Finger and hand
play T1 (19) 2
Last updated: 1/4/2021 12:01 PM
The apple tree / Here is a tree with leaves so green
The bird’s nest
The busy little worm
The earth needs the raindrops
The friendly little worm
The fairy mouse
The fairies’ wash day
The golden sun is shining
The oak tree
The owl and the brownies
The rainbow
The snake charmer
The sun it rises
The turtle went up the hill
The waves on the sea
The wide-eyed owl
There was a hungry hunter
There was a little bunny
There’s such a tiny little mouse
This is big, big, big
This little bear has a warm fur suit
This little mountain
This little tiger is very wild
This pretty planet
Three little owlets
Tiny little bird
Tiptoeing in the dark
These songs are nursery rhymes and other traditional songs
compiled,
illustrated and music arranged by Dany Rosevear.
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author sing a song click on the title at:
© Dany Rosevear 2013 All rights reserved
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works under the following conditions:
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The apple tree / Here is a tree 🔊
A simple hand play for Autumn for
the very young. 1. Put forearms together and spread hands. 2. Make hands into fists. 3.
Move hands like the wind and fists tumble down with rolling arms. 4. Make a
basket with hand, pick up apples and put them in the basket. |
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Here is a
tree with leaves so green. Here are the
apples that hang in between. When the
wind blows the apples will fall, And here
is a basket to gather them all. |
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The bird’s nest 🔊
A Froebel hand play for Spring. Music arranged by Dany Rosevear to
a German nursery tune, ‘Little John’. 1. Palms up. 2. Open and close thumb and forefinger, cup palms. 3. Hold
up two fingers put in nest. 4. Hands to cheek. 5. Thumb up, hand to ear. 6. Two
fingers poke through curled fist. 7. Hand to ear, open and close forefingers and thumbs. 8. Hands to heart,
open and close forefingers and thumbs. |
Here upon
the leaves at rest,
A little
bird has built her nest.
Two tiny
eggs within she’s laid,
And many
days beside them stayed.
Now she’s happy;
listen well!
Two baby
birds break through the shell.
Don’t you
hear them? “Peep! Peep! Peep!
We love you, mother, “Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!”
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The fairy
mouse 🔊
This song is from ’60 songs for little children’ 1933,
words byFrances B. Wood. The melody is a Spanish folk tune ‘De los alamos
vengo’ arranged by Dany Rosevear. Verse 1. Thumb and
finger make a house shape. Wiggle finger through hole. Thumb and forefinger
nibble at palm of hand. 2. Wiggle forefinger and fingers of other hand. Make
hand scurry. Wiggling fingers move down for rain, shape sun and move fingers
up. |
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In a dear
little house, There
lives a fairy mouse And he
feeds on cream cheese And honey. And he
feeds on cream cheese And honey. From his
tail to his toes, In velvet
grey he goes, Be the weather
what it may, Wet or
sunny. Be the
weather what it may, Wet or
sunny. |
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The friendly little worm 🔊
A friend or not? A hand play. Words and melody by Dany Rosevear. 1. Make finger wiggle. 2. Enclose finder in fist and move upwards. 3.
