SONGS by Chris Chalfant
collected for the 2000-2001
Greenwich House Music School
Music Art and Play program
3-4 year old class
The following collection comprises songs I wrote for my classes over several years teaching preschool music, primarily between 1994 and 2001, at Mannes Scool of Music, the Brooklyn Conservatory and at the Greenwich House Music School. As a gift to my class at the Greenwich House Music School in 2001 I compiled a book of songs and games that were used in the classes. This web compilation is an extraction of that book and only includes compositions that I wrote. My goal is to eventually have them available for others to hear and use.
Please feel free to use these in any way that may spark the creativity of a young child you may know! You could make up your own melody, or use the words as a chant. I have also given suggestions for classroom activities.
Chris Chalfant
PECAN PIE (1984)
Pecan pie, pecan pie.
My oh my!
Pecan pie!
Each child is asked what kind of pie they like for additional verses
Note: some like cake instead, so we also have:
CHOCOLATE CAKE (2000)
Chocolate cake, chocolate cake.
let’s go bake a chocolate cake!
CARROTS, CARROTS (2000)
Carrots, carrots, I like carrots.
Carrots, carrots, yum yum yum!
ZINGO DEY (1994)
Zingo dey, zingo dey, zingo zingo zehdo.
Zingo dey, zingo dey, zingo zingo zehdo.
Zingo, zingo, zingo, dey.
Zingo, zingo, zingo, dey.
Zingo dey, zingo dey, zingo zingo zehdo.
change consonant of first letter to match each child’s name, i.e.
bee bo bey, bee boh bey, bee bo bee bo bey bo.
bee bo bey, bee boh bey, bee bo bee bo bey bo.
bee bo bee bo bee bo bey,
bee bo bee bo bee bo bey,
bee bo bey, bee boh bey, bee bo bee bo bey bo.
THE MOOSE GOT LOOSE (Chant) (2001)
The moose got loose when it ran from a goose.
Biddy biddy bum bum, boop, boop, boop!
The goose got free when it ran from a bee.
Biddy biddy bum bum, boop, boop, boop!
The bee got fat when it stung a cat.
Biddy biddy bum bum, boop, boop, boop!
The cat got away when the horse went “ney”.
“Ney..................!”
keep beat on legs, all say “Ney” at end and pat legs real fast.
YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD (2000)
You put your hands on your head, and you turn around.
You put your hands on your hips, and you go to the ground.
You put your hands on your toes, and you reach up high,
then you say “I like you”!
Clap with the words “I like you” . Change movement on “I like you”.
PUDDYCAT (1994)
It’s so nice to see my puddycat,
nice to see my puddycat,
It’s so nice to see my puddycat coming home.
She purrs nicely, nicely,
now that I’ve found her.
She purrs nicely, nicely,
now that she’s home.
It’s so nice to see my puddycat,
nice to see my puddycat
It’s so nice to see my puddycat coming home.
Children pretend they are cats, drinking milk, purring, meowing, crawling like cats.
CLAP YOUR HANDS (1994)
Clap your hands, shake, shake, shake.
Clap your hands, shake, shake, shake.
Clap your hands, shake, shake, shake.
Everybody’s doing the shake, shake.
Everybody’s doing the shake, shake.
1. Try other movements. Keep shaking parts.
2. Half group clap, other half shake, switch.
TAP TAP TAP (1996)
Tap tap tap, tap tap tap,
Tap tap tap, and then you go down.
Clap clap clap, clap clap clap,
Clap clap clap, and then you go down.
Squish squish squish, squish squish squish,
Squish squish squish, and then you go down.
Tickle tickle tickle, tickle tickle tickle,
Tickle, tickle, tickle and then you go down.
Tap 3xs low, medium, high, then go back down.
Repeat with other actions.
TASHIRA (1999)
We’re climbing up the ladder to the sun.
Go Tashira, go.
We’re climbing up the ladder to the sun.
Go Tashira, go.
(Teacher) With one elephant (class) one elephant,
(Teacher) two giraffes (class) two giraffes,
(Teacher) three zebras (class) three zebras,
(Teacher) four hippopotomus (class) four hippopotomus,
(Teacher) and five lions (class) five lions.
(All) We’re climbing up the ladder to the sun.
Go Tashira, go.
We’re climbing up the ladder to the sun.
Go Tashira, go.
Show climbing motion
count animals with with fingers
FUNNY BUNNY (1994)
I know a bunny who is kind of funny
with his ears so long and his nose wet and runny.
My little bunny, he is kind of funny,
‘cause he sings his song like this - He goes:
BH,BH,BH,BH,BH,BH - BH,BH,BH,BH,BH,BH -
BH,BH,BH,BH,BH, BH - BH
BH,BH,BH,BH,BH,BH - BH,BH,BH,BH,BH,BH -
BH,BH,BH,BH,BH, BH - BH
I know a hare who is kind of rare,
with his ears so long and his nose in the air.
My little hare, he is kinda rare,
‘cause he sings his song like this - He goes:
Dooga, Dooga, Dooga - Dooga, Dooga, Dooga -
Dooga, Dooga, Dooga, Dah!
Dooga, Dooga, Dooga - Dooga, Dooga, Dooga -
Dooga, Dooga, Dooga, Dah!
I know a rabbit who has a funny habit
with his ears so long and his schnooka schnooka schnabit.
My little rabbit, he has a funny habit,
‘cause he sings his song like this - He goes:
Geega, Geega, Geega, - Geega, Geega, Geega, -
Geega, Geega, Geega, - Gah.
Geega, Geega, Geega, - Geega, Geega, Geega, -
Geega, Geega, Geega, - Gah!
Sing with bunny (stuffed animal) First verse: make rasberry sounds or rub finger over lips and hum. Second verse: Move arms in front of torso like walking motion. Third verse: turn torso with bent arms
DO YOU SEE A PUMPKIN? (1996)
Do you see a pumpkin sitting on the window?
Do you see a pumpkin sitting by the door?
Do you see a pumpkin up on the piano?
Do you see a pumpkin, sitting on the floor?
1. Hide pumpin in one area, mentioned in song. Each child gets a turn to find pumpkin.
2. Have everyone tap legs throughout song, but then switch to floor on last word.
3. Instead of hiding a pumpkin, take turns naming different foods, animals, etc. in song.
ROSIE’S FARM
Come and see Rosie’s farm if you have a chance.
Children, they laugh and play, or they might just dance.
Laugh children, dance children, laugh children, dance.
Come and see Rosie’s farm if you have a chance.
Everyone holds hands in a circle throughout song. Move one direction for first two lines. For third line, swing children toward center and back two times. (Swing then off their feet if there’s an adult between each child). Move around circle opposite direction for last line.
GOODBYE TO ALL OF THE CHILDREN (2000)
Goodbye to all of the children,
Goodbye to all of the children,
Goodbye to all of the children,
so long, so long,
Goodbye to (child’s name),
Goodbye to (child’s name),
Goodbye to (child’s name),
so long so long.
(After all names are called)
Let’s go to put on our shoes now,
Let’s go to put on our shoes now,
Let’s go to put on our shoes now,
so long, so long.
Children start standing against wall. Teacher plays tambourine with song. After name is called, child plays tambourine two times at end of phrase, then goes to other teacher who is leading a train. Train continues to build and move around room while each child is called. At end, they go to put on their shoes.