Crawl Space Fingerplays:

Rhymes, Songs & Short Stories

Fingerplays are important…..

The seemingly simple act of combining movement with a simple
rhyme or song can have an impact in many areas of development of
very young children. While listening to the rhyme the child is
learning about the rhythm, sounds and flow of language. Fingerplays
and action songs are also a time for a child and caregiver to give each
other one on one attention which develops social skills and
attachment.

As children get older they can imitate the movements which helps
develop motor skills. Best of all they are fun and easy to do anywhere
– on the changing table, in the bath, while standing in line at the store.

Compiled by
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
July 2010
 Fingerplay Rhymes

Five Little Fingers (hold up index finger)

One little finger standing on its own.
(hold up middle finger)
Two little fingers, now they’re not alone.
(hold up ring finger)
Three little fingers happy as can be.
(hold up all fingers)
Four little fingers go walking down the
street.
Five little fingers.
(hold up four fingers and thumb)
This one is a thumb.
(wave bye-bye)
Wave bye-bye ‘cause now we are done.

Here Are My Ears

Here are my ears
(point to ears)
Here is my nose
(point to nose)
Here are my fingers
(show fingers on hand and wiggle them)
Here are my toes
(point to toes)
Here are my eyes
(point to eyes)
Both open wide
(with hands make open wide motion)
Here is my mouth
(point to mouth)
With white teeth inside
(smile and show “white teeth”)
Here is my tongue
(point to mouth/tongue)
That helps me speak
Here is my chin
(point to chin)
And here are my cheeks
(point to cheeks)
Here are my hands
(wave hands)
That help me play
Here are my feet
(point to feet/stomp/walk/making stepping
For walking today
motions)

Here Is a House
Here is a house built up high,
(stretch arms up touching fingertips like
With two tall chimneys reaching the sky.
a roof)
Here are the windows.
(stretch arms up separately)
Here is the door.
(make a square shape with your hands)
If we peep inside
(knock)
We’ll see a mouse on the floor.
(move fingers like a running mouse)
Here Is the Sea
Here is the sea, the wavy sea. (wave your hands from side to side)
Here is my boat, (cup your hands like a boat)
And here is me. (point to yourself)
All of the fishes (wiggle your fingers)
Down below (point downward)
Wiggle their tails, (wiggle your fingers)
And away they go. (wiggle your fingers behind your back)

Here We Go (can also be sung)

Here we go up, up, up. (stand up on toes)
Here we go down, down, down. (crouch down)
Here we go forward and backward (take a step forward, take a step backward)
Here we go round, round, round (spin)

Five Fingers on Each Hand

I have five fingers on each hand, (show five fingers on each hand)
Ten toes on my two feet (point to the 10 toes on 2 feet)
Two ears, two eyes, (point to ears and eyes)
One nose, one mouth, (point to nose and mouth)
With which to sweetly speak.

My hands can help, my feet can tap, (make motions according to verse)
My eyes can clearly see. (point to eyes again)
My ears can hear, (cup hands around ears)
My nose can sniff, (sniff with nose)
My mouth can say, “I’m me.”

I Clap My Hands
(suit actions to words)
I clap my hands,
I touch my feet,
I jump up from the ground.
I clap my hands,
I touch my feet,
And turn myself around.

I Have a Little Wagon

I have a little wagon. (hold hand out palm up)
It goes everywhere with me. (move hand around)
I can pull it, (pull hand toward you)
I can push it, (push hand away from you)
I can turn it upside down. (turn hand upside down)
I Use My Brain (point to temple when “think” is said)
I use my brain to think, think, think.
(point to nose and sniff)
I use my nose to smell.
(blink)
I use my eyes to blink, blink, blink.
(give a shout)
I use my throat to yell.
(tickle baby)
I use my mouth to giggle, giggle, giggle.
(move hips side to side)
I use my hips to bump.
(wiggle toes)
I use my toes to wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
(jump)
And I use my legs to jump.

I’m a Choo-Choo Train

I’m a choo-choo train (bend arms at side)
Chugging down the track. (rhythmically move arms)
First I go forward, (move forward)
Then I go back. (move backward)
Now my bell is ringing.
Hear my whistle blow. (pretend to ring bell)
What a lot of noise I make (cover ears)
Everywhere I go!

