Hummingbird Educational Resources

Lotsa Lesson Plans - TRANSITIONAL SONGS

TRASNSITION TO LUNCH
Transition to Lunch
Tune: Wash That Man Right Out Of My hair
We're going to eat our lunch right after our circle.
We're going to eat our lunch right after our circle.
We're going to eat our lunch right after our circle.
So we can full our tummies.

HALLWAY LINE
Our line needs a leader,
And it needs a caboose,
We keep our line straight,
And we keep our line loose.
No pushing, no shoving,
Our hands by our sides
As we walk, walk, walk,
In our line.

And we add: We're looking fine!

LINING UP
My hands are tight
Right by my side
I'm standing very tall
I'm quietly looking straight ahead
I'm ready for the hall
I'm ready for the hall (in a whisper)

LINE UP SONG
Tune: Gilligan's Island
My hands are tight behind my back, 
I'm standing straight and tall, 
My eyes
are looking straight ahead, 
We're ready for the hall, 
We're ready for the hall."

TRANSITION SONG
Eyes are watching, ears are listening, mouth is closed, mouth is closed
Hands and feet are still, Hands and feet are still
We're going __________ (home, to lunch, to p.e., to library, etc.)

TRANSITION SONG
Tune: Gilligan's Island
My hands are tight behind my back
I'm standing straight and tall
My eyes are looking straight ahead
I'm ready for the hall
Ready for the hall

TOOTSIE ROLL CHEER
Submitted by Dottie
By Dr. Jean Warren
Tootsie roll (roll arms in front of you)
Lollipop (pretend you are licking a thumb lollipop)
We've been talking (open and shut fingers like they are talking)
Now let's stop. (Make the "cut" sign in front of your neck)

I See You
Submitted by Janet
 (sung to Are You Sleeping)
 I See brown eyes.
 I See blue eyes.
 Green eyes too.
 I see You.
 Quiet all your voices now.
 Show me that you know how.
 Oh gee wow.
 Oh gee wow.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT BB
The idea is to have different songs/finger plays/poems or whatever for the children to choose each day.
Make a kite that is attached to the top of the bulletin board, it's point actually suspended a bit from the ceiling. Add clouds and streamers for the sky. Then, attach a thick piece of string to the end of the kite that is the tail. This tail is long and is attached to the bulletin board. Then, take tagboard in different pastel colors and cut them into bow shapes. On each bow print a song, a finger play, or a poem. Then number each bow (we have, I believe, 19). The bows are attached to the tail with clothespins. Each day about 5 children are selected to choose which number bow they want to unpin from the tail and we sing/recite what is written on it. The children love this! The bulletin will change with the season/theme. For example, in October we will have pumpkins in a pumpkin patch and the children will select a pumpkin and we will sing the song.

CLEAN UP TIME
Submitted by Janet
Clean up time.  I have relabeled my shelves for easier clean up.  I used the clear plastic sleeves for trading cards.  I used double sided tape to stick the sleeves to the shelf and another on the tub the toys are in.  I cut out pictures matching the toys using catalogs.  I glued these pictures to trimmed down index cards and laminated them.  In most cases I made two of each picture.  I store them in a recipe type file box.  Now any time I change out toys I can easily change out the labels.  The children have been very successful finding the correct tub and the proper place on the shelf.

HIPS AND LIPS
Submitted by Debra
When we are in the hallway, I have my kindergarteners put one hand on their hips to remind them not to touch anything and the other hand on their lips to remind them not to talk.  As we are lining up for the hall we sing this little song.
(sang to the tune of London Bridge)
Let me see your hips and lips,
 hips and lips.
Let me see your hips and lips
 in the hallway.

CLEAN UP TRAIN
Get on the right track and make your room spotless as your youngsters climb aboard the Cleanup Express. Each day when it's cleanup time, blow a train whistle. Then say, "All aboard the Cleanup Express," and invite youngsters to line up behind you. "Chug" around the room, making stops at each area or center, and have your little ones tidy up. What a fun way to get the job done! Toot, toot, puff, puff!

