Beeswax Rhyme

We recite this rhyme during community time on Tuesdays in the PreK. The children are first given a piece of beeswax to hold in their hands, covering it like a baby they are putting to sleep. They hold the beeswax until it becomes pliable as they listen to the day's story. Not only does this develop patience, as the wax is not pliable with out human warmth for a period of time, but it also develops fine motor skills as the children shape it.

Author Unknown

Bees give us their gift of gold,
For you my dears to warm and hold,
Story time is here to tell,
Come listen to the fairy's spell.

Bread Baking Rhyme

We recite this each Wednesday at school as we bake bread. We teach the children to knead the dough by flouring the dough and their hands, pressing the dough with the heal of their hands into a "pancake", then folding the dough over and pressing into a "pancake" again.

Author Unknown

Fresh baked bread is a yummy treat,
Filled with love and warmth and wheat,
Knead the dough and let it rise,
And soon you'll have a big surprise,
From the water, flour, and yeast,
Grows a golden, delicious feast.

Our Mealtime Blessing

I am a big believer in the power of family dinner--I remember waiting for my dad to get home and sitting down as a family to dinner most nights growing up. It's a time to come together after a busy day apart. Let the children help chop, stir, and set the table. Try making it special by adding candles or flowers. It may seem painful when they are little and want to run around or when it is "easier" to just do it yourself. Nonetheless, your efforts will stick with them, I promise.


As dinner winds down, talk about something special or funny from each family member's day. Maybe let the kids show some artwork from school. It's just about pausing in this busy world to really hear what the people you love most have to say. My girls are 5 1/2 and 9, and my son is 3 1/2 and we have started enjoying a chapter from a book each night at dinner, though brother often wanders off. The girls are having fun with it, though.


My daughter Olivia came home from Waldorf school when she was 3 1/2 and wanted to recite an unintelligible rhyme that sounded quite mysterious. I asked her teacher for the words, and we used the blessing as a family off and on for several years. We've used it at lunch time at school for the last 3 years!

~Leslie


(While matching up fingers on each hand)
(Thumbs) Oaka
(Index) Poaka
(Middle) Ribbika
(Ring) Soaka
(Pinkies) Oaka
(All Fingers) Poaka, Cloak

(Sing, with hands in lap)

Earth who gives to us this food
Sun who makes it ripe and good
Dearest Earth and dearest sun
We will remember what you have done.
Hmmm, Hmmm, Hmmm.

“Kittens” from Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown

hold up fingers each time a number is used . . .

(hold up fingers to indicate 5) Five little kittens
(hands together at side of head, eyes closed) Sleeping on a chair
(rolling motion with hands) One rolled off,
(hold up fingers to indicate 4) Leaving four there.
Four little kittens,
(Climbing motion up, hand over hand) One climbed a tree
(OK signs around eyes to make glasses) To look in a bird’s nest.
Then there were three.
Three little kittens
Wondered what to do.
(Hands beside face, “ahh” gesture) One saw a mouse.
Then there were two.
Two little kittens
Playing near a wall.
One little kitten
(make a circle with with two hands) Chased a red ball.
One little kitten
With fur soft as silk,
Left all alone
(like lips as if to say “delicious”) To drink a dish of milk.

Head and Shoulders and Hambone

Head and Shoulders
{Children stand and touch body parents when chanting, clap on “one, two, three”}

1. Head and shoulders, Baby, One, two, three. Head and shoulders, Baby, One, two, three.
Head and shoulders, Head and shoulders, Head and shoulders, Baby, One, two, three.
2. Knees and ankles, Baby, One, two, three. Knees and ankles, Baby, One, two, three.
Knees and ankles, Knees and ankles, Knees and ankles, Baby, One, two, three.
3. Turn around, Baby, One, two, three. Turn around, Baby, One, two, three.
Turn around, Turn around, Turn around, Baby, One, two, three.
4. Touch the ground, Baby, One, two, three. Touch the ground, Baby, One, two, three.
Touch the ground, Touch the ground, Touch the ground, Baby, One, two, three.

Hambone—Clapping/Rhythm Rhyme

{alternate clapping hands and knees} Hambone, Hambone, have you heard? Papa’s gonna buy me a mockingbird.
{alternate clapping hands and thighs} If that mockingbird don’t sing, Papa’s gonna buy me a diamond ring.
{alternate clapping hands and chest} If that diamond ring don’t shine Papa’s gonna buy me a fishing line.
{alternate clapping hands and shoulders} Hambone, Hambone, where you been? Around the world and I’m going again.
{alternate clapping hands and head} Hambone, Hambone, where’s your wife? In the kitchen cooking rice.

Wood Chopping Rhyme

This rhyme is courtesy of the following blog:

http://maymomvt.blogspot.com/2008/02/winter-mix-day-3.html

Chip chop, Chip chop.
Cutting wood for winter's cold.
Chip chop, Chip chop.
All the wood the basket will hold.