Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Song Page

We have a "Song Can" in preschool which is how we begin our large group each day. Children take turns picking a song out of the can and we sing that song. We usually start with just 2 or 3 songs, but it's exciting to see what song we will sing!!
You find all of the songs that are in Miss Chelsea's "Song Can". Please have fun singing these songs with your child and helping to connect their preschool experience at home!
If you are looking for the songs we sing with our themes, look under the month that the theme was taught. I've created a specific song page for each theme. Enjoy.

ABC - Nursery Rhyme Song

This is a fun twist on the ABC song and any nursery rhyme you want to use. Just sing to the tune of "99 Bottles of Pop on the Wall" and this song can go on forever!
ABCDEFG HIJKLM NO PQ RS TU VWXYZ - oh
Then go into any nursery rhyme you want with the same tune......
Mary had a little lamb it's fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.....OH
ABCDEFG HIJKLM NO PQ RS TU VWXYZ....OH
and on and on....here are some nursery rhyme ideas to use
Baa Baa black sheep, have you any wool, yes sir yes sir, 3 bags full....OH...ABC...
Georgie Peorgie pudding pie, kissed the girls and made them cry, when the boys came out to play, Georgie, Peorgie ran away....OH...ABC......
Humpty Dumpty sat on wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Humpty together again....OH....ABC.....
I hope you get the idea!!

Head, Shoulder's, Knees and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes
knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
eyes, ears, mouth, and nose

Days of the Week

(Adams family tune)

There's Sunday and there's Monday there's Tuesday and there's Wednesday There's Thursday and there's Friday and then there's Saturday
Days of the week (clap, clap)
Days of the week (clap, clap)
Days of the week, Days of the week, Days of the week, (clap clap)

If You're Happy and You Know it

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
(clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
(clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it,
if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands
(clap clap)
Let children choose different actions.....stomp your feet, stick out your tongue, etc.

I'm A Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot short and stout
(hands on hips, bend knees on stout)
Here is my handle, here is my spout
(place one hand on hip and the other in the air like a spout)
When I get all steamed up here me shout
(jump on shout)
Just tip me over and pour me out.
(bend over like you are being poured out)

I'm Bringing Home my Baby Bumblebee

I'm bringing home my baby bumblebee,
(cup hands like you are holding a bumblebee)
won't my mommy be so proud of me. I'm bringing home my baby bumblebee, OUCH, it stung me!
(hold out your hands in surprise)

I'm smashing up my baby bumblebee,
(hit hands together like you are smashing up a bumblebee)
won't my mommy be so proud of me. I'm smashing up my baby bumblebee, OOOOH, it's all over me!!
(look at your hands in disgust)
I'm wiping off my baby bumblebee,
(wipe your hands on a neighbor like you're trying to get it off)
won't my mommy be so proud of me. I'm wiping off my baby bumblebee, OOOH, IT'S ALL OVER YOU!!
(point the person/people you wiped it on)

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider
crawled up the water spout.
Down came the rain,
and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
and dried up all the rain,
and the itsy bitsy spider
crawled up the spout again.

Open Shut Them

Open, shut them. Open, shut them
(open and close your hands)
Give a little CLAP (x)(x).
Open, shut them. Open, shut them,
Lay them in your lap
(clap twice in your lap)
Creep them, creep them, slowly creep them,
(creep your fingers up your arm)
Right up to your chin
(stop your fingers at your mouth)
Open wide your little mouth
(open your mouth wide)
(quickly sing) but do not let them in.
(race your fingers back down your arm)
Open, shut them. Open, shut them,
give a little clap (x)(x).
Open, shut them. Open, shut them,
hold them in your lap.

The Peanut Song

A peanut sat on a railroad track
(rub your two sets of fingers together, one on top of the other, like your signing railroad track)

his heart was all a flutter.
(pat your hand over your heart like it's beating fast)
Along came train number 915,
(move your arms like the wheels on the train)

Choo, choo, choo, peanut butter
(pull the handle above your head, then clap your hands together on peanut butter)

Popcorn Popping

I looked out the window and what did I see
(hands over eyes like your looking for something)
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.
(pop fingers)
Spring has brought me such a nice surprise,
(hands out to the side like a surprise)
blossoms popping right before my eyes.
(pop fingers)
I can take an armful and make a treat,
(make a big circle in front of you with your arms)
a popcorn ball that would smell so sweet.
(make a little ball with hands like your forming a popcorn ball then smell it)
It wasn't really so,
(move finger back and forth like 'no')
but it seemed to me,
(point to yourself)
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.
(pop fingers)

Row Row Row Your Boat

Row Row Row your boat,
gently down the stream
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,
life is but a dream.

