Learning about how things grow is a great topic for children of all ages. Whether in a preschool, daycare, school or home environment, focusing on gardening through hands on experiences as well as through other aspects of a curriculum can be fun and educational. Singing songs about the topic only adds to the overall experience of learning about gardening and growth and the following article will provide some children action songs, creative movement ideas and lyrics on the topic.
Flower Finger Play Song
This finger play song about tulips and bulbs works well with a glove puppet and is found on a wonderful website called Make Learning Fun.
Ten tulip bulbs planted in the ground
Waiting very quiet without a sound
The sun came up and the rain came down
And one little tulip popped out of the ground.
The song continues up to five or ten with each new tulip being displayed by the puppeteer.
Children Action Songs about Gardening
A great way for children to enjoy and participate with music is to add actions to the song's lyrics. The following song about gardening can easily include actions with each verse.
To the tune of Farmer in the Dell:
The farmer plants the seeds.
The farmer plants the seeds.
High ho the derry oh,
The farmer plants the seeds.
Second Verse: The sun comes out to shine.
Third Verse: The rain begins to fall.
Fourth Verse: The seeds begin to grow.
Fifth Verse: The farmer digs them up.
This song is a rendition of "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little watering can, tall and thin
To fill me up, just pour the water in.
Tip me over, the drops sprinkle out.
"Thanks for the drink", the flowers do shout!
Creative movement with a Garden Theme
Children can participate in creative movement by listening to music and instructions. One option is to put on some instrumental music and guide the children to be seeds in the dirt by rolling into a ball on the ground. Someone else, whether the teacher, leader or friend can sprinkle rain onto the backs with light finger taps. Next, the children can slowly grow into trees or flowers with seeds, such as sunflowers. The wind will blow, and the children might turn into seeds flying throughout the air, finally landing back onto the ground.
Another option is to put on a song and let the children act out the lyrics. Raffi's song In My Garden is an excellent song for this choice.
There are many children's songs about flowers and gardening. This article provides some suggestions of children's music that correlate effectively into such a theme to be enjoyed in any early childhood setting.
Christine Moore - Early Childhood Educator, Preschool/Daycare Resources, Online Workshop Instructor, ECE, BGS
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