SONGS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Songs, poems, resources for back-to-school activities for primary and early childhood teachers.

The following poems and songs are from many different sources. Some are from papers I have found in files and some I created while driving in the car. There are songs for learning the calendar, back to school, rules, and more. The Good Morning Poem for September is also included. This is a component of our daily morning meeting.

CALENDAR SONGS

(Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)

If you're happy that it's Monday, clap your hands,

If you're happy that it's Monday, clap your hands

If you're happy that it's Monday,

Clap your hands.

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

When we do the calendar,

We learn the month, the date, the year,

Every weekday has a name,

There are lots of numbers that look the same,

So, let's begin to show you how,

We do the calendar right now.

DAYS OF THE WEEK:

Dr.Jean Feldman. CD available through drjean.org.

(Tune: Adams Family)

WEEKDAY CHANT

Days of the week (snap, snap)

Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (snap, snap)

There's Sunday and there's Monday,

There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,

There's Thursday and there's Friday,

And then there's Saturday.

Days of the week, (snap, snap)

Days of the week, days of the week,

days of the week. (snap, snap)

Sunday, Monday,

Tuesday, Wednesday,

Thursday, Friday,

Saturday, a week.

Saturday, Friday,

Thursday, Wednesday,

Tuesday, Monday,

Sunday, a week.

First day, second day,

Third day, fourth day,

Fifth day, sixth day,

seven days a week.

1 day, 2 days,

3 days, 4 days

5 days, 6 days,

7 days, a week.

Some days - school days,

Some days, - play days,

Some days, - holy days,

Seven days - a week.

Some days - sunny days,

Some days - rainy days,

Some days - snowy days,

Seven days a week.

Some days - work days,

Some days - play days,

Some days - holidays,

Seven days a week.

By Bill Martin, Jr.

Calendar Song - Today Is.....

(Tune: Twinkle Twinkle)

Good Morning, Good Morning

Can be clapped or chanted while jumping rope.

Today is Monday

(month) (day) (ie. April 10th),

What a great day for all to see,

Children, teachers in our school,

Learning, playing, following rules,

Today is (date. month and day)

What great day for all to see.

Good morning, good morning!

School has begun.

Good morning, good morning!

Isn't it fun.

Pencils, crayons, scissors and glue.

Erasers, paper, reading books, too.

Good morning, good morning!

School has begun.

Good morning, good morning!

Isn't it fun!

MONTH POEMS

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

January

How many days?

Thirty-one!

A new year has just begun!

Put on your sweater!

Wiggle your toes!

Put on your mittens!

And blow your nose!

Shiver, shiver, shiver, SHAKE!

January! BURRRRRRR

Famous birthdays,

Valentines from guess who?

Hearts that say Arizona's birthday!

Yes, sir-ee!

February is the month for me

28 days (no more)

Except one year in four

Leap Ye

MARCH

M-A-R-C-H, M-A-R-C-H

January, February,

March, March, March.

St. Patrick's Day wear green,

Mark that day "17",

Wind blows (whooooooo)

Melting snow (slosh, slosh)

On twenty-one

Spring comes!

Thirty-one days in March,

Hey!

APRIL

Cold has gone away,

Warm and sunny day,

Flowers bloom,

Swimming soon!

Spring is here to stay!

Hooray!

May

M-A-Y - M-A-Y

Summer is near

Baseball and swimming

Vacation's almost here!

31 days

Hop, skip and play days!

This is the month of May.

Welcome to a New Year

Tune: The More we Get Together

_______ _________ Class

(name) (grade)

Tune: It's a Small World

Welcome to a new year, a new year, a new year.

Welcome to a new year;

Our fun's just begun!

We're now in the ______ grade,

There are friends to be made.

Welcome to a new year; our

fun's just begun.

(Mailbox, September Ideas)

We will study hard and we'll make new friends,

There's so much to do 'till the school year ends,

We will read, write and spell

And do math very well in Ms/Mr.

________'s ______ grade class.

In Ms/Mr. _____ ___ grade class

In Ms. Mr. ___ __ grade class.

In Ms. Mr. ___ __ grade class

There's so much for us to do.

Rules Poem

Rules Rap

Activity Extensions

We raise our hands to speak,

We work quietly in our seats,

We use voices soft and sweet,

We keep our places tidy and neat,

We are helpful, friendly and fair,

We take turns and we share.

Rules can be helpful,

Rules can be good,

They help us behave the way we should,

We follow the rules

And don't do wrong,

The world's a happier place,

When we all get along.

1. Make a rules book to take home the first week. Write one rule at the bottom of each page. Children illustrate the rules above the sentence.

2. Brainstorm and web rules for your classroom.

3. Use the story about the wrinkled heart. I cut a large red paper heart. The children sit in a circle. We talk about hurtful things. As they list each hurtful thing, I wrinkle the heart one time. At the end, the heart is opened to show the wrinkles. This is a very powerful visual for the kids.

* Concepts: Patterned language, rhymes, color words, Fall, seasonal changes, and language mechanics.

The books have activities for an entire week to use with seasonal themes. I use pocket folders for each theme and have the children complete activities at the poem center. There are also homework activities for each theme. Click the mouse on the book covers to read more about these books at Amazon.Com.