Cross fingers at wrists and flap hands. 4. Rub tummy, make finger disappear
into fist. |
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One fine
day, a friendly little worm, Popped up
its head with a wiggle and a squirm. Down came
a blackbird with a very hungry stare. “I’d
really like to mmm-eat you.” The worm
said, “Don’t you dare!” |
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This is the
fairies’ wash day 🔊
One of Maud Burnham’s wonderful hand plays. Tune by Dany Rosevear. 1. Cup hands. 2. Show
palms and rub together.3. With hands face down, spread apart. 4.Wiggle fingers of
one hand then roll hands to make spinning movement. 5. Stretch an imaginary
string. 6. Thumb up. |
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This is
the fairies' wash day With acorn
cups for tubs, And tiny leaves
for washboards, Each fairy
rubs and rubs. The fairy
sheets so white and fine Upon the
grass are lying; The spider
spins a line for them, And now
the clothes are drying. |
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The golden
sun is shining 🔊
An early morning hand
play to remind us to look up and appreciate the wonders of our world. Music and second verse
by Dany Rosevear. Verse
1. Draw a large circle with hands, wiggle fingers. Raise upturned hands to
the sky and look up. Put hands together and bow, draw smiling mouth. Point to
audience. Verse
2. With circled thumb and forefingers make moon rise up. Hands to face draw
apart and look through. Put hands together and bow. Hand to forehead, hands
to cheek. |
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The golden
sun is shining, Up in the
sky so blue; Good
morning, happy morning, Good
morning, sun, to you. The pale
moon is a-rising, Up in the dark
it peeps; Good
evening moon, good evening, Keep
watch, the world’s asleep. |
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The golden
sun is shining 🔊
An early morning hand play to remind us to look up and
appreciate the wonders of our world. Music and second verse by Dany Rosevear. Verse 1. Draw a large circle with hands, wiggle fingers. Raise upturned
hands to the sky and look up. Put hands together and bow, draw smiling mouth.
Point to audience. Verse 2. With circled
thumb and forefingers make moon rise up. Hands to face draw apart and look
through. Put hands together and bow. Hand to
forehead, hands to cheek.Verse 1. Draw a large circle with hands, wiggle
fingers. Raise upturned hands to the sky and look up. Put hands together and
bow, draw smiling mouth. Point to audience. Verse 2. With circled
thumb and forefingers make moon rise up. Hands to face draw apart and look
through. Put hands together and bow. Hand to
forehead, hands to cheek. |
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The oak tree
🔊
This song can be found in ‘Sing a
song’ published in 1978. Written by David Dyer, I have accompanied it with a
simpler tune and slightly adapted the words to accommodate the new music. Verse 1. Show small
with thumb and forefinger, point to another child and self. Repeat. Fingers
fall downwards. Lift up arms, hold hand above head. 2. As before. Put finger
through hand and grow into a tree. 3. Hold hand above head, point to another
child and self. Repeat. With hands stretch move as on a windy day. |
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Smaller
than you, smaller than me, Smaller
than you, smaller than me, The tiny
acorn falls from the oak tree, Great big
oak tree, so much bigger than me! Smaller
than you, smaller than me, Smaller
than you, smaller than me, The tiny
acorn grows into an oak tree, Great big
oak tree, so much bigger than me! Bigger
than you, bigger than me, Bigger
than you, bigger than me, Now
there’s a great big spreading oak tree, Great big
oak tree, so much bigger than me! |
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The owl and
the brownies 🔊
How quiet can you be? Written by Maude Burnham from ‘Rhymes for little hands’ published
1906. The music is by Lucille F. Wood and can be found in the classic
‘Singing Fun’ published in 1966. Here it is adapted and arranged by Dany Rosevear. Line 1. Place two
fingers thumb of hand. 2. Put finger to lips. 3. Place thumb and forefingers
round eyes. 4. Look around then shake finger. 5. Fingers run up arm. 6. Put
finger to lips 7. Two forefingers make beak. 8. Fingers jump off arm, fly and
hide behind back. 9. Place two fingers on the other arm. 10. Put finger to
lips. |
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An owl sat
alone on the branch of a tree, He was as
quiet as quiet could be; ‘Twas
night and his eyes were open like this! He looked
all around; not a thing did he miss! Some
brownies crept up to the branch of the tree, And sat
there quietly as still as could be; Said the
wise owl, “Too-whoo, Too-whoo!” Then up
jumped the brownies and away they all flew! An owl sat
alone on the branch of a tree, He was as
quiet as quiet could be. |
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The rainbow 🔊
Appreciate the wonder of our
world - how a rainbow is made. Sing cheerfully. Another from the words of Emilie Poulsson, music by Eleanor Smith. Line 1. Make a big
round shape, wiggle fingers downward. 2. Put hand to mouth. 3. Point upwards.