Everybody Sit Down
Submitted by Marilyn
Tune:  Shortenin' Bread
Everybody sit down, sit down, sit down.  Everybody sit down on the floor.  Not on the ceiling, not on the door, not on each other but on the floor.
OR/
Everybody sit down, sit down, sit down.  Everybody sit down on a mat.  Not on a dog and not on a cat, not on each other but on a mat.

The kids love this and always sit down after doing a movement song.  Once they learn it well I take out a recorder, kazoo, or clarinet and play the melody.  You will be surprized at how they automatically sit down!  Also, I sing it really fast after they learn it well-just to be funny.

MAGIC FINGER
Before they walk into your school's hallway, have your little ones recite the chant below and act out the motions to create instant silence. It's magic!
Magic finger in the air.
(Spin finger above head.)
Magic finger in my hair.
(Twirl finger in hair.)
Magic finger on my hips.
(Place finger on hip.)
Magic finger on my lips.
(Place finger on lips and leave it there while walking through school.)

QUIET PLEASE
Submitted by Verlona
Quiet please.
Everybody freeze.
ta, da, da, da, Shh! ( put 2 fingers on your lips and a peace sign in the air)

The children respond well to this one and a few of our children will even
sing this song when they think it is too loud.

CIRCLE-TIME SONG
Need to get your youngsters to clean up for circle time? Just sing this transitional tune!
(sung to the tune of "Oh, Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me")
Say, say, oh, children,
Please put our things away,
So we can start our day,
And learn in every way.
Come find your places,
In a circle on the floor,
So we can grow and learn,
And much, much more!

HOW DO YOU SAY HI?
Hey!Hi!Howdy!Yo!
There are many ways to say hello!
Wave your hand.Nod your head.
Smile big or wink instead.
Blow a kiss.Tip your hat.
Shake your hands.Give a pat.
Of all the ways to say hello,
Here ’s the way I like to go …How Do You Say Hi?

HALL SONGS
Our line traveling song is
'Put Your Finger on the Wall'(tune If Your Happy )
Put your finger on the wall, on the wall
Put your finger on the wall, on the wall

Put your finger on the wall.
Put your finger on the wall
Put your finger on the wall, on the wall.
They all have to be able to reach the wall so it
straightens right out.

NAMES,PLEASE!
(sung to the tune of “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”)
Can you write your name?
Can you write it nice and neat?
Will you please sign your paper
Before you leave your seat?
It’s a simple thing to do.
And it lets me know you’re through.
Can you write your name?

GOOD JOB
Teach your little ones this quick song and dance to use to congratulate a classmate for any reason, from learning his
birthday to using glue without assistance. (sung to the tune of “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”)
Na na na na, (Twist.)
Na na na na, (Twist.)
Hey hey-ey, (Wave arms overhead from side to side.)
Good job! (Clap.)
GOOD JOB!

LET ’S PLAY
(sung to the tune of
“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah”)
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!
Zip-a-dee-ay!
My, oh, my, it’s time to play.
Plenty of fun is coming our way.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!
Zip-a-dee-ay!

Not A Single Word
Submitted by Sue
We'll hop hop hop like a bunny
(make hopping motions with hands
We'll run run run like a dog
(make running motion with fingers)
We'll walk walk walk like an elephant
(make walking motions with arms)
And jump jump jump like a frog
(make jumping motions with arms)
We'll swim swim swim like a goldfish
(make swimming motions with hand)
And fly fly fly like a bird
(make flying motions with arms)
We'll sit right down and fold our arms
(fold hands in lap)
And not say a word.

DISNEY CLEAN UP SONG
Submitted by AJ
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho
It's cleanup time we know
We'll make our room so very neat
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho
It's cleanup time we know
We'll put the toys away real neat
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho

TONS OF TRANSITION TUNES!!!
Submitted by Cheryl
GOOD MORNING
(Melody: A Tisket, A Tasket)
Good morning, good morning
It's time to say "good morning"
Another day has just begun
 I know that we'll have lots of fun!
Good morning, good morning
It's time to say "good morning"
I'm very glad that you could come
So we can play and have some fun!

