Monkeying Around: Songs and Fingerplays for the Wee Ones

The monkey prince Angada is

first sent to give diplomacy

one last chance

(Ravi Varma, 1910)

Since 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, I put together some fun songs and fingerplays if you plan to offer a lapsit program, or perhaps add some lightness to your PreK and Kindergarten classroom time.

At the end of this post is a link to another blog, filled with stories, and more to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.


COUNTING AND FINGERPLAYS

Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys swingin' in the tree,
teasing Mr. Alligator,
"You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Alligator sneaky as can be,
SNAP that monkey right out of that tree.

Continue with:
Four little, three little, two little one little.

No more monkeys swinging in the tree!

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up 5 fingers and bounce on other palm)
One fell off (hold up one finger)
And bumped it's head (rub head as if hurt)
Momma called the doctor (pretend to make a call)
And the doctor said "No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
(shake finger in a scolding manner)

Repeat with:
Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey...

No little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up hand in shape of a zero)
None fell off and bumped it's head (shake head)
Momma called the doctor (pretend to make a call)
And the doctor said
"Put all those little monkeys to bed!" (pretend to go to sleep)

SONGS AND MOVEMENT

Underneath the Monkey Tree (To the Tune of The Muffin Man)

Come and play awhile with me
Underneath the monkey tree
Monkey see and monkey do
Just like monkeys in the zoo!

Swing your tail one two three

Underneath the monkey tree
Monkey see and monkey do
Just like monkeys in the zoo!

Jump around and smile like me

Underneath the monkey tree
Monkey see and monkey do
Just like monkeys in the zoo!

Itsy Bitsy Monkey – (Sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider)

The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.
("Climb" up the tree, by alternating cupped hands one on top of the other in the air.)

Down came a coconut & hit him on his knee---OWWW!!!!
(Make a double fist above head & hit your knee on "ow!")

Out came a lion a-shakin' his mighty mane---ANNND---
(Frame your face with your hands, fanning fingers out for mane.
Shake head & hands. Slow down tempo on "And")

The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again!
(Increased the tempo & climb back up the tree)

Monkey with a Coconut by Geof Johnson

Monkey with a coconut was sitting in a tree.
Monkey with a coconut was making fun of me.
I told him that I'd like to have a coconut too.
He said if you want it this is what you've gotta do.

He said clap clap clap.
He said clap clap clap.

Monkey with a coconut was sitting way up high,
And the silly monkey had a twinkle in his eye.
I said I want a coconut, I'm hungry don't you see?
He said if you want it, then you've got to follow me.

He said stomp stomp stomp.
He said stomp stomp stomp.

Monkey with a coconut was sitting on a limb.
Monkey with a coconut had made me mad at him.
I said don't try to stop me, I'll leave no matter what.
He said wait a minute if you want a coconut.

He said jump jump jump.
He said jump jump jump.

Monkey with a coconut was sitting in a tree.
Monkey with a coconut had got the best of me.
I told him that I'm leaving and I've made up my mind,
He said 'fore you leave me won't you try it one more time.

He said clap clap clap.
He said clap clap clap.

http://freesongsforkids.com/audios/monkey-coconut

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up 5 fingers and bounce on other palm)
One fell off (hold up one finger)
And bumped it's head (rub head as if hurt)
Momma called the doctor (pretend to make a call)
And the doctor said "No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
(shake finger in a scolding manner)

Repeat with:
Four little monkeys...
Three little monkeys...
Two little monkeys...
One little monkey...

No little monkeys jumping on the bed (hold up hand in shape of a zero)
None fell off and bumped it's head (shake head)
Momma called the doctor (pretend to make a call)
And the doctor said
"Put all those little monkeys to bed!" (pretend to go to sleep)

Monkey See, Monkey Do

The monkey stomp, stomps, stomps his feet
The monkey stomp, stomps, stomps his feet
Monkey see, monkey do
The monkey does the same as you!

The monkey claps, claps, claps his hands
The monkey claps, claps, claps his hands
Monkey see, monkey do
The monkey does the same as you!

The monkey covers, covers, covers his eyes
The monkey covers, covers, covers his eyes
Monkey see, monkey do
The monkey does the same as you!

The monkey jumps, jumps, jumps up and down
The monkey jumps, jumps, jumps up and down
Monkey see, monkey do
The monkey does the same as you!