Shake My Sillies Out

I'm gonna shake, shake, shake my sillies out.
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
and wiggle, my waggles away!!
This is a fun song to mix up and have the students think of a different way to get their sillies out...
stomp
jump
blink
clap
etc

Three Bears with a Beat

Snap or clap or pat, or keep the beat in anyway you want on the words in parenthesis and where you see (x)'s
(Once) upon a (time) in the (mid)dle of the (woods)
there were (three) (bears).
(One) was a (Pa)pa bear, (one) was a (Ma)ma bear,
(one) was a (Wee) bear. (x)(x)
A(long) came the (girl) with the (gold)en curls.
She (knocked) on the (door) but (no) one was (there).
So she (walked) right (in) cause she (did)n't care.
(Home), (home), (home), came the (Pa)pa bear,
(Home), (home), (home), came the (Ma)ma bear,
(Home), (home), (home), came the (wee) bear. (x) (x)
(change the voice with each bear)
"(Some)one's been (eat)ing my (porr)idge!" (x)
said the (Pa)pa (bear).
"Grrrrrr" (hold hands in front like sharp claws)
"(Some)one's been (eat)ing my (porr)idge! ((x))
said the (Ma)ma (bear). "Ahhhhhhh"
(throw both hands up in surprise)

"(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear,"

(said) the little (wee) bear,

"(Some)one has (eat)en my(soup)!
Hmmmmmph!" (cross arms on chest and pout)
"(Some)one's been (sit)ting in (my) (chair)!"
said the (Pa)pa (bear). "Grrrrrrrrr"
"(Some)one's been (sit)ting in (my) (chair)!"
said the (Ma)ma (bear)!" "Ahhhhhhh"
"(Hey)-baba-(ree),bear,"
said the little (wee) bear,
"(Some)one has (brok)en my (seat)!
Hmmmmmph!"
"(Some)one's been (sleep)ing in (my) (bed)!"
said the (Pa)pa (bear)! "Grrrrrrrrr"
"(Some)one's been (sleep)ing in (my) (bed)!"
said the (Ma)ma (bear). "Ahhhhhhhh"
"(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear,
(said) the little (wee) (bear),
"(Some)one is (still) in my (bed)!
Hmmmmmph!"
(Change to a whisper)
Just then Goldilocks woke up.
(Scream, arms raised:) "Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!"
She (jumped) out of (bed) and she
(beat) it out of (there)!
(point with thumb)
"(Bye),(bye), (bye),"
said the (Pa)pa bear. (wave)
"(Bye), (bye), (bye),"
said the (Ma)ma bear. (wave)
"(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear,"
(said) the little (wee) bear, "
(This) is the (end) of our (tale).
Hmmmmmph!"

Ten Little Monkey's Swinging in a Tree

Ten little monkey's swinging in a tree
(hold up # of fingers and swing them)
Teasing mister Alligator - you can't catch me, you can't catch me.
(twist hands by your face....the international sign for teasing)
Along comes mister Alligator quiet as can be
(put hands together, palm to palm and move them like a snake or alligator moving through water sneakily, and quite your voice)
and SNAPS that monkey right out of the tree.
(Clap your hands on snap and say this part of the song loudly)
Go on with the song, all the way down to zero...no more monkey's swinging in the tree.

What's the Weather?

Sung to "Clementine"
What's the weather
What's the weather
What's the weather like today?
Tell us (Matthew) what's the weather
What's the weather like today?
Is it sunny? (make a big circle with arms above head)
Is it cloudy? (cover eyes with hands)
Is it rainy out today? (rain fingers)
Is it snowy? (act cold)
Is it windy? (windy arms)
What's the weather like today?

Willaby Wallaby

Change the names as you go around the room for each child. Kids think this song is so funny, they love to hear their silly name and they love it when you say an elephant sits on them!

Willaby Wallaby Wason,
An elephant sat on Jason.
Willaby Wallaby Wim,
An elephant sat on Kim.
Willaby Wallaby Wiss Welsea,
An elephant sat on Miss Chelsea.
Willaby Wallaby Wall-of-us,
An elephant sat on All of us.

