CHANTS FOR CHILDREN

School, Welcome, Back to School
chants
A Circle of Friends
We've joined together as classmates
as the new year begins...
A year full of learning
while we become friends.
We'll share and be kind
as we work and play.
And our friendship will grow
with each passing day.

The First Day of School
I wonder if my drawing will be as good as theirs
I wonder if they'll like me, or just be full of stares
I wonder if my teacher will look like mom or gram
And I wonder if my puppy will wonder where I am.
Aileen Fisher

Backpack
On my back a pack I carry
In it, all my treasures.
It's what I need
So I can be
One class higher!
Crayons, ruler, scissors too,
And yes a little Elmer's glue
Paper, pencils, in my bag…
Wonder what made mom so sad?
Trapper keeper, nice and neat
Will it really stay this clean?

On my back a pack I carry
In it, all my treasures!
Today I'll be
Just watch and see
One class higher!


Shelley Plum

Welcome to school!
May this school year bring
You happiness galore,
And may you enjoy itRight to the core!

Welcome Acrostic
When you
Enter this
Little room
Consider yourself
One of the special
Members of a group who
Enjoy working and learning.

Welcome
submitted by Amy Tevelthuis
Welcome children, I'm glad you're here.
We're all going to have a wonderful year!
We'll draw and we'll write,
We'll sing and we'll play,
We'll paint and we'll build,

And learn new things each day!

The leaves are falling
One by one.
Summer's over
School's begun.

Welcome to school!
May this school year bring
You happiness galore,
And may you enjoy itRight to the core!

Back To School


Today I hurry off to school,
To work and learn and play.
I'm in a brand new grade this year.
What a happy day!

Welcome
September is here
And so is fall.
So welcome children
Welcome all.
I hope vacation
Was real fun.
And that you're glad
School has begun.

(to the tune of "Did you Ever See a Lassie")
Here we are together,
Together, together,
Here we are together,
Back at school again
There's ____ , and ____,
____, and ____,
Here we are together,
Back at school again.

I am
(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
I am (name),
I am (name),
That's my name,
That's my name,
I am glad to be here,
I am glad to be here,
At school today,
At school today.

Where is...
(can be sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)


Where is (name),
Where is (name),
Here I am, here I am,
How are you today (name)?
Very well thank-you.

Yes indeed, yes indeed.

(to the tune of "B-I-N-G-O")
There was a class that had a girl/boy,
And ____ was her/his name-o,
Jump, jump ____ (child's name),
Jump, jump, ____ (child's name),
Jump, jump, ____ (child's name),
We're glad you're here today.

Good Morning
School Morning
School is waiting
Can't be late.
Hurry! Hurry!
Half-past eight.
Out the door
And down the street,
Then softly, quietly,
Take your seat.

(to the tune of "Happy Birthday")
Good Morning to you
Good Morning to you
Good Morning Dear ____ Grade
Good Morning to you!

Good morning it's time to rise,
Stand up and wipe your sleepy eyes.
Reach and stretch for the sky,

Hold your hands way up high.
Bend your body and touch the ground,
Stand up straight, now turn around.
Point to your eyes, point to your nose,
Jump up and down and touch your toes.


Clap your hands, stomp your feet,
Let's start the day, now find your seat.

Start the Day With a Smile
This is the way we start the day
Start the day, start the day,
This is the way we start the day,
So early in the morning.
First we smile and shake a hand,
Shake a hand, shake a hand,
First we smile and shake a hand,
So early in the morning.
Then we sit down quietly,
Quietly, quietly,
Then we sit down quietly,
So early in the morning.
We listen very carefully,
Carefully, carefully,
We listen very carefully,
So early in the morning.

Good Morning Song
(to the tune of Brownie Smile)

I awoke this morning, ate my breakfast early.
I dressed by myself and to school I hurry.
School, school, here I am today.
Now I am ready to read and sing and play.

Good Morning Song
Oh, the duck says "Quack",
and the cow says "Moo",
the old red rooster says
"Cock-a-doodle-doo".
The sheep says "Baa",
and the cat says "Meow",
but I say "Good Morning
when I see you!