Itsy Bitsy Spider (can also be sung)

The itsy bitsy spider (with hands pretend to make spider)
Went up the water spout (make “spider” go up)
Down came the rain (wiggle fingers as they come down as
And washed the spider out. rain)
Out came the sun (and make washing movement)
And dried up all the rain. (make a circle with arms)
And the itsy bitsy spider (and “dry” with hands)
Went up the spout again. (make spider again that goes up)

My Eyes Can See

(Suit actions to words)
My eyes can see.
My mouth can talk.
My ears can hear.
My feet can walk.

My nose can sniff.

My teeth can chew.
My lids can flutter.
My arms hug you.

4
My Head
(Suit actions to words)
This is the circle that is my head.
This is my mouth with which words are
said.
These are my eyes with which I see.
This is my nose that is part of me.
This is the hair that grows on my head,
And this is my hat I wear on my head.

Open, Shut Them (can also be sung)

Open, shut them. (On 'Open', place both hands in front of
Open, shut them. you, palms facing away and opening
them wide. On 'shut them', clench hands
Give a little clap. into fists.) // (clap)
Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap.
(Starting at the tummy, slowly 'creep'
Creep them, creep them. fingers up toward the face.)
Creep them, creep them.
Right up to your chin.
(open mouth)
Open up your little mouth, (Just as it looks like you're going to
But do not let them in. put fingers into mouth, quickly run
fingers back down body toward tummy.)

Pat-a-Cake (can also be sung)

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man (clap hands together)
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, (roll hands over each other)
And pat it, (pat hands together)
And mark it with B (draw B in the air)
And put it in the oven for baby and me (touch tummy)

Ride A Little Pony

Ride a little pony (jog baby up and down on your knees)
Down to town,
Better be careful
You don’t fall down. (let baby slip a little way between your knees)

5
Tick Tock Clock
Tick tock, tick tock. (rock child from side to side)
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick tock, tick tock, Stop! (stop rocking)
What time is it? It's one o'clock!
Cuckoo! (bounce child up once – or lift in air)

Tick tock, tick tock.

I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick tock, tick tock. Stop!
What time is it? It's two o'clock!
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! (bounce child up twice)

Continue a few more times

Two Little Houses

Two little houses,
Closed up tight. (close fists)
Let’s open the windows,
And let in some light. (open fists)

Eazy Peazy
Eazy peazy, nice and easy, (hold baby’s hands together)
Stretch your arms (gently stretch arms out)
And bend your kneesy. (hold baby’s legs below the knees,
gently bend them up to chest)

I Wiggle
Wiggle your way through this song until you’re sitting quietly at the end!
I wiggle my fingers,
I wiggle my toes,
I wiggle my shoulders,
I wiggle my nose,
Now no more wiggles,
Are left in me,
So I will be still,
As still as can be.

6
Wiggly Is a Wee Wee Worm
Wiggly is a wee wee worm, (hold up index finger)
Who wiggles everywhere, (wiggle finger around)
Can you keep your eyes on it,
As it wiggles here and there? (wiggle finger left, then to the right)

Wiggly starts down at my toes, (wiggle finger near toes)

And wiggles way up to my nose! (wiggle finger up to nose)
It wiggles back down without a peep, (wiggle finger down to waist)
Creep into my pocket and goes to sleep. (head on hands, eyes closed)

The Wide-Eyed Owl

Here’s a wide-eyed owl, (form circles around eyes with fingers)
With a pointed nose, (use finger to extend nose)
And claws for toes, (curl fingers like claws in front of
chest)
It lives high in a tree, (clasp hands high above head0
When it looks at you, (form circles around eyes with fingers)
It flaps its wings, (bend elbows, flap arms)
And says, “Whoo, whoo-oo-o!” (make owl sounds)

Roly Poly
Roly poly, roly poly, (roll hands around each other)
Up, up, up (make your arms go over your head)
Roly poly, roly poly, (roll hands around each other)
Out, out, out (extend arms out horizontally)
Roly poly, roly poly (roll hands around each other)
Clap, clap, clap (clap hands with each word clap)
Roly poly, roly poly (roll hands around each other)
Lay them in your lap (fold hands in lap)

7
 Simple Songs &
Fingerplays that can be sung

Are You Sleeping?

Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing,
Morning bells are ringing.
Ding! Dong! Ding!
Ding! Dong! Ding!

Frère Jacques
Frère Jacques
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
Din, din, don! Din, din, don!

¿Fray Felipe, Fray Felipe?

¿Duermes tú? ¿Duermes tú?
Suenan las campanas.
Suenan las campanas.
Din, dan, don. Din, dan, don.

Head and Shoulders

(suit actions to words)
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes

8
Baby Bumblebee
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee, (Cup hands together as if holding bee)
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ouch! It stung me! (Shake hands as if just stung)

I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee, ('Squish' bee between palms of hands)
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It's yucky! (Open up hands to look at 'mess')

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee, (Wipe hands off on shirt)
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Uh-oh, I’m all dirty. (Look at self with a disgusted face)

I'm scrubbing off the baby bumblebee, (Scrub body to clean off bumblebee)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
I’m scrubbing off the baby bumblebee,
All clean! (Hold hands up to show they are clean)

Here We Go
Here we go up, up, up.
(raise baby up in the air)
Here we go down, down, down.
(lower baby down)
Here we go forward and backward
(move forward, move backward)
Here we go round, round, round
(spin)

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider (with hands pretend to make spider)
Went up the water spout (make “spider” go up)
Down came the rain (wiggle fingers as they come down as
And washed the spider out. rain)
Out came the sun (and make washing movement)
And dried up all the rain. (make a circle with arms)
And the itsy bitsy spider (and “dry” with hands)
Went up the spout again. (make spider again that goes up)

The Little Green Frog

Gunk, gunk went the little green frog one day.
Gunk, gunk went the little green frog.
Gunk, gunk went the little green frog one day.
And his eyes went ahh, ahh, gunk.
(circle your fingers around your eyes and stick out your tongue)

9
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.

Everywhere the Mary went, Mary went, Mary went,

Everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play.
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out, turned it out, turned it out.

And so the teacher turned it out,
But it lingered near.

And waited patiently about, patiently about, patiently about.

And waited patiently about,
‘Till Mary did appear.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so? Mary so, Mary so?”
“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry.

“Why Mary loves the lamb, you know! Lamb, you know, lamb, you know!”
Why Mary loves the lamb, you know!”
The teacher did reply.

Miss Mary Mack

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dress in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back.
She asked her mother, mother, mother
For fifteen cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump the fence, fence, fence.
They jumped so high, high, high
They touched the sky, sky, sky,
And they didn’t come back, back, back
‘till the fourth of july, -ly, -ly.

10
Mister Sun
Oh, Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun
Won’t you please shine down on me?
Oh, Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun
Hiding behind that tree.
These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you.
Oh, Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun,
Won’t you please shine down on me?

My Thumbs are Starting to Wiggle

Tune: For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow
(suit actions to words)
My thumbs are starting to wiggle,
My thumbs are starting to wiggle,
My thumbs are starting to wiggle,
Around, around, around.

Other verses:
My hands are starting to wiggle...
My arms are starting to wiggle...
My head is starting to wiggle...
Now all of me is wiggling...

Open, Shut Them

Tune: Frère Jacques /Are you Sleeping
Open, shut them. (On 'Open', place both hands in front of
Open, shut them. you, palms facing away and opening
them wide. On 'shut them', clench hands
Give a little clap, clap, clap. into fists.) // (clap)

Open, shut them.

Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.

Creep them, creep them. (Starting at the tummy, slowly 'creep'

Slowly creep them. fingers up toward the face.)
Right up to your chin.

Open up your little mouth, (open mouth)

But do not let them in. (Just as it looks like you're going to
put fingers into mouth, quickly run
fingers back down body toward tummy.)

11
Pat-a-Cake
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man (clap hands together)
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, (roll hands over each other)
And pat it, (pat hands together)
And mark it with B (draw B in the air)
And put it in the oven for baby and me (touch tummy)

The More We Get Together

The more we get together,
Together, together.
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.

