Seasonal songs

Spring J-O

Kindness is for everyone

Lark in the morning

Let the sunshine in

Let’s tidy up!

Lion Dance Song

Little chickens on the ground

Little green frog

Little Johnny-jump up

March sings

March wind

Mix a little sunshine

Mix a pancake

Morning has broken

My Easter bonnet

My Lady Spring

My garden

Off to the wild woods

Once I was a seed

One cold and frosty morning

One little daffodil

One little pancake

Our garden

Also find poems and songs at:

Little Tommy Tadpole

Pussy willow

If you see a daffodil

Last updated: 3/13/2023 9:49 AM

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

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To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

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Kindness is for everyone 🔊

A hand play for the letter ‘k’.

Margaret Moore and John Travers Moore ‘Certainly, Carrie, Cut the Cake: Poems A to Z’ (1971) Pennsylvania Center for the Book (psu.edu)

Music by Dany Rosevear.

1. With fist closed and thumb out pour ‘kettle’. 2. Use thumb and forefinger to turn key. 3. Stroke hand. 4. Hold .kite and look up. 5. Make hands undulate. 6. Cross hands over heart then throw them out. 7. Point to another.

A kettle’s for the kitchen,

A key is for the door,

A kitten is for playing with

And keeping on the floor.

A kite is made for flying

When March winds blow,

Kindness is for everyone__

Didn’t you know?

Lark in the morning 🔊

From ‘Ozark folk songs Volume III’. Can’t find this dear little song anywhere else.

A Mrs Rose Wilder Lane noted in 1930 that this song was used at play parties in her neighbourhood; there is sadly however no account of how the game was played.

Lark in the morning sailing from her nest,

Dewdrops fallin’ from her snow white breast.

The higher she flies the sweeter she’ll sing,

And we’ll all turn back to the green fields again.

Let the sunshine in 🔊

Patience, Spring is on its way. The Springtime sun is something special, awakening life and putting a skip into every heart and pair of feet.

Spring progresses slowly and hesitantly but each step presents a seasonal delight and joy.

Pussy willow’s silver pillows,

Whisper, “Almost Spring!”

Soft, lovely dreams bring sprigs of green,

To let the sunshine in.

Soft, lovely dreams bring sprigs of green,

To let the sunshine in.

Soft, lovely dreams bring sprigs of green,

To let the sunshine in.

Little lambkin, little lambkin,

Now that it is Spring,

Skip here and there in a world so fair,

And let the sunshine in.

Skip here and there in a world so fair,

Let the sunshine in.

Skip here and there in a world so fair,

To let the sunshine in.

Primrose, crocus, dandelion,

Now that it is Spring

Come out and play, cold winter’s away.

It’s let the sunshine in.

Come out and play, cold winter’s away.

It’s let the sunshine in.

Come out and play, cold winter’s away.

It’s let the sunshine in,

It’s let the sunshine in.

Let’s tidy up! 🔊

Ready for a Spring clean.

Singing while we tidy helps us work more efficiently and cheerfully.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Let's tidy up, let's tidy up,

Let's put all our work away,

Let's tidy up, so tomorrow

We'll be ready for work and play.

We’ll put all our things away,

Everything in it's place.

We’ll put all our work away,

Yes, snippetty snap, like that!

Lion Dance Song 🔊

A cheerful song for Chinese New Year.

Make a large Lion out of cardboard boxes and sheet for children to dance under – it is so much fun! Alternatively dance in lines of five or six following a leader. Jump up and down for the firecrackers. Clap to the music.

See the lion dance and prance,

Dance and prance, dance and prance.

See the lion dance and prance,

On Chinese New Year’s Day.

Hear the firecrackers pop,

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.

Hear the firecrackers pop,

On Chinese New Year’s Day.

See the children laugh and clap,

Laugh and clap, laugh and clap,

See the children laugh and clap,

On Chinese New Year’s Day!

Little chickens on the ground 🔊

A Spring and number hand play.

Words adapted and set to music by Dany Rosevear.

Ball hands with thumb and finger out for beaks. Tap ‘beaks’ on table. Flap elbows. Place hands downwards against chest with fingers curled in. Sit one hand on the ‘nest’ of the other. Throw out hands. Count fingers on each hand.

Little chickens on the ground,

Pecking at the corn they found;

While Mother Hen tucks up her legs

And gently sits upon her eggs.

How many eggs does Mother hide?

One, two, three, four, five!

Little green frog 🔊

Soon we will be hearing the sound of frogs mating and seeing frog spawn in the ponds and rivers.

This song is from Turkey ‘Küçük kurbağa’ (little frog) and is incredibly similar to a Swedish circle game I recorded several years ago: Little frogs - a Swedish circle game - English version - YouTube

In turn it is also supposed to have the same tune as a military march from the French Revolution ‘Au pas camara’/ ‘In step comrade’ and was mockingly corrupted by the British to ‘Au pas grenouilles’ / ‘In step little frogs’.

