Getting children to line up is one of those transitions that happen multiple times during the preschool day, and it’s not always easy to get the attention of an entire class.
Instead of asking repeatedly, raising your voice or nagging the children to pay attention and join the line, sing one of these awesome line-up chants.
Most of them have simple, recognisable tunes from popular nursery rhymes, and they’re easy to learn. Others can simply be chanted.
The children will join in as they hear you, and it makes the process simple and less stressful.
Maybe you just need to pick a new line-up song because old, familiar ones tend to be ignored after a while and they become part of background noise.
1. Let’s Line Up at the Door
Sing this simple song to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell:
Let’s line up at the door
Let’s line up at the door
Everybody, take your place
And line up at the door
2. One, Two, Listen and Do
This fun rhyming chant is easy to learn. My daughter learnt it at school last year and she chanted it continuously at home.
One, two
Listen and do
Three, four
Face the door
Five, six
Hands on hips
Seven, eight
Line up straight
Nine, ten
Let the walking begin
3. If You’re Ready and You Know It
The popular song If You’re Happy and You Know It is so easy to transform into a transition song.
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door
If you’re ready and you know it, then it’s time to really show it
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door
Say no more! (whisper)
4. If You’re Ready for the Hall
Also by Learn to Read with Molly, here’s another version to sing to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It. It can be used when transitioning to a different place or activity. Replace with any words you like.
If you’re ready for the hall, tap your toes
If you’re ready for the hall, tap your nose
If you’re ready for the hall, there’s no talking at all
If you’re ready for the hall, here we go.
5. Have a Seat
The lyrics for the song Have a Seat can be changed to use it as a line-up prompt. See the video below for the tune of this catchy song.
Everybody, line up, line up, line up.
Everybody, go and line up at the door.
Everybody, line up, line up, line up.
Everybody, go and line up at the door.
Not on the ceiling, not on the floor!
Everybody, go and line up at the door.
6. This is the Way We Line Up
This song by Sing Play Create Teaching Tips is sung to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and is great for preparing the children for various transitions, such as going to the library or to another class.
Once the children are familiar with the song, they’ll start listening for where they’re expected to go next, so pause before telling them.
This is the way we line up, line up, line up
This is the way we line up
When we go to…library!
This is the way we line up, line up, line up
This is the way we line up
When we go to…music!
7. Let’s Line Up
Also by Sing Play Create Teaching Tips, this song goes well with the Jingle Bells tune.
Let’s line up,
Let’s line up,
Line up quickly
Hands and feet and lips and eyes,
Are quiet as can be.
8. Line Up Song
Here’s a fun line-up song by Patty Shukla. Once you’ve listened to the tune a couple of times, it’s easy to remember. The lyrics are below the video.
Line up, line up, in a row.
Line up, line up, nice and slow.
Hands to self, feet in a row.
Line up, line up. Here we go.
Repeat the verse.
9. Line Up
This line-up rhyme by Super Simple Songs repeats two verses several times. Either sing the chant and let the kids join in, or play this version for them. Lyrics below.
Line up. Line up.
Everybody line up.
Line up. Line up.
Let’s make a line.
Line up. Line up.
Everybody line up.
Line up. Line up.
Let’s make a line.
Move slowly.
Hands by your side.
Quiet please.
Shhhhhh.
Follow the leader!
Here we go.
10. Eyes on the Door
This is a simple chant you can repeat a few times to get kids to settle down when lined up.
Eyes on the door,
Feet on the floor,
Hands behind my back,
And say no more.
[Source]
I hope you’ll enjoy trying out these songs with your class.
To help make classroom transitions even easier, check out these transition songs and welcome songs for circle time, hand-washing songs for bathroom routines and fun clean-up songs too.