Finger Plays: Playing With Words
Finger Plays, Action Rhymes, Felt, Velcro, Magnet Boards, Puppets & Props
Presented By Colleen Hannafin
E:Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.northsidemusicwi.com
1314 Birch Street – Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone #715-832-4014
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Singing or chanting finger plays reinforces the “The 3 R's” to Reading:
Rhyme, Rhythm, Repetition- patterns naturally built into song!
 The words suggest the hand, body, and finger movements - Learning with music
and movement from fingers to whole body.
 Develops rhythm of words (language development)
 Fun way to introduce new vocabulary.
 Finger plays teach math: number recognition,
Counting, addition & subtraction.
 Teach children to follow directions.
 Helps to develop listening skills.
 Aid left to right visual tracking.
 Finger Plays help students warm up their hands before engaging in fine motor
actions such as: writing, manipulating small objects.
 Pattern and sequencing.
Teach and Reach All Learners
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1.
Audio – prefer sound and music = Sing throughout your day!
Visual - prefer using pictures, image, flannel and magnet boards, mitts, hand and finger
puppets. Books, pictures, number, letter, word labeling. = The props may speak louder
than you words!!
Kinesthetic: physical, prefers using your body, hands and sense of touch= experiencing
concepts is one of the most effective ways to learn, while developing gross and
fine motor skills.
Roly-Poly #1 (sequencing sound & motion / opposites)
Recorded “Fingerplay, Movement & Story Songs” by Colleen & Uncle Squaty
Roly-Poly. Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) Up. Up. Up. (Reach arms up in air)
Roly-Poly. Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) Down. Down. Down. (Reach arms to the ground)
Roly-Poly. Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) In. In. In. (Push hands/arms together inward)
Roly-Poly. Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands)Out. Out. Out. (Push hands/arms out to your sides)
Roly-Poly. Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) Peek. Peek. Peek. (Play Peek-a-boo)
Roly-Poly, Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. (Fold hands/ pretend to sleep)
Movement Chant:
You can use this chant for a movement activity or transition- listening skills.
Roly-Poly. Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) Hop. Hop. Hop. (hop in place or around the room)
Roly-Poly, Roly-Poly. (make rolling motion with hands) Walk down the hall!
2. Roly Poly #2 Recorded on “Shake It Down, Turn Around” By Colleen and Uncle Squaty
Finger-hand warm-up/ right/left / sequencing (sound and motion) / Phonemic Awareness
Fist to Fingers – Finger Plays
Here is My Turtle
Here is my turtle,
(Form fist and extend thumb.)
He lives in a shell.
(Put thumb inside fist.)
He likes his home very well.
(Nod head)
He pokes his head out
(Pop out thumb.)
When he wants to eat.
(Circle thumb around.)
And pulls it back in when he wants to
sleep.
(Put thumb back inside fist.)
Here is the Beehive (1-5)
Addition/subtraction
Here is a beehive, (Hold up fist.)
But where are the bees. (Shake head.)
Hidden inside where nobody sees.
Soon they come buzzing out of their hive.
One, two, three, four, five.
(Slowly hold up one finger at a time.)
Here is a beehive, (Hold up fist.)
But where are the bees. (Shake head.)
Flying around on the flowers and trees.
(Open and wiggle fingers.)
Soon they will buzz home, the day is done!
Five, four, three, two, one.
(Slowly put fingers down and into a fist.)
Five Little Ants (finger play)
(1-5) addition
5 Plump Peas
Five little ants in an anthill.
(close fist, palm down)
Busily working and never still.
(wiggle knuckles)
Do you think they are alive?
See them come out...
One, two, three, four, five.
(bring fingers out one at a time)
Five plump peas in pea pod pressed
(make fist)
One grew, two grew and so did all the rest
(fingers come out of fist one at a time)
They grew and grew and did not stop
(stretch fingers wide)
Until one day the pod went pop!
(clap hands)
Another Favorite “Ant” Finger Play
Five Hungry Ants
Five hungry ants marching in a line,
Came upon a picnic where they could dine.
They marched into the salad,
They marched into the cake,
They marched into the pepper…
Uh oh! That was a mistake!
A..a..a..choo!
Three White Mice
(Tune: Three Blind Mice)
Three white mice. Three white mice.
See how they hide. See how they hide.
Number one comes out to see the sun.
Number two comes out to have some fun.
Number three comes out when day is done.
Three white mice. Three white mice.
*Puppet Box w/Mice
*Happy Birthday song - 3 year olds.
5 or 10 Finger Play / Action Rhymes and Songs
Snoring Bears In A Bed / Prop: Bed & Bears Shoebox
(Traditional chant / Subtraction 10 – 1)
There were ten snoring bears, in a bed.
