PreK-K ETLC10587 for Holidays, Seasons, and Celebrations Written by Lily Erlic Cover design and page layout by Patti Jeffers 2010 Teaching and Learning Company, a Lorenz company, and its licensors. All rights reserved. Permission to photocopy the student activities in this book is hereby granted to one teacher as part of the purchase price. This permission may only be used to provide copies for this teacher s specific classroom setting. This permission may not be transferred, sold, or given to any additional or subsequent user of this product. Thank you for respecting the copyright laws. Printed in the United States of America ISBN # 978-1-4291-1844-6 a Lorenz company P.O. Box 802 Dayton, OH 45401-0802 www.lorenzeducationalpress.com
Dear Teacher or Parent, Finger Rhymes for Holidays, Seasons, and Celebrations is a resource guide for teachers in the classroom or parents of children in grades PreK-K. It is a book of poetry combined with fun movements. This is a great way for children to learn about various holidays around the world while performing actions at the same time. Each holiday, season or celebration has a special meaning and these action rhymes try to relay the importance of each occasion. Popular holidays like Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year s Day, Valentine s Day and Easter are included. Others like Eid al-adha, Kwanzaa, President s Day, Mother s Day and Earth Day are my favorites. These rhymes can provide enrichment during gym or any subject lesson. This resource guide gives you the opportunity to transform lessons into live action! I hope you enjoy the book with your class or at home with your children or grandchildren. Sincerely, Lily Erlic Author: Lily Erlic Lily is a children s author and preschool teacher. She attended the University of Victoria and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She has taken many elementary education courses at the University as well. She has taught (practicums) and presented her books in the elementary schools. Lily s favorite things to do are performing her action rhymes and writing books for everyone to enjoy! 2 TLC10587
Table of Contents HOLIDAYS CD Track Page April Fool s Day... (#21)...6 Buddha Day... (#43)...7 Canada Day... (#32)...8 Chinese New Year... (#13)...9 Christmas... (#12)...10 Cinco de Mayo... (#27)...11 Columbus Day... (#3)...12 Earth Day... (#26)...13 Easter...No Track...14 Eid al-adha... (#7)...15 Father s Day... (#23)...16 Fourth of July... (#24)...17 Grandparent s Day... (#22)...18 Groundhog Day... (#11)...19 Halloween... (#4)...20 Hanukkah... (#8)...21 I Have a Little Dreidel... (#9)...22 Kwanzaa... (#15)...23 Labor Day... (#2)...24 Martin Luther King Day... (#10)...25 May Day... (#25)...26 Mother s Day... (#31)...27 New Year s Day... (#14)...28 President s Day... (#18)...29 St. Patrick s Day... (#19)...30 Thanksgiving Day... (#6)...32 Valentine s Day... (#16)...34 Veteran s Day... (#5)...35 CELEBRATIONS Birthdays...No Track...36 End of the School Year... (#30)...37 Field Trips... (#34)...38 National Children s Book Week... (#28)...39 100th Day of School... (#17)...40 Parent s Day Open House... (#29)...41 Thank You...No Track...42 Welcome Back to School... (#1)...43 SEASONS Beach Day... (#33)...44 First Day of Spring... (#20)...45 On the First Day of Summer...No Track...46 TLC10587 3
April Fool s Day April 1 st is the day for April Fools! Collect jokes for the class to share on this day. CD 21 Track April Fools is a day when tricks and jokes are done, (Pretend to do tricks) When everyone is laughing and having a lot of fun! (Laugh) A trickster puts a stone in someone s shoe, (Pretend to put pebbles in your shoe) Or puts a piece of chocolate on your plate to fool you! (Pretend to put chocolate on a plate) Holidays A joker puts a spider down on the floor, (Wiggle fingers) Or tapes the daily paper right to the door. (Pretend to tape a newspaper) April Fools is a day when tricks and jokes are done, (Pretend to tell jokes) When everyone is laughing and having a lot of fun! (Laugh) A friend tells us a joke, then says to gather round, (Pretend to knock and then run on spot) He tells us there is a dinosaur on the playground, (Spread arms and move back and forth) Or maybe there s an alien spacecraft there, (Stretch and crouch) We want to say Hello! to him only if we dare. (Say Hello! ) April Fools is a day when tricks and jokes are done, (Pretend to tell jokes) When everyone is laughing and having a lot of fun! (Laugh) 6 TLC10587
Buddha Day children in Malaysia use a special ladle to pour flower-scented water over statues of Buddha. This gesture has a special meaning. It is to remind children to wash away their bad habits. Share pictures of Buddha or find a small replica of a statue to show. CD 43 Track MUSIC ONLY (no words) We chant and pray, (Place hands together) We pour tea all day, (Make pouring motion) On Buddha s head, (Making pouring motion) Or his shoulder instead. (Keep pouring) We dance and sing, (Pretend to dance) And throw petals on everything! (Throw flower petals up in the air) Holidays We chant and pray, (Place hands together) The lanterns light our way. TLC10587 7
Canada Day In 1867, Canada merged into one dominion which is celebrated today on July 1 st. Have the children color a picture of the Canadian flag and cut it out to use with this action rhyme. CD 32 Track Waving to the people in the Canada Day Parade, (Wave) Seeing all the bands, and all the floats people made. (Show picture of the Canada Day Parade) Jumping up and down and clapping, too. During the parade, it s what I do. Holidays All my friends help me to cheer, (Cheer) For all the music that we hear. (Place hand to ear) Every time we sing out loud, (Place hand near mouth) We always get applause from the crowd. (Clap) Then we see the flags waving like the sea, (Wave flags) Waving in the wind, moving like me! (Wave flag and sway body) Jumping up and down and clapping, too. During the parade, it s what I do. 8 TLC10587