HELLO TIME
(Melody: Oh, Susanna)
0h,it's time to say hello, hello
Hello and how are you?
Oh, it's time to say hello, hello
To every one of you.

Hello friends, * a big "hello" to you!
We will sing and play and laugh today
Yes, this is what we'll do.

*Substitute with "boys," "girls," "children," teacher," "parents," or individual names.

HELLO SONG
 (Melody: Polly Wolly Doodle)
Oh, I'd like to say hello, hello
Hello----how do you do?
Oh, I'd like to say hello, hello
To you, and you, and you.

How are you?  How are you?
How are you, my little friend?
I'm so very glad to see you
Yes, so very glad to see you!
Oh, I know that we'll have fun today!

HI THERE!
(Melody: Shoo, Fly)
Hi there, so glad you came
Hi there, so glad you came
Hi there, so glad you came
1-2-3 let's shout "hurray!"
Hurray (spoken)

Hi there, so glad you're here
Hi there, so glad you're here
Hi there, so glad you're here
1-2-3 let's give a cheer!
Yea! (spoken)
 Teacher can shake hands with  the children as this song is sung.

GREETINGS (In Various Languages)
(Melody: Bluebird)
Hello, hello everybody
 Hello, hello everybody
 Hello, hello everybody
 So very glad to see you.

Hola, hola, everybody
Hola, hola, everybody
Hola, hola, everybody
So very glad to see you.

Shalom, Shalom everybody
Shalom, Shalom everybody
Shalom, Shalom everybody
So very glad to see you.

Bonjour, bonjour, everybody
Bonjour, bonjour, everybody
Bonjour, bonjour, everybody
So very glad to see you.

Buenos dias, everybody
Buenos dias, everybody
Buenos dias, everybody
 So very glad to see you.

 Show pictures of children from various countries as you sing a greeting in the spoken language of that country.

Spanish: Buenos Dias, Hola
French:   Bonjour
German: Guten Tag
Italian:  Buon Giorno
Swahili:  Jambo
Norwegian: God (goo) Dag
Hawaiian:        Aloha
Hebrew          Shalom
Japanese:       Konichiwa
Chinese:        Ni Hao Ma
Russian:        Dobroze Utro
Polish:         Dzien Dobry

Hello... Hello... Bonjour
Hello... Hello... Bonjour
You can say it once
You can say it again
It's almost as easy as counting to 10
Hello Hello Bonjour
CONTINUE SONG USING HELLO'S IN WHICHEVER LANGUAGE YOU LIKE.

HELLO
(tune: Frere Jacques)
Hello, _____, hello, _____
How are you? How are you?
we're so glad to have you,
we're so glad to have you,
here at school, here at school.

Circle:
Tune: Row Row Row your boat
Hush,Shhh(finger to lips)Quiet please
let's all gather near
Find a friend and sit right down
Circle time is here.

Storytime
(Sing a Song of Sixpence)
It's time to watch and listen,
We're going to read a book.
We'll sit down on the rug
And use our eyes to look.
We'll look at pictures,
And hear the story, too.
Oh, what fun it is to share
This storytime with you!

TRANSITION SONG
Submitted by LaurieMarie
"Clap you hands
Stomp your feet
(child's name) can't be beat!

Wipe your knees
Rest awhile
(child's name) makes me smile!

Clap your hands
Jump up and down,
(Child's name) is the best kid in town!"

We sometimes substitute our class name if we are in a big hurry.

WALKING IN HALL SONG
Submitted by LauraMarie
When we walk in the hall we sometimes sing.  This last years favorite was great.  We all keep to the right when we walk in the hall for we are a large school with many classes walking at the same . Right pointer finger touches wall and we sing:
"Keep your finger on the wall, on the wall
keep your finger on the wall, on the wall
keep your finger on the wall
when you're walking in the hall
Keep your finger on the wall, on the wall."

My kids always love this one and last year one of them had a splinter in his finger.  He told his mother he had a boo-boo in his walking finger.

