Fingerplay Friday: More Thanksgiving Fingerplays

This is a good one to do for those of you who serve turducken!

Mr. Duck and Mr. Turkey

Mr. Duck went out to walk, (Hold up a thumb)

One day in pleasant weather.

He met Mr. Turkey on the way (Hold up other thumb)

And there they walked together (Move thumbs together and simulate walking)

Gobble, gobble, gobble (Wiggle one thumb)

Quack, quack, quack (Wiggle the other)

Goodbye, goodbye (Wiggle both thumbs)

And then they both walked back (Move thumbs apart)

Friday Fingerplays: Thanksgiving Fingerplays (and a song!)

A smorgasboard of Thanksgiving fingerplays today...

Funny Bird

A turkey is a funny bird
His head goes bobble, bobble (Bob head)
And all he knows is just one word (Hold up 1 finger. You can also pause and ask kids if they know what the word is)
Gobble, gobble, gobble!

I'm a Turkey -- Can be sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle

I'm a turkey, big and fat. (Spread arms out.)
I spread my tail. I walk like that. (Fan fingers like a turkey's tail; Waddle.)
Each day's corn I will not miss, (Rub stomach.)
And when I talk, I sound like this: (Point to lips; Cup hand next to ear.)
GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! (Shout.)

If You're Happy Thankful and You Know It--Sing to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"
If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"

If you're thankful and you know it, do all three.
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three.

Friday Fingerplays: Autumn

When the Leaves Are on the Ground

When the leaves are on the ground (point to floor)

Instead of on the trees (Lift arms overhead like a tree)

I rake a pile of them (Pretend to rake)

Way up to my knees (Put hands on knees)

I like to run and jump in them (Jump)

And kick the leaves all around (Kick)

Then I fall, down on the ground (Sit down)

Friday Fingerplays: Autumn

Here's a fingerplay that talks about the Fall season.

Leaves are floating gently down (Arms go up and down to simulate floating)

They make a carpet on the ground (Sweep arms down to point to feet)

They swish, the wind comes whooshing by (Make whooshing sound and continue to wave arms)

And sends them dancing to the sky (Flutter fingers up above head)

Friday Fingerplays: Halloween Fingerplays (An English and Spanish Fingerplay!)

We've been doing this week's finger play all month and really enjoying it. I've included the Spanish version as well for those who are looking for bilingual fingerplays.



There is also a book based on this fingerplay that might be fun to read as well.

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a fence (Hold up all five fingers over opposite forearm to mimic sitting on a fence)

The first one says "Oh my it's getting late" (Pantomime looking at watch or point to clock in the room)

The second one says: "There are witches in the air" (Point to the sky)

The third one says: "But we don't care" (Shrug)

The fourth one says: "Let's run and run and run" (turn in a circle)

The fifth one says: "I'm ready for some fun!"

Whooooosh! Goes the wind. (Wave hands like the wind)

Out goes the light (Give a loud clap)

Five little pumpkins rolling out of sight (roll hands and hide behind back)

The Spanish finger play version is below and the actions are the same as outlined above. (Desculpa la falta de acentos.)

Cinco Calabacitas

Cinco calabacitas sentadas en un porton.

La primera dijo: Se esta haciendo tarde"

La segunda dijo: "Hay brujas en el aire"

La tercera dijo: "No le hace"

La cuarta dijo:"Corramos, corramos"

La quinta dijo: "Es una noche de espanto"

Uuuuuuuu hizo el viento.

Y se apagaron las luces.

Las cinco calabacitas, corrieron a esconderse!

Friday Fingerplays: What Am I?

Here is a Halloween themed fingerplay for your little ones.

What Am I?

A face so round (Hands in a circle)

And eyes so bright (Point to eyes)

A nose that glows (Point to nose)

My, what a sight!

A fiery mouth (Point to mouth)

With a jolly grin (Grin)

No arms, no legs (shake legs and arms)

Just head to chin (touch forehead and chin)

What am I?

A Jack-O-Lantern!

CHEAP TODDLER ACTIVITIES: TODDLER HALLOWEEN CRAFT & A BOOK

We have been reading Where is Baby's Pumpkin by Karen Katz on a daily basis over here. The constant exposure triggered some primordial craft genes to express themselves and, if I do say so myself, this is a decent craft/book tie-in for the younger toddler. Also, it doesn't tax my quite limited crafting skills. Another plus is you can s-t-r-e-t-c-h this one out over the course of several days.

All you need are:

1. Construction paper in a variety of autumn/halloween colors
2. Halloween stickers
3. Crayons
4. Watercolor paints or other paints
5. Scissors (for mommy)
6.Glue (for mommy)

The modus operandi here is mommy cuts out the basic shape of items featured in the book (pumpkin, ghost, witch hat, bats etc... Although just do one at a time!) and allows the toddler to color or paint them followed by liberal application of holiday stickers.

Then mommy glues whatever needs to be glued (if she hasn't done it already) and sticks the art work on the wall.

The next time you read 'Where is Baby's Pumpkin' you refer back to the craft project 'Hey, look, there's the pumpkin we made' etc...

Here are some pics of the creative process...