I would love to know more about its true origin! A well traveled tune as there are also versions in Hungary and Romania.

Tap named part of body and make swimming movement.

Little green frog, little green frog,

Where’s your tail so small?

I swim in the river, I swim in the river,

I have no tail at all.

Chorus

Koo wak wak wak! Koo wak wak wak!

Koo wak wak wak wak!

Koo wak wak wak! Koo wak wak wak!

Koo wak wak wak wak!

Little green frog, little green frog,

Where’s your wings so small?

I swim in the river, I swim in the river,

I have no wings at all. Chorus

Little green frog, little green frog,

Where’s your house so small?

I swim in the river, I swim in the river,

I have no house at all. Chorus

Wise Johnny / Little Johnny-jump-up 🔊

This is a common name for a violet, heartsease or pansy. Find out more here: https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/are-you-familiar-with-little-johnny-jump-up/

Words by Edwina Fallis, music by Arthur C. Edwards from ‘Music in our town’ Book 2 published 1956 by Silver Burdett Company.

Little Johnny-jump-up,

Said,“It must be Spring,

I just saw a lady-bug

And heard a robin sing!”

March sings 🔊

March, a month of seasonal change; the herald of Spring and the summer to come.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Put up both hands with fingers spread, put fingers to lips. Undulate hands across the front of the body. . Undulate hands away from the body. Open fingers from fists upwards. 2. Put hand to ear. Rub upper arms. Put hand to side of mouth. Make fingers dance’

Hear the bare trees whisper,

Hear the wild winds blow,

Hear the white water’s race and run,

Where beds of snowdrops grow.

Hear crisp March come whistling in,

To sing out winter’s chill,

To sing in sweet Springtime’s song

And the dancing daffodils.

March wind 🔊

This origin of this poem is unknown. Tune by Dany Rosevear; I have also tweaked the words to make it less gender specific.

March wind is a jolly fellow;

It likes to joke and play.

It turns umbrellas inside out

And blows our hats away.

It calls the pussy willows

And whispers in each ear,

"Wake up you lazy little seeds,

Don't you know that spring is here?"

Mix a little sunshine 🔊

The ingredients are tiny and small in number but the outcome is a wonder.

Words by unknown. Music by Dany Rosevear.

Crouch down.Form the sun high up. Wiggle fingers downwards. Pretend to drop mixture. Jump up and form petals round face.

Mix a little sunshine

With an April shower.

Drop it in a garden bed

And up pops a flower!

Mix a pancake O

A poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-94) for Shrove Tuesday.

Mix a pancake,

Stir a pancake,

Pop it in the pan.

Fry the pancake,

Toss the pancake…

Catch it if you can!

Morning has broken 🔊

This poem titled ‘A morning song (For the first day of Spring)’ is by Eleanor Farjeon who wrote it when she was asked to make a poem to fit the traditional Scottish Gaelic tune ‘Bunessan’, the words were inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex and can be found in her collection ‘The children’s bells’ published in 1957.

Morning has broken Like the first morning,

Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird.

Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing Fresh from the world.

Sweet the rain's new fall, Sunlit from heaven,

Like the first dewfall On the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness Of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness Where those feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, Mine is the morning,

Born of the one light Eden saw play.

Praise with elation, Praise every morning,

Spring's recreation Of the new day!

Morning has broken Like the first morning,

Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird.

Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing

Fresh from the world!

My Easter bonnet 🔊

There is nothing lovelier than a genuine smile! A song for the Easter parade.

From the classic classroom song book for young children ‘Singing fun’ published in 1962. Written by Helen Wasmandorff and Lucille F. Wood.

Arranged by Dany Rosevear.

I think I'll wear for Easter

A bonnet made of lace.

But most of all I think I'll wear

A smile upon my face.

A smile upon your face?

I think I'll like that better

Than your bonnet made of lace.

My Lady Spring 🔊

A poem from ‘The book of 1,000 poems’. Music by Dany Rosevear.

My Lady Spring is dressed in green,

She wears a primrose crown,

And little baby buds and twigs

Come clinging to her gown;

The sun shines if she laughs at all,

But if she weeps the raindrops fall.

My Lady Spring. My Lady Spring!

My garden 🔊

A Spring hand play. Something to look forward to in the Summer as there is nothing lovelier than a well tended garden!

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Verse 1. Pretend to dig. 2. Make a big circle with arms. Flutter fingers downwards.

3. Let closed fist open slowly. Push fingers upward. 4. Hold up ten fingers to show flowers.

This is the way I plant my garden,

Digging, digging in the ground.

The sun shines warm and bright above it,

Gently the rain comes falling down.

This is the way the small seeds open,

Slowly the shoots begin to grow.

These are my pretty garden flowers,

Standing, standing all in a row.

Off to the wild woods 🔊

It’s Spring and the farm animals are determined to make the most of it.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

Gone, gone, gone, the grey goose is gone,

Where can the grey goose be?

