Action Songs – Busy Bees – The Neighborhood Learning Center

This week, we’re going to do a traditional games series. You are probably familiar with many of these, but just in case some of the details are fuzzy since when you played them as a child, we’re here to clarify. You might find a few that you’re unfamiliar with, as well.

Today, we’re looking at action songs. The lyrics of these songs tell you what to do with your bodies, and they make a great way to get the wiggles out while keeping your child’s attention.

Wheels on the Bus

Lyrics:
The wheels on the bus go round and round (rotate forearms)
Round and round round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town

Then substitute:
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish (wave hands like wiper blades)
The lights on the bus go blink blink blink (blink with fingers)
The doors on the bus go open and shut (open arms wide then clap on “shut”)
The driver of the bus says move on back (gesture over your shoulder with thumb)
The people on the bus go bumpity bump (bounce)
The kids on the bus go blah blah blah (puppet a mouth with your hand)
The babies on the bus go wah wah wah (mime rubbing eyes)
The mommies on the bus say shh shh shh (rock a baby)
The daddies on the bus say “I love you” (give yourself a hug)
Finish with: The wheels on the bus go round and round

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

Lyrics:
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
(simply tap each part of your body as you sing)

Au Français (phonetic in parenthesis):
Tête, épaules, genoux, et pied (tet, apall, jenoo, eh pyed)
Genoux et pied
Tête, épaules, genoux, et pied
Genoux et pied
Yeux, et oreilles, et bouche, et nez (oo, eh orielles, eh boosh, eh nase)
Tête, épaules, genoux, et pied
(motions are the same)

Ring Around the Rosie
(link hands and walk in a circle)
Ring around the rosie
A pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes
(fall down)
We all fall down

If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it
Clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it
Clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it
And you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it
Clap your hands

Then substitute:
If you’re excited and you know it
Say whoohoo
If you’re sad and you know it
Say boohoo
If you’re mad and you know it
Stomp your feet
Finish with: If you’re happy and you know it

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
(hold hands and push and pull back and forth)
Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream

variations:
Row row row your boat
Gently down the Nile
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to smile (big cheesy grin)

Row row row your boat
Gently to the shore
If you see a lion
Don’t forget to roar (as loud as you want)

Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see an alligator
Don’t forget to scream (again, be loud and have fun)

Pat-a Cake
Pat-a cake, pat-a cake (pat the floor)
Baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Roll it (roll forearms)
Pat it (clap)
Mark it with a/an [child’s initial] (draw initial in the air)
Put it in the oven for [child’s name] and me (hug or mime eating)

Hokey Pokey
You put your right hand in
You put your right hand out
You put your right hand in and
You shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey (jazz hands)
And you turn yourself around (spin)
And that’s what it’s all about (clap)

Then substitute:
Left hand
Right foot
Left foot
Head
Whole body
etc. have fun with it and see what you can come up with

Baby Bumblebee
I’m bringing home a baby bumble bee (cup hands together and bounce them)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me
I’m brining home a baby bumble bee
Ouch! It stung me (pull hands apart as if stung)

I’m smashing up the baby bumble bee (clap)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me
I’m smashing up the baby bumble bee
Ew, yucky (show hands)

I’m wiping off the baby bumble bee (wipe hands on pants)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me
I’m wiping off the baby bumble bee
1-2-3 mommy’s so proud of me

Grand Old Duke of York
Oh, the grand old Duke of York (gallop around or march in place)
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again

And when they were up, they were up (reach up high)
And when they were down, they were down (touch the floor)
And when they were only half-way up (Stand and bounce)
They were neither up nor down

Here are some songs pulled from the web. These are very simple, and once you and your children learn them, you won’t need to watch the videos.

Ms. Ashley sings “5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree” : https://1drv.ms/v/s!Au1qGVIN31C0gY0myio9dxz9Ym2dMg