Nursery
number favourites to 3
Three
blind mice
Three
craws
Three
crows
Three
dinosaurs came out to play
Three
little birds
Three
little fish
Three
little kittens
Three
little owls
Three
little pigs and a little pig more
Three
young rats
Twinkle,
twinkle, traffic lights
Two
little eyes
Two
little eyes that blink, blink, blink
Two
little tigers
Way
up high in the apple tree
When
Goldilocks went to the house of the bears
Also
see:
Last updated: 12/29/2020
2:21 PM
The songs below are compiled, illustrated and
sometimes adapted by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page
To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊
To watch the author
sing a song click on the title at:
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
You
are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the
following conditions:
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you must give the original author credit
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you may not use this work for commercial purposes
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any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder
Your
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Three
blind mice O This song can easily be sung as a rhyme. Find an energetic game to play at: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/pe/threeblindmice.htm
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Three craws sat upon a wa’ 🔊 A number song from Scotland
in the Scottish vernacular. Some time ago I videoed the English version that
I sang regularly in the classroom from the classic children’s songbook ‘Sing
a song one’ published by Inner London Education Authorities in 1978. However many visitors to my
channel from Scotland felt I was doing their dearly loved song a disservice –
would I sing ‘Frere Jaques’ in English? So I have now remedied that and
brought in a Glaswegian friend as a consultant! Vocabulary:
Craws – crows, wa' – wall, cauld – cold, greetin’ – crying, maw – mother,
flee – fly, wisnae – wasn’t. Hold up three fingers. Mime the other movements. |
Three craws sat upon a
wa', Sat upon a wa', sat
upon a wa'- a’-a’- a’ Three craws sat upon a
wa', On a cauld and frosty
mornin'. The first craw was
greetin' for his maw, Greetin' for his maw,
greetin' for his maw, - a’-a’- a’ The first craw was
greetin' for his maw, On a cauld and frosty
mornin'. The second craw fell
and broke his jaw, Fell and broke his jaw,
fell and broke his jaw, - a’-a’- a’ The second craw fell
and broke his jaw, On a cauld and frosty
mornin'. The third craw,
couldnae flee at a', Couldnae flee at a',
couldnae flee at a', - a’-a’- a’ The third craw,
couldnae flee at a', On a cauld and frosty
mornin'. The fourth craw wisnae
there at a’, Wisnae there at a’,
wisnae there at a’.- a’-a’- a’ The fourth craw wisnae
there at a’ On a cauld and frosty
mornin'. That's a’ I know about
the craws, Know about the craws,
know about the craws-a’-a’-a’s. That's a’ I know about
the craws, On a cauld and frosty
mornin’. |
Three
crows O A song from Scotland – this is the English adaption but there are many
charming versions in the Scottish vernacular to be found on You Tube. Use fingers and fist to show the birds on the wall. Mime the other
movements.
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Three
dinosaurs came out to play 🔊 You can start with five dinosaurs or more as with many songs it
depends on the age and stamina of your audience! 1. Hold
up three fingers. 2. Hand over eyes look round as if lost. 3. Stamp three
times. 4. Make munching motion with arms. Repeat with two, one, and finally
no dinosaurs. Last
verse: 1. Hold up "no" fingers. 2. Hand over eyes look round as if
lost. 3. Make munching motion with arms. 4. Hands on hips.5. Throw out hands.
6. Crouch down with hands to the cheek. |
Three dinosaurs came out to play, Out in the land of lost one day, Along came Tyrannosaurus, Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! And ate up a dinosaur, Munch! Munch! Munch! Repeat with
two, one, and finally no dinosaurs. Last verse: No dinosaurs came out to play, Out in the land of lost one day, Along came Tyrannosaurus, Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! He stood there and shouted, "Where's my lunch?!" Tyrannosaurus Rex did not find anything to eat, So off she stomped and went to sleep! |
Three
little birds 🔊 A rhyme for teaching dynamics with loud and quiet voices. Also learn
concepts of counting down, ordinal numbers and ‘one less’. Melody by Dany Rosevear. Show
and count three fingers. Curl those fingers over the ‘nest’ a cupped palm of
the other hand. These will be the three birds fast asleep. 1.
Sing quietly as birds sleep. 2. Raise one finger each time a bird wakes up.
Sing ‘cheep, cheep, cheep’ in a loud voice opening and closing thumb and
forefinger. 3. Cross hands at wrist and make mother bird fly down, then make
a beak to feed baby bird. 4. Rub tummy for ‘yum, yum, yum’ singing in a
‘middle’ voice. |
Three little birds all fast asleep, One little bird said, “Cheep, cheep, cheep!” Down came mother with a big fat crumb, And the first little bird said, “Yum, yum, yum!” Two little birds both fast asleep, One little bird said, “Cheep, cheep, cheep!” Down came mother with a big fat crumb, And the second little bird said, “Yum, yum, yum!” One little bird still fast asleep, One little bird said, “Cheep, cheep, cheep!” Down came mother with a big fat crumb, And the third little bird said, “Yum, yum, yum!” |
Three
little fish 🔊 An ocean life hand play for encouraging fast, slow and still movement. Adapted and arranged by Dany Rosevear. Hold up three fingers. Put one hand on top
of the other and make swimming motion with thumbs. ‘Swim’ and sing fast.