ARE YOU LISTENING
to the tune of Frere Jacques:
Are you listening, are you listening?
Boys and girls, boys and girls?
It is time to listen, it is time to listen
Boys and girls, boys and girls.
instead of time to listen it could be, it is time to sit down, or it is time to clean up.

LOTSA SONGS FOR DAILY TRANSITIONS
Submitted by Jamie
To start Circle Time, we sing (tune:Farmer in the Dell)
We'll work and play today
We'll work and play today
Hello! Hello! to everyone
We'll work and play today!

To Centers after circle,
we'll show name cards if they are at that level. or go with "If you are a girl..."  or are wearing blue, or have a dog at your
house, your favorite dinosaur is a stegosaurus,etc...

At clean up time,
the Clean Up Helper rings a school bell, and everyone sings the Barney Clean Up song while we straighten up and put away.

When we come in from recess,
we sing a song that I got from the loop, sung to London Bridges Falling Down:
Everybody please line up!
Please line up!  Please line up!
Everybody please line up!
We are going inside!

Then come in the door,
and we're singing, (tune: There's a spider on the Floor)
Please sit down on the rug, on the rug!
Please sit down on the rug, on the rug!
Please sit down on the rug and give yourself a hug!
Please sit down on the rug, on the rug!

Storytime Rap...
IF....YOU...wanna hear a story this is what you gotta do
You gotta sit on the run like the pretzels do!
So find your place and clap your hands
So the teacher will know, that you understand!
Zip your lips and turn on your ears
Cause THIS (holding up book) is the story that you're gonna hear!

End of day we sing same song as beginning, different words:
We had fun today!
We're glad you came to play!
So long for now, good-bye my friends,
We'll play another day!

GETTING QUIET IN LINE POEM
Hands are hanging by my side;
I'm standing straight and tall.
Eyes are looking straight ahead;
I'm ready for the hall!

GETTING EVERYONE IN CIRCLE
Submitted by Dawn
I have an in-home daycare that focuses on toddlers.  Sometimes getting them to sit in a circle for circle time is quite a challenge.  I have found that doing Ring-Around-the-Roses and then all falling down is a fun way to get them sitting.  It's also a nice toddler cue so that they can prepare for the singing!!

TRANSITION
I have a new co-teacher this year, and she has taught our kindergarten class the best way to keep a quiet orderly line while we are waiting for hands to get washed, or whenever.  We call it "the quiet game".  The teacher selects a quiet child to go first.  They stand next to the line so they can see all the kids, and then they pick someone who is being quiet and still.  That person becomes the next one to pick, and the other child goes into the vacant spot in the line.  It sounds dull and boring but they love it, and now even start it on their own and don't need a teacher to supervise.  When a number of children have gone, we have the kids who have not had a turn hold their thumbs up so the child who's turn it is to pick can tell.  You've got to try it, it really works!

CIRCLE TIME
Submitted by Patio46
I do a very simple song with my 3's and 4's.
Here we are together, together, together
Here we are together, all here on the floor.
There's ________ and ________ (go around the room letting the children say
their names)
Here we are together, all here on the floor.
It also is a good way for the children to get to know one anothers  names.

Line up Time
Submitted by Adrienne
 An easy way of getting nursery and preschoolers to line up in a single file is to cut out footprints from bright colored contact paper. I used removable adhesive
bookcovers. The footprints were applied to the floor and children were told to stand on the footprints to line up.  We always got one straight line no pushing because everyone had their own set of footprints to stand on.

QUIET SONGS
Submitted by Louise
Tune: Are you sleeping
We are waiting, we are waiting
for our friends,for our friend
To be quiet, to be quiet
Quiet now, quiet now.

Tune: Row Row Row your boat
Hush,Shhh(finger to lips)Quiet please
let's all gather near
Find a friend and sit right down
Circle time is here.

Tune: Ferre Jacques
We are waiting,we are waiting
Please sit down, please sit down
Come sit on the carpet,come sit on the carpet
Please sit down,please down

TRANSITION POEMS
Submitted by Tonya Pryor
poems I made up and use
1) Sharing Poem:  It's not fair when you don't share.
2) Taking Turns Poem:  Learn how to wait your turn.
3) Raising Your Hand:  If your hand is not in the air
   then I will not look/go over there.
4) Crossing the street when we go for a walk:  Walk
   fast walk fast because the light won't last.
5) Teaching children not to fight:  It's not right to
   hit or bite. It's not right to fight, fight, fight.

