Preschoolers love music activities and what better way to incorporate music than with songs that get these young children moving with action steps or activities. Here are some favorite action preschooler songs for you to teach your pre-k kids.
London Bridge is Falling Down Song Lyrics and Motions
The words and tune are very familiar, but the preschool song has action steps that go with it for a wonderful, fun activity that came be played indoors or outdoors.
Verse:
London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady
Chorus:
Take the key and lock her (him) up, lock her up, lock her up.
Take the key and lock her up, my fair lady (fellow).
As you sing each verse, the teacher and one student, or two adults if possible, can stand facing each other with their hands clasped and arms up – making a bridge that the kids can go under. The children circle around one of the teachers and move under the bridge through the entire verse. on the end “my fair lady” the arms are brought down to ‘trap’ whichever child is underneath at the time. If it’s a boy say, “my fair fellow”.
During the chorus, gently move the arms back and forth bouncing the child from side to side as though they are locked in a prison. Be gentle and make it lots of fun.
Other London Bridge verses include:
Build it up with iron bars, iron bars, iron bars
Build it up with iron bars, my fair lady.
Iron bars will bend and sway, bend and sway, bend and sway
Iron bars will bend and sway, my fair lady.
Ring Around the Rosy Action Preschooler Song Lyrics and Motions
This is a huge favorite with my kids, and with many pre-k age children I would guess. If you haven’t tried playing this yet, it’s a ton of fun.
Lyrics:
Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posy
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
All the kids hold hands in a big circle. As they chant or sing the words of the song, the preschoolers circle around and around, still clasping hands. When they get to the word “down”, all the kids release their hands and “fall down”. They love to tumble down and roll around n the floor for awhile, before getting up and trying again.
I like to use the song as a chance to teach”left” and “right” by alternating directions of the circle and making sure to tell the kids which way we are going when we start. The repetition of practicing directions through the song is helpful for them to remember the words in a physical, kinesthetic learning way.
All Around the Mulberry Bush (or Pop Goes the Weasel) Song Lyrics and Motion
A funny song with hilarious characters, preschoolers tend to enjoy this song a lot.
All around the mulberry bush,
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought ’twas all in fun,
Pop! Goes the weasel.
A penny for a spool of thread,
A penny for a needle.
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! Goes the weasel.
Verse 1 starts with all the kids in a circle, similar to Ring Around the Rosy. When it gets to “Pop!” have all the kids clap their hands together and jump around so they are facing outside the circle.
Verse 2 when it says “a penny for a spool of thread” all the children turn back around and put one hand in towards the middle of the circle. “A penny for a needle” has all the preschoolers putting their other hand in towards the middle of the circle. Then they shake their hands on “that’s the way the money goes” with another clap and half-turn jump on the last line!
These action songs for preschoolers are a fun way to break up seat work and other learning activities by keeping kids active and moving.
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AngEngland
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