Note: Add additional verses (sits down, stands up, turns around, etc)

I'm a Little Monkey (Sung To: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little monkey in the tree,
Swinging by my tail so merrily
I can leap and fly from tree to tree
I have lots of fun you see.
I'm a little monkey watch me play
Munching on bananas every day
Lots of monkey friends to play with me
We have fun up in the tree.

BOOKS

Don't Wake Up Mama by Eileen Christlow

Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to do by Eileen Christlow
Monkey Do! by Allan Ahlberg
Monkey Business by Paul Stickland
Monkey Trouble by David Martin
One Monkey Too Many by Jackie Koller
Ten Monkey Jamboree by Dianne Ochiltree
What do you say when a monkey acts this way? by Jane Moncure

Book suggestions courtesy of:
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/projects/trc/2005/manual/swinging.html https://catalog.cantonpl.org/search/X?SEARCH=monkeys

STORIES

And for some stories, crafts, curriculum, and more, visit the link below, which leads to another post on my blog.

The Year of the Monkey

http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-year-of-monkey.html

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2015 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to this page  via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Exaggeration Station: Interactive Storytelling Game

The Studio
by
Sophie Anderson 1823-1903

I created a new storytelling game over the Thanksgiving holiday and yesterday was the first time I tried it out with my fourth and fifth grade storytelling students. We are in the fifth week of this storytelling residency and we have been working on voice, characterization and images. Before we played the game they completed the Story Snapshot exercise (found in my book, Story by Story) so they could flesh out details on setting, characters, and sensory details. This exercise would help them prepare for the new, interactive game, Exaggeration Station. © 2015

Details of Exaggeration Station:

I prepared a handout for the students to complete before the game. The sheet mirrored the poster boards that were placed around the room. This gave them a chance to think through their choices, rather than being put on the spot.

 

Since I was in a school library I used the book stands to hold up the poster boards on the book shelves, which were no higher than eye level. They were organized in a pattern that wove them up and down the aisles so the children were able to move through the game. The students were allowed to bring the paper they completed with them. At each station they were instructed to exaggerate the gesture, dialogue, word, etc. listed on each individual poster. The goal was to help them step out of their comfort zone and in doing so, perhaps find a new voice or vocal range, confident gestures for their stories, and of course, to have fun!

I stood at the front of the line to ensure the students didn’t bunch up in one spot, giving each storyteller a measure of privacy. Tandem tellers moved through each station separately so they could work on their own voice.

Below are the posters I designed for the game.

 

The game went well and I was surprised that any chaos was kept to a minimum. They had a great time and commented that it was fun to raise their voice in the library! One of my students is particularly shy so I let her go last, walking with her, encouraging her along the way. She began to relax and was able to accomplish each task as we moved through the stations.

A few student reflections after we finished Exaggeration Station:

• I found a new voice for the old woman when she transformed into the fairy.
• I decided to use a stronger gesture for the king.
• It was fun making the mouse sound really loud!
• I always have trouble being loud but this helped me find my voice.

Afterwards, we followed up with the exercise, Walk the Talk, also found in Story by Story, and they were able to incorporate some of the new tools they discovered in Exaggeration Station. After they have worked on their stories a bit longer I will repeat the game and see what new ideas bubble to the surface.
You are free to try this game with your students in your work, however, you may not publish this in any form without permission or attribution. If you do use it I would be delighted if you would let me know how it worked for you.

Karen Chace 2015 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

The Year of the Monkey

The Monkeys and Their Mother
from The Fables of Aesop
by
Edward Detmold, 1909

The Year of the Monkey arrives on February 4, 2016, however, the Chinese New Year Day is on February 8, 2016. This is because Chinese New Year is from Chinese Lunar calendar. Chinese Zodiac signs are from Chinese Astrology Calendar. The Year 2016 is the 4713th Chinese year. It's a Red Monkey year.

Occupying the 9th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Monkey is:

·         curious

·         mischievous
·         clever
·         playful
·         intellectual
·         creative



The above information was found at the links below:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/monkey.htm
http://www.chinesezodiac.com/monkey.php

The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac
http://www.chinesehoroscopeonline.com/zodiac/Legend.htm

 

 

STORIES

The Dragonflies and the Monkeys – Philippines
http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2014/5/18/the-dragonflies-and-the-monkeys-a

The Frog and the Black-Handed Monkey - Africa

http://folktales.webmanila.com/folktales/animals/?monkeys

The Birds and the Shivering Monkeys - India
http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/hitopadesha-tales/birds-and-shivering-monkeys.html