‘Swim’ and sing slowly. Open and close hands. Hold up three fingers and put
them in lap under the other hand. |
Three little fish, three little fish, See how they swim, see how they swim, As round and round so fast they go; And now they’re swimming so very slow. Watch out little fish there’s a shark down below! Hide, three little fish, hide, three little fish! |
Three
little kittens O The tune of this nursery rhyme was probably originally a hymn tune -
it is very similar to the folk tune The seven joys of Mary. To find out more
to the background of the words visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Little_Kittens
|
Three
little owls O What a noise, what a racket, then night falls and all is quiet. A hand play song; this version of the rhyme (the first verse appears
in ABC ‘The new useful book’ published 1995) has a final verse by Dany
Rosevear which is great for calming lively ones down. Other animals partnered with suitable noises can be suggested by
children. If you live in Australia find out what animals might visit a gum tree. |
One little owl said, "Whoo! Whoo!" Two little owls said, "Whoo! Whoo!" Three little owls said, "Whoo! Whoo!" As they sat in the old oak tree. One little squirrel said, “Crunch! Crunch!" Two little squirrels said, “Crunch! Crunch! " Three little squirrels said, “Crunch! Crunch! As they sat in the old oak tree. One little crow said, "Caw! Caw!" Two little crows said, "Caw! Caw!" Three little crows said, "Caw! Caw!" As they sat in the old oak tree. One little cat said, "Meow! Meow!" Two little cats said, "Meow! Meow!" Three little cats said, "Meow! Meow!" As they sat in the old oak tree. Now the wind it blew, "Oooo! Oooo!" And the rain it rained, "Pitter patter! Pitter patter!"
As the silver moon whispered, "Shhhh! Shhhh! It’s sleepy time in the old oak tree." |
Three little pigs and a little pig more O A lesson in manners, for as the saying goes ‘manners maketh man’ and
perhaps pigs too! These verses were written by Anne Mendoza; the music by Dany Rosevear. Hold up the number of fingers
indicated by the words and make expressions and movements to suggest how the
farmer and animals feel. Rap loudly on the door for the first two verses and
quietly for the last one.
|
Three young rats O A
traditional nursery rhyme with music by Moya Smith. |
According to The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Iona Opie and
Peter Opie ‘Flats’ were, in 19th C America, broad-brimmed,
low crowned straw hats.
Three young rats with black felt hats, Three young ducks with white straw flats, Three young dogs with curling tails, Three young cats with demi veils, Went out to walk with two young pigs, In satin vests and sorrel wigs, But suddenly it chanced to rain, And so they all went home again. |
Twinkle,
twinkle traffic lights 🔊 A hand play that can also be used for outdoor traffic play scenarios
as well as supporting the concepts of number to three and colour! 1. Wiggle fingers. 2. Hold
up three fingers with one hand flashing. 3. Hold palm up facing out. Move
hand forward. 4. Steer wheel slowly. 5. As before. |
Twinkle, twinkle, traffic
lights, Three colours flashing
bright; Red means stop, green says
go, When it’s amber move very,
very slow. Twinkle, twinkle traffic
lights, Three colours flashing
bright. |
Two little eyes O The
first verse is a traditional action rhyme. Dany
Rosevear has added a melody and extra verses. Point to eyes, ears, nose
and mouth with appropriate movements and appreciative sounds for each last
line. |
Two little eyes that
look around, Two little ears to hear
each sound; One little nose to
smell what’s sweet, One little mouth that
likes to eat. Two little eyes see an
old oak tree, Two little ears hear
humming bees; One little nose smells
honey sweet, One old badger finds a
golden/syrupy treat. Two little eyes watch
black ants scurrying Two little ears hear
robin sing; One little nose smells
strawberries, Lying in a bowl for our
picnic tea. Two little eyes watch
an acorn fall, Two little ears hear
Autumn call; One little nose smells
a mushroom sweet, One little squirrel
stores food to eat. |
Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink 🔊 Words
and music by Moiselle Renstrom, 1889–1956 from ‘Merrily We Sing’. Improvise actions as
suggested by the song. |
Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink, Two little eyes that see; Head and shoulders; knees and toes; And many more things make me. Tra la la la la la, Two little eyes that see, Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink, And many more things make me. |
Two
little tigers 🔊 A finger play for Chinese New Year. Sung to the tune of the French nursery song Frère Jacques, this
Mandarin song is about two very strange looking tigers. The Tiger is the third sign
of the Chinese zodiac. A person born in the Year of the Tiger is courageous,
optimistic, tolerant and generous. 1. Show two fists. 2. Make
them move fast. 3. Cover ears. 4. Put out arm and pull in. 5. Scratch head. Repeat covering
different parts of face. |
Two little tigers, two little
tigers, Run so fast, run so fast, One without its two ears, one
without a tail, Oh, how strange! Oh, how
strange! Same covering mouth, eyes or
nose. 两 只 老 虎 两 只 老 虎,
两 只 老 虎 跑 得 快,
跑 得 快 只 没 有 耳 朵,
只 没 有尾 巴 真 奇 怪,
真 奇 怪
! Liăng Zhī
Lăo Hŭ Liăng zhī
lăo hŭ,
liăng zhī
lăo hŭ Păo de kuài, păo de kuài Yì zhī méi yŏu ěr
duo, yì zhī méi yŏu yĭ
ba Zhēn qí guài, zhēn
qí guài! |
Way up high in the apple tree 🔊 A
song for the apple picking season. 1. Make arm and hand into
a tree, point upwards. 2. Make thumb and forefingers into apples, draw a
smile on face. 3. Shake ‘tree’ with other hand. 4. Roll arms downwards. 5.
Rub tummy and put up thumb. |
Way up high in the
apple tree, Two little apples
smiled at me. I shook that tree as
hard as I could, Down fell the apples! Mmmmh! They were good! |
When Goldilocks
went to the house of the bears O An action song; count to three and learn about comparative sizing.
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