Thinking Rhythm

You can teach children how to chant, speaking in rhythm to a steady beat. Kids learn to clap, tap, snap. march and swing. What is rhythm, you ask? Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm; the pattern of the beat. Long sound, short sound, no sounds. If you're interested in learning more about note values and such, you might want to read my article, Rhythm-in-Music.

Here's a song we have used for Preschool/ Kindergarten class.

Lunchtime Rap

(Sung to: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear)

F

Children, children, it's time to eat,

C7

Go wash your hands and have a seat.

F

Serve the food and eat it up,

                                                   C      F

Talk with your friends and then clean up.

 Rhythm

* Counting rhythm
* Counting and clapping
 * unit (counting the length of each note)
 * metric (counting the number of beats in each measure)

Rhythmic Words

I use rhythmic words and pictures to help children learn rhythm counting.

For Example:

Quarter note: Bus, Train, Truck, Walk, Dog, Tree, Bird
Half note: Wagon
Whole note: Whole-note-hold-it
Eighth note: Moun-tain, Race car, Muff-in, Chee-tah, Li-on, Mon-key, Po-ny, Rain Drops
Sixteenth note: Col-o-ra-do, Mo-tor-cy-cle
Triplet: Basketball, Pineapple, Blueberry

Books About Rhythm

1. 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children

The perfect book to introduce rhythm instruments to young children! Children make the sound of the ocean waves using shakers, pretend to be a train using sand blocks, create a rainstorm with rhythm sticks, and perform circus tricks with jingle bells. Plus, they learn to play the instruments along with their favorite songs. 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities is perfect for parents, early childhood teachers, and music teachers who work with toddlers through age 6.

2. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (Bright & Early Board Books)

Illus. in full color. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers.

3. Maracas (Row, Row, Row, Your Boat) (Rockin' Rhythm Band Board Books)

Everyone's invited to join the Rockin' Rhythm Band! Shake your Maracas as you sing along to the tune of 'Row, Row, Row your Boat!'. Making music has never been so much fun!

4. Together in Rhythm: A Facilitator's Guide to Drum Circle Music (Book & DVD)

Create compelling rhythm-based events for groups of all kinds! Learn the art of drum-circle facilitation from master percussionist, educator and award-winning drum circle facilitator, Kalani. The interactive DVD includes activities, games, an instrument guide and inspirational interviews. Participants will also gain essential life skills, including creative thinking, active listening, teamwork, self-direction and communication. This title has been awarded by iParenting Media as one of the "Outstanding Products of 2005."

I use rhythm sticks during a short part of the student's piano lesson. We use rhythm instruments in group lessons and love to play rhythm games. Do you have a favorite? I like Rhythm Bingo. Oh, be sure and check out my Rainbow Turkey Rests.

Happy Reading!







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Fishy CDs and Books

For a Father's Day gift from the boys, together my grandsons and I crafted a fish cd! Afterwards we researched 21+ Brilliant DIY Ideas on How To Recycle Your Old CDs. Of course, we felt like beginners with our accomplishments but it's not about comparing and we definitely had oodles of fun.

We used whatever we could find around the house... Mostly, foam and press on stickers or glued down some jewel sequences. What ideas have you used for your old CDs?

Creative Ideas Using Old CDs

Here's a few I found online:

Pinterest CD Crafts

CD Pom Poms

Christmas Banner

Coasters, Clocks, Flower Pots and Wall Art

Flotsam has received some great reviews!

Barefoot Books About Boats and Fish  

Ship Shapes

Starlight Sailor

These books can be purchased at Dena's Book Nook.

Happy Reading!

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Music Books About Mice and Songs Sung to Three Blind Mice

Pretty much everyone knows the tune, Three Blind Mice! Here's a few Piggyback Songs for school!

Hello Song

(Sung to: Three Blind Mice)

C    G  C               G  C
Hello, Jamie. Hello, Jamie.
        G    C                G7  C
How are you? How are you?
                             G7       C
We're glad you're here to laugh and play,
                          G7             C
We hope you'll have some fun today,
                            G7           C
You're welcome, welcome everyday.
      G7         C
To our play school.

(Substitute the name of one of your children for the name Jamie, and the name of your group for the word, play school.)

Snack Attack

C         G7  C               G7  C

Snack attack, snack attack,

                   G7     C               G7       C

A snack for us to eat, let's sit in our seats.

                    G7          C  

Peanuts or raisins or cheese would be great,

          G7             C

Even bananas, I just can't wait,

           G7           C

Hurry now, let's not be late.

            G7, C

Snack attack.

Music Books About Mice

1. Babymouse: Rock Star

About The Book

NEW YORK TIMES bestselling and Newbery Honor winning author Jennifer Holm teams up with Matthew Holm to bring you a fully illustrated graphic novel series packed with humor and kid appeal—BABYMOUSE! 

With multiple Children's Choice awards and over 1.7 million books in print, kids, parents, and teachers agree that Babymouse is perfect for fans of Junie B. Jones, Ivy and Bean, Big Nate, Dork Diaries, and the Ramona chapter books!