The little one said "roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out!
They gave a little snore and they gave a little shout!
How many are in still the bed?
*Continue subtracting or taking away bears until you
Have one bear left……. Last verse
There was one in a bed and the little one said "Good night!"
Down In The Chicken Coop / Finger Play / Prop
(Tune: Down by the Station)
Down in the chicken coop, early in the morning.
1 little chicken is looking all around.
She would like a chicken friend to join her in the barnyard.
Peep, peep, chick, chick, here one comes.
*continue adding chickens –fingers or props
10 Orange Carrots in My Garden Row.
Tune: Up on the Housetop
Look in the garden, seeds I sowed.
10 orange carrots growing in a row.
(child’s name) pulled, cleaned and ate one
Oops, Oh No!!
Now there are 9 orange carrots in a row.
*continue adding carrots –fingers or props
Look in the garden, seeds I sowed. No more carrots growing in a row.
We pulled, cleaned and ate all 10; They were great, let’s plant some again
10 Little Pine Trees / 10 Little Oak Trees
(Tune: Down By The Station)
1 little pine tree looking all around.
He would like a friend that grows from the ground.
He sees another pine tree starting to grow.
2 little pine trees standing in a row.
#Continue adding pine trees –fingers or props
Traditional Finger Plays
Dicky Birds (Traditional) Rumble To The Bottom CD by Colleen & Uncle Squaty
Prop Play / Finger Play/ Finger Puppet/ Teach: opposites / Rhyming
Two little Dicky Birds sitting on a hill. One named Jack. One named Jill.
Fly away Jack. Fly away Jill.
Come back Jack. Come back Jill.
Pole: High/ Low Cloud: Soft/ Loud Dad: Happy/ Sad Pole: Fast/Slow Gate: Early/Late.
Baby Chicks, sitting on an egg.
One named Mike, One named Meg.
Letter Sounds:
Two little Robins sitting in a Tree, One named Rob, One named Ree, Fly away
Two little bunnies sitting in a Hill, One Bob, one named Bill, Hop away.
Two little fishes Swimming in the sea. One named Fred and one named Fee, Swim away.
Tommy Thumbs (Traditional English finger play) Body-part identification/ direction
Finger Play, Movement & Story Songs CD
Tommy thumb’s are up, and Tommy thumbs are down. Tommy Thumbs are dancing all around the town.
Dance them on your shoulders. Dance them on your head. Dance them on your knees and tuck them into bed
 one finger is up, and one finger is down, -counting fingers
 both my arms are up and down – moving arms
I Can Count - Hokey Pokey
You put one finger up, You put one finger down.
You put one finger up, and you shake it all around.
You give it a shakey-shakey, And you turn it all about.
That's how you learn to count!
Wiggle The Wool (traditional)
Fingerplay, Movement and Story Songs CD
1. With my hands and my fingers, what have I here. This is my Top-knocher nothing to fear. Top-knocher, (knock on
head)
Wiggle The Wool! That’s what they taught me in school.
2. With my hands and my fingers, what have I here.
These are my Eye-blinkers nothing to fear. Eye-blinker. (blink
eyes), Top-knocker(knock on head)
Wiggle The Wool! That’s what they taught me in school
3.This is my Sneeze-maker nothing to fear. Sneeze-maker,(ah-choo)
4. Soup-strainer. (slurp sounds with mouth)
6. Knee-bender.(“creek-creek” sound)
5. Bread-basket. (rub tummy)
7. Shoe-holder. (point to shoe/ say “P-U”)
My Little Hand Melody: This Old Man
My little hand, finger one, it’s the same as my thumb.
Little hand, finger two, I can place it on my shoe.
My little hand, finger three, I can touch it to my knee.
My little hand, finger four, I can touch it to the floor.
My little hand, finger five, It’s the baby by it’s size.
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The Little Train Finger play, toe-play, body-play
This little train ran up the track. It went toot, toot. And then it came back.
The other train went up the track. It went toot, toot. And then it came back
Noodles On My Plate (paper plate prop – addition 1-5) Melody: Black Sheep
Take a paper plate and cut out five holes as shown. Stick fingers in the holes to match the noodles in the rhyme.
One small noodle (Hold up one finger.) On my noodle plate.
Salt and pepper, Tastes just great. (Pretend to shake salt.)
Mother’s going to the store. Mother, mother, get some more.
2,3,4,……
Five small noodles (Hold up five fingers.) On my noodle plate.
Salt and pepper, (Pretend to shake salt.) Tastes just great.
Mother, mother, I am stuffed. I think that I have had enough!
