Winter
songs
Peter,
Peter Penguin
Sing
a song of winter
Sleigh
ride
Snowdrops,
snowdrops
Snowman
Song
of the dragon
Sounds
of Winter
The
Snowkey Pokey
The
sky bears had a pillow fight
Tiny
little snowflakes
To a
snowflake
Up in
the morning early
Way
up high in the winter sky
We
sing of the polar bear
Who
loves the trees best?
Who
loves the winter?
Who saw the footprints in the snow?
Willows in the snow
Winter goodbye!
Winter is cold
Winter joys
Wrap up warmly for winter
Also see:
Five little men made out
of snow
And the YouTube playlist: Winter
songs and poems
Last updated: 1/4/2021
11:51 AM
The songs below are part of ‘Away we
go’ compiled, adapted and
illustrated 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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for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the
licence terms of this work
·
any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright
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Your fair use and other
rights are no way affected by the above. |
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Peter,
Peter Penguin O
A movement song for winter. |
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Peter, Peter Penguin, marching by, march in place Toes turned out and head held high; waddle with feet at ten to
two, lift chin with finger A long black coat stroke downwards And a clean white vest, thumbs to chest and sway Peter, Peter Penguin, you're the best! waddle then put up thumb |
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This song
is based on the poem written in 1844 by Lydia Maria Child who was a women and American Indian rights activist, reformer, writer
and speaker. It was originally sung at Thanksgiving but is popular throughout
the Christmas season. There are other verses and the
original goes to ‘grandfather’s’ house. |
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Over the river, and through the wood, To Grandmother's house we go; The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh, Through the white and drifted snow, oh! Over the river, and through the wood, Oh, how the wind does blow! It stings the toes and bites the nose, As over the ground we go. Over the river, and through the wood, With a clear blue winter sky, The dogs do bark, and children hark, As we go jingling by. Over the river, and through the wood, Trot fast, my dapple-gray! Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound! For 'tis Thanksgiving Day. Over the river, and through the wood, Now Grandmother's cap I spy! Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie! |
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Sing a
song of winter 🔊
Never mind the weather, wrap up
warmly and get outside. |
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Sing a song of winter, Fog and wind and rain, Ice and frost and snowflakes, Falling down again; Never mind the shivers, Jump and run and slide, Hats and coats and gloves and scarves, Will keep us warm outside! |
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I have used this song from BBC radio’s
Music Box in the past to accompany a Russian dance in a wintry Nativity play.
Make jingly sounds with percussion
instruments or find metallic bits and bobs to make tinkly sounds such as
bottle tops and coins in a container to accompany the song. |
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Galloping across the plains Racing in the moonlight, Hoof beats sounding o’er the snow And all the sleigh bells ringing. Hoof beats sounding o’er the snow Just listen to the bells – Hey! |
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Snowdrops,
snowdrops O
A lovely rhyme for the first
flowers of the year. As I was not able to find the tune
I have put to music myself. |
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Snowdrops, snowdrops, little drops of snow, What will you do when the cold winds blow? We’ll hide our little heads and say “Cold wind, cold wind, go away!” Snowdrops, snowdrops, dressed in green and white, What will you do when the sun shines bright? We ring our little bells and sing: “Tingaling, tingaling, here comes spring.” |
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Snowman 🔊
A very simple
winter hand play. |
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Once I was a snowball, Then I grew and grew, Now I am a snowman, “How do you do?” |
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Song of
the dragon 🔊
A song for the Chinese New Year. Arranged by Dany Rosevear. Make a large dragon made out of sheets with a box head. Children dance
under this in a wiggly line singing this song to the sound of cymbals and
drums. |
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See the dragon come on a hundred legs! He brings us all good cheer; Him we do not fear! Long life and peace and joy In the bright new year! |
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Sounds
of Winter 🔊
Loud, soft and quiet sounds. Change is once again in the air. A second seasonal song about sound. Words and music by Dany Rosevear. This could easily be
accompanied by percussion instruments. |
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Winter sang its songs for me, it sang its songs for you, The cold wind whistled loud and shrill, “Whoo-ooo-ooo!” The snow came whirling, swirling down, “Hist, hist, hist!” It piled up softly on the ground, “Drift, drift, drift!” Children snuggled in their beds and gently snored. As windows rattled and the wind knocked at the door. Outside there came a-tinkling of merry windblown chimes, Then through oaken woods it howled while whisp’ring through the pines. Booted footsteps in the snow crunched and squeaked, And puddles with their icy crust cracked and creaked. Hungry robin came to feed, “Tweet, tweet, tweet!” Then blackbird, bluetit, finch flew in “Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!” Chickadee made scolding calls and puffed its little wings, “We thank you for our winter feast!” just hear them sing. The children came, played snowball games, in whumpfy rounds, Shaped angel twins with feathered wings on the ground. Winter sang a song for us, it sang with frosty glee, The children whirled and twirled and laughed, joyfully! But silence is cold winter’s treat on a snowy moonlit night, Just listen: SHHH! there is no sound and all is quiet. |
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The sky
bears had a pillow fight O
A song to sing in wonder and
amazement as light dawns; save especially for the first snowfall of the year.
