Caterpillar and Butterfly Finger Play Songs

It’s spring in the northern hemisphere and that means it’s time for caterpillars and butterflies!   My former students and own kids love to sing and act out caterpillar and butterfly themed preschool songs, they are perfect for circle time at school or play time at home.

Caterpillar and Butterfly Songs for Preschool

 

Where Did My Caterpillar Go? Finger Play Song

by Megan Sheakoski

(Sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Where, oh where, did my caterpillar go?

Caterpillar go, caterpillar go?

Where, of where, did my caterpillar go?

Oh look! It’s a butterfly!

As the students sing the beginning lines of the song they cup their hands around their eyes as if they were looking for something. When they sing the last line of the song they point their fingers up to the sky at the pretend butterfly.

Caterpillar and Butterfly Hand Motion Song

by Megan Sheakoski

(Sung to the tune of Are You Sleeping?)

Caterpillar, caterpillar,

In my hand, in my hand,

Soon you’ll be a butterfly.

Soon you’ll be a butterfly.

And fly away. Fly away.

The kids cup their hands and swing them gently back and forth in front of their bodies while singing about the caterpillar. They hook their thumbs and flutter their fingers like wings during the third and fourth line and then move their butterfly fingers up into the air for the last line.

Caterpillar Life Cycle Song

by Megan Sheakoski

(Sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

A caterpillar has 12 eyes

Has 12 eyes, has 12 eyes,

A caterpillar has 12 eyes

So that he can see!

A caterpillar chews on leaves

Chews on leaves, chews on leaves,

A caterpillar chews on leaves

To get some energy!

Now he rests in a chrysalis

A chrysalis, a chrysalis,

Now he rests in a chrysalis

And becomes a butterfly!

Singing and acting out finger play songs is a great learning activity for kids. Preschoolers and toddlers can practice following directions, using memory skills, and learn about the life cycle of a caterpillar while singing and having fun.

If you are studying about the caterpillars and butterflies you may want to make our 12 eyed caterpillar puppet to go with the life cycle song!

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Edventures with Kids

Egg Shakers and Song for Preschoolers

My kids LOVE playing with egg shakers!  They’re so much fun, easy to make, and (surprisingly) last for a long time.  I was just making a bunch for my son’s preschool class and realized that not everyone has made them before!

So here’s a quick “how to” along with our favorite preschool song to shake to

How to make egg shakers

How to Make Egg Shakers:

  1. Put a scoop of rice, pebbles, granola, etc in the bottom of a plastic egg
  2. Line the rim of the bottom with glue
  3. Click the egg together and wipe away the excess glue
  4. Hold together for 15-20 seconds to set
  5. SHAKE!!!!

Egg shakers are good for older preschoolers who don’t put toys in their mouths, but even the big kids will still need to be supervised since the glue is only so strong.

 
And now for the best egg shaking song….

I Know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner!

(affiliate links)

According to her website the song was “developed out of an improvisation with the kids. They were playing with egg-shaped “shakers” and I needed a song to go along with it.” 

And the song she came up with is perfect–it gets kids moving and shaking and is so much fun!

I Know A Chicken Amazon download

I Know a Chicken iTunes download

What are your preschoolers’ favorite spring songs?  My kids also love Eggbert the Easter Egg and our Eggbert Puppet!

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Disclosure:  The amazon links in this post are affiliate links. 

Eggbert the Easter Egg Puppet and Song!

“Eggbert the Easter Egg” is one of our favorite Easter songs.  A couple years ago my oldest and I made these cute socks puppets to use while we sing.  All you need to make one yourself is a yellow sock, a square of white felt, a scrap of orange felt or any other fabric, fabric glue and two googly eyes.

To Make an Eggbert the Easter Egg Sock Puppet:

1.  Cut an egg shape from the white felt.  Then use the fabric scissors to cut it in half.

2.  Put the sock on your hand and fold it over. Determine where to put the fabric glue so that the egg is closed when your hand is closed.  Stick the egg pieces on and allow to dry.

3.   Cut a small triangle beak out of the orange fabric.

4.  Glue the eyes and beak on the sock to make Eggbert.

5.  Get ready to sing!

I was going to include a video of me singing the song with the puppet so you could learn the words, but I can’t get it to work.  After a little Googling, I found a YouTube video of a version sung by Rosemary Clooney.  Enjoy!

Eggbert the Easter Egg sung by Rosemary Clooney