Free Download: “Little Red Apples”
This is one of many counting songs I’ve written, which focuses on counting both up to 5 and down from 5. I created simple apple visual aides (using red construction paper and then laminating) which my students can then manipulate as we count.
Click here to download the mp3 and lyrics/chords.
P.S. If you want access to my entire collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music, consider joining me over at Listen & Learn Plus!
The Turkey Dinner Dance
Good morning! The countdown is on: Thanksgiving is a week from today, which means I only have a few more days to share the rest of my turkey day songs with you. I’d have to say that today’s song, “The Turkey Dinner Dance”, is my favorite of the bunch, mostly because I love watching my students bust a move.
Let’s do the Turkey Dinner Dance,
Come on, come on let’s go.
Join right in and follow me,
You can do it fast or slow!
Turkey to the left, cha cha cha
Turkey to the right, cha cha cha
Turkey up and turkey down,
Turkey all around!
CHORUS
Stirring gravy to the left, cha cha cha
Stirring gravy to the right, cha cha cha
Stirring gravy up and down,
Stirring gravy all around!
CHORUS
Mashed potatoes to the left, cha cha cha
Mashed potatoes to the right, cha cha cha
Mashed potatoes up and down,
Mashed potatoes all around!
CHORUS
Pumpkin pie to the left, cha cha cha
Pumpkie pie to the right, cha cha cha
Pumpkin pie up and down,
Pumpkin pie all around!
CHORUS
The choreography is so basic that it really can’t be called choreography. Each element in the song has its own move, explained below:
Turkey
What you’d expect…tucking your thumbs under your armpits and flapping your arms.
Stirring Gravy
Hold your right arm in front of you, curving it to make a half circle (this is the pot). Then use your left to “stir” inside the pot.
Mashed Potatoes
I’m sure you all know this basic dance move, where you pump your fists up and down in front of you.
Pumpkin Pie
Hold your arms out in front of you, curved at the elbow, and twist back and forth at the waist.
Or you can make up your own movements – but if you do, be sure to share them with the rest of us! Enjoy :)
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie
This book is a MUST for your child or classroom, as I’ve discovered this month. It’s a new take on the classic, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, complete with hilarious illustrations and a funny story that even the kids who are too cool for school will enjoy. You can find it where I did, on Amazon, for a very reasonable price.
Just a note before I share the song and lyrics: in the book, the last line of every refrain is “Perhaps she’ll die.” I always change this to “Perhaps she’ll cry”, which is much more kid-friendly – many of them like to pretend that they are crying when they sing this line along with me. It’s simple to type out the word “cry” and cut and paste it into the book over the word “die” on each page.
This book is the perfect way to help your child/students/YOURSELF! get excited about Thanksgiving while having fun and being silly at the same time.
It’s a Cold Day!
Happy Tuesday to you all! You might recall that a few days ago, I shared with you the “Chilly Day” song since the temperature finally decided to head downwards. Well it didn’t stop there; now it’s just downright cold. In fact, we even had a few snowflakes yesterday. Luckily they have subsided (I’m not ready for that yet!), but the cold remains. So here’s a very fitting song to complement the current conditions here in the good ol’ Midwest:
Cold day, it’s a cold day
The temperature is low, this I know.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
So I’ll stay inside and watch the cold wind blow.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
I can see my breath each time I sing or talk.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
I need to bundle up if I go for a walk.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
The heat is on inside at home and school.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
I’ll zip my coat up because being warm is cool!
I spent last weekend in sunny Orlando, and now I’m bracing for the opposite end of the spectrum weatherwise as I head to Connecticut on Thursday. It will be a wonderful weekend no matter what the weather, as my family will be celebrating my brother-in-law Rob’s marriage to his beautiful bride, Shannon.
But until then, look for another Thanksgiving tune tomorrow as we inch closer to that yummy holiday. I can’t wait!
Ten Days of Thanksgiving
I’m back from Florida and really excited to share today’s song with all of you. Since Thanksgiving is ten days away, I thought it was the perfect time to post “The Ten Days of Thanksgiving”. This is a huge hit with my students, though the staff at my school prides themselves on being able to sing along with me:) So I hope you’re hungry; and if you’re not, you will be before this song is through!
On the first day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Some turkey on my plate.
On the second day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the third day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the fourth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the fifth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the sixth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the seventh day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the eighth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Eight cups of eggnog,
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the ninth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Nine cranberries,
Eight cups of eggnog,
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
On the tenth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Ten pumpkin pies,
Nine cranberries,
Eight cups of eggnog,
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.
How did you do? You’ll be a pro after listening to the song just a few times, trust me! Well it’s Monday, which means my to-do list is long and I better get to it before my first class begins. Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tomorrow!
Friday Fave: Kristin Chenoweth
You may or may not have heard of this Broadway-turned-TV star, depending on if you’re a fan of Wicked or the television show Pushing Daisies (her most well-known endeavors). I actually became aware of her almost ten years ago, when she starred as Sally Brown in the Broadway production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Since then, she has gone on to star in the made-for-TV versions of Annie and The Music Man, and she’s also done a couple movies, including RV and the upcoming Four Christmases. Kristin has made several solo albums, including her latest, a Christmas CD called A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas. I am a huge sucker for holiday tunes, so of course I had to buy it, and I’m very glad I did. Her voice really is amazing. Check out this video of her singing one of her best and most impressive songs, “The Girl in 14G”.
Well that does it for this week’s Friday Fave. I will be absent over the weekend (I’m off to Orlando as you read this!) but be sure to check back in on Monday. Have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend!