Second verse by Dany Rosevear; make up your own verses to include other snowy
day activities. |
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Oh, it snowed last night, It snowed last night, The sky bears had a pillow fight, They tore up every cloud in sight, And tossed down all the feathers white. Oh, it snowed last night, It snowed last night, Yes, it snowed last night! Oh, it snowed last night, It snowed last night, We woke to see the garden white, And ran outside in such delight, Quite ready for a snowball fight. Oh, it snowed last night, It snowed last night, Yes, it snowed last night! |
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The Snowkey Pokey 🔊
A winter
warmer action song; get moving and keep those chills away. Identify left
and right. Works well
with a winter clothing theme, jst add more items. 1.& 2. Put gloved hand forward then back. 3.
Shake hand vigorously. 4. With one hand on top of the other seesaw elbows and
turn around shivering and clutching arms. 5. Put hand to mouth and shout
“Brrrr!” Throw out hands. Verse 2.- 4. as before. Verse 5, Jump forward and
back then as before. |
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You put your right mitten in,
you take your right mitten out, You put your right mitten in and
you shake it all about; You do the Snowkey Pokey and you
shiver and you shout: BRRRR! That’s what it’s all
about – SNOW! You put your left mitten in… You put your right boot in… You put your left boot in… You put your whole self in… |
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Tiny
little snowflakes 🔊
Words and music by Mrs.
Ida M. Budd published 1897. I have only sung the first three
verses as the last one sounds a bit too Victorian for today’s children who,
thankfully, are allowed to enjoy play in their early years. |
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Tiny little snow-flakes, Sailing thro’ the air, Where can you be going? Will you tell me where? From your cloudland harbour, Downward drifting slow, Like a fleet of fairy sails, On and on you go. Chorus Merry little snowflakes How you dance and play, Just like happy children On a holiday. Rushing fast and faster, Skipping here and there; Have you any work to do In the wint’ry air? Busy little snowflakes, Now your work I’ve found, Weaving soft white carpets For the cold, hard ground; Folding all the wheat fields In your blankets deep, Keeping them all safe and warm, For their winter sleep. Happy little snow-flakes, Turning work to play, I have learned a lesson, Watching you today; If I do my duty Faithfully and true, Work will seem like play, and I Shall be glad as you. |
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To a snowflake 🔊
From the
German by Emile Poulsson; from the book ‘Songs of a little child’s day’
published 1910. Music by Dany Rosevear
as the original tune was a little tricky! |
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Oh, little frosty snowflake, So lightly floating by, A long, long way you travel In coming from the sky. Come rest upon our window; How could you float so far? We children love to see you, You pretty filmy star! |
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Up in the morning early 🔊
A winter song
and poem from Scotland. This song by Robert Burns was written in 1788. |
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Cauld blaws the wind frae east
to west, The drift is driving sairly; Sae loud and shill's I hear the
blast I'm sure it's winter fairly. Up in the morning's no for me, Up in the morning early; When a' the hills are covered
wi' snaw, I'm sure it's winter fairly. The birds sit chittering in the
thorn, A' day they fare but sparely; And lang's the night frae e'en
to morn I'm sure it's winter fairly Up in the morning's no for me, Up in the morning early; When a' the hills are covered
wi' snaw, I'm sure it's winter fairly. |
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Way up high in the winter sky 🔊
A winter hand
play to a familiar tune (Up on the rooftop). Line 1. Raise hands above head, squeeze arms. 2.