The Elephant and the Monkey - India

http://www.fairystory.org/classic-oriental-fairy-tales/the-elephant-and-the-monkey.html

The First Monkey - Philippines

http://folktales.webmanila.com/folktales/animals/?monkeys

How the Monkeys Saved the Fish – Tanzania
http://www.afriprov.org/african-stories-by-season/14-animal-stories/67-how-the-monkeys-saved-the-fish.html

The Hyena, the Monkey, and the Hare – Chad
http://www.tchad.org/research/folktales.html#monkey

They Jelly Fish and the Monkey - Japan
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/72/japanese-fairy-tales/4842/the-jelly-fish-and-the-monkey/

The Monkeys and the Bell – India
http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/hitopadesha-tales/monkey-and-the-bell.html

The Monkey and the Crocodile – India
http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/panchatantra-tales/monkey-and-crocodile.html

 
The Monkey and the Lion – Bahrain
http://leverettfolktales.blogspot.com/2012/06/monkey-and-lion.html

The Monkeys and Their Mother - Aesop
http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheMonkeysandTheirMother

The Monkey and the Turtle – Philippines
http://tagaloglang.com/Philippine-Literature/Filipino-Folktales/the-monkey-and-the-turtle.html

The Monkeys Go Fasting - India

http://dimdima.com/khazana/stories/showstory.asp?q_cat=Indian+Folk+Tales

The Monkey’s Fiddle – South Africa
http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/saft/sft05.htm

The Monkey’s Paw – W.W. Jacobs
http://americanliterature.com/author/w-w-jacobs/short-story/the-monkeys-paw

The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab - Japan

http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/72/japanese-fairy-tales/4848/the-quarrel-of-the-monkey-and-the-crab/

Why the Banana’s Belong to the Monkey – Brazil
http://www.worldoftales.com/South_American_folktales/South_American_Folktale_16.html

Why Monkeys Mean Trouble – India
http://www.pitara.com/fiction-for-kids/folktales/why-monkeys-mean-trouble/

 

ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS AND CURRICULUM

DLTK-KIDS – More crafts than a bunch of bananas!

http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/jungle-monkeys.html

Danielle’s Place – Crafts, activities, curriculum and bulletin board ideas.

http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/monkey-crafts-learning-activities.html

First Palette – Printable monkey mask.

http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/monkeymask.html

First School – Monkey Preschool Lesson Plans

http://www.first-school.ws/activities/animals/wild/monkeys.htm

Making Learning Fun – Teach your students their ABC’s with this fun monkey clothesline.

http://www.makinglearningfun.com/images/Activities/MonkClotheslineMonkeysABCBW.pdf

 

BOOKS

Listopia – Best Children’s Books About Monkeys and Apes

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/28431.Best_Children_s_Books_About_Monkeys_and_Apes

 

RECIPES

24 Monkey Bread Recipes
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lincolnthompson/this-isnt-monkey-business#.ycgdJzqqp

 

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

 

Karen Chace 2015 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

 

Bears and Hibernation: Fun for the Little Ones

She Kissed the Bear on the Nose
by
John Bauer 1882-1918

Winter is a time of hibernation for many animals, including bears. If you are planning a lapsit program for our littlest listeners, here are a few ideas to help you on your way. These fingerplays and songs are found all over the Internet with no attribution, except for the Teddy Bears Picnic, published in 1907 by John Walter Bratton; it is now in the public domain.  Have fun with the wee ones!

 

SONG

Little Bear
Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping little bear
You will sleep all winter
Through the cold, cold winter, little bear
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, little bear
You will wake in springtime, in the warm, warm springtime, little bear, little bear

 

FINGERPLAY

Here is a Cave
Here is a cave. (bend fingers to form cave)
Inside is a bear. (put thumb inside fingers)
Now he comes out. (thumb out)
To get some fresh air.
He stays out all summer in sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest for berries to eat. (move thumb in circle)
When snow starts to fall he hurries inside.  (thumb goes back in fist)
His warm little cave and there he will hide.
Snow covers the cave like a fluffy white rug. (cover with other hand)
Inside the bear sleeps all cozy and snug.

