Preschool Rhymes for Self and Family Themes

	Rhymes for Self and Family Themes
Print this Page Rhyme Navigation Alphabet Theme	Preschool action poems, fingerplays, nursery rhymes and songs that reinforce preschool children's sense of; identity, family, and self-esteem. These early childhood education rhymes serve as a curriculum resource to teachers developing themes about family relationships and self-awareness. They are easily included during circle and large group times. If you're looking for lesson plans go to: Me & My Family Theme The Rainbow Resource Room has lots of activity plans in the My Body Theme, the All About Me Theme, the Family Theme and the Health Theme which has hand washing & tooth brushing activities. Books about self and family are listed in Preschool Books Listed by Themes
Animal Rhymes Counting and Number Rhymes	Fingerplays, Action Poems, Songs and Nursery Rhymes The words suggest the hand, body and finger movements
Community Helper Rhyme Theme Insect and Bug Rhymes Special Occasion Rhymes Transition Time Rhymes Transportation Rhyme Theme Search the Preschool Rainbow	Hands on Shoulders Follow the actions described in each line Hands on shoulders, hands on knees. Hands behind you, if you please; Touch your shoulders, now your nose, Now your hair and now your toes; Hands up high in the air, Down at your sides, and touch your hair; Hands up high as before, Now clap your hands, one-two-three-four! Hands My hands upon my head I'll place, Upon my shoulders, on my face, At my waist and by my side, Then behind me they will hide. Then I'll raise them way up high, And let my fingers fly, fly, fly, Then clap, clap, clap them-- One - Two - Three! Now see how quiet they can be.	My Toothbrush A self help rhyme I have a little toothbrush I hold it very tight I brush my teeth each morning, And then again at night (preschoolers perform the actions) Head and Shoulders Touch each body part with both hands and follow the action described. Head and shoulders, knees and toes. Knees and toes, knees and toes Head and shoulders, knees and toes Make your feet go stamp, stamp, stamp. Nose and elbows, feet and waist Feet and waist, feet and waist Nose and elbows, feet and waist Make your hands go clap, clap, clap.
	My Head Action Poem This is the circle that is my head make large circle with both hands This is my mouth with which words are said point to mouth These are my eyes with which I see point to eyes This is my nose that's a part of me point to nose This is the hair that grows on my head point to hair And this is my hat all pretty and red place hands on head, fingers pointing up and touching
	I Have Two Eyes I have two eyes to see with, I have two feet to run, I have two hands to wave with, And nose I have but one. I have two ears to hear with, And a tongue to say "Good day".
	Body Parts Repeat this rhyme many times, inserting a different child's name in the blank. Body parts, body parts, We've got more than a few. We even have a few I bet you never knew. We can touch the ceiling, Or even touch your shoe. Now,__________ show us something we can try and do.
	This Is The Church A fingerplay with interlocking fingers This is the church, (children hold hands down with fingers interlocked) This is the steeple. (Now put up both index fingers in the shape of a steeple) Look inside. (children turn hands over) And see all the people. (everybody wiggle fingers)
	If You're Happy (or Sad) Traditional Song If you're happy and you know it clap you hands clap 2 times If you're happy and you know it clap your hands clap 2 times 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 2 times If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet... ...tap your head ...jump up and down. any action that is appropriate Variation: substitute sad for happy with appropriate actions.
	This Is The Way This is the way we wash our hands, Wash our hands, wash our hands. This is the way we wash our hands So early in the morning. substitute: ....Brush our teeth ...Comb our hair ...Give a hug etc.	Thumbkin Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin? Here I am. Here I am. How are you this morning? Very well I thank you. Run and play. Run and play. Where is Pointer ...Tall Man ...Ring Man ...Pinky ...the whole family
	Five Fingers A fingerplay Five fingers on this hand. hold up one hand Five fingers on that: hold up the other hand A dear little nose. point to nose A mouth like a rose. point to mouth Two cheeks so tiny and fat. point to each cheek Two eyes, two ears point to each And ten little toes; point to toes That's the way the baby grows.
