Managing transition times in your classroom is so much easier when you incorporate fun songs and chants.
Get your children ready for circle time with these cute ‘come to the carpet’ songs. The last 3 songs can also be used to settle the children down once they are all on the carpet and waiting to begin.
Come on Over
This simple song by Miss Nina is sung to the tune of Oh My Darling, Clementine.
Come on over
Come on over
Come on over, everyone
Come on over
Come on over
For some circle time fun
Everybody Have a Seat
This is a fun song that incorporates body percussion by clapping hands and tapping on laps. The actions are in the video, followed by the lyrics below it.
Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody come and have a seat on the floor.
Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody come and have a seat on the floor.
Not on the ceiling, not on the door!
Everybody come and have a seat on the floor.
Hey, Hey, Circle Time
Sing this circle-time song to the tune of Skip to My Lou, My Darling. The lyrics are below the video.
Hey, hey, circle time
Hey, hey, circle time
Hey, hey, circle time
Let’s all find our spot
Bottom on the floor cross your legs
Bottom on the floor cross your legs
Bottom on the floor cross your legs
Criss cross applesauce
(Repeat both verses)
Tap your head, one two
Tap your head, one two
Tap your head, one two
Now let’s wiggle our ears
Wiggle your ears, doo-bee-doo-bee-doo
Wiggle your ears, doo-bee-doo-bee-doo
Wiggle your ears, doo-bee-doo-bee-doo
Now let’s clap our hands
Clap your hands, one two
Clap your hands, one two
Clap your hands, one two
Clap your hands, one two
Now it’s time to shhhhhhhh
Sh, sh, sh-sh-sh
Sh, sh, sh-sh-sh
Sh, sh, sh-sh-sh
listen to your teacher
Sh, sh, sh-sh-sh
Sh, sh, sh-sh-sh
Sh, sh, sh-sh-sh
listen to your teacher
Good Morning Song
Another way to gather children to the carpet is to start singing a hello song to prompt them to sit down.
The Good Morning Train is one of my personal favourites as the kids love it. The lyrics are below the video. Sing it to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain.
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo choo!
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo choo!
The good morning train is coming.
The good morning train is coming.
The good morning train is coming, how are you? Choo choo!
And we say hello to Lucy, how are you? Choo choo!
And we say hello to Samuel, how are you? Choo choo!
And we say hello to Robby,
And we say hello to Aarav,
And we say hello to Maeve, how are you? Choo choo!
Here are more fun good morning songs your kids will love.
Sit on the Mat and Clap
Here’s another song with lots of body percussion. It has a fun beat and is easy for the children to learn.
Sit on the mat and clap
Sit on the mat and clap
Sit on the mat and clap
Clap your hands.
Sit on the mat and slap
Sit on the mat and slap
Sit on the mat and slap
Slap your knees.
Sit on the mat and tap
Sit on the mat and tap
Sit on the mat and tap
Tap your shoulders.
Sit on the mat and pat
Sit on the mat and pat
Sit on the mat and pat
Pat your head.
It Is Time for Circle Time
Instead of singing a song, sit on the carpet and invite the children to join you by chanting “cir-cle time” while tapping on your knees and clapping your hands.
The movements go like this:
Tap on knees, tap on knees, clap hands (cir-cle-time)
Then, as soon as the children begin sitting, start singing your morning welcome song or try a listening song to get their attention.
Sit Down
This simple song by Patty Shukla is easy to learn and effective at helping children sit down and prepare their bodies for listening.
Sit down, sit down, take a seat
Sit down, sit down, criss cross feet
Eyes on teacher
Hands in lap
Sit down, sit down, just like that
Criss-Cross Applesauce
Criss-Cross Applesauce is one of the most popular chants for preschoolers. There are several variations you can try.
This version can be used to settle children who are already on the carpet, and encourages midline crossing too.
Criss-cross applesauce,
Criss-cross applesauce,
Criss-cross applesauce,
Sit down on your bottom!
Or, replace the last line with:
Everybody freeze!
Here’s another variation:
Criss-cross applesauce,
Hands in your lap,
Eyes looking forward,
Ready for a chat!
Open Shut Them
This classic rhyme encourages children to settle down on the carpet and get ready for listening.
Open Shut Them
Open Shut Them
Give a little
Clap clap clap.
Open Shut Them
Open Shut Them
Put them in your
Lap lap lap.
Creep them crawl them
Creep them crawl them
Right up to your
Chin chin chin.
Open wide your little mouth
But do not let them in!
Are You Quiet?
Sing this simple song to the tune of Frere Jacques to settle children for the start of circle time.
Emma’s quiet, Mandy’s quiet
How about you?
Are you too?
It’s time to be quiet
It’s time to be quiet
Shh, shh, shh,
Shh, shh, shh.
[source]
I’ll hope these songs will help make circle time a breeze. For more easy transitions, try these line-up songs.