Baa baa black sheep

Baa baa black sheep

Have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

One for the master and one for the dame

And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.

I love this idea using your little ones hand as a template

And what about this fab idea from www.creativekidsnacks.com

Twinkle Twinkle

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?

You get the idea of the packs I put together by now to use with the families and here is the Twinkle, twinkle one.  Although I have used Sparklebox for many of the props there are other sites you could use too or just look for simple props on the internet.

5 little ducks

There are some many great activities you can link to this rhyme as well as printables available to bring it alive.

I have used Sparklebox to print off these counting mats seen in the picture below.  Add some home made play dough and make your own ducks, it's so easy.

You can use the cut out ducks to match to the correct card as well as to use as a matching game (numbers to spots).

Five little ducks went swimming one day

Five little ducks went swimming one day

Over the hills and far away

Mummy duck said, quak, quack, quack, quack

But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks.......

Three little ducks......

Two little ducks......

One little duck......

Other ideas to try:

1. Cut a duck shape out of a sponge to do some sponge painting

2. Make a paper plate duck like this one

https://thekidfriendlyhome.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/paper-plate-duck/

3. Try making some home made lacing cards.  Follow this link to take you to one you can print out from Activity Village.
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/duckling-lacing-card

Don't forget to add shoelaces : )

Hey Diddle Diddle the Cat and the Fiddle

Now this is a rhyme I don't really hear very often which is why I like to bring some of the older rhymes into the packs that I put together for the families to share.

I printed off the rhyme cards from Sparklebox and made them into a book for the option of sharing a book together and using to sing with.

I made up a rhyme card to add to the pack to use with the props.  For the props I searched the internet and found simple matching characters from the rhyme.  For more of a sensory play add soft toy characters.

Hey Diddle Diddle

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle

The cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed to see such fun

and the dish ran away with the spoon.

Humpty printable puppets

Pop on over to Twinkl to find lots of fabulous resources.  These printable puppets are just one of many that can be added to lollipop sticks to use for the rhyme.

http://www.twinkl.co.uk/

5 Cheeky Monkeys swinging in the tree

One of my all time favourites.  To go alongside this rhyme I printed off some cute monkey pictures from the internet, a palm tree which I then enlarged for the monkeys to swing from and of course a greedy Mr. Crocodile to use as props to bring the rhyme alive.

For this rhyme pack I added a song book printed off from Sparklebox to add the element of 'sharing books together'.  Lastly I added a rhyme card with the lyrics.

This pack aids with:

• Language development
• Matching skills
• Early number skills 

The best thing is that it hasn't cost me a lot to put it together.  I laminated it all so it can be used time and rime again.    

Five little monkeys swinging in the tree

Five little monkeys swinging in the tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me!”

Along came the Crocodile as quiet as could be and …

SNAP went Mr Crocodile! Oh dear me!

Four little monkeys swinging in the tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me!”

Along came the Crocodile as quiet as could be and …

SNAP went Mr Crocodile! Oh dear me!

Three little monkeys swinging in the tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me!”

Along came the Crocodile as quiet as could be and …

SNAP went Mr Crocodile! Oh dear me!

Two little swinging in the tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me!”

Along came the Crocodile as quiet as could be and …

SNAP went Mr Crocodile! Oh dear me!

One little monkey swinging in the tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me!”

Along came the Crocodile as quiet as could be and …

SNAP went Mr Crocodile! Oh dear me!

Five currant buns in a bakers shop

For a really great sensory version pop on over to Kids Craft Room.  Fabulous ideas for resources and lots more here.  Loving this idea for the currant buns using tights and brown paper as well as pom poms for the cherries.  Brilliant print out for large pennies too.  
Fab idea!

http://kidscraftroom.com/five-currant-buns-song-resources-free-printable/

Five currant buns in a bakers shop

I just love using this rhyme with the children.  There are so many different play ideas you can link to it.  Here is one I made up using props from Sparklebox.

I made up a matching game with five boards that can also be used as play dough mats if you add some home made play dough.  Use the props alone to use with the song and of course don't forget to add your penny!

