Songs & Finger Plays

February

See My Shadow Sung to: "Frere Jacques" See my shadow, See my shadow, Move this way, Move this way, Doing things that I do, Doing things that I do, Follow me, Follow me. ------Shadow Time Sung to: "The Itsy-bitsy Spider" The furry little groundhog Goes in his hole to sleep, Through the cold winter's Snow and ice so deep, In February He stretches to and fro, Does the furry little groundhog Get scared by his shadow? ------I'm a Little Groundhog Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little groundhog short and stout, February second I will come out. If I see my shadow they will shout, "Six weeks more winter without doubt!" ------Mr. Groundhog Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by Deborah A. Roessal

Mr. Groundhog in the ground, Pop your head up, look around. Do you see your shadow? Look up high and look down low. Mr. Groundhog in the ground, Pop your head up, look around. ------Here's a Little Groundhog Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot" by Nancy Nason Biddinger

Here's a little groundhog, furry and brown. He's coming up to look around. If he sees his shadow, down he'll go- Then six more weeks of winter-oh, no! ------Nine Little Groundhogs Sung to: "Ten Little Indians" by Colraine Pettipaw Hunley

One little, two little, three little groundhogs, Four little, five little, six little groundhogs, seven little, eight little, nine little groundhogs, Sleeping down under the ground. ------To My Valentine by Helen H. Moore

Flowers cards and candy. On Valentine’s Day, they're dandy! ------Valentine's Day Song Sung to: "Mary Had a Little Lamb" You're a special friend of mine, Friend of mine, friend of mine, You're a special friend of mine, Be my Valentine. ------5 Little Valentines Five little valentines were having a race The first little valentine was frilly with lace. The second little valentine had a funny face. The third little valentine said, "I love you". The fourth little valentine said, "I do too". The fifth little valentine was sly as a fox. He ran the fastest to the valentine box. ------Counting Valentines Valentines, valentines, how many do I see? Valentines, valentines, count them with me. I have red ones, orange ones, yellow ones, too. I have green ones, purple ones, and some that are blue. Valentines, valentines, how many do I see? Count them with me! 1-2-3-4-5..... ------I'm a Little Valentine Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little valentine Red and White With ribbons and lace I'm a beautiful sight I can say, "I Love You" On Valentine's Day Just put me in an envelope And give me away. ------Valentine Sung to: "Did You Ever See a Lassie"

Will you please be my valentine, My valentine, my valentine? Will you please be my valentine? For I love you.

Here's hugs and kisses And lots of wishes. Will you please be my valentine? For I love you. ------HEART (Tune: Bingo)

To show you like your special friend, Just give them each a heart, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T Each heart says I like you! ------Ten Little Valentines 1 little, 2 little, 3 little valentines. 4 little, 5 little, 6 little valentines. 7 little, 8 little, 9 little valentines. 10 little valentines, Just for you! The Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer's day.

The Knave of Hearts, He stole the tarts, And took them clean away.

The King of Hearts, Called for the tarts, And scolded the knave full bore.

The Knave of Hearts, Brought back the tarts, And vowed he'd steal no more.

Reading Activities

Here's a Little Groundhog from Marcia's Lesson Links Here’s a little groundhog Furry and brown. He’s popping up to look around. If he sees his shadow, down he’ll go. Then six more weeks of winter (No! No!)

Groundhog, Wake Up! from Love Two Teach It is February 2nd. Groundhog wake up! See the sun! See the shadow! Oh no, six more weeks of winter!

See Groundhogs from Love Two Teach I see one groundhog. I see two groundhogs. I see three groundhogs. I see four groundhogs. I see five groundhogs. (Continue to 10)

Valentine Happy This is Valentine Happy. This is Valentine Sad. Now you see him sleepy. Now you see him mad. This is Valentine cut up small. But in my mailbox, he's best of all!

February Good Morning Song From Kinder Korner

Good morning to the groundhog, Good morning to old Abe, Good morning to Mr. Washington. Good morning to the mailman, Good morning to your friends, Good morning to valentines for everyone.

Kindergarten Good Morning Song by Victoria Smith

Say good morning to the groundhog. Good morning to the mailman. Good morning to the valentine. Good morning George and Abe. Good morning 100 day!

I Like Valentines from the McCrackens Brainstorm descriptive words for valentines.

I like valentines. ______Any kind of valentine.

I like valentines. A valentine on ______. A valentine in ______. A valentine by ______. A valentine near ______. I like valentines.

I like valentines. ______valentines. ______valentines. ______valentines. ______valentines. I like valentines.

Friends from the McCrackens A friend is ______. A friend is ______. A friend is ______. A friend is ______. ______is my friend.

