Over in the Meadow

I adapted the Raffi version from his "Baby Beluga" album. I shortened it to fit toddlers' attention spans, but it could easily be lengthened to the full version. I also used different animals based on the puppets we have at my branch library. I used the corresponding number of puppets as animals in the song; so, one sheep, two frogs, and three cardinals. You could also play the recorded version and pull puppets out as Raffi sings; then you wouldn't have to memorize lyrics!

Puppets:
sheep
two frogs
three cardinal finger puppets

Props:
None needed



Here are the lyrics I used:
(Pull puppets from bag as you sing the song.)

Over in the meadow in the grass in the sun
lived a happy mama sheep and her baby one.
"Baa," said the mama; "baa," said the one
and they baa-d happily in the grass in the sun.

Over in the meadow under skies so blue
lived a happy daddy frog and his babies two.
"Ribbit," said the daddy; "ribbit, ribbit," said the two
and they croaked happily under skies so blue.

Over in the meadow in a nest in a tree
lived a happy mama cardinal and her babies three.
"Tweet," said the mama; "tweet, tweet, tweet," said the three
and they sang happily in their nest in the tree.

Over in the meadow in the noonday sun
sat a new, happy mother and her baby one.
"Listen," said the mother . . .
"Tweet, tweet, tweet," said the three;
"ribbit, ribbit," said the two;
"baa," said the one;
and the little baby laughed just to hear such fun!

Bugs!

A really simple puppet song; good with toddlers.

Puppets:
bugs, whatever you may have on hand


Props:
none

This particular day I used:  a bee, a butterfly, and a grasshopper.

"The Bugs in the Field"
[tune:  The Wheels on the Bus"]

The bee in the field goes bzzz bzzz bzzz . . . all day long
(Repeat with as many bugs as hold children's interest.)

Spring Puppet Song

Puppets:

Any animal could be adapted for this song. I used:

cardinal

cat

sheep

Props:
none

Our Spring Song
[tune:  Slippery Fish]

A small red bird,
a small red bird
sitting on her nest
a small red bird,
a small red bird
tweet! tweet! tweet!

A tabby cat,
a tabby cat
sleeping in the sun
a tabby cat,
a tabby cat
meow! meow! meow!

A soft white sheep,
a soft white sheep

grazing in the field

a soft white sheep,

a soft white sheep

baa! baa! baa!

You could continue with as many animals as hold their interest.

Berries! A Puppet Feeding Song

(Potentially, a song for when hibernating bear is preparing to sleep in Fall or just waking up in Spring.)

One berry, two berries
three berries, four!
Five berries, six berries
Seven berries more!
Eight berries, nine berries,
Ten berries, then . . .
We count them all over again!

(or let's do it again!)