Seasonal songs

Spring C

Caterpillar! Caterpillar!

Caterpillars and butterflies

Cherry blossoms

Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken

Chicks grow into chickens

Chinese dragon song

Chinese New Year Dragon / Let's wave and say "Ni hao

Clouds of rain

Cornish May song

Crocus, crocus waken up

Cuckoo, cuckoo

Also find poems and songs at:

Little Tommy Tadpole

Pussy willow

If you see a daffodil

Last updated: 3/28/2022 11:07 AM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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Caterpillar! Caterpillar! 🔊

A hand play for Spring.

A song written by Homer H. Harbour from ‘140 Folk Songs’ and published in 1922 to the music from a Russian folk song.

!st verse: 1.- 4. Wiggle finger up arm. 5. Shake finger. 6. Open and close thumb and forefinger then place them round eyes. 7. As before. 8. Cross hands at wrists and fly. 2^nd verse: 1.- 2. Wiggle finger and hide under hand. 3.- 4. Wiggle finger, wind it and put hands together. 5. Place hands to cheek. 6. Cross hands and flap. 7. As before. 8. Cross hands and flap up and away.

Caterpillar! Caterpillar!

You are such a pretty sight.

Caterpillar! Caterpillar!

Green and yellow, black and white.

Take care what you do,

Robins are a-watching you;

Take care what you do,

Sparrows are a-chasing you!

Caterpillar! Caterpillar!

Creep away and hide you soon.

Caterpillar! Caterpillar!

Spin yourself a warm cocoon.

Dark and silent lie,

Till you are a butterfly.

Dark and silent lie,

Till you are a butterfly.

Caterpillars and butterflies 🔊

A perfect pairing of a hand play and song for Spring. ‘Lets go to sleep’ / ‘Oh, butterfly’. I’ve just seen my first butterfly of the year; the flowers have come out followed by these beautiful creatures.

‘Lets go to sleep’ a hand play, great for fine motor skills:

1. Place fingers onto left palm. 2. Cover with right hand fingers. 3. Open fingers slowly. 4. Cross hands at wrists and fly away.

“Let's go to sleep,” the little caterpillars said,

As they curled up tight in a chrysalis bed.

They will wake up by and by,

And each one will be - a lovely butterfly!

‘Oh, butterfly’: Use for a colour / minibeast theme. Young children can make a card finger butterfly in a chosen colour, attached to a card ring. Place on the forefinger moving it high and low and here, there and everywhere.

Older children can use clipart or photography to make realistic ring butterflies and to introduce them to the variety of colours and patterns to be found on a butterfly.

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly,

How lovely are your colours.

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly,

How lovely are your colours.

You fly so high up in the sky,

You are so light and beautiful,

Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly,

How lovely are your colours.

Cherry blossoms 🔊

A poem by Elizabeth McKinnon. You will recognise the tune!

How beautiful the trees look covered in blossom.

1. Close fists and pull to chests. 2. Throw open fingers and gyrate hands. 3. Hands move like waves, twirl around. 4. Roll arms downwards.

Little cherry blossom buds

Closed up oh, so tight!

See them bursting into bloom,

Coloured pink and white.

Along comes the spring breeze,

Blowing all around,

And down fall the petals,

Twirling to the ground.

Chick, chick, chick, chick chicken O

A song composed by Thomas McGhee, and written by Fred Holt, published in 1925.

Make elbows flap each time the chorus is sung and mime other actions.

Chorus

Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken, lay a little egg for me,

Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken, I want one for my tea.

For I haven't had an egg since Easter, and now it's half past three,

So, chick, chick, chick, chicken, lay a little egg for me.

Now good old Farmer Haystack is the cleverest of men,

He takes an eggcup off the shelf and then shouts to the hen.

Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken, lay a little egg for me…

Now Rip Van Winkle woke up after twenty years or more

He found a bird's nest in his beard and shouted out, "Oh, Lor'!"

Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken, lay a little egg for me…

Chicks grow into chickens O

A song by David Moses. Name young animals and plants. Some species have been allocated different names for their young e.g. chick calves foal kitten pup lamb - while the young of other species are just known as cubs.

Chicks grow into chickens,

Calves grow into cows,

Sycamore seeds grow into trees,

But cubs grow into lions and tigers,

Badgers, foxes, leopards and wolves, and bears.

Foals grow into horses,

Kittens grow into cats,

Fresh green shoots spout out of roots,

But cubs grow into lions and tigers,

Badgers, foxes, leopards and wolves, and bears.

Pups grow into seals or dogs,

Lambs grow into sheep,

Bulbs can grow into daffodils,

But cubs grow into lions and tigers

Badgers, foxes, leopards and wolves, and bears.

Chinese dragon song 🔊

A song for Chinese New Year for the very young. Sung to 'Frere Jacques'.

Gung Hay Fat Choy means 'Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.'

Chinese dragon, Chinese dragon,

Breathing fire, Breathing fire,

Happy, happy New Year!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Chinese New Year Dragon / Let's wave and say "Ni hao." 🔊

Music by Dany Rosevear (First song).

A follow my leader activity for Chinese New Year. Make a Chinese dragon with boxes and sheeting to move under for more fun and excitement; accompany with drums and bells.

You might also like ‘Dragon of a Thousand Lanterns’ below.

1. Children form wavy lines like a dragon. 2. Children dance and wave in line.

3. Jump up and down.

There’s a great big dragon coming our way,

A great big dragon on this holiday,

Let’s grab our lanterns and follow along,

Dancing and waving and singing a song. There’s a great big dragon coming our way.

Hip, hip, hooray!

Let's wave and say "Ni hao (nee how),"

Let's wave and say "Ni hao."

Let's say "hello" to all our friends,

Let's wave and say "Ni hao."

Cornish May song 🔊

Adapted from the words of Sir Alexander Boswell 1775-1822 to the the 17^th century Morris Dance ‘The Helston Furry dance’. It can be found in ‘This is Music’ published in Canada 1968.

Traditionally attach bells to wrist and ankles. Can be played in a circle or freely around the room. Make two step-hops on each measure.

Ye country maidens, gather dew,

While yet the morning breezes blow;

The fairy rings are fresh and new;

Do not disturb them as you go.

Arise, arise, the night’s away.

The skylark hails the dawn of day;

Care, get thee hence, from this place fly!

For mirth rules here this morn of May.

Crocus, crocus, waken up 🔊

A hand play set to music by Dany Rosevear.

I think this rhyme is based on the poem by Walter Crane: ‘The golden crocus reaches up

To catch a sunbeam in her cup.’

1. Hold palms of hand in a crocus shape, stretch arms up. 2. Bring open palms downwards. 3. Hold palms to chest then throw open. 4. Wave arms happily from side to side.

Crocus, crocus, waken up

To catch a sunbeam in your cup;

Hold it tight, let it go,

Li-la, li-la, li-lay-lo!

Cuckoo cuckoo O

A German song to welcome the Spring.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, calls from the forest,

Let us be singing, dancing and playing,

Springtime, springtime, soon will be here.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, never stops singing,

Field, wood and meadow, answers his echo,

Springtime, springtime, welcome to you.

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