Hearts Hearts on the mailbox. Hearts on the door. Hearts on the window. Hearts on the floor. Hearts on the cake. Hearts on the box. Hearts on the shoes. Hearts on the socks. Hearts on the table. Hearts on the chair. Hearts on the wall. Hearts everywhere!

I love... Brainstorm things the children love and put them in a heart shaped book.

Valentine Card Class Book:

Materials: Valentine cards that your class has given you, glue, cardstock, glue.

Pre-program as many sheets of cardstock as you have students with the following phrase copied at bottom "Roses are red, violets are blue, here is the Valentine I got from you". Next, glue one Valentine card to each page, with the picture showing and write the child's name underneath the card. Laminate all the pages, bind, and you're ready to read this masterpiece to your class. It's sure to be a big hit in the class library. At the end of the year take the book apart and let each student take his or her page home or raffle off the whole book to one lucky student.

"I Love..." Lift the Flap:

Materials: red construction paper, scissors, crayons, glue, small pre-cut hearts.

Fold one sheet of red construction paper hot dog style. Next, open the paper and make three cuts from the bottom of the paper to the folded line. Place the three cuts evenly so you are left with four flaps when you fold the paper back to the hot dog position. Have the students glue small, pre-cut hearts to the front of each flap or if they are able they can draw them. Under each flap they can draw a picture of somebody they love (mom, dad, grandma, sister, pet etc). Valentine Glyph

1. What's your favorite flavor ice cream

Chocolate= red heart Strawberry= dark pink heart Vanilla= light pink heart

2. Do you like nuts? Yes= red glitter No= silver glitter

3. What's your favorite topping? Chocolate syrup= red stars Carmel syrup= gold stars Whipped cream= silver stars

4. How do you like your ice cream? Sugar cone= blue dots Waffle cone= yellow dots Bowl= white dots

Rhyming Valentines: Cut out enough hearts for each child in your class. Glue a magazine picture on each heart. Place all the hearts in a large paper sack. Have each child take a turn to choose a heart from the bag. Let each child name words that rhyme with the picture on their heart.

Red Heart, Red Heart, What Do You See?

Materials: die cut hearts in many colors, Xerox paper with words to story printed at bottom, stapler, glue.

First, prepare an original copy of the "book" on your computer, it goes along with the Brown Bear Brown Bear story; "Red heart, red heart, what do you see? I see a blue heart looking at me." etc... Next, have your students make their own books by gluing their hearts to the appropriate page. When everybody has all of their pages completed, staple them together to make a book for each child that they can easily "read". You can make your own personal copy of the book beforehand and read it to the class every day during your Valentine unit so they will understand how to "read" it when theirs is finished.

Heart Puzzles: Print on pink paper (optional), laminate, and cut apart. Students read words/match beginning sounds to complete puzzles.

Valentines Beginning Sounds: Children cut/glue hearts to show the beginning sounds of the pictures.

Valentine Spelling: Children cut and glue the heart letters to spell the CVC words.

Valentine Puzzles: Children read words or match beginning sounds to complete the puzzles. Heart Bingo: Give each player a heart card. Shuffle the word/letter cards and place on table. Students take turns choosing a card and reading it. If they have the matching word/picture with the beginning sound, they cover the word/picture with the card. If not, they pass to someone who needs it.

Conversation Heart Bingo: Cut out large heart shapes from pastel paper and write messages on each one just like the candy conversation hearts. Then play Bingo (use a set of alphabet cards for letter recognition). Use conversation heart candy as markers.

Math Activities

Valentine Sorting: Cut various sized hearts from pink, red, and white construction paper. The children can sort the hearts by colors or by size (small to large----- large to small).

Valentine Counting: Cut several large hearts. Print a numeral on one side of each heart and stick a corresponding number of stickers on the other side of the heart. Cut the hearts in half as a puzzle. Have the children match the numerals to the number of stickers.

Conversation Hearts Counting: Buy each child in your class a small package of valentine conversation hearts. First, have the students shake and guess how many hearts are in their box. Next, have them open and compare the actual number to their guess. Then, have them do the following activities with their hearts: sort by color, sort by message, sort by number of words in the message, graph color vs. number, message vs. number, etc., compare number of candies in each box among students identify the color/message with the most/least, complete math problems (i.e. purple + orange, etc.), identify favorite color and message, identify flavor of candies by tasting at the end! Yum!

Fraction Hearts: (equal parts, a whole, and a half) Have the children trace a large heart shaped pattern and cut it out. They then choose two different colors of construction paper. They fill one half of the heart with torn bits of one color and the other half with torn bits from the second color. Then glue the heart onto a piece of manila paper and label. (Example- 1/2 red 1/2 pink.)

Counting/number matching game: Use an old Valentine candy box to create a counting/number matching game. In each compartment of the box, glue a number. Have the children place the laminated heart shape with the corresponding number or dots to the matching compartment.

