FreshlyPlanted: Spring Circle Songs & Fingerplays

We first encountered "circle time" at the library's story time. It was amazing to watch wiggly little bodies synchronize together for ten minutes as they followed the teacher. When we began homeschooling, it was an easy way for us to begin our school-time every day.

It's been an important part of our school routine every since.

The best part has been memorizing the songs & fingerplays together! The fingerplays are handy while waiting in lines or restaurants, and singing circle songs is a fun way to ease transitions (or get a smile from a grumpy preschooler). These are new songs and fingerplays that we've added to our rotation this spring, we hope you enjoy them too!

Waldorf-Inspired Spring Songs & Fingerplays

We act this out with our hands, creating a flower during the last line with two raised hands cupped together palm to palm with fingers spread. Alternately, you could have the children crouch down, perhaps covered with a play scarf at the beginning for the "ground", then encourage them to grow "up" into flowers during the last line.

In our winter garden, seeds lie warm below,

flowers are waiting, waiting, waiting,

for the Spring to show.

We say this one as a poem, with questioning hands during the first line. The kids then sink down to sleep (or act like they're nibbling nuts) in the third line, before "waking up" in the fifth line to perform the action. They do the animal's actions for a minute or so, then we all join hands (which brings them back to circle) and twirl in a circle for the last two lines. Squirrels were originally jumping in the last verse, but Isia thought climbing would be better (smile).

Where are the froggies when the north winds blow?

We cannot see them in the ice and snow.

Deep, deep down in the mud they lie,

froggies sleeping with tight-closed eyes.

When the warm spring sun comes out,

froggies wake and jump about.

Oh how happy they will be,

a springtime world they will see!

Where are the turtles when the north winds blow?

We cannot see them in the ice and snow.

Deep, deep down in the mud they lie,

turtles sleeping with tight-closed eyes.

When the warm spring sun comes out,

turtles wake up and crawl about.

Oh how happy they will be,

a springtime world they will see!

Where are the bears when the north winds blow?

We cannot see them in the ice and snow.

Deep, deep down in a cave they lie,

baby bears sleeping with tight-closed eyes.

When the warm spring sun comes out,

bear cubs wake up and run about.

Oh how happy they will be,

a springtime world they will see!

Where are the squirrels when the north winds blow?

We cannot see them in the ice and snow.

Cracking nuts in a hollow tree,

squirrels are cozy as cozy can be.

When the warm spring sun comes out,

squirrels wake up and climb about.

Oh how happy they will be,

a springtime world they will see!

I've sang different variations of this in Waldorf circles. It's a very old folk song, but I could only find the tune here- not any videos with people singing. If you come across one, please share!

Winter goodbye, Winter goodbye

You may no longer stay,

springtime is on its way.

Winter goodbye, Winter goodbye.

This is the kids' favorite! They curl up on the floor at the beginning, like little seeds. Then I "grow" them! I "sprinkle earth" on them (line two), pat them (line three), make a wish (line four), give them sun by making a circle with my hands (line five), rain down on them by lightly tapping them with my fingers (line five), and then they grow tall into flowers with "blossoms" (two raised hands cupped together palm to palm with fingers spread). I usually get asked to "grow" them over and over again (wink).

A little seed for me to sow,

a little earth to make it grow.

A little hole, a little pat,

a little wish, and that is that.

A little sun, a little shower,

A little while, and then a flower.

Sang to the tune of "Ten Little Indians," I based this song off a similar bubble one we sang at library time. We count fingers during the first three verses, then have "raining fingers" until the last line when we make a circle "puddle" with our hands. This is a great song to whisper-sing together like a secret while waiting in line at the store.

One little, two little, three little raindrops,

Four little, five little, six little raindrops,

Seven little, eight little, nine little raindrops,

Ten little raindrops falling down!

Falling, falling, falling raindrops,

Ten little raindrops make a puddle!

A great fingerplay to lead into "A House Is a House for Me" (see below).

This is a house for robin

(make a nest with hands)

This is a hive for bee

(two fists together to make a hive)

This is a hole for bunny

(thumbs & pointers on both hands to make hole)

And this is a house for me

(arms and hands form roof overhead)

______________________

Several verses were found via The Mystical Kingdom, a great place for even more spring songs!

More everyday songs can be found here, by Sarah Baldwin (Waldorf educator, owner of Bella Luna Toys). Her "blossom" fingerplay during the mealtime blessing is how we make the flowers in the verses above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXPTN-Iw46I