Five currant buns in a bakers shop

Five currant buns in a baker's shop.
Big and round with a cherry on the top,
Along came .......... with a penny one day,
Bought a currant bun and took it away.

Four currant buns in a baker's shop.
Big and round with a cherry on the top,
Along came  ..........  with a penny one day,
Bought a currant bun and took it away.

Three currant buns in a baker's shop.
Big and round with a cherry on the top,
Along came  ............  with a penny one day,
Bought a currant bun and took it away.

Two currant buns in a baker's shop.
Big and round with a cherry on the top,
Along came ............  with a penny one day,
Bought a currant bun and took it away.

One currant bun in a baker's shop.
Big and round with a cherry on the top,
Along came  ..........  with a penny one day,
Bought the currant bun and took it away. 

This song was originally posted at:
http://bussongs.com/songs/five-currant-buns.php

Fuzzy little caterpillar song

This is a great little song sung to the tune of (Row, row, row your boat):

Fuzzy little Caterpillar

The fuzzy little caterpillar

In the garden creeps.

He spins himself a blanket

And soon falls fast asleep.

The fuzzy little caterpillar

Wakes up by and by

To find he has beautiful wings

And changed into a butterfly

http://www.bucketlife.com/blog/cocooning-prepping-bucket-list-life

Oh I have a field to plough.....song

Here's an idea for a new song to go alongside this Traditional Tale.

Unfortunately I have no link to credit it to the original author but wanted to share as it is such a lovely tune.

(Sing it to the tune of 'The Grand Old Duke Of York')

'Oh, I have a field to plough!'

Said busy Farmer Ben,

So he drove his tractor up the field,

And he drove it down again.

And when he was up, he was up,

And when he was down, he was down,

And when he was only half way up,

He was neither up nor down.

'Oh, I have some seeds to sow!'

Said busy Farmer Ben,

So he drove his tractor up the field,

And he drove it down again.

And when he was up, he was up,

And when he was down, he was down,

And when he was only half way up,

He was neither up nor down.

Three Billy Goats Gruff rhyme

If your looking for a new song to along with this story how about this.....

(Sing it to the tune of: 'The Grand Old Duke Of York')

Three little goats went walking,

one lovely summers's day.

They crossed a bridge to get some grass,

but a troll got in their way!

They tricked the troll and down he fell,

In to the water wet.

Now three little goats are getting fat,

and the troll hasn't come back yet!

Image taken from: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4ZYQN_the-billy-goats-gruff

5 little men in a flying saucer

This has to be one of my favourite songs ever due to the fact that it was one of the favourites of my youngest child.  I have great memories of fun times bringing it alive using different props that we would make.

Here is a simple and quick prop pack that I have made and used with the families I work with time and time again.

You will need:

• Printer
• Laminator and lamiating pouches
• Scissors

I printed off the space background and the picture of the 5 little men in the flying saucer from Sparklebox, which is an early years site with some great printables.

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/

I used the image of the alien from the Toy Story films due to the fact that its an image that most of the children recognise for the rhyme.

I then made up a rhyme card to add to the pack for the families to use as not everyone has heard of the rhyme.

5 little men in a flying saucer

Five little men in a flying saucer

Flew round the earth one day

They looked left and right

But they didn’t like the sight

So one man flew away.

Four little men in a flying saucer

Flew round the earth one day

They looked left and right

But they didn’t like the sight

So one man flew away.

Three little men in a flying saucer

Flew round the earth one day

They looked left and right

But they didn’t like the sight

So one man flew away.

Two little men in a flying saucer

Flew round the earth one day

They looked left and right

But they didn’t like the sight

So one man flew away.

One little men in a flying saucer

Flew round the earth one day

They looked left and right

But they didn’t like the sight

So one man flew away.

'Cuddle' rhyme

This is a very poignant rhyme in the technical world we live in with lots of tv, computers and tablets. 