Little Arabella Miller (Piggyback: Twinkle, Twinkle)
Recorded “Rumble To The Bottom” by Colleen and Uncle Squaty / Lambs wool Caterpillar
Lambs wool caterpillar – sensory
#1. Little Arabella Miller, had a fuzzy caterpillar. First it crawled upon her mother.
Then upon her dear grandmother. They said, “Arabella Miller, PUT AWAY YOUR CATERPILLAR”.
#2. Little Arabella Miller, had a fuzzy caterpillar. Next it crawled upon her brother.
Then upon her little sister. They said “Arabella Miller, PUT AWAY YOUR CATERPILLAR”.
They said, “Arabella Miller, yes we love your caterpillar”.
Hand Washing Finger Play
Five little fingers playing all day
Getting really dirty, Let’s wash the germs away!
Four little fingers catching a sneeze
Needing some good soap! Lather up please!
Three little fingers staying pretty clean
Sneeze into your arm, You know what I mean!
Five Little Clouds
Five little clouds up in the sky,
Drifting, floating way up high,
One disappeared from the sky so blue,
When a big gust of wind came blowing through.
(Everyone make blowing wind sounds)
Four little clouds...3,2,1, none
Five little fingers happy to say
We're clean and healthy, Hip! Hop! Hooray!
There Were Five in The Truck (Fingerplay-Action Song)
There were five in the truck
And the little hen clucked, (flap you wings)
“Move over, move over!”
So they all moved over,
And one fell out... They gave a little smile and they gave a little cluck!
How many ducks are in still the truck?
There were four in the truck...
There were three in the truck...
There were two in the truck...
There was One in the truck, And the little hen clucked,
"I've go the whole truck to myself, I've got the whole truck to myself,
I've got the whole truck to myself! I've got the whole truck to myself !”
One Elephant Went Out To Play
Melody: 5 Little Ducks or chant
(Letter E, Elephants, Addition, Number Recognition)
1 elephant went out to play, upon a spider’s web one day. He/She had such enormous fun,
That he called for another little elephant. Spoken: ELEPHANT!!!!!
5 Pink Flamingos
1 pink flamingo went out to play, In my yard on a sunny day.
He had so much silly fun, That he called for another pink flamingo to come!
How many pink flamingos are in my yard? (spoken)
*more animals: tiger, lion,
Dogs in the Dirt
Ten little doggies went out one day.(10 fingers up)
To dig in the dirt and play, play, play. (Pretend to dig.)
Five were spotted, and five were not, (Show one hand at a time.)
and at dinner time they ate a lot! (Pretend to eat.)
Finger Plays with Puppets
Ensy Wensy Spider
*Spoon Puppet
Bats Are Sleeping (Tune: Frere Jacques) *movement activity
Bats are sleeping, Bats are sleeping,
Upside down, Upside down.
Sleeping in the morning.
Waiting for the night to come.
Then they fly around, Then they fly around.
Gobble – Gobble – CD Turkey
“Gobble, gobble” says the turkey.
“Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day!
Will you greet me or will you eat
me?
I think I better run away!”
Charlie The Chipmunk (Tune: I’m A Little Teapot)
Quiet Time / Transition Activity
Lyrics by Colleen and Uncle Squaty ©2010
Here is Charlie the Chipmunk, (show finger - puppet)
he runs up a tree! ( run puppet up your arm)
There he finds a hole, and hides from you and me .(cover chipmunk with your hand)
Watch and you will see Charlie peek all around.
(peek puppet out of your hand and hold as though looking about.)
And if we’re quiet, he’ll come back down.
(encourage children to be very quiet, then Charlie the Chipmunk will come out to join us in the next activity)
Spoken: Are you quiet now?
Whisper: Yes we are!
Spoken: Charlie the Chipmunk comes out and runs all around.
Little Butterfly (I’m a Little Teapot) Lyrics by Hannafin/Berndt ©2010
I’m a little butterfly, flying all around. Watch me fly up high, to the clear blue sky.
Now I’m flying down, toward the grassy ground. I’m a little butterfly, flying all around.
I’m a little butterfly landing on your nose. Now I’m going to fly, to your twinkle toes.
Watch me now I’m flying, to land on your knees. I’m a little butterfly, smile with me please.
I’m a little butterfly on your head. Now I’m on your shoulders,
now I’m off to bed. When we play again, I’ll fly all around. Time to quiet down, we won’t make a sound.
My LittlMy Little Mouse -Mouse Puppet
My little mouse is looking all around.
My little mouse is sniffing on the ground.
My little mouse is sleeping in his bed.
My little mouse is sitting on my head.
My little mouse is sniffing at my toes.
My little mouse is kissing someone’s nose
Five Little Worms - Finger Play and Puppet
Five little wiggle worms.