Good Morning
I say good morning to the sun,
Good morning to the hills,
Good morning to the chickies and the hen.
"cluck, cluck".
Good morning to the rooster,
Good morning to the cow,
Good morning piggies in the pen.
"oink, oink".
I say, "Good morning, good morning,"
To everything in sight.
And when I am finished
It's time to say "Good night".

Good Morning
Good Morning to the school,
Good morning to the flag,
Good morning to the pencils and the pens.
Good morning to the teacher,
Good morning to the kids,
Good morning to learning with my friends.

How Do You Do?
(tune of If You're Happy and You Know It)
Good morning, (first name and last name).
How are you?
Good morning, (first name and last name).
How are you?
How are you this special day?
We're glad you cam to play.
Good morning, (first name and last name).
How are you?

Good Morning Boogie
Hello Neighbor, what do you say?
(Children bow to each other)
It's going to be a happy day.
(Children clap hands together)
So greet your neighbor,
(Children give each other high fives)


And boogie on down.
(Children wiggle their hips)

Give 'em a bump,
(Children bump their hips together)
and turn around.
(Children turn around)

Good morning, good morning!
School has begun.
Good morning, good morning!
Isn't it fun!
Pencils and crayons
Scissors and glue
Erasers and paper
Reading books, too.
Good morning, good morning!
School has begun.
Good morning, good morning!
Isn't it fun!

Good Bye
See You Later
See you later alligator,
Bye bye butterfly,
Give a hug ladybug,
Be sweet parakeet,
Blow a kiss goldfish,
See you soon racoon,
Take care polar bear,
Out the door dinosaur!

This is the Way We Say Good Bye

This is the way we say good-bye,
Say good-bye, say good-bye.
This is the way we say good-bye,
To all our friends at school!
Good Bye! See you on _____!

Good Bye, Good Bye


Good bye, good bye,
Our day is done,
We've worked, we've played,
We've had some fun,
So let's be happy, and safe, and kind,
Until we're together,
Another day.

Good Bye
(to the tune of the Snow White's Hi Ho, Hi Ho song)
Good bye, good bye,
It's off to home we go.
We've worked and played
And had a good day.
Good bye, good bye.

Our work is done and it's time to go.
We had a busy day,
It won't be long til we meet again...
I'll see you all on _____ (tomorrow's day).

To Encourage Listening and Coming Together
1,2,3 eyes on me. (teacher says)
1,2 eyes on you. (students say)

I am Waiting
(to the tune of "Frere Jacques")
I am waiting,
I am waiting,
Just for you,
Just for you,
Show me that you're ready,
Show me that you're ready,
1, 2, 3 - eyes on me!
1, 2, 3 - looking at me!
1, 2, 3 - smiling at me!

Right hand, left hand,
give a little clap.


Right hand, left hand,
put them on your lap.

Two Feet Go Tap
Two little feet go tap, tap, tap,
Two little hands go clap, clap, clap.
I stand up quietly by my chair, then...
Two little arms reach hight in the air.
Two little feet go jump, jump, jump,
Two little fists go thump, thump, thump.

One little body goes round and round,
And one little child sits quietly down.

Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
And give a little clap.
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
And give a little snap.
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
And give a little pat.
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
Open them, shut them,
And put them in your lap.

(to the tune of "Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush)
Place your hands in your lap, in your lap, in your lap.
Place your hands in your lap so they won't touch a friend.
Keep your voices nice and quiet, nice and quiet, nice and quiet.
Keep your voices nice and quite so we may listen/begin.


I'm a ready listener
Read me a book

Hands in my lap at the teacher I look
When I am ready the teacher will say
This is the book that I have for you today.

Ready to Listen
Let your hands go clap, clap, clap;
Let your fingers snap, snap, snap;
Let your lips go very round,
But do not make a sound.
Fold your hands and close each eye;
Take a breath and softly sigh;
Ahhhhhhh.

(to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
If you're ready for a story find a seat
If you're ready for a story find a seat
If you're ready for a story check your hands and then your feet
If you're ready for a story find a seat.

Make a Circle
(to the tune of "Oh My Darling, Clementine")
Make a circle,
Make a circle,
Make a circle,
Like the sun Ev'rybody make a circle,
Make a circle,
Like the sun.

