

So, Mother duck went out one day
Over the hills and far away
She called her ducklings "Quack, Quack, Quack"
And ALL the little ducks came back!

Five Little Fishes
Five little fishes were swimming near the shore;
One took a dive and then there were four.
Four little fishes were swimming out to sea;
One went for food, and then there were three.
Three little fishes, “Now what shall we do?”
One swam away, and then there were two.
Two little fishes were having great fun;
But one took a plunge, then there was one.
One little fish, “I like the warm sun.”
Away he went and then there were none.

Five Little Fishes
Five little fishes swimming in a pool,
This one said, "The pool is cool."
This one said, "The pool is deep."
This one said, "I'd like to sleep."
This one said, "I'll float and dip."
This one said, "I see a ship."
The fishing boat comes. The line goes splash. All the little fishes swim away in a flash!

Five Little Fishes (Tune: 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree)
Five little fishes, Swimming in the sea.
Teasing Mr. Shark, You can`t catch me, You can`t catch me.
Along comes Mr. Shark, As quiet as can be... Snap!
(Repeat with:)
Four little fishes, etc...

Five Little Leaves
Five little leaves in the autumn breeze, tumbled and rumbled in the through the trees.
The first little leaf said “I am red – I shall rest in a flower bed”
The second little leaf, the orange one, said “Turn me over, I’m on my head.”
The third little leaf said “I am yellow – I’m a happy go lucky fellow.”
The fourth little leaf said “I am still green – I am part of the summer scene”
The fifth little leaf said “I am gold – I’m a sign it’s getting COLD!”

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up 5 fingers and bounce on other palm)
One fell off (hold up one finger)
And bumped it's head (rub head as if hurt)
Momma called the doctor (pretend to make a call)
And the doctor said "No more monkeys jumping on the bed"

Repeat with:
Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey...

No little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up hand in shape of a zero)
None fell off and bumped it's head (shake head)
Momma called the doctor (pretend to make a call)
And the doctor said "Put all those little monkeys to bed!" (pretend to go to sleep)

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree
Five little monkeys swinging in the tree (hold up 5 fingers and sway back and forth)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, (make silly, teasing faces)
"You can't catch me, You can't catch me" (in a singsong, teasing tone)
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as call be (quiet voice and slither hands like a crocodile swimming motion)
And SNAPPED that monkey right out of the tree! (say loudly and clap hands on "snapped")

Repeat with:
Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey...

Five Little Snowmen
5 little snowmen sitting on the ground, (pat hands on floor)
the first one said; "oh my aren't we round." (make circle with arms)
The second one said; "there are snowflakes in the air." (wiggle fingers above head)
The third one said; "but we don't care." (shrug shoulders)
The fourth one said; "lets run and run and run. (pat hands quickly on the floor)
The fifth one said; "I'm ready for some fun." (smile)
Whew went the wind (blow) and out came the sun (make circle with arms over head)
and the five little snowman knew their fun was done.(pretend your melting)

Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen fat,
Each with a funny little hat.
Out came the sun & melted one,
What a sad thing is that !

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.

Five Red Apples
Five red apples
Hanging on a tree (Hold up five fingers)
The juiciest apples you ever did see!
The wind came past
And gave an angry frown (Fingers flutter downward)
And one little apple came tumbling down. (One finger falls)

Repeat with:
Four red apples...
Three red apples...
Two red apples...
One red apple...

Five Red Leaves
Five red leaves, five and no more (hold up 5 fingers)
The caterpillar ate one, now there are four (thumb down)
Four red leaves, that's easy to see.
Along came a rainstorm, now there are three. (index finger down)
Three red leaves, nothing much to do.
A big wind blew, now two! (middle finger down)
Two red leaves, that's not much fun.
I glued one on my paper (ring finger down)
Now there is one. (hold up pinky)
Hang on, pretty red leaf! Your branches won't break.

Fuzzy Wuzzy
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
Then Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy… Was he?