Tunes for Teachers

Teaching … Thematic Units Thinking Skills Time-on-Task And TransitionsBy Susan Paul

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Susan Paul
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-0553-3

Contents

Introduction…………………………………….1Circle Activities………………………………..7Calendar………………………………………..9Transitions: Grab Their Attention!…………………17To Centers………………………………………43Clean-up………………………………………..49All About Me…………………………………….55Science…………………………………………61Rocks…………………………………………..63Trees and Plants…………………………………69Earth Resources………………………………….73Colors………………………………………….79Five Senses……………………………………..83Butterflies……………………………………..91More Science…………………………………….99Math……………………………………………105Language Arts……………………………………119High-Frequency Words……………………………..133Rodeo Time………………………………………145Transportation…………………………………..151

Chapter One

Circle Activities

He who possesses the source of enthusiasm will achieve great things. Doubt not. You will gather friends around you as a hair clasp gathers the hair.

~Chai

Hi, There, Partner!

Hi, there, partner! (wave)
How do you do? (shake hands)
(Partner responds)
Very well, thank you,
And how about you?
Hunky (bump hips)
Dory (bump opposite hips)
In every way! (turn around in a circle)
Thank you for asking! (bow or curtsy)
Have a great day! (fist in the air)

Calendar

Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of.

~Charles Richards

Twelve Months of the Year
Tune: “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”

There are twelve months of the year,
Twelve months of the year,
Twelve months of the year,
And I can say them all!
(Chant the months as you point to them.)
Repeat

Seven Days
Tune: “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”

There are seven days of the week,
Seven days of the week,
Seven days of the week,
And I can say them all!
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday is the last day,
And I can say them all!
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday!
(Chant the days as you point to them.)
Repeat

Days of the Week and Daily Weather
Tune: “Happy Days”

Sunday, Monday, (sunny, cloudy, stormy) days, (Choose one)
Tuesday, Wednesday, (sunny, cloudy, stormy) days,
Thursday, Friday, (sunny, cloudy, stormy) days,
Saturday, what a day,
Groovin’ all week with you!

Learn Months, Day, Year
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

When we do the calendar,
We learn the months, the days, the year.
Every weekday has a name.
Lots of numbers look the same.
I’ll begin to show you how
As we do the calendar now.

Today Is
Tune: “Where Is Thumpkin?”
(Traditional)

Today is ___.
Today is ___.
All day long, all day long.
Yesterday was ___.
Tomorrow will be ___.
Oh, what fun!
Oh, what fun!

Today Is … #2
Tune: “Where Is Thumpkin?”
(Traditional)

Today is ___.
Today is ___.
(October 1st)
(October 1st )
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday,
Saturday.

Twelve Months, Seven Days
Tune: “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”

There are twelve months of the year,
Twelve months of the year,
Twelve months of the year,
And I can say them all!
(Chant the months as you point to them.)
Repeat for “There are Seven Days of the Week.”

Transitions: Grab Their Attention!

So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.

~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Pointing Chant #1

Point to the ceiling,
Point to your feet,
Turn around, and
Have a seat!

Pointing Chant #2

Point to the ceiling,
Point to the floor,
We wave to our friends, and
We walk out the door.

Pointing Chant #3

Point to the floor,
Point to the ceiling,
Point to your teacher,
And see how she’s feeling!

Pointing Chant #4

We point to the ceiling,
We point to the floor,
Wave to a friend,
And say no more!
(finger over lips)

Listen Up!
Chant

Raise your hands
In the air.
Clap three times and
Sit down in your chair.

We Can!

We can jump, jump, jump.
We can hop, hop, hop.
We can clap, clap, clap.
We can stop, stop, stop.
We can nod our head for “yes.”
We can shake our head for “no.”
We can bend our knees a little bit,
and sit down slow.

Chant
(Teaching Tip: Teach children to respond when you chant.)

Hey, hey, what do you say?
Children respond:
We’re ready to learn today!

Hey, hey, what do you do?
Children respond:
Get ready for something new!

Hey, hey, ready and set?
Children respond:
Absolutely, you-u-u-u-u-u bet!!

With My Hands
Chant

With my hands I clap, clap, clap.
With my fingers snap, snap, snap.
Clap, snap,
Snap, clap.
Now I lay them in my lap.

Hi Ho
Chant for Transition

Hi,
(hands high)
Ho,
(hands down low)
Look at me.
(point to yourself)
Put your things away.

Come sit on the floor.
It’s time for more.
We’re ready to start our day!

Eyes on Me
Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”

Quickly put your eyes on me,
Eyes on me,
Eyes on me.
Quickly put your eyes on me
So we can start, you see.

Look at Me I
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Hey! Hey!
Look at me.
Put your things away.
Sit in your place and
Fold your hands.
It’s time to start our day!

Look at Me II
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Hey! Hey!
Look at me.
Put your things away.
Sit on your seat and
Cross your feet.
It’s time to start our day!

Hands Up!
Chant

Hands up high,
They will clap.
Hands down low,
Fingers will snap.

Hands on hips,
Bend your knees,
Wiggle your nose, and
Sit down please!!

