Thursday, December 10, 2015

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



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




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.