Stand up Tall
Stand up tall,

Hands in the air,
Now sit down,
In your chair,
Clap your hands,
All around town,
Smile and smile,
And flop like a clown.


Colours
Yellow
Yellow is a star.
Yellow is the sun.
Yellow is the moon,
When the day is done.

Orange
Orange is an orange.
Orange is a carrot.
Orange is the colour
of the beak of a parrot.

Orange

(To the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus")
The pumpkins in my garden are orange, orange, orange,
O-R-A-N-G-E.
The oranges on my tree are orange, orange, orange,
O-R-A-N-G-E.

Blue
Blue is the ocean.
Blue is the sky.
Blue are the blueberries
I put into the pie.

Blue
(To the tune of "Row, Row Row Your Boat")
B-L-U-E
Spells the color blue.
The sky, the ocean and some birds
Are all a beautiful blue.


Pink
Pink skies
and butterflies
are truly a
sight to see,
But pink-eye
infection would
be no fun
for me.
Grapefruit pulp,
the salmon's flesh,
carnations
in a vase,
Pink elephant
nightmares
with candy

as the cause.
Stop and think
about the pink
that's everyday
around you,
Ballerina sister,
a bouncing twister,
around the house
in her tutu.
james hörner

Green
Green is grass,
String beans and peas.
Green are the branches
on Christmas trees.

Green
(To the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down")


G-R-E-E-N spells green,
Like a frog,
Or a tree.
G-R-E-E-N spells green,
Just like broccoli.

Green
Green is the grass
and the watermelon skin,

fourth colour in the rainbow,
the emeralds in a ring.
Bright green apples
are bitter to the tongue,
but spinach and broccoliI eat them up yum!
Green mold is medicine
known as penicillin,
and water fights with
green balloons sure are thrillin'.
Green means go
when driving, beep! beep!
and green lily pads
are where the frogs sleep.
For flowers and trees,
and the prickly cactus toogreen is important,
as it is for me and you.
james hörner

Red
Red is an apple.
Red is a cherry.
Red is a rose.
And a ripe strawberry.

Red
The fireman's hat
is too big for my head,


so I wear a red bucket

when playing, instead.
Red ruby treasure
on Valentine's Day,
with imagination
it's "Pirates" we play.
Your nose turns red
when it's cold outside,
and sometimes too
when you're sad inside.
Some girls wear red ribbons,
bows tied in their hair,
while eating red berries
is the big, black bear.
Hearts are red on cards,
and also in your chest,
red is the colour
that I like best.
james hörner

Red
(can be sung to the tune of Three Blind Mice)
R. E. D.
R. E. D.
Red is the word
Red is the word
Apples and strawberries both are red
Tomatoes and cherries both are red
R.E.D. spells
Red, red, red.

Purple
Purple are grapes.
Purple are plums.
Purple is a violet.
And the bruise on my thumb.

Brown


Brown is mud,
Brown is toast,
Brown is chocolate,
And a Sunday roast.

Brown
(To the tune of "Farmer in the Dell")
B-R-O-W-N
B-R-O-W-N
B-R-O-W-N
That's how you spell brown.
The gingerbread man is brown.
The gingerbread man is brown.
B-R-O-W-N
The gingerbread man is brown.
And chocolate chips are brown.
And chocolate chips are brown.
B-R-O-W-N
That's how you spell brown.

Colour Song

(to the tune of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider")
Orange is a carrot,
Yellow is a pear,
Green is the grass,
And brown is a bear,
Purple is a plum,
Blue is the sky,
Black is a witch's hat,
And red is cherry pie.

Green Giant
There lived a green giant whose name was Sam.
His hair was the colour of strawberry jam.
He had one brown and one blue eye,
And a beard the colour of pumpkin pie.
His coat and pants were gay and bright,
Like a peppermint stick, all red and white.
His shoes were as brown as a chocolate drop.
His stockings were yellow as lemon pop.


His hat was the colour of ginger bread
With a tall, tall feather of raspberry red.

The Colour Song
(To the tune of "This Old Man")
Red, red, red, touch your head.
Blue, blue, blue, tie your shoe.
Brown, brown, brown, touch the ground.
White, white, white, take a bite.