Yankee Doodle

Yankee Doodle can go to town in other ways besides riding on a pony. It can be called slideronie, skiparoni, walkaroni, hoparoni, tiptoearoni.....the ideas are endless!

Yankee Doodle went to town,
Riding on a pony.
He stuck a feather in his hat and called it (skiparoni)!!
Yankee Doodle skipped to town
Skipped to town so dandy.
Mind the music and the step
and with the kids be handy

Once There Was a Snowman

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman.
(Hands above head in a circle, on tippy toes)
Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall.
In the sun he melted, melted, melted.
(Get smaller and smaller with every "melted" until you are curled up in a ball on the ground at the very end)
In the sun he melted, small, small, small.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.

Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out to play
(hold up five fingers)
over the hills and far away.
(wave hand like rolling hills)
When the mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack!"
(clap hands together like a quacking duck)
Four little ducks came waddling back.
(hold up 4 fingers)
Continue with this song, taking away a duck each time.
After you sing "No little ducks came waddling back", end with this verse....
But when the Daddy duck said, "QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!"
(do full arm movements like a giant duck and talk in a deep voice)
Five little ducks came waddling back!

MMM-AAHH

MMM-AAH went the little green frog one day
(Put hands up by face, close in a fist on MMM, and open them wide on AAH. At the same time squeeze eyes shut on MMM, then open them wide while sticking out your tongue on AAH - do this action every time you say MMM-AAH)

MMM-AAH went the little green frog.

MMM-AAH went the little green frong one day
And they all went MMM-MMM-AAH!
But we all know frogs go,
"Loddy, doddy dah, Loddy, doddy dah, Loddy doddy dah"
(Shake hands out to the side of your face on Loddy, doddy dah - do this for every loddy, doddy dah you say.)
We all know frogs go,
"Loddy, doddy dah,"
they don't go MMM-MMM-AAH!

Where is Thumbman?

When you sing this song, keep your hands behind your back and with each finger take one finger out from behind your back when you say, "Here I am". Wiggle fingers when you say, "How are you today sir.....". Have them go back behind your back when you say "run away"

Where is thumbman, where is thumbman?
Here I am, Here I am.
How are you today sir, very fine and thank you!
Run away, run away.
Continue with each finger.....pointerman, tall man, ring man, pinky man, family.

I Have a Tiny Turtle

I have a tiny turtle
(hands on top of each other, with thumbs sticking out to look like feet)
His name is Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bath tub, to see if he could swim.
(swim hands back and forth while on top of each other)
He drank up all the water,
(pretend to drink a glass of water)
He ate up all the soap,
(pretend to eat a bar of soap)
and now he's sick in bed, with bubbles in his throat.
(Hold both hands at throat)
His mother called the doctor
(pretend to talk on a phone with hand)
The doctor called the nurse,
(swith ears with phone)
The nurse called the lady with the alligator purse.
(bend arm at elbow and move back and forth like carrying a purse)
He didn't want the doctor,
(shake finger and head, like saying 'no')
He didn't want the nurse,
(switch finger and shake head)
He didn't want the lady with the alligator purse.
(bend arm at elbow and move arm back and forth like carrying a purse)
So bubble, bubble, bubble,
bubble, bubble, bubble,
bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble
POP!!
(start with hands together and get larger and larger, until hands are far apart and on POP, clap them together!)

I Stuck my Head in a Little Skunks Hole

Well, I stuck my head in a little skunks hole
and the little skunk said, "Well, bless my soul!"
"Take it out, take it out, take it out, take it out,
REMOVE IT!"
Well, I didn't take it out and the little skunk said,
"If you don't take it out, you'll wish you were dead!"
"Take it out, take it out, take it out, take it out,
REMOVE IT!"
I removed it too late, PEE YOO!!