4. Make rain as before and wiggle fingers up for the sunshine. 5. Hands move
outwards. 6. Sweep hands overhead. |
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Sun shining,
rain falling, And
everyone calling, Oh! Look
at the glorious sky! For shower
and shining, In beauty
combining, A rainbow
have painted on high. |
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The snake
charmer 🔊
This familiar piece of
musicis associated with belly dancing
and has a number of titles including ‘The streets of Cairo’; you can also
find children’s verses with inappropriate words! These words come from flute
and piano tutors. 1.
Hand and arm make a basket. 2. The other hand rests on arm through hole made.
3.Play pretend flute. 4. Snakes head rises, looks around, bends and sways. |
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In a place
I know, A magician
has a show; In his
basket deep Lies a
cobra fast asleep. When the
master plays a haunting sound, It rises
up and looks around, It bends
and sways While the
master’s music plays. |
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The sun it
rises 🔊
A gentle had play to calm everyone
or before bedtime. Discuss where the sun rises. Can also be sung as a round. Line 1. and 2. While
sitting lift arms from lap in a rounded shape and move slowly from low left,
overhead and then gently down on the right side. 3. and 4. Bring rounded arms
up in front, open arms and wiggle fingers downwards in front to settle in
lap. |
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The sun it
rises in the day, And in the
evening slips away. The moon
it comes up in the night, And fades away
in the morning light. |
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The waves on
the sea 🔊
All at sea. A great one for accompanying
with percussion as well as for actions, and you can easily add your own
marine verses. Line 1. Wave hands up
and down. 2. Place hands together and swish from side to side. 3. Open and
close hands. 4. Roll arms round each other. 5. With hands face down wiggle
fingers. 6. Hands and arms make a leaping motion. 7. Pull an imaginary lever
for each toot. |
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The waves
on the sea go up and down, Up and
down, up and down. The waves on
the sea go up and down, All day
long. The fish
in the sea go swish, swish, swish, Swish,
swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, The fish
in the sea go swish, swish, swish, All day
long. The sharks
in the sea go snap, snap, snap, Snap,
snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, The sharks
in the sea go snap, snap, snap, All day
long. The seals
in the sea roll round and round, Round and
round, round and round, The seals
in the sea roll round and round, All day
long. The
jellyfish in the sea go wibble, wobble, wibble, Wibble,
wobble, wibble, wibble, wobble, wibble, The
jellyfish in the sea go wibble, wobble, wibble, All day
long. The
dolphins in the sea they dip and dive, Dip and
dive, dip and dive, The dolphins
in the sea they dip and dive, All day
long. The boats
on the sea go toot, toot, toot, Toot,
toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, The boats
on the sea go toot, toot, toot, All day
long. |
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The turtle
went up the hill 🔊
A rhyme to play with a toddler. Older children can do it on their own
arm. 1. Walk up arm with two fingers. 2. One finger slithers up the arm. 3.
Raise two fingers from fist and jump up arm. 4. Curl fingers into a fist and
thud each hand. 5. Show rock with hands and fingers spread. 6. Roll arms
round each other. 7. Clap hands loudly. |
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The turtle
went up the hill: Creepy, creepy,
creepy, The snake
went up the hill: Slither,
slither, slither, The rabbit
went up the hill: Boing!
Boing! Boing! The
elephant went up the hill: Thud,
thud, thud, And then a
great big rock came DOWN the hill! Bumpity, bumpity,
bumpity, bumpity, Bumpity,
bumpity, CRASH! |
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The
wide-eyed owl 🔊
Whoo-whoo’s looking? A
traditional rhyme set to the tune of ‘Simple gifts’. 1. Make circles around eyes with fingers. 2. Hook fore finger to make
nose. 3. First two fingers to side of head. 4. Curl fingers like claws in
front of chest. 5. Hold hands fingers spread high above head. 6. Make circles around eyes with fingers. 7.