Wiggling in the grass. (wiggle fingers)
Teasing Mr. Robin, “Can’t catch me.”
(Continue to wiggle 5 fingers)
Down swooped Mr. Robin As swift as could be,
(fly robin puppet down to scoop up worms)
Scooping up a wiggle worm, as fast as could be.
How many worms are left in the grass?
How many worms did Mr. Robin eat?
No more wiggle worms, wiggling in the grass.
Mr. Robin is full at last.
He ate all the worms one at a time!
Let’s count the worms did he have to dine!
5 Little Pollywogs – Frog Puppet
5 little pollywogs, playing by the shore.
1 landed in a net, and then there were 4.
4 little pollywogs, lively as can be.
1 met a snapping trout, and the there were 3.
3 little pollywogs, in a lake of blue.
Down swept a herring gill, and then there was 2
2 little pollywogs, diving and having fun.
Up popped a turtles head, and then there was 1
1 little pollywog, smiling at the sun.
Finally turned into a frog, and then there was
none.
Alice the Camel - Camel Puppet
Alice the camel has… 5 humps
Alice the camel has… 5 humps
Alice the camel has… 5 humps
So go Alice go! BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Repeat with 4, then 3, then 2, then 1
Alice the Camel has no humps.
Alice the Camel has no humps.
Alice the Camel has no humps.
So Alice must be a horse. Of course.!
More Original Finger Plays
Little Smelly Skunks words by Rob Reid ©2012 Song by Colleen and Uncle Squaty
Melody: Five Green and Speckled Frogs
3 little smelly skunks. Sleeping in their smelly bunks. Didn’t hear an owl sneak in.
A “whoo-whoo” woke them quick as a wink. 1 forgot to spray it’s stink. Now there are 2 smelly skunks.
2 little smelly skunks. Sleeping in their smelly bunks. Didn’t hear a human sneak in.
A “gottcha” woke them, quick as a wink. 1 forgot to pray it’s stink. Now there is 1 smelly skunk.
1 little smelly shunk. Sleeping in it’s smelly bunk. Didn’t hear a dog sneak in. A “ruff-ruff” woke it quick as a wink. It
remembered to spray its stink. Now there is 1 smelly dog.
Ukelele Blue Yodel Recorded on: “Sing-a-Move-a-Dance” by Colleen & Uncle Squaty
Finger play / Yodeling – listening / pitch / counting 1 to 5
5 Little Butterflies ( Hush Little Baby) © 2012 Songcard-A-Prop by Colleen and Uncle Squaty
5 little butterflies flying near a door, 1 flew away and then there were 4.
Butterflies, butterflies flying in the air. Butterflies, butterflies flying everywhere.
4 – Flying near a tree. 3 – Flying at the zoo. 2 – Oh what fun. 1 – Flying to the sun.
5 Tall Giraffes (Tune: Oh, My Darling Clementine) (addition, numbers 1-5, informative)
Lyrics by Colleen and Uncle Squaty
Shake It Down, Turn Around CD & Songcard-A-Props @2008
1 giraffe, with his long neck, stretched to touch the sky so blue.
Call another giraffe to join him, all together there were 2.
2 giraffes with their long tongues, plucked the leaves from the thorny tree.
Called another giraffe to join them, all together there were 3.
3 giraffes spread their long legs, to drink the water along the shore.
Called another giraffe to join them, all together there were 4.
4 giraffes, long eyelashes, to keep the sand out of their eyes.
Called another giraffe to join them, all together there were 5.
All giraffes have long eyelashes, Long legs and necks and tongues.
So we’ve learned through the song we’re singing, many parts on giraffes are long!
5 Jungle Monkeys – (Tune: Iddy Biddy Pool)
Recording: Shake It Down, Turn Around with Colleen and Uncle Squaty
Deep in the jungle where nobody goes. 5 monkeys swingin’ by their toes.
The first monkey said, “I wanna get down”
And he jumped and he jumped, and he fell to the ground.
Continue with 4,3,2,1,
Deep in the jungle where nobody goes, no monkey’s swingin’ by their toes.
They all jumped down and they fell to the ground,
Night time (or nap time’s) here it’s time to lay down.
Five Little Bunnies
Tune: This Old Man
One little bunny, wondering what to do. Another bunny came along, then there were ____.
Count the bunnies, count them with me. How many bunnies do you see? (repeat after each verse)
Two little bunnies, hopping like me (Hop). Another bunny came along, now there are _____.
Three little bunnies, jumping outdoors. Another bunny joined them and then there were_____.
Four little bunnies, so fluffy and alive. Another bunny joined them, then there were ____.
Five little bunnies, ready for some fun. Hopped away in the warm, summer sun. (Hop the bunnies away)