For your friends are my friends,

And my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be

Tiny Tim
I had a little turtle (Cup hands together.)
His name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub (Put hands down on floor.)
To see if he could swim. (Pretend to swim.)

He drank up all the water. (Pretend to drink.)

He ate up all the soap. (Pretend to gobble soap.)
And now he's sick in bed (Lay head on hands.)
With bubbles in his throat. (Vibrate lips together.)
Bbbbbbbb! Bbbbbbbb!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

12
Wheels on the Fire Truck
The wheels on the truck go round and round, round and round, round and round.
(make circular motions with arms/roll arms)
The wheels on the truck go round and round, all through the town.

The siren on the truck goes whoo, whoo, whoo; whoo, whoo, whoo; whoo, whoo, whoo
(make flashy motions with hands)
The siren on the truck goes whoo, whoo, whoo, all through the town.

The ladder on the truck goes up and down, up and down, up and down,
(use hand/arm to make up and down motion)
The ladder on the truck goes up and down, all through the town.

The hose on the truck goes whoosh, whoosh, whoosh; whoosh, whoosh, whoosh;
whoosh, whoosh, whoosh
(pretend to be putting out a fire)
The hose on the truck goes whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, all through the town

Where is Thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin? (hands behind back)
Where is thumbkin?
Here I am. Here I am. (bring out right thumb, then left)
How are you today sir? (bend right thumb)
Very well, I thank you. (bend left thumb)
Run away. (put right thumb behind back)
Run away. (put left thumb behind back)
Continue with more fingers: “pointer”, middle (“tall one”), ring (“ringo”), “pinky”

A Little Seed
To the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot.” – or just say it as a chant
A little seed I plant in the ground, (pat “seed” into “ground”)
A little rain comes sprinkling down, (wiggle fingers to the ground)
A little sun comes shining through, (form circle around head with arms)
I pick a flower just for you! (pick “flower” & hold it in front of you)

13
 Short Stories
A Caterpillar Crawled
A caterpillar crawled, (Creep fingers up one arm)
To the top of the tree
“I think I’ll take a nap,” says he. .
So under a leaf he began to creep (Place one hand over opposite fist)
To spin his cocoon, And he fell asleep. .

All winter long he slept in his bed

‘Til spring came along one day and said,
“Wake up, wake up, little sleepyhead, (Shake fists with other hand)
Wake up, it’s time to get out of bed.”
So he opened his eyes that sunshiny day. (Spread fingers, hook thumbs)
Lo! He was a butterfly, and flew away. (Flap hands as wings and fly away)

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five green and speckled frogs (hold up 5 fingers)
Sat on a speckled log (hold above your other horizontal arm)
Eating some most delicious bugs (pretend to eat bugs)
Yuuuuuuummmm! Yum!

One jumped into the pool, (hold up one finger, hop off log & fall
Where it was nice and cool, down)
Then there were 4 green speckled frogs (hold up 4 fingers)
Glib Glib

Continue counting backwards until there

were no green speckled frogs

14
Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out one day (hold hand out to show # of ducks)
Over the hills and far away. (have one arm make a moving motion that
Mama duck called with a “quack, quack, goes over the “hill”)
quack.”
Four little ducks came swimming back. (make the number of ducks with fingers
and “swim” them back)
Four little ducks went out one day
Over the hills and far away Repeat Actions Until Done
Mama duck called with a “quack, quack,
quack.”
Three little ducks came swimming back.

Three little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away
Mama duck called with a “quack, quack,
quack.”
Two little ducks came swimming back.

Two little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away
Mama duck called with a “quack, quack,
quack.”
One little ducks came swimming back.

One little duck went out one day

Over the hills and far away
Mama duck called with a “quack, quack,
quack.”
But no little ducks came swimming back.

No little ducks went out one day

Over the hills and far away
Mama duck said, "Quack, quack, quack,
quack,"
and all five ducks came waddling back.

Resources:
The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays and Chants, by Jackie Silberg and Pam
Schiller.
The Eentsy, Weentsy Spider: Fingerplays and Action Rhymes by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Finger Rhymes, collected and illustrated by Marc Brown
¡Pío Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy

15