Move over Mozart! 
Babymouse has music in her soul...but sadly, not in her flute. Will Babymouse ever hit the right note? Will she be the star of the school concert, or is her musical career all washed up before it's even started? Find out in Rock Star, the sensational 4th book in the Babymouse graphic novel series!

Great reviews on this one!

2. Horace and Morris Join the Chorus (but what about Dolores?) (Horace and Morris and Dolores)

About The Book

Best friends Horace, Morris, and Dolores do everything together. So when they try out for the chorus and Dolores (who sings notes no one has ever heard before) doesn't get in, she feels hurt and angry and -- not like Dolores at all -- sorry for herself. But mostly she feels lonely, with her friends too busy rehearsing to have time to share adventures with her. So Dolores does what she does best and takes matters into her own hands. But can she prove to Moustro Provolone that there's a place for every kind of voice in the chorus?

You might want to make a Music Mouse Tambourine! I really enjoyed making these for our Kindergarten Music Class. Also,  you might be interested in taking a look at a former post, The Story of Merry Mouse.

Happy Reading!






 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

London Bridges and Trees Falling Down

When I heard the chain saw start up, I immediately ran outside to see what the noise was all about.

 I couldn't believe my eyes! A tree service began topping a beautiful Eucalyptus tree.

 I ran back inside the house to grab my camera, so as to have a closer look through the lens.

Quite astonishing to see this age-old tree come tumbling down.

I totally understand why my neighbor's wanted to let more light into the house...

Sadly, for 20 years I had looked upon the Red-Tail Hawk perched on its nest here!

Literally within minutes, all the branches were down and the mess cleaned up.

The workers were gone since they had successfully leveled the tree. My bird watching days were over... or at least that's what I thought. But to my wondrous surprise, the beautiful hawks in my area have come over to my ranch to nest! The saga of the Red-Tail Hawk to be continued.

Do you have these beautiful birds in your area?

Having watched tree limbs fall over the past few days inspired me to share this post with you. Just playing a few simple chords to a familiar tune, London Bridge creates many songs for your preschool and kindergarten class.

Songs Sung to: London Bridge

Brand New Year 

      C

It's time to start a brand new year,

G7                       C

Brand new year, brand new year.

It's time to start a brand new year,

G7                    C

Welcome new friends.

C

We'll learn lots of brand new things,

G7                         C

Brand new things, brand new things!

We'll learn lots of brand new things

G7                     C

Let's get started now.

I'm So Glad You Came

C

Welcome to school today,

G                    C

School today, school today.

Welcome to school today,

G                       C

I'm so glad you came.

C

My name is Mrs. Brown,

G                   C

Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Brown.

My name is Mrs. Brown,

G                       C

I'm so glad you came.

Circle Time

C

See the circles on the floor,

G                  C

On the floor, on the floor.

See the circles on the floor,

G        C

On the floor.

C

Find a circle and stand on one,

G                    C

Stand on one, stand on one.

Find a circle and stand on one,

G             C

Stand on one.

C

Fold your legs and sit right down,

G                      C

Sit right down, sit right down.

Fold your legs and sit right down,

G            C

Sit right down.

C

Let's all listen to the teacher,

G                      C

To the teacher, to the teacher.

Let's all listen to the teacher,

G              C

It is circle time.

(Make circles on the floor in any arrangement using construction paper, masking tape, etc. As you sing the song, have the children follow the directions.)

Let Us See It

C

Eddie brought his show and tell,

G                     C

Show and tell, show and tell.

Eddie brought his show and tell, 

G                 C

With him today.

C

Take it out and show us now,

G                     C

Show us now, show us now.

Take it out and show us now,

G        C

Let us see it.

Wash For Lunch

C

We have washed our hands and faces,

G                         C

Hands and faces, hands and faces.

We have washed our hands and faces,

G                          C

May we eat lunch now?

(Additional verses: germs are gone, they've left no traces; We are sitting in our places.)

I'm a Helper

C

I'm a helper; yes, I am,

G               C

Yes, I am; yes, I am.

I'm a helper; yes, I am,

G        C

I'm a helper.

C

I will close the door today,

G                  C

Door today, door today.

I will close the door today,

G      C

I'm a helper.

(Additional verses: I will be the leader today: I will turn on the lights today; I will feed the fish today; I will mark the calendar today; etc. )

Hand Washing Time

C

Here we go to wash our hands,

G                         C

Wash our hands, wash our hands.

Here we go to wash our hands,

G                           C

Before we eat our snack.

(Substitute other activities for the phrase eat our snack.)

Today Is a Special Day

C

Today is a special day,

     G                   C

A special day, a special day.

Today is a special day,

G                 C

It's Wayne's birthday.

(Place a b'day crown on the child's head.)

C

Today wayne is six years old,

G                    C

Six years old, six years old.

Today Wayne is six years old.

G                  C

It's Wayne's birthday!

Every Week

C

Every week has seven days,

G                  C

Seven days, seven days.

Every week has seven days,

G            C

Can you name them?

C

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

G

Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

G                           C

Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Have fun with these songs! If you play the piano and want to develop more skills as a musician, you may be interested in this music resource from Yoke Wong...

Take Your Piano Playing To The Next Level With These Courses

Blessings,






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2015 – All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD