Preschool Fingerplays, Action Poems, Nursery Rhymes and Songs

One, Two, Tie My Shoe

1,2 Tie my shoe
3,4 Shut the door
5,6 Pick up sticks
7,8 Lay them straight
9, 10 A big fat hen.
Let's get up and count again!

One Little Flower,
One Little Bee

One little flower, one little bee.
One little blue bird, high in the tree.
One little brown bear smiling at me.
One is the number I like,
you see.

Ten Fingers
A fingerplay

Three Balls
Action poem

Three Little Nickels
A fingerplay

Here is a Beehive
A fingerplay

Five Little Bees

One little bee blew and flew.
He met a friend, and that made two.

Five Little Birdies
A fingerplay

Ten In A Bed
Action poem

This is repeated until you get to the number one. Each time "roll over" is said, rolling motion is dramatized.

Counting Apples
A fingerplay

Monkeys
In A Tree
Action poem

Five little monkeys
Sitting in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile--
"You can't catch me."
"You can't catch me."
Along comes Mr. Crocodile
As quiet as can be--
SNAP!!!
Continue until all monkeys
are gone

Squirrels
Counting poem

Five little squirrels sitting in a tree.
The first one said, "What do I see?"
The second one said, "Some nuts on the ground."
The third one said, "Those nuts I found."
The fourth one said, "I'll race you there."
The Fifth one said, "All right, that's fair."
So they shook their tails and ran with glee.
To the nuts that lay at the foot of the tree.

Dinosaurs
Subtracting Numbers

Five enormous dinosaurs
Letting out a roar--
One went away, and
Then there were four.

Working in Twos

Sequence for reciting is: first child, second child, both together.

	Preschool Fingerplays, Action Poems, Nursery Rhymes, and Songs
	Fingerplays and rhymes come to life during circle and large group times as preschool children show word meaning through simple actions and finger movements. Preschoolers develop memory and recall skills as they sing and recite the songs and poems in this curriculum resource collection. I have collected the rhymes, fingerplays and songs in this collection during the past 30 years and either don't know or have forgotten many author's names. Finger plays, action poems, nursery rhymes, and songs are grouped according to early childhood education themes. Just click on the navigation links to your left. Print this Theme
Rhyme Navigation Animal Rhymes Counting and Number Rhymes Community Helper Rhyme Theme
Insect and Bug Rhymes Self and Family Rhyme Theme
	Rhymes for Counting and Number Themes The words suggest the hand, body and finger movements
Special Occasion Rhymes Transition Time Rhymes Transportation Rhyme Theme Site Map Search the Preschool Rainbow	Lots of books about counting are listed in Preschool Books Listed by Themes For activities go to the Counting and Number Theme and there is also a Number Activity Theme in the Rainbow Resource Room! Five Fat Peas A counting fingerplay especially useful in the spring and summer. Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed (children hold hand in a fist) One grew, two grew, so did all the rest. (put thumb and fingers up one by one) They grew and grew (raise hand in the air very slowly) And did not stop, Until one day The pod went POP! (children clap hands together)
	One Potato, Two Potato An activity for this counting rhyme is in the Counting and Number Theme One potato, two potato, Three potato, four, Five potato, six potato, Seven potato, more!
	One, Two, Tie My Shoe 1,2 Tie my shoe 3,4 Shut the door 5,6 Pick up sticks 7,8 Lay them straight 9, 10 A big fat hen. Let's get up and count again! Monkeys On the Bed Action poem Five little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head Mama called the doctor and the doctor Said, " No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Four little monkeys jumping on the bed, three little monkeys jumping on the bed, (and so on).	One Little Flower, One Little Bee One little flower, one little bee. One little blue bird, high in the tree. One little brown bear smiling at me. One is the number I like, you see. Five Cookies Action poem Five little cookies in the bakery shop. Shinning bright with the sugar on top. Along comes (child's name) with a nickel to pay. He/she buys a cookie and takes it away. (continue with four, three, two and one).
	Ten Fingers A fingerplay I have ten fingers hold up both hands, fingers spread And they all belong to me, point to self I can make them do things- Would you like to see? I can shut them up tight make fists I can open them wide open hands I can put them together place palms together I can make them all hide put hands behind back I can make them jump high hands over head I can make them jump low touch floor I can fold them up quietly fold hands in lap And hold them just so.
	Uno, Dos Y Tres A bilingual counting song in Spanish and English Uno, dos, y tres, Cuatro, cinco, seis. Siete, ocho, nueve, Cuento hasta diez. La la la la la; La la la la la, La la la la la; La la la la la. La la la la la; La la la la la. One, two, and three, Four, five and six. Seven, eight, and nine, I count to ten. La la la la la; La la la la la. La la la la la; La la la la la. La la la la la; La la la la la. For an entire Spanish Rhyme Theme go to the Resource Room
	Three Balls Action poem Here's a ball make ball with thumb and index finger And here's a ball make ball with other thumb and index A great big ball, I see put arms up and touch fingers over head Shall we count them? Are you ready? One, Two, Three make all three balls in succession
	Three Little Nickels A fingerplay Three little nickels in a pocketbook new, hold up three fingers One bought a peppermint, and then there were two, bend down one finger Two Little nickels before the day was done, One bought an ice cream come, and then there was one bend down another finger One little nickel I heard it plainly say, "I'm going into the piggy bank for a rainy day!"
	Turtles Poem One baby turtle alone and new. Finds a friend, and then there are two. Two baby turtles crawl down to the sea. They find another, and then there are three. Three baby turtles crawl along the shore. They find another, and then there are four. Four baby turtles go for a dive. Up swims another, and then there are five.	Birds Poem There was one little bird in a little tree, He was all alone, and he didn't want to be. So he flew far away, over the sea, And brought back a friend to live in the tree. Substitute two, three, etc. for one as you finish the verse. The Bird Activity Theme is in the Rainbow Resource Room.
	Here is a Beehive A fingerplay Here is the beehive, where are the bees? clench fist and bring out fingers quickly one by one Hidden away were nobody sees Watch and you will see them come out of their hives, One, two, three, four, five, Buzz, buzz, buzz.
	Five Little Bees One little bee blew and flew. He met a friend, and that made two. Two little bees, busy as could be-- Along came another and that made three. Three little bees, wanted one more, Found one soon and that made four. Four little bees, going to the hive. Spied their little brother, and that made five. Five little bees working every hour-- Buzz away, bees, and find another flower.
	Five Little Birdies A fingerplay Five little birdies, flying around our door, five fingers one hand up in the air, as verse is said other hand bends down each finger The blue one flew away and then there were four. Four little birdies sitting in a tree, The yellow one flew away and then there were three. The little birdies didn't know what to do, So the red one flew away, and then there were two. Two little birdies sitting in the sun, The Brown one flew away, and there was one. The little green birdie felt so all alone, He/she flew away and then there was none. Later on that very day, five little birdies came back to play. The Bird Activity Theme is in the Rainbow Resource Room.
	Ten In A Bed Action poem There were ten in a bed and the little one said, "Roll over, roll over." rolling motion So they all rolled over and one fell out. There were nine in the bed and the little one said, "Roll over, roll over." So they all rolled over and one fell out.... This is repeated until you get to the number one. Each time "roll over" is said, rolling motion is dramatized. There was one in the bed and the little one said, "Good night!"
	Counting Apples A fingerplay Five red apples Hanging on a tree five fingers held up The juiciest apples you ever did see! The wind came past And gave an angry frown shake head and look angry And one little apple came tumbling down. Four red apples, etc. An entire Apple Theme is in the Rainbow Resource Room!
	Monkeys In A Tree Action poem Five little monkeys Sitting in a tree Teasing Mr. Crocodile-- "You can't catch me." "You can't catch me." Along comes Mr. Crocodile As quiet as can be-- SNAP!!! Continue until all monkeys are gone Away swims Mr. Crocodile As full as he can be!!!	Squirrels Counting poem Five little squirrels sitting in a tree. The first one said, "What do I see?" The second one said, "Some nuts on the ground." The third one said, "Those nuts I found." The fourth one said, "I'll race you there." The Fifth one said, "All right, that's fair." So they shook their tails and ran with glee. To the nuts that lay at the foot of the tree.
	Dinosaurs Subtracting Numbers Five enormous dinosaurs Letting out a roar-- One went away, and Then there were four. Four enormous dinosaurs Crashing down a tree-- One went away, and Then there were three. Three enormous dinosaurs Eating tiger stew-- One went away, and Then there were two. Two enormous dinosaurs Trying to run-- One ran away, and then there was one. One enormous dinosaur, Afraid to be a hero-- He went away, and Then there was zero. Take a look at the Dinosaur Theme	Working in Twos Sequence for reciting is: first child, second child, both together. I'm the shoe brush I'm the shoe Polish one and polish two Brush, brush, brush. I'm the dustpan I'm the broom We can see a dusty room Sweep, sweep, sweep I'm the candle I'm the wick It's getting dark now Light up the wick, tsk, task, task. I'm the letter I'm the stamp We stick together if we're damp.
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	Lots of books about counting are listed in Preschool Books Listed by Themes For activities go to the Counting and Number Theme. There is also a Number Activity Theme in the Rainbow Resource Room! For more curriculum ideas and preschool activities go to Or Search the Preschool Rainbow You're invited to share your ideas and activities for early childhood education E-mail Gayle