TRANSITION TO OUTSIDE
Submitted by Suzi
If you want to go outside
this is what you've gotta do
We're gonna line up like the Big Kids do!
So clap your hands
Stomp your feet on the floor
And when we're all ready
We'll open up the door!

Transition Poem that I made up to use in my classroom
Submitted by Tonya
 First tell the children what it is you want them to do then recite this poem:
If you have on red then you heard what I said.
If you have on blue then you know what to do.
If you have on white then you know what's I right.
(This means that children know that it's right to get in the back of the line instead of in front of someone.)
If you have on black then your name must be Jack.
If you have on pink then you know what I think.
If you hve on yellow then you're a nice fellow.
If you have on purple then you like to eat Slurple.
(Slurple is like the 7-Eleven drink Slurpee.  Your class will ask you what it is believe me because my class did.)
If you have on brown then you better get down.
If you have on grey then it's going to be a wonderful day.

Goodbye Song
Submitted by KinderDeb
Tune: Are You Sleeping?
We are leaving
We are leaving
To our house
To our house
Today is    _____________
Tomorrow is _____________
Have a nice day
Have a nice day

New goodbye songs
Submitted by Kathy
Tune:Mickey Mouse
Now it's time for us to say goodbye
Goodbye to you
Go in peace
Go in God's peace
Good-bye Everybody  (tune: Clementine)
Good bye everybody
Yes indeed, yes indeed, yes indeed
Good- bye everybody yes indeed
Yes indeed my darling
Say Goodbye
It's time to say good-bye
It's time to say good-bye
We'll see you all    (on Tuesday), (tomorrow)
It's time to say good-bye

More Goodbye Songs
Here are the two goodbye songs I use.  The first one I wrote. wow way to go Kathy
I can't tell you the tune, but I can tell you this...if you accent the words in capitals, you may be able to guess it by getting the rhythm
goodBYE now goodBYE now
our day now is DONE
adiOS, DASvidania
we've had so much FUN
shaLOM, siaNARA, alf-VIEDERZANE too
it all means goodBYE now...goodBYE now to you.

This one we all holds hands in a circle and do as the song says (although many days I have to remind them to "be gentle with each other" LOL
Tune is Skip to my lou by sung really slowly

Shake hands with friends cause it's time to go
Shake hands with friends cause it's time to go
Shake hands with friends cause it's time to go

Clean Up Time
Submitted by Tina, Waukegan, Illinois,
To the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".
Clean, Clean, Clean up time.
Clean up time today.
'Books and blocks and all your toys,
put them all away.

DR. DINGLE JINGLE
Submitted by  Christine
It's Dr. Dingle, Dr. Wiggle, Doctor Number 9.
We're going to have (lunch, recess, snack or whatever)
And we're feeling fine.
So let's get the rhythm in our head, Ding Dong (move head back and forth).
Now you get the rhythm in your head, Ding Dong
Now you've got the rhythm in your head, Ding Dong
We've all got the rhythm in our head, Ding Dong.

So let's get the rhythm in our hands, Clap, Clap.
Now you get the rhythm in your hands, Clap, Clap.
Now you've got the rhythm in your hands, Clap, Clap.
We've all got the rhythm in our hands, Clap, Clap.

So let's get the rhythm in our feet, Stomp, Stomp
Now you get the rhythm in your feet, Stomp, stomp
Now you've got the rhythm in your feet, Stomp, stomp
We've all got the rhythm in our feet, stomp stomp

So let's get the rhythm in our hips, Hot dog (wiggle hips)
Now you get the rhythm in your hips, Hot Dog
Now you've got the rhythm in your hips, Hot Dog
We've all got the rhythm in our hips, Hot Dog

Now lets get the rhythm all over again.
Ding dong.......Clap, clap......Stamp, Stamp......Hot Dog!!!