Point up with two fingers then hand to brow. 3. Flutter hands down to ground.
4. Turn hands in circle with hands fluttering all about. 5. Flutter hands
down to ground. 6. Spread hands apart with wiggley fingers. 7. Hands cloak
everything. 8. Put finger to mouth. |
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Way up high in the winter sky, Two little snowflakes caught my
eye; Down to the ground they fell
without a sound, And before very long, it was
snowing all around. The snow fell softly all through
the night, It made a blanket soft and
white; It covered houses, flowers and
ground, But never made a single sound. Shhhhhhhhhh! |
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We sing
of the polar bear O
Long live the ice and snow to keep
the diminishing number of polar bears happy. To find more about the origins of
this song and other versions visit: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=71179 |
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We sing of the polar bear fearless and bold. He never feels hot and he never feels cold, Because where he lives summer never occurs, And the rest of the year he wears plenty of furs. Tooralee, tooralay, The ice and the snow keep him happy all day. We sing of the polar bear fearless and bold. He never feels hot and he never feels cold, He dives in the water with a splash! and a splish! Catching silvery fish it’s his favourite dish. Toora lee, toora lay, The ice and the snow keep him happy all day. |
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Who loves the trees best? 🔊
A song of the
seasons. A poem by Alice May Douglas 1865 – 1943. Music by Dany
Rosevear. |
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Who loves the trees best? “I,” said the spring, “Their leaves so beautiful To them I bring.” Who loves the trees best? “I,” summer said, “I give them blossoms, White, yellow, red.” Who loves the trees best? “I,” said the fall, “I give luscious fruits, Bright tints to all!” Who loves the trees best? “I love them best,” Harsh winter answered, “I give them rest.” |
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Who saw the footprints
in the snow? O
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Willows in the snow 🔊
Based on a
Japanese haiku by Tsuru. Music by Dany
Rosevear. |
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The willows hanging low, Shake from their long and
trailing skirts The freshly fallen snow. |
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Winter goodbye! 🔊
In hope. A song from
Germany for late Winter. |
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Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye! Gone is the ice and snow, Flowers will soon start to grow, Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye! You may no longer stay; Springtime is on it’s way, Winter goodbye! Winter goodbye! |
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Winter is cold 🔊
Love the words
of this rhyme but despite research, have no idea of their origin. Music and
second part by Dany Rosevear. Line 1. Hug yourself and shiver. 2. Wiggle fingers downwards.
3. Pretend to gather nuts. 4. Cross hands at wrist and flap. 5. Fingers to
head as ears. 6. Stroke arms. 7. Form cave over head, 8. Hands to cheek. 2nd
part: Hands to cheek. Stretch arms. Open and close thumb and finger. Jump up
and dance. |
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There is snow in the sky, The squirrel gathers nuts And the wild geese fly; The little red fox, Has his fur to keep warm, The bear's in her cave, Sleeping all through the storm. Sleep, sleep, deep sleep, all winter long, Wake up in the Spring, for the little birds sing, Jump up and join in with their song. |
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Winter joys 🔊
A poem for
Winter by Dorothy Graddon. Music by Dany
Rosevear. |
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White stars falling gently, Softly down to earth, Red fires burning brightly In the warm and cosy hearth. White trees changed to
elfin-land, By red sun's dazzling glow, Little robin redbreasts Hopping in the snow. Happy children's voices, Shouting loud with glee, Oh! the joys of winter Are wonderful to me. |
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