  Cuddle

I’d rather have a cuddle than a video

I’d rather have a cuddle than anything I know

I’d rather have a cuddle than ketchup, chips or peas

A computer can be lovely

But – a cuddle’s what I need

Image taken from: www.dreamstime.com

'When Goldilocks went to the house of the Bears' rhyme

This is one of my all time favourite rhymes.  I like to sing this one with the families during our 'the importance of books and stories week' as I use the Goldilocks prop bag which I have put together using items from around the home..... 3 x teddy bears, a doll, 3 x bowls in different sizes and 3 x spoons in different sizes.  I have also added some picture of the chairs and beds in different sizes which I printed off from the internet and laminated to make them last.  Remember if you don't have a laminator you can use sellotape to cover them to make them last too.   It doesn't have to cost anything to make a prop bag just a good search around your home to see what you can use.

When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears

When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears

Oh what did her blue eyes see?

A bowl that was huge, a bowl that was small

And a bowl that was tiny and that was all

She counted them 1, 2, 3

When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears

Oh what did her blue eyes see?

A chair that was huge, a chair that was small

And a chair that was tiny and that was all

She counted them 1, 2, 3

When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears

Oh what did her blue eyes see?

A bed that was huge, a bed that was small

And a bed that was tiny and that was all

She counted them 1, 2, 3

When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears

Oh what did her blue eyes see?

A bear that was huge, a bear that was small

And a bear that was tiny and that was all

They growled at her ‘Grr, grr, grr’

'Hands on shoulders' rhyme

Hands on shoulders, hands on knees

Hands behind you, if you please!

Touch your hips and touch your nose

Bend way down and touch your toes

Hands up high now, in the air

Down at sides and touch your hair

Hands up high as you did before

Clap your hands: one, two, three, four

'Roly poly play dough' rhyme

This is a great rhyme to use with the children when you have the play dough out....

Roly poly play dough

Roly poly play dough

What can you make?

A big fat sausage

A flat pancake

Roly poly play dough

Roll a round ring

A necklace for a princess

A crown for a king

Roly poly play dough

What can you make?

A bendy banana

A long thin snake

'Wiggle your fingers high' rhyme

This is another really great interactive action rhyme that I use often within my work.  Try it for yourself and see how much fun it is.  The children laugh so much when we go fast.....

Wiggle your fingers high

Wiggle your fingers high

Wiggle your fingers low

Wiggle your fingers really fast

Wiggle your fingers slow

Slowly, slowly till they stop

Then down into your lap they drop

'With my hand' rhyme

This is a beautiful interactive action rhyme that can shared again and again....

With my hand

With my hand

I can turn on the tap

With my hand

I can give you a clap

With my hand

I can scratch my nose

With my hand

I can tickle my toes

With my hand

I can scoop up sand

With my hand

I can hold your hand

With my hand

I can squeeze very tight

With my hand

I can switch off the light

With my hand

I can point to the sky

With my hand

I can wave goodbye!

Taken from ‘Bouncing Ben’

3 sticky lollipops fixed on sticks

Here's a great song for repetition for developing early language skills through play...... 3 sticky lollipops fixed on sticks.

Make some lollipop props that can be added to a song box that you can easily make out of a shoe box and decorate / personalise with your little one.

           3 sticky lollipops fixed on sticks            

                Take a sticky lollipop and lick, lick, lick                

2 sticky lollipops fixed on sticks

Take a sticky lollipop and lick, lick, lick

1 sticky lollipop fixed on a stick

Take a sticky lollipop and lick, lick, lick

No sticky lollipops fixed on sticks

 No sticky lollipops to lick, lick, lick

Incy Wincy Spider extra verses

We all love the rhyme Incy Wincy spider.  But have you ever come across these extra verses which I just love.....

Incy Wincy Spider

Incy Wincy spider climbed up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain

So Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again

Incy Wincy spider climbed up the tree

Down came the snow and made poor Incy freeze

Out came the sunshine and melted all the snow

So Incy Wincy spider had another go!

Incy Wincy spider climbed in the bath

Along came a rubber duck and made the spider laugh

Then came the water and washed him down the drain

So Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again

Don't forget you can make your own Incy Wincy Spider prop.  Put Incy Wincy Spider in the search bar at the bottom of the blog page and previous posts will pop up with ideas on how to make one using a kitchen roll and another using a wooden spoon.