Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Fingerplays for Kids
I went to the Animal Fair
The birds and the beasts were there
The big baboon by the light of the moon
Was combing his auburn hair.
The monkey bumped the skunk
And sat on the elephant’s trunk
The elephant sneezed and fell to his knees
And that was the end of the monk
The monk, the monk, the monk,
That was the end of the monk!
(Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot“)
I’m a little squirrel, fuzzy and gray
When fall comes, I gather nuts all day
So that when the winter comes, you see,
I’ll have food for my family and me.
Download this instrumental version of I’m a Little Teapot here.
I’m a little teapot short and stout
Here is my handle. Here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up then I shout
Tip me over and pour me out.
{Stand with knees bent and arms at your side}
{Put one hand on your waist. Put the other in the air with arm bent upwards}
{Rock back and forth}
{Bend over to one side}
Download this instrumental version of I’m a Little Teapot here.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
Thanks to this site for helping me remember the last couple of verses.
The eensy weensy spider crawled up the water spout
{Walk fingers up your little one’s arm}
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
{Fingers wiggle down from above and then spread hands apart from center}
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
{Make a circle with arms overhead to represent the sun}
Then the eensy weensy spider climbed up the spout again
{Climb fingers back up your little one’s arm}
This song is also known as the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Incy Wincy Spider, Ipsy Wipsy Spider.
For newborns or infants, lay them in your lap and do the actions for them to see. You can hold their arms for the rain and sun.
For toddlers and preschoolers, they can use their own fingers to climb the spider and do the other actions themselves.
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
Twinkle twinkle little star
{Hold hands up about shoulder height. Open and close hands}
How I wonder what you are
{Raise shoulders and hold hands out}
Up above the world so high
{Raise hands high in the sky and open and close them again}
Like a diamond in the sky
{Form forefinger and thumb from each hand in a diamond shape}
Twinkle twinkle little star
{Hold hands up about shoulder height. Open and close hands}
How I wonder what you are
{Raise shoulders and hold hands out}