Black, black, black, touch your back.
Purple, purple, purple, draw a circle.
Pink, pink, pink, give a wink.
Gray, gray, gray, shout hurray!

What Colours do I See?
See, see, see!
What colours do I see?
Purple plums,
Red tomatoes,
Yellow corn,
Brown potatoes,
Green lettuce!
Yum, yum, yum, good!
I learn so many colours,
When I eat my food.

Months, Days of the Week
The Months of the Year
(To the Tune of "Three Blind Mice")
January, February, March,
April, May, June.
July, August, September,
October, November, December.
These are the twelve months of the year.
Now sing them together so we can all hear.
How many months are there in a year?
Twelve months in a year.

Months of the Year
(to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")
January, February, March, and April,
May, June, July, August, and September,
October, November, and December,
These are the months of the year.

(to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic)
January
February
March
April
May,
June
July
and August
Septembers on it's way,
October
and November
and Decembers at the end,
Then we start all over again...

Months And Seasons
January, February, middle of March,
Brrr! In the cold I'm stiff as starch!
Let's make a snowball, sled down a hill.
Wintertime, wintertime, time to chill!
April, May, to the middle of June,
Ahh! What a nice cool afternoon!
Let's fly a kite, and plant pretty flowers.

Springtime, springtime, time for showers!
July, August, middle of September.
Ouch! Got a sunburn I'll always remember!
Let's go swimming, let's eat a peach.
Summertime, summertime, time for the beach!
October, November, middle of December.
Hey! each day grows shorter than September!
Let's see the leaves fall, let's bake a cake
Autumntime, autumntime, time for a rake!
Hooray for the seasons all through the year,
One just left and another one's here!


I love the seasons, each is a ball:
Wintertime, springtime, summertime, fall.
Meish Goldish.

The Months
January brings the snow;
Makes our feet and fingers glow.
February brings the rain;
Thaws the frozen pond again.
March brings the wind so cold and chill;
Drives the cattle from the hill.
April brings us sun and showers,
And the pretty wildwood flowers.
May brings grass and leafy trees,
Waviang in each gentle breeze.
June brings roses, fresh and fair,
And the cherries ripe and rare.

July brings the greatest heat,
Cloudless skies and dusty street.
August brings the golden grain;
Harvest time is here again.
Mild September brings us more
Fruit and grain, for winter store.
Brown October brings the last
Of ripening gifts, from summer past.
Dull November brings the blast:
Down from the trees the leaves fall fast.
Cold December ends the rhyme
With blazing fires and Christmas time.
Sara Coleridge

Calendar Song
(To the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle")


When we do the calendar
We learn the month the date the year.
Every week day has a name
There are lots of numbers that look the same.
So let's begin to show you how
We do the calendar right now.

Every Week
(tune: Are you Sleeping)
Every week has 7 days,
See how many you can say.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday. What's today?

Days of the Week
(to the tune of Frere Jacques!)
These are all the
da-ays of the we-ek,
Sing with me,
Sing with me.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Saturday
A day to play.

(to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday too.
Wednesday, Thursday just for you.
Friday, Saturday that's the end .
Now let's say those days again!
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday!

days of the week
(to the tune of "The Addams Family")
Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week, (snap snap)


Days of the week,
Days of the week,
Days of the week. (snap snap)

There's Sunday and there's Monday,
There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,
There's Thursday and there's Friday,
And then there's Saturday.
Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week, (snap snap)
Days of the week,
Days of the week,
Days of the week. (snap snap)

Days of the Week
(to the tune of "Oh My Darling Clementine")
Submitted by Beverly Matoney
There are seven days, there are seven days,
There are seven days in the week.
There are seven days, there are seven days,
There are seven days in the week.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

(To the tune of "Frere Jacques)
Today is Monday
(Today is Monday)
April 12th
(April 12th)
1998
(1998)
That's the date

(That's the date).

(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
Tuesday, Tuesday,
Tuesday, Tuesday,
All day long, all day long,
Yesterday was Monday, tomorrow will be Wednesday,
Oh, what fun! Oh, what fun!