Bend elbows and flap. 8. Make owl sounds . |
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There’s a
wide-eyed owl With a
pointed nose, Two pointy
ears And claws
for its toes, It sits
high in a tree Looking
down at you, Flaps its
wings and says, “Too-whit-to-whoo!” |
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There was a
hungry hunter 🔊
This humorous and alliterative hand play is from ‘Acting rhymes’
by Clive Sansom published in the 1960s where it is suggested that a bear
speaks line 5 and 6. The author is unknown. Dany Rosevear added the tune and
the handplay below. 1-4. Rub tummy, put
circled thumb and forefingers to eyes. Hold up fore finger and middle to make
ears. 5-6. Rub tummy and look fierce. 7-8. Roll arms over each other and make
two fingers run. |
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Went hunting for a hare, But where he hoped the hare would be He found a hairy bear! “I’m very very hungry: I get hungry now and
then.” The hunter turned head-over-heels And hurried home again. |
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There was a
little bunny 🔊
A hand play or an action song; it would be lovely to play
this out in the woods 1-2. Make rarabbit
with fist and first and second finger up. Other hand makes tree. Wiggle
fingers. 3-4. Make squirrel head by pointing fingers of the other hand
forward and tree as before. Rabbit hand jumps past each time. 5-6. Open and
close fingers of second hand for duck. Point to self. 7-8. As before. 2nd
verse Rabbit hand stops in front of squirrel and dack and peeps round tree.
Wink and point to self. |
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There was
a little bunny who lived in a wood. He wiggled
his ears like a good bunny should. He hopped past
a squirrel, he hopped past a tree, He hopped
past a duck and he hopped past me. There was
a little bunny who lived in a wood. He wiggled
his ears like a good bunny should. He stared
at the squirrel, he peeked round the tree, He stared
at the duck, but he winked at me! |
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There’s such a tiny little mouse 🔊
A hand play from the wonderful
collection ‘This little puffin’ published in 1969. 1. Show how small the mouse is with thumb and forefinger. 2. Place forefinger
into clenched fist. 3. Creep fingers across floor. 4. Put hands to cheek and
close eyes. 5. Spread hands outwards to show sunrise. 6. Creep fingers back
and rest on the other hand. |
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There's
such a tiny little mouse, Living
safely in my house. Out at
night he'll softly creep, When
everyone is fast asleep: But always
in the light of day He'll
softly, softly creep away. |
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This is big,
big, big 🔊
A song of opposites from Mel’s
desk. Tune added by Dany Rosevear. 1. Stretch out arms.
2. Draw fingers close together. 3. Place hand downwards. 4. Stretch hands and
arms up. 5. Roll arms around each other quickly. 6. The same slowly. 7. Nod
head. 8. Shake head and finger. |
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This is
big, big, big, This is
small, small, small, This is
short, short, short This is
tall, tall, tall, This is fast,
fast, fast, This is
slow, slow, slow, This is
yes, yes, yes, This is
no, no, no! |
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This little bear has a warm fur suit 🔊
Each bear is different, just like children. How many bears? Tune by Dany Rosevear. Start with the thumb
put up each finger in sequence. 1.Rub arms. 2. Put hands to face. 3. With hands on hips
frown. 4. Shake first finger. 5. Throw out hands. |
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This
little bear has a warm fur suit, This
little bear is very, very cute, This
little bear is bold and cross, This
little bear says, “You're not the boss!” This
little bear likes toast and honey, But he
can't buy either for he has no money! |
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This little
mountain
This hand play is from John M. Feierabend’s collection
‘Wiggles and tickles’ published 1999. It can be played with baby wiggling
fingers and drawing sun on palm or tummy, dotting rain with fingers and so
on; or as below with older children. Line 1. Touch thumb
and make circle with thumbs and forefinger. 2. Touch forefinger and make rain
fall with fingers. 3 .and 4. Touch middle finger then shade eyes and peer. 5.
Touch ring finger then put hands to cheek. 6. Make a pointed cap above head.