Heart Graphing: Give each child a small Ziploc bag with several paper hearts of various colors (red, pink, purple). Have each child sort his/her hearts, count the number of each color, and record this information on a simple graph. This activity could be repeated with heart sizes (small, medium, large) or other criteria.

How many kisses can you hold in your hand? Have a bowl with a bag of Hershey's kisses emptied into it and have each child estimate how many they can hold in one hand. Then have them reach into the bowl and actually grab a handful. Then count how many they could really hold. Then finish by drawing around and cutting out their hands and stamping the number of kisses they could actually hold.

Dice Graph: Make a die with February pictures on it. Make a graph containing the pictures across the bottom and numbers 1 – 10 on the side. Students roll the die and color a space on the graph to show which picture is rolled. (Optional: make one die and have students complete activity as a group or provide each child a die in a small group). Conversation Heart Patterns: Provide students with conversation hearts. Have students make and record patterns.

Predicting and Graphing: Make predictions whether the groundhog will see his shadow or not. The students mark their response by placing their photos under yes or no. This activity needs to be done on February 1, because some students will find out before they come to school on February 2.

Sequencing: Sequence smallest to largest hearts. Sequence making a valentine.

Patterning Use candy hearts to make patterns.

Estimation Estimate candy hearts. Pair your children and give each pair a box of candy hearts. Let each estimate how many are in the box. They must write their answer down. Give students 100's charts to count out the hearts to check their guess.

Sorting Sort candy hearts. How many different ways can you sort your candy hearts? Same color Same message Same number of letters Same number of words on the heart

Measurement Use candy hearts to measure things in the classroom.

Ordering Die cut hearts from white paper that are glued to red half sheets of paper. Write the number word at the top and write the number inside the heart. Have the students put these in order from 0-20.

Valentine Candy Count: These mats are made by gluing hearts to red paper. Use pastel colored copy paper, cut in a die cut machine for the hearts. The pastel colors match the colors of candy conversation hearts. Children sort a bag of candy hearts by color. After they sort the hearts, have the children count the hearts of each color. Number Recognition: Cut out different size and color hearts and put a different number on each one. Lay them on the floor and have the children toss bean bags on the hearts and call out the number it lands on.

Counting Puzzles: Cut several large hearts. Print a numeral on one side of each heart and stick a corresponding number of stickers on the other side of the heart. Cut the hearts in half as a puzzle. Have the children match the numerals to the number of stickers.

Center Activities

Heart Rubbings: Place a piece of white paper over heart doilies and rub with red, pink, or purple crayons.

Mosaic Heart: Pre-cut red, pink, and purple squares. Have the students glue these on a sheet of white construction paper. After they are dry, have them trace a large heart over the mosaic pieces and then cut out to make a mosaic heart.

Glitter Hearts: Die-cut purple and red hearts and glue to an 8 x 8 piece of pink construction paper. Let your students make designs with glue and then sprinkle glitter on them.

February Quilt: Use groundhogs and glitter hearts to make a February Quilt.

Valentine Bingo Game: Use material scraps. Each piece is a heart shape. This is really good for visual discrimination. Your students have to look close at the fabric to see if their card matches. (see picture below) Finding Hearts: Mix candy hearts in a large bowl with dry rice, blindfold the child if appropriate, and have them reach into the bowl to find the candy hearts. You can give them a time in which to find them, and whoever finds the most is the winner, or give them a number of hearts to find to work on counting skills.

Match the hearts: For every two children, cut a large heart from a variety of colors of construction paper, then cut each in half, using different cuts (i.e. wavy, jagged, squared off angles, etc) Mix these up, have each child choose one and then walk around and find who has the other half of their heart.

Color Hearts Game: (Play like CandyLand) Using a folder, draw a "path" from "Home" to "Loveville". Divide the path into blocks. Cut small hearts of different colors and glue into blocks. Cut tag board into three inch squares. Glue hearts of the same colors used on game board. Use message candy hearts as "men". Place heart squares face down in a pile. Players take turns turning over cards. They must name the color then move man to nearest heart of marching color. First to get to "Loveville" wins. All get to eat hearts. For two players.

Valentine Day Cards: Remove set of hearts from a deck of cards. Cut in half and have children match the cards together.

Size Discrimination: Large or Small? Without looking, have children take turns reaching into a box that has both a large and small heart shaped pillow in it. They are to "feel" the hearts as much as they wish to compare them and thereby determine which is the smaller and which is the larger heart. To lessen the difficulty, you can demonstrate the activity yourself by letting them see the hearts then allowing them to observe your hands in the box as you compare the hearts through "touch." This is also a great game to keep in the Quiet Corner or some other part of the classroom for children to do during Free Choice Play. Variation: Without looking, let children compare two textures of heart shaped cutouts by "feeling" them. For example, you could glue cellophane to one cardboard heart and sandpaper to another for rough versus smooth. Another option would be to compare soft and hard.