Sunday, Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Today is Song
(To the tune of "Frere Jacques")
Today is _______.
Today is _______.
All day long, all day long.
Yesterday was ______.
Tomorrow will be _______.
Oh what fun!
Oh what fun!

Telling Time, Clocks
The Clock Poem
I'm in the clock crew and I'm okay!
I tick all night and I tick all day.
I've got two hands, I'm having a ball,
Because I've got no arms at all!
My big hand can move sixty minutes in one hour,

I'm the one with the strength and power.
My small hand isn't quite as fast.
If they were in a race, it would come last!
It takes so long just to get around (12 hours you know),
It's careful, small, and slow.
Now meet my friends that help me tick-tock,
Half past, quarter past, quarter to and o'clock.

The Faces Of The Clock
The Big Hand is busy
But the Small Hand has power.
The large one counts the minutes.
But the Little One names the hour.
When both Hands stand at the top together,
It's sure to be Twelve O'clock. But whether


That's twelve at noon or twelve at night
Depends on if it's dark or light.

Clock Song
(to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus")
The hands on the clock go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The hands on the clock go round and round.
To tell us the time.
The short hand on the clock
Goes from number to number,
Number to number, number to number.
The short hand on the clock

Goes from number to number.
To tell us the time.
The long hand on the clock
Goes around by fives,
Around by fives, around by fives.
The long hand on the clock
Goes around by fives.
To tell us the minutes.

Hickory Dickory Dock
HIckory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck One,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck Two,
The mouse said BOO!
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck Three,
The mouse said Wheeeee...
As he slid down the clock!
Glenda Banks and Elizabeth Matterson


Family
Our family comes

From many homes,
Our hair is straight,
Our hair is brown,
Our hair is curled,
Our eyes are blue,
Our skins are different
Colors, too.
We're girls and boys,
We're big and small,
We're young and old,
We're short and tall.
We're everything
That we can be
And still we are
A family.
We laugh and cry,
We work and play,
We help each other
Every day.
The world's a lovely
Place to be
Because we are
A family.

What is a family?
Who is a family?
One and another makes two is a family!
Baby and father and mother: a family!
Parents and sister and brother: a family!
All kinds of people can make up a family

All kinds of mixtures can make up a family
What is a family?
Who is a family?
The children that lived in a shoe is a family!
A pair like a kanga and roo is a family!
A calf and a cow that go moo is a family!
All kinds of creatures can make up a family
All kinds of numbers can make up a family
What is a family?
Who is a family?


Either a lot or a few is a family;
But whether there's ten or there's two in your family,
All of your family plus you is a family!
Mary Ann Hoberman

Grandmas and Grandpas
Grandmas and Grandpas are everything nice.
Like presents and candy and raspberry ice.
And chocolate fudge sundaes, with cherries on top.
And popcorn and peanuts and grape soda pop.
In winter or summer, in rain or in sun,
Grandmas and Grandpas are wonderful fun!

Cousins are Cozy
Cousins are cozy
Wherever they're from;
They feel like your family
Whenever they come.

Some people have many;
Most people have some.
Cousins are cozy,
Wherever they're from.

Friendship
I have a friend
Whose name is (
)
And we have fun together.
We laugh and play
And sing all day
In any kind of weather.

Friends
Friends care
Friends share
We need friends
Everywhere!

Friend of Mine


(can be sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)
Will you be a friend of mine, a friend of mine, a friend of mine?
Will you be a friend of mine and (insert an action) around with me?
(name) is a friend of mine, friend of mine, friend of mine,
(name) is a friend of mine, who (insert same action) around with me.

Friends at school

Are big and small.
Friends at school
Are best of all!

With A Friend
I can talk with a friend
and walk with a friend
and share my umbrella in the rain
I can play with a friend
and stay with a friend
and learn with a friend
and explain
I can eat with a friend
and compete with a friend
and even sometimes disagree
I can ride with a friend
and take pride with a friend
A friend can mean so much to me!
Vivian Gouled

A Circle of Friends
We've joined together as classmates
as the new year begins...
A year full of learning
while we become friends.
We'll share and be kind
as we work and play.
And our friendship will grow
with each passing day.

My Friend