More Color Songs
Recently, a staff member at my school shared with me the color songs that her son was learning in kindergarten. They were so cute and easy to sing that I just had to pass them along to you – they are perfect for preschool and primary grades, and the best part is that anyone can sing them!
I wish I could give credit to the author of these simple but effective tunes…if anyone has this info, please let me know!
BLUE
tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”
B-l-u-e spells blue,
B-l-u-e spells blue.
Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-l-u-e spells blue.
The big sky is blue.
The ocean is too.
Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-l-u-e spells blue.
BROWN
tune: “Bingo”
There is a color we all know.
Can you guess what it is?
B-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n,
That’s how you spell brown.
Teddy bears and squirrels are brown.
Autumn leaves are too.
Chocolate candy’s always brown.
Chocolate cake is always brown.
Chocolate milk is always brown.
I like brown, don’t you?
GREEN
tune: “Row Your Boat”
G-r-e-e-n, g-r-e-e-n,
I know how to spell green,
G-r-e-e-n!
Caterpillars are green,
And grasshoppers too.
I know how to spell green,
G-r-e-e-n!
ORANGE
tune: “Ten Little Indians”
O-r-a-n-g-e, o-r-a-n-g-e,
O-r-a-n-g-e, orange is what that spells.
Jack-o-lanterns are always orange,
Carrots are always orange,
Oranges are always orange.
O-r-a-n-g-e.
PURPLE
tune: “Camptown Races”
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple, Purple
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple’s what that spells.
Purple grapes on the vine,
Purple Kool-Aid’s fine.
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple’s what that spells.
RED
tune: “Are You Sleeping?”
R-e-d, red
R-e-d, red
I can spell red.
I can spell red.
Firetrucks are red.
Stop signs are red, too.
R-e-d, r-e-d.
YELLOW
tune: “If You’re Happy and you Know It”
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow,
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Like the early morning sun,
When the day has just begun,
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Daffodils and baby ducks are yellow,
Lemonade and scrambled eggs are yellow.
I like the smiley face that’s yellow,
He is such a happy fellow.
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Chilly Day
Hey there, everyone! I hope you are all doing well on this Wednesday – though it feels like another Monday to me after the Veteran’s Day holiday. It’s a short week, as I’ll be heading to Orlando on Friday for my friend Vanessa’s wedding. But for now, I thought I’d share another weather song with you.
The weather here in the midwest is completely unpredictable, and in the last week and a half, we’ve had 70 degree days, 40 degree days, and everything in between. Today it’s a little above average for (almost) mid-November, so it’s the perfect time to post “Chilly Day.” It goes like this:
I had to wear my jacket when I went outside today
I’ll have to wear it at recess if I go outside to play
Because it’s chilly, it’s chilly,
The air outside is chilly
It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
It’s chilly out today.
It’s fall and that is why the nice warm weather’s gone away
The temperature is lower and the cold is here to stay
That’s why it’s chilly, it’s chilly,
The air outside is chilly
It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
It’s chilly out today.
So bundle up when you go outside and do not catch a cold,
Zip up your jacket nice and warm, well this is what I’m told.
Because it’s chilly, it’s chilly,
The air outside is chilly
It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
It’s chilly out today.
I’m off to a Bulldog Pep Rally, where I’ll be singing the now-famous Hope School Fight Song. Enjoy your afternoon, and see you tomorrow!
Ten Little Turkeys
This one is absolutely a November staple. A teacher I worked with shared the words of what was originally a poem with me, and mentioned that it might make a cute song.
So I whipped up a fun little melody and added Ten Little Turkeys to my collection of Thanksgiving-themed songs. Not only do my students love singing it, but it targets several objectives, including rhyming and counting backwards from 10.
I like to pause at the end of each verse and let the kids fill in the number – they keep track of how many turkeys are left and show me using their fingers. This song stands on its own, or with visuals like turkey cutouts.
{Updated on 11/20/17} Psst…right now, you can become a VIP Listen & Learn Plus member and get all of these songs (plus hundreds more music resources for children) with a biannual payment plan. I only offer this once a year, and it ends soon! Click here for details.
Tap Tap Your Rhythm Sticks
Kids love rhythm sticks, and with good reason: they are loud, and they get to hit them together. It doesn’t get much better than that when it comes to instruments. I use the 8″ Basic Beat sticks, which you can find at West Music, but there are lots of others out there from which to choose.
Playing rhythm sticks is not only fun, but they are a good tool to use when addressing skills such as discrimination of loud, soft, fast, and slow. I put all of the above to work in this rhythm stick song:
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh 1, 2, 3,
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh tap along with me.
We’ll tap and tap, and tap some more,
We’ll tap until we hit the floor,
So tap tap, your rhythm sticks with me,
Oooh-wee!
Now you’re gonna tap tap, your rhythm sticks so soft,
Shh, shh!
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks so soft,
Shh, shh!
We’ll tap and tap so softly now,
No worries ‘cause we all know how,
So tap tap your rhythm sticks so soft,
Shh, shh!
Now you’re gonna tap tap, your rhythm sticks so loud,
Mmm, hmm!
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks so loud,
Mmm, hmm!
We’ll tap and tap so loudly now,
No worries ‘cause we all know how,
So tap tap your rhythm sticks so loud,
Mmm, hmm!
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh 1, 2, 3,
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh tap along with me.
We’ll tap and tap, and tap some more,
We’ll tap until we hit the floor,
So tap tap, your rhythm sticks with me,
Oooh-wee!
Songs for Teaching