Finger Plays
Tiny Tim
I had a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub, to teach him how to swim
He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap.
And now when he talks, there’s a bubble in his throat.
Right Hand, Left Hand
This is my right hand,
I’ll raise it up high (right hand over head).
This is my left hand,
I’ll touch the sky (left hand up).
Right hand (show right palm)
Left hand (show left palm)
Roll them around (roll hands over and over)
Left hand (show left palm)
Right hand (show right palm)
Pound, pound, pound (pound fists together)
Sleepy Caterpillars
Let’s go to sleep, the caterpillar said, (wiggle finger)
As they tuck themselves into their beds. (make a fist)
They will awaken by and by,
And each one will be a lovely butterfly. (open hand one finger
at a time)
Five Little Fishes
Five little fishes swimming in a pool, (wiggle 5 fingers)
The first one said, “the pool is cool”. (wrap arms around body)
The second one said, “the pool is deep”, (voice deep)
The third one said, “I want to sleep”, (rest head on hands)
The fourth one said, “let’s dive and dip), (hand dives and dips)
The fifth one said, “I spy a ship”, (peer out under hand)
Fisherman boat comes, (fingers form V and move away from body)
Line goes KER-SPLASH, (pantomime throwing fishing line)
Away the five little fishes dash. (wiggle 5 fingers away)
Bunny and The Cabbage
Once there was a bunny (right fist forms bunny and two fingers his ears)
And a great big cabbage head (fist of left hand)
“I think I’ll have some cabbage,” the little bunny said.
So he nibbled and he nibbled (nibble cabbage head w/fingers of right
hand)
And pricked his ears to say (ears straighten up)
Now I think it’s time to be hopping on my way.
Twelve Little Rabbits
Twelve little rabbits in a rabbit pen;
Two hopped away and then there were ten. (hold up 10 fingers)
Ten little rabbits with ears up straight;
Two hopped away and then there were eight. (bend down two fingers)
Eight little rabbits doing funny tricks;
Two hopped away and then there were six. (bend down two fingers)
Two little rabbits found a new friend;
They hopped away, and that is the end
Chipmunk in a Tree
See the little chipmunk (hold left hand up, elbow bent.)
Run up the tree (right hand running up left arm.)
There he finds a hole and hides from me. (right hand through
hole and disappears)
Watch and you will see him peek all around. (put forefinger of
right hand through
hold as though looking about.)
And if you’ll be quite still, he’ll come down. (chipmunk runs
down.)
Going to Bed
This little boy is going to bed (place forefinger in left hand.)
Down on the pillow he lays his head,
Wraps himself in the cover tight. (fold left hand over right
forefinger)
This is the way he sleeps all night.
Morning comes he opens his eyes. (blink eyes as if just opening)
Back with a toss the cover flies
Up he jumps, is dressed and away
Ready for work, ready for play. (open left fist and quickly raise
right forefinger, then
wiggle it and move hand as if walking on its
way.)
Beehive
Here is a beehive.
Where are all the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees!
I see something! They are alive!
One! Two! Three! Four! Five!
Grandmas’ Glasses
Here are grandmas glasses
Here is grandmas hat.
This is the way she folds her hands
And put them in her lap.
Here are grandpas glasses,
Here is grandpas hat.
This is the way he folds his arms!
Just like that!
There Was a Little Turtle
There was a little turtle, (make a small circle w/hand)
He lived in a box, (make box w/hand)
He swam in a puddle (wiggle hands)
He climbed on the rocks. (stack hands on the other)
He snapped at a mosquito, (clap hands)
He snapped at a flea, (clap hands)
He snapped at a minnow, (clap hands)
He snapped at me. (clap hands)
He caught the mosquito, (clap hands)
He caught the flea, (clap hands)
He caught the minnow, (clap hands)
But he didn’t catch me! (shake index finger)
Beehive
Here is a bee hive, where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Open it up and out they fly,
One, two, three, four, five bzzzzzzzz.