Saturday, December 31, 2011

Cute New Years Songs to Sing with Kids!


Happy 2012!! Here are a few simple songs to sing welcoming the new year....


New Year's Day


(Sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
New Year's Day, New Year's Day

Comes but once a year.

On New Year's Eve we celebrate

And ring it in with cheer!


New Year's Day, New Year's Day

Comes but once a year.

On New Year's Eve we celebrate

And ring it in with cheer!

Author Unknown


Happy New Year

(Sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?")
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2012!
2012!

Good-bye to the old year!

Hello to the new year!

2012!
2012!
Author Unknown



A New Year Has Begun

(Sung to the tune of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain")
There's a new year on our calendar today…

(Shout) 2012!

There's a new year on our calendar today…

(Shout) 2012!

There's a new year on our calendar,

A year to grow and learn much more.

There's a new year on our calendar today--

(Shout) 2012!

Author Unknown


Brand New Year

(Sung to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man?")

Now we have a brand new year,

A brand new year, a brand new year.

Now we have a brand new year.

2012's begun.

Author Unknown



Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Little Yellow Tulip.....story and activities

THE LITTLE YELLOW TULIP

Once there was a little yellow Tulip, and she lived down in a little dark house under the ground. One day she was sitting there, all by herself, and it was very still. Suddenly, she heard a little tap, tap, tap, at the door.

"Who is that?" she said.

"It's the Rain, and I want to come in," said a soft, sad, little voice.

"No, you can't come in," the little Tulip said.

By and by she heard another little tap, tap, tap on the window-pane.

"Who is there?" she said.

The same soft little voice answered, "It's the Rain, and I want to come in!"

"No, you can't come in," said the little Tulip.

Then it was very still for a long time. At last, there came a little rustling, whispering sound, all round the window: rustle, whisper, whisper.

"Who is there?" said the little Tulip.

"It's the Sunshine," said a little, soft, cheery voice, "and I want to come in!"

"N—no," said the little Tulip, "you can't come in." And she sat still again.

Pretty soon she heard the sweet little rustling noise at the keyhole.

"Who is there?" she said.

"It's the Sunshine," said the cheery little voice, "and I want to come in, I want to come in!"

"No, no," said the little Tulip, "you cannot come in."

By and by, as she sat so still, she heard tap, tap, tap, and rustle, whisper, rustle, up and down the window-pane, and on the door and at the keyhole.

"Who is there?" she said.

"It's the Rain and the Sun, the Rain and the Sun," said two little voices, together, "and we want to come in! We want to come in! We want to come in!"

"Dear, dear!" said the little Tulip, "if there are two of you, I s'pose I shall have to let you in."

So she opened the door a little wee crack, and in they came. And one took one of her little hands, and the other took her other little hand, and they ran, ran, ran with her right up to the top of the ground. Then they said,—

"Poke your head through!"

So she poked her head through; and she was in the midst of a beautiful garden. It was early springtime, and few other flowers were to be seen; but she had the birds to sing to her and the sun to shine upon her pretty yellow head. She was so pleased, too, when the children exclaimed with pleasure that now they knew that the beautiful spring had come!

from Stories to Tell Children,Fifty-Four Stories With Some Suggestions For Telling by Sara Cone Bryant


Make a simple Tulip life-cycle book

Make Tulip. Stick Puppets...all you need are sticks_you can gather some from outside or use craft sticks; paper to make the flowers and leaves; glue; markers or crayons and pictures of tulips that the kids can use for inspiration

Act out the story...
Have .children play the parts of the Yellow Tulip, the Rain and the Sun. You could also stretch the play to include children admiring the flower as it blooms.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

World Read Aloud Day.....March 9, 2011



Wednesday, March 9, 2011 is World Read Aloud Day.
WRAD was started by LitWorld.
LitWorld is an international non-profit organization, whose goal is to
"...cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience and strength. We work with teachers, parents, community members, and children to support the development of literacy and the redemptive power of story in the world's most vulnerable communities."
All over the U.S. there are groups and individuals planning reading activities.  LitWorld is even hosting a 24-Hour Read-Aloud Marathon all day on March 9 in Times Square. Check your area to see if there are any activities planned or plan youe own World Read Aloud Day celebration.

Check out some of my previous blogs for book ideas and activities.

LitWorld's Reading Decree (this statement is found on LitWorld's Blog to be used by anyone hosting a WRAD event)


Today is World Read Aloud Day.
We are uniting our voices in cities and communities across the globe.
We celebrate the power of stories and words to change worlds.
We join our voices for quality literacy education for every child worldwide.
Today 774 million people cannot read or write. They are denied the joy and light of reading every day.
Education is a human right and a means to attaining other human rights that we declare to be universal.
Literacy education improves the health of children and families, spurs economic growth and advances equality.
For many children worldwide, quality education is the difference between life and death, between hope and despair and being able to make the most of one’s potential. This is our opportunity to give voice to the future.
By coming together and raising our voices on this day, we show the world’s children that we support their lives: that they have the right to read, to write and to share their stories to change the world.
Today I pledge my passion for quality education and my support for the cause of literacy. I encourage everyone to take part in this day and this cause.        As a representative of my community, I will continue to advocate for the causes most important to us and I encourage all of you to join me in the fight for our children and all children’s futures.
In observance of World Read Aloud Day, I invite you to take a moment to think about what you would miss most if you could not read or write.
It’s time for all of us to join the global literacy movement. Through our voices we can be free and be part of words changing worlds.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Whoa Mule!!!

A fun and easy traditional call and response song..... done by Lomax the Hound of Music



Lyrics to Lomax's version of 
Whoa Mule! (Can’t Get the Saddle On!)


Whoa mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Whoa mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Catch that mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Catch that mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Ride that mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Ride that mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Run mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!

Run mule!

KIDS: Can’t get the saddle on!