7. And 8. Point to little finger and shape tree with palms together. This
little mountain finds the sun, This
little mountain drinks the rain, This
little mountain shades its eyes And looks
across the plain. This
little mountain is ready for bed With a
white cap on top of its head; And this
little mountain is up to its knees, In so many wonderful Christmas trees! |
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This little
tiger is very wild 🔊
Not too scary! Tune by Dany Rosevear. Start with the thumb
and touch each finger in sequence. 1.Growl like a tiger. 2. Kiss second
finger. 3. Draw stripes on middle finger. 4. Bend finger down. 5. Wiggle finger,
circle round the palm of the other and sniff. Bite left hand with right. |
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This little tiger is very wild, This little tiger is a loving child. This little tiger has big black stripes, This little tiger is tucked up for the night. This little tiger likes to prowl and smell, But his teeth are too small to bite quite well. |
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This pretty
planet 🔊
This wonderful song by Tom Chapin is more usually sung as a
round. It is also sung as a lullaby. This amazing song went round the entire world
when it was one of the songs used to wake up the astronauts, including John
Glen, on the Discovery 7 space shuttle! 1.Make a ball with
hands, roll forearms round each other. 2. Make flower round face, arms make
waves, hands together as in prayer. 3. Lift arms up and outwards, as in first
line. 4. Hands to cheek, hold arms, Lift arms up and outwards. |
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This
pretty planet, spinning through space, Your garden,
your harbour, your holy place. Golden sun
going down, Gentle
blue giant spin us around. All
through the night, Safe ‘til
the morning light. |
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Three little
owlets 🔊
From ‘A Child's Own Book of
Verse’ by Ada Skinner. Music by Dany Rosevear. 1. Raise three
fingers then fingers to eyes, cuddle self put fingers together. 2. Make moon with
thumb and forfingers, spread dew. Flap crossed hands. 3. Use thumb and
forefinger to make beak, repeat 1. 4. Raise two
forefingers to mouth to make curved beak. |
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Three little
owlets In a
hollow tree, Cuddled up
together Close as
could be. When the
moon came out And the
dew lay wet, Mother
flew about To see
what she could get. She caught
a little mouse, So velvety
and soft, She caught
a little sparrow, And then
she flew aloft To the
three little owlets In a
hollow tree, Cuddled up
together Close as
could be. "Tu-whoo!"
said the old owl, "Isn't
this good cheer!" "Tu-whit!"
said the owlets, "Thank
you, mother dear!" “Tu-whit,
tu-whit, tu-whit, Tu-whoo!” “Tu-whit,
tu-whit, tu-whit, Tu-whoo!”. |
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Tiny little bird O
A Turkish song for winter, ‘Mini Mini Bir Kus’, melody and
words by Saip Eguz. Move thumb
and forefinger like beak. Perch bird on other hand. Cup hands. Cover hand and
open and close beak. Cross hands to make wings, flap and move upwards and
away. Throw out hands and look sad. |
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Tiny,
little bird was frozen stiff, Sitting on
my window sill. Gently did I
cradle him, To make him
warm and hear him sing. Suddenly he
flapped his little wings, Off he flew
in the wind and snow. Mini Mini Bir Kus Donmustu Pencereme konmustu Aldim onu iceriye Cik cik cik cik otsun diye Pir pir ederken canlandi Ellerim bak bos kaldi… |
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Tiptoeing in
the dark 🔊
This spooky hand play
would work well at Halloween! It could also be played
as an action rhyme; pairs of children holding hands creep in and out of each
other, when the candle is blown out they huddle together for reassurance. The words came from a
collection of nursery
rhymes.
Music and game by Dany
Rosevear. Point
up, point down, place finger to mouth – Shhh! Fingers creep forward, finger moves
round, make a roof shape. Fingers creep forward and about. Move hands like
the wind and shake head, put finger up like a candle, blow out flame – Phwooh! |
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Upstairs,
downstairs, quiet as a mouse; Shhhh! Tiptoe,
tiptoe, all around the house. Tiptoe, tiptoe,
creep and creep about; I hope the
wind won't come along and blow my candle out! Phwooh! |
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