Matching Valentines Cards: Use left over store bought valentine cards for a matching game. Glue one set inside a folder and have the children match up the other set of cards to the cards on the folder. Stickers work well too.

Valentine Memory: Cut out ten hearts about 3 inches wide and tall. Laminate them to prevent them from tearing. Buy different kinds of stickers and put different pairs on the back of the hearts. (One sticker per heart) Have the children flip the hearts over and try to find the match. Valentine Bingo: Make red hearts out of posterboard and then buy stickers and make a Bingo game out of them. Show a sticker to the children and have the children use candy for the markers. When everyone fills their cards they yell "Happy Valentine's" and then they get a prize and they get to eat their candy!!

Valentine Puzzles: Use hearts that have been cut in half. On one side write 4 + 1 =, on the other side the answer. Can be used for reading also, i.e. "c" on one side of heart and "ar" on the other.

Valentine Puzzles: Glue large Valentine cards onto tagboard. Laminate or cover the cards with clear contact paper. Cut each card into 4 to 8 pieces. Place each of the "puzzles" into a large ziploc bag and keep them in your manipulative area.

Color Matching: Cut a large heart out of the red posterboard. Divide the heart cut-out into 9 sections (like a tic-tac-toe board). Cut 9 hearts, each out of different colors of construction paper. Glue 9 of the hearts into the 9 sections of the posterboard heart. Cover with clear contact paper. Cut out more hearts to match on the posterboard heart. For durability, cover each of the hearts with clear contact paper. Have the children match the hearts.

Miscellaneous Activities

Making Shadows: Talk about shadows and what it takes to make a shadow. Demonstrate shadow making by using the overhead projector. Make silhouettes of the children using the overhead projector.

Go outside and look for shadows. Each child gets a partner to trace his/her shadow with sidewalk chalk. This is good to do several times a day so that they understand that the lengths of shadow change during the day.

Matching Shadows: The students help the animals find their shadows by gluing the shadow next to the matching animal.

Red Rose Play Dough: 3 cups flour ¾ cup salt 3 tablespoons cream of tartar 1/8 cup powdered red tempera paint 1/8 cup red glitter 2 cups water 2 tablespoons cooking oil 10 drops rose-scented potpourri oil Mix the dry ingredients together in a large, heavy pot. Stir in the water, oil and potpourri scent until the mixture is smooth. Continue to stir the mixture over medium heat until it forms a ball. Put the dough onto a floured board, and knead it until it is cool.

Valentine Theme Bulletin Board : Make a pattern of a chocolate kiss candy and wrap w/ tinfoil. Make enough for every child. Take white tissue paper and write the child's name on it and glue on the kiss. You or the children can cut out small hearts of pink, white and/or red to put around the kisses. Title: ______(Teacher's name) Favorite Sweets. Playdough Hearts:

Materials: A big heart shaped box (the kind candy comes in), playdough hearts that the children have made.

Make your favorite playdough recipe. Have the children use cookie cutters to make heart shapes out of the playdough. Let the heart shapes dry completely. Spray the heart shapes with clear lacquer (this strengthens the shapes). Once the hearts are dry, place the candy box on a carpeted area in your classroom. Have the children toss the hearts into the candy box.

Nice Names: Have the kids write their name on a piece of paper and put all their names into a paper bag. Have one kid at a time pick out a name. Whatever name they get they have to say something nice about that person.

Mailman, Mailman Where's my Mail? Everyone gets to participate in this game involving a hidden valentine. Choose one child to be postman and give him or her the mailman's hat. (Red strip of paper with a pink heart that says mailman.) The mailman must hide his/her eyes while you give another child a valentine to hide behind their back. Then the mailman uncovers his/her eyes and faces his/her classmates who say, "Mailman, mailman, where's the mail?” The mailman gets three guesses to find out who is hiding the mail. If he/she guesses correctly, he/she continues as postman. If he/she guesses incorrectly, the person with the mail becomes the mailman.

Valentine Land Game: Can be played to music.

Pass the heart around Pass the heart around Pass the heart along Pass the heart around Pass the heart around As we sing this song. It is Valentine's It is Valentine's It is Valentine's Day It is Valentine's It is Valentine's And we pass the heart this way When the music stops When the music stops And the heart is in your hand When the music stops When the music stops Enter Valentine Land

Repeat three verses two more times, faster each time. You can pass the heart behind your back, over your head, or under your legs. Ask the children for other passing ideas! This is from the MacMillan Sing & Learn series.