Aplaudimos

This is one of the many songs we sing during circle time. Aplaudimos means to clap. It´s a celebration for all the friends that we have in the class. We clap for each student present using their first name. When it´s their turn they get to stand up and dance in the middle of the circle. When the song says, ¨Da una vuelta.¨ They twirl. Not every student likes to stand up and be the center of attention. Those friends can choose to stay sitting down and just roll their hands. Aplaudimos is one of our classroom favorites!

Las Manitas

(Hide hands behind your back. When the song begins they bring one hand out and move it back and forth)

Saco una manita
La hago bailar(Move them back and forth)
La cierro, la abro y la vuelvo a guardar. (Open, close and then hide the hand again)

Saco otra manita (Bring other hand out)
La hago bailar
La cierro, la abro y la vuelvo a guardar.(Hide again.)

Saco dos manitas (Bring both hands out.)
Las hago bailar.
Las cierro, las abro y las vuelvo a guardar.(Put both hands behind your back.)

Llego la primavera by Natalia Prats

Llego la Primavera
Salen las flores
Sopla el viento
Llueve desde el cielo.

"Que llueva!" performed by The Language Tree Spanish PM

Que llueva, que llueva,
el quetzal está en la cueva.
Los pajaritos cantan,
las nubes se levantan.
Que sí, que no, que caiga un chaparrón. ( repeat 2 twice)

Estrellita

Estrellita

Camina el Caracol

Despacio, despacio camina el caracol.
Despacio, despacio camina bajo el sol.

We normally do this finger play with our thumb sticking out. Our fist represents the shell.  We move our thumb slowly down the carpet. They really enjoy this simple finger play.

Mi Conejito

Salta mi conejito (Two fingers jump over open hand)
Para tus orejitas (Hands over head to make bunny ears)
Come tu zanahoria (Eat the carrot)
Mi conejito, mi conejito( Jump like a bunny)


Finger Play is an excellent way of teaching children language and meaning. Here are a few of the benefits of finger play. I will be posting some of the Finger Plays that we've been practicing in class.

Here are some of the benefits of using rhymes, finger play or rhymes and action songs: 

-They allow for self expression, encouraging a child's own response in his or her use of body and speech. 

-These activities encourage students to participate verbally. 

-They provide relaxation (a legitimate opportunity to wiggle and move around). 

-They assist the child in learning to follow directions. 

-They increase attention span. 

-They develop listening skills. 

-They teach order and sequence. 

-Help teach number concepts. 

-They increase manual dexterity and muscular control.