Tip:
Make hand motions to go along
with the words.

Count to Ten
Chant

One, two, three,
All eyes on me.

Four, five, six,
I have some tricks.

Seven, eight, nine,
You’re lookin’ fine.

Now we’re at ten.
We’re ready to begin!

Hickory, Dickory, Dock

* As the children sit in a circle, read the nursery rhyme aloud.

* Ask them to practice chanting or reciting the poem together.

* Choose one child to start the activity by standing and saying “Hickory” and then sit down.

* The next student stands and says the next word “Dickory” and then sits down.

* The third student stands and says the third word in the rhyme, “Dock,” and sits down.

* Continue until the whole rhyme has been completed in this manner.

Note: There are twenty words in this rhyme.

Follow the Leader

* Play Follow the Leader down the hall by performing an action of some kind. The children imitate the teacher’s moves.

* For example, the teacher may tiptoe when walking past a classroom, hop to recess, or hold arms out like he or she is flying.

Variations:

* Use verbs, adverbs, and similes.

* Each day choose a new word to act out. For example, “We are tiptoeing quietly past Ms. Smith’s door.”

* “We are hopping like a rabbit.”

* “Slither to line up.”

Are You Hungry?
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you’re hungry and you know it, clap your hands, uh huh!
If you’re hungry and you know it, clap your hands, uh huh!
If you’re hungry and you know it,
Then your stomach surely shows it.
If you’re hungry and you know it, clap your hands, uh huh!

Variations

(Go Home)

If you’re ready to go home, clap your hands, uh-huh!
If you’re ready to go home, clap your hands, uh-huh!
If you’re ready to go home,
Then sit and please don’t roam!
If you’re ready to go home, clap your hands, uh-huh!

(Recess)

If you’re ready for recess, clap your hands, uh-huh!
If you’re ready for recess, clap your hands, uh-huh!
If you’re ready for recess,
Then you must be your best!
If you’re ready for recess, clap your hands, uh huh!

(Art or Other Specialists)

If you’re ready for art (computer, P.E., music, etc.) class, clap your
hands, uh-huh!
If you’re ready for art (computer, P.E., music, etc.) class, clap your
hands, uh-huh!
If you’re ready for art class,
It will surely be a blast.
If you’re ready for art (computer, P.E., music, etc.) class, clap your
hands, uh-huh!

Do You Know?
Tune: “Muffin Man”

Oh, do you know what time it is,
What time it is,
What time it is?
Oh, do you know what time it is?
It’s time to be quiet.

Variations

It’s time for story time.
It’s time for calendar.
It’s time for fun recess!

Use this song when transitioning to any activity.

Line Up!

Tune: “Thumpkin”

Are you listening?
Are you listening?
Look at me,
Look at me.

Raise your hand when ready,
Raise your hand when ready
To line up,
To line up.

Washing Hands
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

It is time right now
To wash our hands so clean.
Scrub `em, scrub `em, dry `em off.
No more dirt is seen.

Rest Time
Tune: “Thumpkin”

Are you sleepy?
Are you sleepy?
Yes I am!
Yes I am!

Get on your mat and sleep.
Close your eyes, count sheep.
Let’s be calm.
Let’s be calm.

Good Night, Children
Tune: “Good Night, Ladies!”

Good night, children!
Good night, children!
Good night, children!

It’s time to go to sleep!
Good night, sleep tight.
Good night, sleep tight.
Good night, sleep tight.
Don’t let the bedbugs bite!

I’ve Just Come In
Poem
(Make hand gestures to match the poem).

I’ve just come in from playing.
I’m as tired as I can be.
I’ll cross my legs and fold my hands,
Ready to rest, you see.

To Centers

This transition is far more complex, far more challenging, and there are many more moving parts than any previous transition.

~Larry Probst

Center Transition
Tune: “One Little, Two Little”

One little, two little, three little children,
Four little, five little, six little children
Choose a, choose a, choose a center.
Children, choose right now, oh!

Seven little, eight little, nine little children,
Ten little, eleven little, twelve little children,
Choose a, choose a, choose a center.
Children, choose right now, oh!

Tip: Touch children on the head or hand out sticks for children to
use as they choose centers. Continue singing in the same way, slowing
down or speeding up as needed.

Centers Please!
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Go, go, go right now,
Go to centers, please!
Busy, busy, busy, busy,
Busy little bees.

Going to Centers
Tune: “B-I-N-G-O”

It’s time to go to centers now,
So listen for your name-o.
S-U-S-A-N
A-M-A-N-D-A
T-E-R-R-A-N-C-E
You may go to centers-o.

Teacher Tip: Since most names have more than 5 letters,
just hold the notes until you finish spelling.

Go to Centers Now
Tune: “Where Is Thumpkin?”

Where is __________?
Where is __________? (Another child’s name)
Where is __________? (Another child’s name)
(Point to the children and continue singing)
There they are!
There they are!

Go to centers now.
Show the others how.
We will watch.
We will watch.

(Repeat until all sticks have been given out or all children
are at centers.)