Down by the Bay

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grown,
back to my home,
I dare not go.
For if I do,
my mother would say, "Did you ever see a whale with a polk-a-dot tail?"
Down by the bay.
Change the saying that rhymes with a different animal and rhyme each time. For example.. *"Did you ever see a fox wearing some socks?" *"Did you ever see a bee chopping down a tree?" *"Did you ever see a dino kissing a rhino?" *"Did you ever see a fly wearing at tie?" *"Did you ever see a goat sailing a boat?" *"Did you ever see bear combing his hair?" *"Did you ever see a snail getting the mail?" *"Did you ever see a crab sitting in a cab?" The list could go on and on!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

The Recipe Page

On this page you will find snacks and fun recipes that we make in preschool together. When we make snack as a class we do it during large group. This not only gives the children a chance to "cook" or make something new, but it also enchances math skills with measuring, estimating, etc. The children really enjoy stirring, pouring, smelling, and especially tasting!! Miss Chelsea also enjoys things like Playdough, slime, silly putty, etc. You'll find those type of recipes here also. Please check back here often to find new recipes that we've made or are going to make. Kids really enjoy making special treats at home with family, what a better way to do it then to connect it to their day!! ENJOY!!
Recipe For Learning

Take curious youngsters and fold in 1 cup of wonder. Blend well, until the youngsters are ready to explore. Stir in a pinch of imagination. Add a handful of experience and creativity. Blend in a dash of enthusiasm. Serve with 2 tablespoons of interest and sprinkle with fun!

Serving size: 1 classroom

Bunny Hopper Cookies

* 3/4 cup margarine
*1 3/4 cups flour
*1/2 cup packed brown sugar
*1/4 cup honey
*1 egg
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*3/4 teaspoon baking soda
*1 teaspoon vanilla
*2 cups rolled oats
*1 cup finely shredded carrot
*1/2 cup raisins
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Using an electric mixer or a spoon, beat margarine until soft. Add flour, sugar, honey, egg, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and vanilla. Beat well. Stir in oats, carrots, and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden. These may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months.

Clay Recipe

* 3 cups flour
* 3 cups salt
* 2 TBLS Alum
Combine the ingredients and slowly add water a little at a time. Mix well with a spoon. As mixture thickens, continue mixing with your hands until the mixture has the feel of clay. If it is too dry, add more water. If it is too sticky, add equal parts of flour and salt.

Color Stew

*1 cup cornstarch
*4 cups water
*1/3 cup sugar
*Food coloring
*Large ziploc Bags
*Duct tape
Mix all of the ingredients together except for the food coloring. Put the mixture in a frying pan. Cook on medium heat until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and stir until cooled. Separate the mixture into four bowls and let the children add a different color to each bowl. Red - blue - green - yellow. Let the children help you pour two different colors into each zip lock bag, press all of the air from the bags and seal. Cover the seals with duct tape to prevent leakage. Let the children squish and mush the bags. They can use their fingers to draw on the paint and they can mix the primary colors into complimentary colors without ever touching the paint.

Cracker Wheels

*Round crackers
*topping of choice-hot dogs, cheese, peanut butter, etc
Let the children choose what topping they would like on. If they choose sliced hot dogs and cheese, it's yummy to bake it or microwave it until it melts.

Gak

You can make this two ways, depending on the ingredients you have.
* Elmers Glue
* liquid starch
Just mix equal parts of each and mix it together, it will quickly start forming the gak.
* Elmers Glue
*Borax (detergent)
I think you only need a couple TBSP of Borax for this, but just add about 1 TBSP at a time into the glue until it starts to form. Kids love to play with it - stretch it, snap it, let it hang and slide between your fingers, it's just so much fun!

Heart-Shaped Love Sandwiches

* 2 slices of bread per sandwich
* Heart shaped cookie cutters
* strawberry jam or jelly
Give each child 2 pieces of bread. Cut out 2 heart shapes from the bread. Spread on jame or jelly to make a sandwich. Enjoy!!

Homemade Icecream (in a bag)

*1 tablespoon sugar
*1/2 cup milk or half & half
*1/4 teaspoon vanilla
*6 tablespoons rock salt
*1 pint-size Ziploc plastic bag
*1 gallon-size Ziploc plastic bag
*Ice cubes
How to make it: Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it. Place the small bag inside the large one and seal again carefully. Shake until mixture is ice cream, about 5 minutes. Wipe off top of small bag, then open carefully and enjoy! Tips: To make a larger amount, try doubling the recipe. Anything larger might be too big for kids to pick-up, because the ice itself is quite heavy.

Mystery Muffins

Use your favorite boxed muffin mix or your favorite recipe. Fill the muffin cups 1/3 full with batter. Then put in a food surprise (nuts, jelly, cream cheese, etc.). Cover with batter and bake according to the package directions. Sing, "Do you know the muffin man?" and enjoy the "Mystery Muffins".