Title: Call to Circle Time
Submitted by Peg
1, 2, 3, 4
Put your bottom on the floor
5,6, 7, 8
Eyes forward back straight!

Transition Time
Submitted by Mary
I found these songs for transition times in the new issue of Early Childhood News magazine. They worked great with my 5 year olds.
This one is good for circle time, bring your props in a bag and sing:
"Surprise Song" ( tune "I'm a Little Teapot" )
What's in the surprise sack, who can tell?
Maybe it's a book, or maybe it's a shell.
What's in the surprise sack, who can see?
It's something special for you and me!
It was suggested this song be used for clean up time:

"Jolly Good Helper" ( tune "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" )
(Name) is a jolly good helper.
(Name) is a jolly good helper.
(Name) is a jolly good helper,
They're picking up the toys.

We have a helper of the day in our classroom so I changed the words a little bit and now we sing this song to recognize our helper at the beginning of the day:
(Name) is a jolly good helper.
(Name) is a jolly good helper.
(Name) is a jolly good helper,
(Name) is the helper today.

Title: Transition to Circletime
Submitted by Sharon
Actually, this is a funky little verse you can jazz up with hand clapping and body grooving!I use it every day and the children LOVE it!

If you want to hear a story,
This is what you gotta do,
You gotta sit on the rug,
Like the pretzels do!
So find your place and clap your hands,
So (insert your name here) will know that you understand.
Put your hands in your lap,
And turn on your ears!
'Cause.....here is the story that your gonna hear!
 (hold up the book)
At this point the children let out a cheer and quickly quiet for story

Title: Tidy Up Song
The following long list of songs submitted by Cherilyn
Now it's time to tidy up
Tidy up, tidy up
Now it's time to tidy up
And put your work away

Title: Song For Going To Circle Time
Let's sit for a story (or circle)
For story, for story
Let's sit for story
Please come and sit with me
(At this point children start to arrive and we sing…)
(Name) is at story, at story, at story
(Name) is at story; he came to sit with me

Keep singing until everyone has sat
down at circle and his or her names have
been sung.

Title: Music Time Is Here - Song - Sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat
(Name) sing, sing with me
Sing out loud and clear
To tell the children everywhere
That music time is here

Continue until all children have been named.

Title: Clean Up Song - Sung to London Bridge
(Name) put the toys away
Toys away, toys away
(Name) put the toys away
It's cleanup time

Additional Versus:
Substitute toys with puzzles, books, blocks, etc.

Title: Circle Time - Song - Sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Hush, ssh, quiet please
Let's all gather near
Find a friend and sit right down
Circle time is hear

Title: Find Your Smock - Song - Sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Find, find, find your smock
Help and do your part
Button, button, button up
Now it's time for art

Title: The Clean Up Song - Sung to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
It's time to clean up now
Clean up, clean up, we know how
We can clean up; you will see
Just how clean our room can be

Title: Clean Up Time - Song - Sung to He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
It's time to put the (toys) away
It's time to put the (toys) away
It's time to put the (toys) away
So we can go outside

Substitute ( ) for appropriate word.

Title: Line Up - Song - Sung to London Bridge
Everybody make a line
Make a line, make a line
Everybody make a line
Make a line, make a line
For now it's (bathroom) time

Substitute ( ) for appropriate word.

Title: Rest Time - Song - Sung to Are You Sleeping?
When it's rest time, when it's rest time
Rest your head, sleepy head
Rest your head my children
Rest your head my children
Rest your head, sleepy head

Additional Verses:
Rest your arms
Rest your legs
Rest your feet
Rest your eyes

Title: Put Your Shoes On - Song - Sung to She'll Be Coming Over The Mountain
Oh, it's time to put your shoes on after rest
Time to buckle, lace and velcro with the best
Oh, it's time to put your shoes on
Oh, it's time to put your shoes on
Oh, it's time to put your shoes on after rest

Title: Clean Up Song - Sung to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
Time to clean up where you are.
Put your toy (or whatever you need to clean up) back in it's place.
Keep a smile upon your face.
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
Time to clean up where you are.


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