Finger Plays

Literature Notebook

Round and Round the Merry-Go-Round

"Round and round the Merry-Go-Round
Some of the horses go up and down."

Action
Line 1 - Have the children swirl their index fingers around the palm of their hands.
Line 2 - Have the children move their fingers up and down as it goes around.

Step by Step

"One step, two steps, three steps, four
I'm getting closer to your front door.
One step, two steps, three steps more.
I'm finally at, your front door.
Knock, knock, knock, are you home?
I'm looking for a playmate how about you?."

Action
Line 1 - Have the children walk their fingers for each step.
Line 2 - Have children hold their index finger and thumb close together and move their arm for closer to the front door.
Line 3 - Have the children walk their fingers for each step.

Line 4 - Wipe hand across forehead and point to another student.
Line 5 - Have the children knock in the air then shrug their shoulders and hold their palms upright with their elbows bent when they ask are you home?
Lline 6 - Have them point to themselves and then to another student.

Glasses

"Here are Grandma's glasses,
Here is Grandma's hat
This is the way she holds her hands,
and sits like this.
Here are Grandpa's glasses
Here is Grandpa's cap
This is the way he folds his arms
and sits like this."

Action
Line 1 - make little circles with fingers over eyes.
Line 2 - circle your head and pretend you are adjusting coyly or tying it underneath your chin
Line 3 - fold your hands sweetly on your lap,
Line 4 - turn sideways, slowly rotate you head to the side, raise it, and wink.
Line 5 - make little circles with fingers over eyes.
Line 6 - pretend to put a cap on and adjust the beak
Line 7 - fold arms across chest
Line 8 - relax back in chair, cross legs and and slowly raise head a bit and wink.

Five Little Monkeys

"Five little monkeys swinging from a tree,
teasing Mr. alligator,
Saying,
can't catch me, can't catch me
Along comes Mr. alligator,
quiet as can be, and.
SNAPPED A MONKEY OUTTA THAT TREE."

(Repeat with 4,3,2,1 monkeys)

Action
Line 1 - Have the children hold 5 fingers splayed, palm away from them, swinging their arm in rhythm of verse.
Line 2, 3, & 4 - Have the children put their thumbs in their ears, wiggle their fingers, wrinkle-up their noses, and say the verses can't catch me, mockingly.
Line5 & 6 - Have students whisper and put their palms together and slither hands like an alligator
Line 7 - Have the students say the verse louder, and clap their hands at SNAP.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,
"NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!"

Repeat with 4,3,2,1 monkeys

Action
Line 1 - Have student hold 5 fingers splayed, palm away from them, bouncing hand to rhythm of verse...).
Line 2 - Have students hold up one finger and rub their head.
Line 3 - Have students holdtheir index finger up and shake it in a chastising manner.

Ram Sam Sam

(On Ram Sam Sam hit one fist on top of other)
A ram sam sam
A ram sam sam
Goolie Goolie Goolie (Roll hands)
and a Ram Sam Sam (Hit fists again)
A Raffy A Raffy (Lift arms)
Goolie Goolie Goolie (Roll hands again)
and a RAM SAM SAM!(Hit fists again)

Five Little Puppies

Five little puppies were playing in the sun. (hold up hands, fingers extended)
This one saw a rabbit, and he began to run. (bend down first finger)
This one saw a butterfly, and he began to race. (bend down second finger)
This one saw a cat, and he began to chase. (bend down third finger)
This one tried to catch his tail, and he went round and round. (bend down fourth finger)
This one was so quiet, he never made a sound. (bend down thumb)

Little Robin Red Breast

(hold up thumb and baby finger, and curl down rest of fingers)
Little robin red breast, stay upon a rail
niddle, noodle went his head (wiggle thumb for head)
wibble, wobble wibble, wobble went his tail (wiggle baby finger for tail)

Little Turtle

There was a little turtle (Make fist like turtle)
That lived in a box (Draw a square in the air)
He swam through the puddles (Pretend to swim)
And climbed on the rocks (Walk finger's across head)
He snapped at a mosquito (Make snapping motion with hands)
He snapped at a flea (Make snapping motion)
He snapped at a minnow (Make snapping motion)
And he snapped at me (Snap at yourself)
He caught the mosquito (Gulp and swallow)
He caught the flea (Gulp and swallow)
He caught the minnow (Gulp and swallow)
But he didn't catch me !!!!

Three Little Hot Dogs

(Place 3 fingers from your right hand into the palm of your left, patting them up and down)
Three Wimmer weinners heating in the microwave,
The middle one got hot (wiggle the middle finger) and went KER BAM! (clap on "BAM")
(Place 2 fingers from your right hand into your left hand...)
Two Wimmer weinners heating in the microwave,
The right one got hot (wiggle the right finger) and went KER BAM! (clap on "BAM")
One Wimmer weinner heating in the microwave,
Stop! Stop! shut it off."

Robert Sweetland's Notes ©