Excerpted, with permission from
Months of Music: Music and Activities for the Year-Round

 The Name Game

Use the "Jack be Nimble" nursery rhyme.

Materials: Tape; toilet tissue roll; small paper plate; red construction paper cut into a flame shape. 

Instructions: Construct a candlestick by cutting small flaps in the bottom of the paper roll. Fold the flaps out and tape it to the plate. Insert the flame into the top of the roll. Put the child's candlestick on the floor and say the rhyme substituting each child's name for "Jack" and having each child jump over the candlestick. Do this several times so the children learn each other's names. 

Pigella's Friendship Cookies

Buy or bake large, round, plain sugar cookies. Ice with yellow frosting (use vanilla frosting and add yellow food coloring.) Make eyes and a smiling mouth with chocolate chips or raisins. Share with a friend.

Miss Pennypack's Pointers

If you have two cookies
It's sooooo nice to share.
Give one to your friend
And show that you CARE.
Only one cookie! What should you do?
The answer is easy...break it in two!

Fun Fingerplays - Where is Your Home?

A nest is a home for a robin
(cup hands to form nest)

A hive is a home for a bee
(turn cupped hands over)

A hole is a home for a rabbit
(make hole with hands)

And a house is a home for me.
(make roof with peaked hands)

Wear a Smile

The most important thing you wear is a smile
It makes everything else worthwhile
So draw on a big grin
And push the corners in
The most important thing you wear is a smile

Put on your hat and your coat
Wrap a scarf 'round your throat
To keep you cozy when it's cold outside
But if you add a big grin
Then the glow will come from within
Could be the warmest thing you've tried.

The most important thing you wear is a smile
It's always right in style
So draw on a big grin
And push the corners in
The most important thing you wear is a smile
And I love to see you wearing that smile!

Excerpted, with permission from Karen Rupprecht & Pam Minor's
    Months of Music: Music and Activities for the Year-Round

Listen to Hayride in the audio player, below.