Guest Author - Diane Claus

Guest author Jeanette Norman

Two Little Apples
Way up high in the apple tree (extend arms above head like a tree)
Two little apples smiled at me (smile and point to your mouth)
I shook that tree just as hard as I could (circle hands like you have a hold of the tree and shake!)
Down came the apples (hands in the air falling)
Mmmmmm were they good! (rub tummy)

It Is Autumn - sung to "Skip To My Lou"
It is autumn up in a tree.
It is autumn up in a tree.
It is autumn up in a tree.
Up in a tree it's autumn.
Leaves are changing up in a tree...
Leaves are falling from that tree...
Squirrels are living up in a tree...
Acorns are growing up in a tree...

Did You Ever See A Tree? - sung to "Did You Ever See A Lassie?"
Did you ever see a tree,
A tree, a tree?
Did you ever see a tree,
A tree in the fall?
There are red leaves and orange leaves,
And yellow leaves and brown leaves,
Did you ever see a tree,
A tree in the fall?
Did you ever see the wind blow,
The wind blow, the wind blow?
Did you ever see the wind blow
A tree in the fall?
The (red) leaves all fall down.
The swirl down to the ground.
Did you ever see the wind blow
A tree in the fall?
The (yellow) leaves all fall down...
The (orange)leaves all fall down...
The (brown) leaves all fall down...

Autumn Labor
My poor back will surely break,
(Rub back; make face as if in pain.)
If one more leaf I have to rake!
(Hold up one finger; make raking motions.)
Crusty, rusty brown leaves,
Dusty, blustery red leaves,
Crunching, bunching, scrunching beneath my feet.
(Walk in place.)
In a pile of crispy leaves, I'll find a welcome seat!
(Sit down on floor.)

Five Little Leaves
Five little leaves so bright and gay
(Hold up five fingers.)
Were dancing about on a tree one day.
(Dance in place.)
The wind came blowing through the town,
(Sway with the wind.)
And one little leaf came tumbling down.
(Gently tumble to the ground.)

Four little leaves . . .(then continue to zero)

Mr. Oak Tree
(Sung to tune of "Where is Thumbkin?")
Mr. Oak Tree,
(Hold your arms above your head and sway)
Mr. Oak Tree,
Leaves float down,
(Extend hands over head and flutter down)
To the ground.
Acorns dropping--plip, plop!
(Clap once when each italicized word is sung)
Squirrels a-scamp'ring--hip, hop!
All around,
(Move hands in front of yourself from left to right.) On the ground.

October
(Tune: Frere Jacques)
In October,
In October,
What do you see?
What do you see?
I see a gray squirrel
Leaping on the trees

In October,
In October,
What do you see?
What do you see?
I see Jack-O-Lanterns,
I see Jack-O-Lanterns,
Laughing at me,
Laughing at me.

In October,
In October,
What do you see?
What do you see?
I see children
Saying trick or treat
Saying trick or treat.

In October,
In October,
What do you see?
What do you see?
I see leaves
I see leaves
Dancing on the streets.

For more great fingerplays and songs to sing with young children, I recommend the following books.