Action Rhymes

Five Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed

[hold hand in a fist with fingers wrapped around thumb]

One grew, two grew, so did all the rest

[put thumb and fingers up one by one]

They grew and grew

[raise hand in the air very slowly]

And did not stop,

Until one day

The pod went POP!

[clap hands together]

Hickory Dickory Dock

(Clap your hands to the beat)
Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck two
And down he flew,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck three
And he did flee,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck four,
He hit the floor,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck five,
The mouse took a dive,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck six,
That mouse, he split,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck seven,
8, 9, 10, 11,
Hickory Dickory dock.
Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
As twelve bells rang,
The mousie sprang,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
“Why scamper?” asked the clock,
“You scare me so
I have to go!
Hickory Dickory dock.

Icky Bicky Soda Cracker

(Sit on the floor to do this.)
Icky, bicky, soda cracker
[bounce to the rhythm]
Icky, bicky, boo!
[lean forward on “boo”]
Icky, bicky, soda cracker
[bounce to the rhythm]
UP goes you!
[lift baby up]
Icky, bicky, soda cracker
[bounce to the rhythm]
Icky, bicky, boo!
[lean forward on “boo”]
Icky, bicky, soda cracker
[bounce to the rhythm]
I love you!
[hug baby]

I'm A Little Teapot

I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
[one hand on hip]
Here is my spout
[other arm out straight]
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout “Tip me over and pour me out!”
[lean over toward spout]

I’m a clever teapot,
Yes it’s true
Here let me show you
What I can do
I can change my handle
And my spout
[switch arm positions]
Just tip me over and pour me out!
[lean over toward spout]

Mother And Father And Uncle John

Mother and Father and Uncle John
Went to town, one by one.
[bounce baby on your knees]
Mother fell off!
[lean baby to the left]
Father fell off!
[lean baby to the right]
But Uncle John went on and on and on and on!
[bounce baby until you are tired!]

One Bright Scarf

One bright scarf waiting for the wind to blow

[hold scarf in your hand]

Wiggle it high

[wiggle scarf above your head]

Wiggle it low

[wiggle scarf by your knees]

Shake it fast

[wiggle the scarf quickly]

Shake it slow

[wiggle the scarf slowly]

[Hide the scarf behind your back]

Where did it go?

[After a short pause, bring the scarf out and throw it up into the air]

Open, Shut Them

Open, shut them

[open hands and then close them]

Open, shut them

[open hands and then close them]

Give a little clap.

[clap hands together]

Open, shut them

[open hands and then close them]

Open, shut them

[open hands and then close them]

Lay them in your lap!

[place hands on lap]

Creep them, creep them

[crawl fingers up toward face slowly]

Creep them, creep them

[crawl fingers up toward face slowly]

Right up to your chin.

[place fingers on chin]

Open up your little mouth

[open mouth wide]

But do not let them in.

[hide fingers behind back]

Ride The Horse

Galloping, galloping, ride to town,
[bounce baby on your knees, baby facing forward]
Galloping, galloping up and down.
[bounce baby]
Galloping fast
[bounce baby quickly]
Galloping slow
[bounce baby slowly]
Galloping, galloping,
[bounce baby]
Baby says, “WHOA!”
[dip baby backwards gently towards yourself]

Rooster Crows

(Sit on the floor to do this.)
One, two, three, baby’s on my knee.
[bounce baby on your outstretched knees]
Rooster crows and UP baby goes!
[lift baby up high]
One, two, three, baby’s on my knee.
[bounce baby on your outstretched knees]
Rooster crows and DOWN baby goes!
[open legs and gently drop baby to floor]
One, two, three, baby’s on my knee
[bounce baby on your outstretched knees]
Rooster crows and OVER baby goes!
[lean baby over to the side]

Snake

(To act like a snake your child can hold their arms out in front of their body and then bring the palms of their hands together. When they move their hands from side to side they will look like a slithering snake. They can also slither their whole body across the floor on their stomachs to act like snakes.)

The sneaky, slithery, slippery snake,

Slips through the grasses,

Making them shake—SSSSSSSSS!

Trot Trot To Boston

Trot trot to Boston,
[bounce baby on knee, facing you]
Trot trot to Lynn,
[bounce a little faster]
Trot trot over the bridge,
[lift baby up]
But don’t fall in!
[tip baby to the side]

Pat-a-Cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake [pat lap, then hands, to a beat. Repeat for duration of song, until otherwise described]
Baker’s man
Bake me a cake
As fast as you can
Roll it [roll hands in forward rolling motion over each other]
Pat it [pat hands on lap quickly]
And mark it with a “B”
And put it in the oven for baby and me [pretend to toss]

Where is Thumbkin?

Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin?

Here I am [Bring right hand to front, with thumb up]

Here I am. [Bring left hand to front, with thumb up]

How are you this morning? Very well, I thank you. [Wiggle thumbs as if they’re ‘talking’ to each other]