	Los Pollitos Improvise a tune for this bilingual song / rhyme. Spanish-English Los pollitos dicen: pio, pio, pio. Cuando tienen hambre; cuando tienen frio. La Gallina busca, el maiz y el trigo. Les de la comida, y les presta abrigo. Bajo su dos alas acurucaditos hasta el otro dia duermen los pollitos. Baby children are crying: pie, pie, pie. Mama, we are hungry; Mama, we are cold. Mama brings them wheat; Mama brings them corn, She will feed them dinner; She will keep them warm. For an entire Spanish Rhyme Theme go to the Rainbow Resource Room
	Family Let the words describe the actions Here's a ball for baby, big and soft and round Here is baby's hammer, see how he can pound. Here's the baby's music, clapping, clapping so Here's the baby's soldiers, standing in a row. Here's the big umbrella to keep the baby dry And here is baby's cradle, to rock the baby bye.
	Open, Shut Them Traditional fingerplay Open, shut them, Open, shut them, Give a little clap. Open, shut them, Open, shut them, Put them in you lap. Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them, Right up to your chin, chin, chin Open wide your little mouth hesitate But do not put them in. Johnny Johnny Jingles Johnny Johnny Jingles Jumped out of bed Brushed his teeth and washed his face, And combed his tousled head, He put his clothes on carefully His shoes he neatly tied, Then he went to breakfast, And sat by his mothers side.	The Farmer In The Dell Traditional Song The farmer in the dell The farmer in the dell Heigh Ho! the Derry O! The farmer in the dell 2. The farmer takes the wife 3. The wife takes the child 4. The child takes the nurse 5. The nurse takes the dog 6. The dog takes the cat 7. The cat takes the rat 8. The rat takes the cheese 9. The cheese stands alone.
	Ready for School Perform the actions that the words suggest. When I get ready to come to school, I jump right out of bed, I wash my face, brush my teeth, Pull my clothes over my head, I run down stairs, drink my milk, And eat my breakfast so slow, Then I wave good-bye as I walk down the street I'm so happy (smile) that I can go.
	A Very Nice Place The fish lives in the brook palms together tightly and wiggle forward The bird lives in the tree bend forearms at elbows and extend them upwards, cup hands and spread them open But homes are the very nicest place For a little girl (boy) like me. Point to self
	Homes Easy fingerplay This is a next for Mr. Bluebird cup both hands This is a hive for Mrs. Bee fists together This is a hole for bunny rabbit fingers And this is a house for me finger tips together for a roof peak
	Hokey Pokey In a circle You put your right hand in You put your right hand in You put your right hand in And shake it all about, You do the Hokey Pokey wiggle And you turn yourself about, That's what it's all about. Continue by putting in all the other parts of the body, and finish up with your whole self!	Point to the Right Use both arms to point for all the movements. Point to the right of me. Point to the left of me. Point up above me. Point down below. Right, left, up. Increase speed in pointing And down so slow. Decrease speed.
	A Family Fingerplay This is a family hold up one hand, fingers spread Let's count them and see, How many there are, And who they can be count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 This is the mother touch pointer finger Who loves everyone And this is the father touch big finger Who is lots of fun. This is my sister touch ring finger She helps and she plays, And this is the baby touch little finger He's growing each day. But who is this one? touch thumb He's out there alone, Why it's Jackie, the dog, And he's chewing a bone. wiggle thumb.
	Family Items These are Mother's knives and forks interlock as in praying fingers and lift them slightly And this is our dining table lower fingers keeping them interlocked, straighten wrist to form a flat surface This is Sister's looking glass form a circle by touching thumbs and index finger And this is the baby's cradle cup hands together to form cradle.
	Grandmother's Glasses These are Grandmother's glasses make circles around each eye with fingers This is Grandmother's cap hold fingers interlocked over head This is the way she folds her hands fold hands And lays them in her lap lay hands in lap.
	Lots of activities and lesson plans in the Me and My Family Theme The Rainbow Resource Room has lots of activity plans in the My Body Theme, the All About Me Theme, the Family Theme and the Health Theme which has hand washing & tooth brushing activities. Books about self and family are listed in Preschool Books Listed by Themes To the Top

Fingerplays, Action Poems, Songs and Nursery Rhymes