She’s waddling along and is singing this song,

With goslings one, two, three.

Dance and sing …

Goose has gone off to the wild woods,

With goslings one, two and three.

Gone, gone, gone, the old pig is gone,

Where can the old pig be?

She rolls in a puddle, a mucky mud muddle,

With piglets one, two, three.

Dance and sing …

Pig has gone off for a mud bath,

With piglets one, two and three.

Gone, gone, gone, the red hen is gone,

Where can the red hen be?

She’s off where it’s warm to peck at the corn

With little chicks one, two, three.

Dance and sing …

Hen has gone off to the farmyard,

With little chicks, one, two and three.

Gone, gone, gone, the brown cow is gone,

Where can the brown cow be?

It frolics in the grass making everyone laugh,

With little calves one, two, three.

Dance and sing …

Cow has gone off to the green, green grass,

With little calves, one, two and three.

Gone, gone, gone, the farmer is gone,

Where can the farmer be?

Chasing the goose and the rest on the loose,

With children one, two and three.

Dance and sing …

Chasing the goose and the rest on the loose

With children one, two and three.

Once I was a seed 🔊

It’s Spring, time to wake up, grow and reach for the light. A life cycle song.

A dear little movement song by written by Nancy Hershatter, J123Sing@aol.com

Encourage your children to consider what plant their seed might grow into.

Accompany this song with rain sticks and / or other percussion for effect.

1. Children curl up on floor. like sleeping seeds. 2. Stretch arms and make a circle for the sun, fingers make the rain fall. 3. Then children slowly stand up, sprouting leaves and reach for sky. 4. Slowly move down to the ground and sleep.

Once I was seed,

Sleeping in the ground,

Then the sun came out,

And then the rain came down,

My leaves sprouted out

Reaching for the sky,

I grew and grew and grew,

Now I’m ten feet high!

And a little seed falls…

Down, down, down, down, down to the ground. Shhhh! It’s sleeping.

One cold and frosty morning 🔊

A traditional American song from Alabama collected by Mary McDaniel Parker.

This is a Spring version of ‘Jesse was a gentleman’ or ‘Old Jesse’.

One cold and frosty morning,

Just as the sun did rise,

A possum roared, the raccoon howled,

‘Cause he began to freeze.

He drew himself up in a knot,

With his knees up to his chin,

And everything had to clear the track

When he stretched out again.

The Spring has come, you lazy bones,

Don’t go to sleep again.

The Spring has come, you lazy bones,

Don’t go to sleep again.

One little daffodil 🔊

A daffodil fingerplay and number rhyme.

Music arranged by Dany Rosevear.

Indicate numbers with fingers and make arm and hand grow into a new daffodil. Use any other hand play oppotunities.

One little daffodil slowly grew and grew,

Out popped another, then there were two.

Two little daffodils smiling at a bee,

Out popped another, then there were three.

Three little daffodils growing by the door,

Out popped another, then there were four.

Four little daffodils, so glad to be alive,

Out popped another, then there were five.

Five little daffodils wearing golden crowns,

Dancing in the breeze in their lovely, green gowns.

One little pancake 🔊

Written by Ann Burnett to traditional music. From BBC Radio’s Northern Ireland learning programme ‘Hurley burley’.

One little pancake dropped in a pan,

Shape it into a little man,

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle till it’s done,

Turn it over and that makes one.

Another little pancake dropped in a pan,

Shape it into a little man,

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, it’s for you,

Turn it over and that makes two.

Another little pancake dropped in a pan,

Shape it into a little man,

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, it’s for me,

Turn it over and that makes three.

Another little pancake dropped in a pan,

Shape it into a little man,

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, lots make more,

Turn it over and that makes four.

Another little pancake dropped in a pan,

Shape it into a little man,

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, it looks alive,

Turn it over and that makes five.

Five little pancakes, what a treat!

Covered in jam and ready to eat.

Gobble, gobble, munch, munch, yummy, yum, yum,

Five little pancakes in my tum.

Our garden 🔊

A flower life cycle and hand play or movement song for Spring.

Adapted from a traditional English song which I have not yet found! My source is ‘The Music Box Songbook’ where it was published by Barry Gibson in 1987.

I have changed it slightly once again.

1. Plant seeds in the hand. Mime digging and pulling up weeds. Make finger rise from the fist of other hand. 2. Hands palm down move outwards. Slowly open fists together and smell. 3. Move hands downwards. Make hand first float down like snow and then wiggle fingers down for rain. Make flowers grow upwards and open.

We sowed our garden full of seeds,

We dug the soil, we pulled the weeds,

And when the seeds began to sprout,

The tiny leaves came peeping out.

And then those leaves began to spread,

They covered up our flower beds,

The flowers they opened, then they bloomed,

Our garden filled with sweet perfume.

And then the flowers fell to the ground

The snow it fell without a sound,

Soon came the frost and then the rain

Hooray! Then the flowers came back again.

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