STRETCH

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around  (stand up and turn around once)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground (bend knees and touch ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your shoe (touch shoe)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, that will do (bow from waist)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, march upstairs (march in place)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers (fold hands in prayer)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around (turn once)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit back down  (sit down again)

The Teddy Bear’s Picnic Song

If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Every teddy bear, that's been good
Is sure of a treat today
There's lots of wonderful things to eat
And wonderful games to play

Beneath the trees, where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic


HIBERNATION RESOURCES

Bright Hub Education: K-1: Hibernation

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/preschool-lesson-plans/126789-teaching-about-hibernation/

Scholastic.com – Hibernation Facts
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/fun-hibernation-facts

Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds – Hibernating Bears in Preschool
http://teaching2and3yearolds.com/hibernating-bears-in-preschool/

 

BOOKS

Bear and Hibernation Books for Preschool

http://www.pre-kpages.com/bears-hibernation-theme-preschool/


FOLKTALES AND MORE

 

And if you are seeking some stories to share, curriculum and craft ideas, and more, head over to my blog from February of 2015.

The Bear Essentials: Folktales of Polar Bears and Their Cousins
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-bear-essentials-folktales-of-polar.html

 

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

 

Karen Chace 2015 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Stor e Telling: October November December 2014: Storytelling and Play

Ring Around the Rosie
by
Edward Henry Potthast
1910-1915

The theme for this issue of the National Storytelling Networks Storytelling Magazine was storytelling and play; I shared some sites to bring storytelling, learning and fun into the classroom every year. There is information on writing prompts, lesson plans for Aesop, Animal Tales, Trickster Tales, and American Folklore and more.

If you are seeking information on how storytelling connects with the Common Core, YES (Youth, Education and Storytellers) has you covered with a comprehensive, downloadable document full of information to make your case!

And because play is important in the classroom to spice up the day, there are icebreakers and games to energize your students, and you!

ABC Teach - A number of ideas and links for story writing prompts on a variety of subjects and age levels.
http://www.abcteach.com/directory/subjects-language-arts-writing-writing-prompts-1845-2-1

Aesop and Ananse: Animal Fables and Trickster Tales – These lesson plans students will help students “become familiar with fables and trickster tales from different cultural traditions…”

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/aesop-and-ananse-animal-fables-and-trickster-tales

Education World.com - Lesson plans on Ten Characters from American Folklore, Pecos Bill, Daniel Boone, Johnny Appleseed, and more.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/02/lp279-04.shtml 

Exploring World Cultures Through Folk Tales - Students will gain an appreciation of other cultures as they read and research folktales from around the world and present their story and research to the class.
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/exploring-world-cultures-through-91.html
 
Fables and Trickster Tales From Around the World - Lesson plans, information and stories, everything you need to introduce your students to those globe-trotting tricksters, Anansi, Brer Rabbit, Fox, and Rabbit.
http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/fables-and-trickster-tales-around-world

 
Myth Writing Workshop - Author Jane Yolen will help your student write a story that will explain a natural phenomenon using writing strategies and warm-up activities.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/mythswshop_index.htm

Once Upon a Time - Lessons for Teaching About Fables, Fairy Tales, Folktales, Legends, Myths, Tall Tales.  
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson279.shtml   

Storytelling and Drama – Carol Read shares how to “incorporate story-based lessons and drama activities into the English-language classroom.”
http://www.onestopenglish.com/children/stories-and-poems/storytelling-and-drama/

Storytelling and the Common Core Standards – This document, offered by the National Storytelling YES (Youth, Education and Storytellers) Alliance, will be invaluable to any storyteller who works with teachers and the Core Curriculum.

http://yesalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/STandCCS-June2012.pdf

Storytelling in the First Three Years – Important article from The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families.  In part it states, “The richer the repertoire of story telling styles a child is exposed to, the more possibilities for that child to develop his or her own powerful narrative voice…” There are additional resources on literacy, play, brain development and more.

http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/early-language-literacy/the-emergence-of-storytelling.html

Storytelling, Story Acting and Literacy in the Boston Public Schools – Fascinating interview about the program, Boston Listens, “based on Vivian Paley’s innovative storytelling and story-acting approach.”

http://www.journalofplay.org/sites/www.journalofplay.org/files/pdf-articles/6-2-interview-storytelling-story-acting-and-literacy_0.pdf

Icebreakers and Games

Drama Source – This UK site was created for drama teachers but there are games, strategies and lesson plans that will be helpful to storytellers as well.

http://dramaresource.com/

Education World.com - Fourteen icebreakers to make the first day of school run smooth as silk. They would be fun to use throughout the year as well. 

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson074.shtml

Kim’s Korner - Icebreakers and energizers to liven up the classroom!

http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/classmanagement/icebreakers.html

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and web links may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2015 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.