Nachos

This is a simple recipe I'm sure you could figure out on your own, or make it with whatever cheese you want.
*Tortilla chips
*cheese
*about 1 cup milk
Heat the milk up until it is hot or close to boiling. Add as much cheese as you want (quite a bit) until it is melted in with the milk. Dip in your chips and enjoy!!

Omelets

*2 eggs
* chopped ham
*Mozzarella cheese
*cooking spray
Mix 2 eggs with fork until whites and yolks are blended. Spray skillet and add egg. Cook slowly until puffy and light brown on bottom (lift omelet at edge to judge color). Cut in half and flip. On one section, top with ham and cheese. Reduce heat and cover until cheese is melted. When serving, cover with other section of egg.
TINY HELPER: Ham will be sure to be hot if you first heat it in your microwave for 1 or 2 minutes.

Spring Dirt Cups

* Sugar Free Chocolate pudding
*crushed oreos or graham crackers
*gummy worms
*clear cups
Fill cups with pudding, sprinkle on crushed cookies or crackers. Stick gummy worms in so it looks like they are crawling out. Eat and enjoy!!

Playdough (Miss Chelsea's Favorite)

* 2 cups flour
*1 cup salt
*2 cups water
*2 tbsp cream of tartar
*favorite Kool-Aid flavor (optional) or food coloring
Combine all ingredients in a pot, stir over medium-low heat. Don't let the mixture stick to the pot. Keep stirring and cooking until the mixture looks like mashed potatoes - instead of like soup. Remove pot from the stove and cool until read to handle. Gather the mixture together with the spoon. Put the glob on a floured surface and knead until you have a smooth dough!!

Quaker Oatmeal Cookies

*3/4 cup of vegetable shortening
*1 cup of brown sugar (firmly packed)
*1/2 cup granulated sugar
*1 egg
*1/4 cup of water
In a mixing bowl, beat together shortening, sugars, egg, water, and vanilla until creamy. Add combined remaining ingredients; mix well. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven (350 degrees) for 12 to 15 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Rice Pudding

*3 eggs
*2 cups of milk
*1 1/2 cups of cooked rice
*1/2 cup of sugar
*1/2 cup of raisins
*1 tsp. vanilla
*1/2 tsp. salt
*ground cinnamon
In a bowl, comine eggs, milk, rice, sugar, raisins, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Put into a baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Stir; sprinkle with cinnamon. Continue baking 20 to 25 minutes longer, until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve in paper cups.

Wagons

* Celery cut into 2 -3 inch pieces
*carrot slices
*raisins
*toothpicks
*peanut butter
Poke two toothpicks through the body of the celery (axles). Stick one carrot slice on each end of a toothpick (4 carrot slices). Stick 4 raisins on the end of each toothpick also (after the carrot). Stick a toothpick in the celery acting like a handle for the wagon. Stick a raisin on the end of that toothpick. Spread peanut butter inside the celery - ENJOY!!

Valentine Sugar Cookies

* 1 cube butter
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 2 tsp. vanilla
* 1 cup sour cream
* 4-5 cups flour
* 2 tsp. flour
* 2 tsp. baking powder
* 1 tsp. baking soda
* 1 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and sour cream. Mix dry indredients together and add them to the creamed mixture. Let dough chill about an hour. Roll flat on a floured surface and cut Valentine shapes out with cookie cutters. Bake for 7-8 minutes. You can make your own frosting or buy it and color it pink or red or purple!!

Muffins

1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
Mex wet ingredients in one bowl, dry things in large bowl. Make a well, add wet ingredients. Don't stir too much. Bake at 375 degress for 10 minutes for small mufffins. ENJOY!

Peanut Butter Playdough

* 1/2 cup peanut butter
*1/2 cup honey
*1 cup nonfat powdered milk
Mix well, squeeze and pull until shiny and soft. Roll into balls and chill to set. Instead of chilling, you can play, roll and stretch immediatley!!

Pizza Faces

These are so super easy and kids LOVE them! Just make these pizza's on English Muffins. After placing on the pizza sauce, use any toppings you want - green peppers, pimentos, cheese, olives, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc. Discuss how to place the facial features to make different expressions. When decorated, place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 8 minutes.

Fabulous Fingerpaints

1 cup flour
1 cup water
2 tablespoons liquid detergent
Food coloring
Combine four, detergent, and water in a mixing bowl. Stir until they form a smooth paste. Divide into bowls and blend in the coloring.