Home!
Tune: “Home on the Range”

Oh, give me a home,
Where the children can roam,
Where we learn, we work and we play.
Where seldom is heard
A discouraging word,
And we learn more and more everyday!

Teacher Tip: Hold the note until you have called 3-5 students’ names. Please don’t try to sing every child’s name individually or you will lose their interest.

Hand out sticks or touch children on the top of the head as you sing the song. Children choose a center at that time. A variation of this is to hand out the sticks or touch on the head only when you sing a word that rhymes. For example, on “home” and “roam.”

Clean-up

Better keep yourself clean and bright. You are the window through which you must see the world.

~George Bernard Shaw

Center Clean Up
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Clean, clean, clean up now,
Clean those centers please!
Clean up, clean up, clean up, clean up,
Clean, you busy bees!

Center Clean Up II
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Clean, clean, clean up now,
It’s time for something new!
Clean up, clean up, clean up, clean up,
Clean for me and you!

Clean Up Now!
Tune: “Three Blind Mice”

Clean up now!
Clean up now!
See how we clean.
See how we clean.

We pick up our toys
And put them away
So they’ll be ready
For the next day.

Clean up now!
Clean up now!

Clean-Up Children
Tune: “Ten Little Indians”

Clean up, clean up, clean up children
Clean up, clean up, clean up children
Clean up, clean up, clean up children
Children, clean up now, oh!

It’s Time!
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

It is time to clean up now
All my children do know how.

It’s not hard, just clean your space.
Don’t forget a smiling face!

It is time to clean up now!
All my students do know how!

All About Me

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

~e.e. cummings

Laughter is the fastest way to the heart.

Special Me
Tune: “London Bridge”

Special me, a special one,
Special one,
Special one.
Special me, a special one
I am special!!

Special voice and special talk.
Special me,
Special me!
Special laugh and special walk,
I am special!!

Special smile and special eyes.
Special me,
Special me!
Special nose and special size,
I am special!!

I’m Unique
Tune: “On Top of Old Smokey”

We are so different.
I’m unique to you.
My eyes, my skin different.
My language is too.

We are so different.
I’m unique to you.
My home, my life different,
Our parents are too.

We are no different.
Our language the same.
With our smiles and laughter
New friends we became.

Body Rap
(Touch each muscle group as you go through the rap.)

I go to science,
And I have fun!
I work for an hour,
And then I’m done.

But the fun and the knowledge
Doesn’t stop there.
What I learn
I go home and share.

I know my muscles
From my toes to my head,
And every day
I get them said.

Gastrocnemius, hamstrings,
Quadriceps too,
Abdominals, pectoralis—
I say them for you!

Biceps, triceps, deltoid strong,
Trapezius, rhomboids—
Don’t get them wrong!

And when I start to complain and fuss,
A muscle you need to know is
The gluteus maximus!!

My heart is a muscle
That pump, pump, pumps,
Takes blood to the quadriceps
So I can jump, jump, jump!!

Plasma, red cells, platelets too,
Those white blood cells
Will go to work for you!

Whew! Hey!
Do you realize
I know a lot
For a kid my size!

What I learn
Is important, you see,
But the most important thing is …
I feel good about me!

Science

Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.

~Edwin Powell Hubble, The Nature of Science, 1954

Rocks

Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them.

Sedimentary Rocks
Tune: “Found a Peanut”

Sed-i-mentary
Rocks are formed,
Sed-i-mentary rocks are formed
From compressed sed-i-ment
Sed-i-mentary rocks are formed!

Sed-i-ment is
Pieces of,
Sed-i-ment is pieces of
Rocks, plants, and animals.
Sed-i-mentary rocks are formed!

Box of Rocks
Poem

I have a rock collection.
I add new rocks each day.
I take long walks to find the rocks
And stow them all away.
I like them dull or shiny;
I like them smooth or rough;
I like them big or tiny—

Metamorphic Rocks
Tune: “Clementine”

Metamorphic
Metamorphic
Metamorphic rocks are made
By force and heat within the core.
Heat and pressure, rocks are made.

Rocks, Pebbles, Sand
Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”

Big rocks break into pebbles,
Small pebbles,
Small pebbles.
Big rocks break into pebbles
And then they turn to sand.

I can hold a ton of rocks,
Ton of rocks,
Ton of rocks.
I can hold a ton rocks
Right here in my hand!

Igneous Rocks
Tune: “One Little, Two Little”

Igneous rocks were melted rocks,
Igneous rocks were melted rocks,
Igneous rocks were melted rocks,
Igneous rocks were melted!

Trees and Plants

Plants are the young of the world, vessels of health and vigor; but they grope ever upward towards consciousness; the trees are imperfect men, and seem to bemoan their imprisonment, rooted in the ground.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, Second Series, 1844

The Tree
Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”
by James D. Covington (Susan Paul’s Dad)

I’m a pretty oak tree, look at me.
I’ll grow as tall as I can be.
I will give you shade and clean your air.
Come to the forest and visit me there!

(Continues…)

Excerpted from Tunes for Teachersby Susan Paul Copyright © 2011 by Susan Paul. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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