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Toddler music group – farm songs

April 14, 2015 By Emily 30 Comments

Last month, I wrote about hosting a music group for toddlers.

That post outlined all the things to think about before starting. And now, it’s time for the fun posts: the actual music group programs!

Without further ado, I’m going to dive into my first music group theme: farm songs. Let’s get this show started.

Music-group-farm-songs

—

1. Old MacDonald

Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O!

Of COURSE you start a farm-themed music group with Old MacDonald!

The beauty of Old MacDonald is that you can include whichever animals you like, and it can go for as long as you like. If you have some animal props, you can sing about those. If you put together your own farm-themed music group program and are missing a few of your favourite farm animals, you can put them in this song and tie a big fat bow around your program!

Props: any animal toys you can find in the house. You can also draw or print pictures of the animals to hold up. The creatives among you could make headbands with animal ears and horns, tails and mittens (hooves and paws) for the children to wear.

Music:
World’s Greatest Children’s Songs (sheet music – includes three of the songs in this program) – buy from Booktopia or Book Depository
Traditional Stories, Rhymes & Songs from Play School (CD – includes three of the songs in this program) – buy from ABC Shop
There’s a Bear in There… (CD – includes four of the songs in this program, and one other farm-related song) – buy from ABC Shop

—

2. Bingo

There was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o!

Everyone’s favourite farm dog joins the fun!

Prop: Any stuffed dog toy that you can get your hands on. Alternatively, you can create the letters B, I, N, G and O – cut them out from paper, draw them on paper plates or put alphabet stickers on wooden spoons – and hand them to five of the children to hold up at the appropriate times.

Music:
World’s Greatest Children’s Songs (sheet music – includes three of the songs in this program) – buy from Booktopia or Book Depository
There’s a Bear in There… (CD – includes four of the songs in this program, and one other farm-related song) – buy from ABC Shop

—

3. Eggs

They’re round all around and they’re bigger at the bottom…

After meeting Bingo, it’s time to visit the chickens and collect the eggs. This is a favourite old-school Play School track of ours.

Props: anything egg-like you can find. We used play eggs that came in a food set, which you can find quite cheaply at Kmart and Big W. Alternatively, you can make your own paper-mache eggs, draw them on a sheet of paper or simply get the kids to hold their hands in an egg shape. The uber-creative amongst you could even make a nest for the children to put them in. (I am not uber-creative. There was no nest at my house.)

Music:
…It’s Play School (CD – includes two of the songs in this program, and four other farm-related songs) – buy from ABC Shop

—

4. Five little ducks

Five little ducks went out one day, over the hills and far away…

Here’s another bird that lays eggs! You can sing this song with accompaniment, but it’s a great one to sing a capella (and to let the kids lead when they’re feeling confident). It’s also handy, if you’re running behind schedule, to start at a lower number to get back on track. How does Three little ducks sound?

Props: your fingers! Kids will love creating their own ducks as well.

Music:
Furry Tales (The Wiggles) (CD – includes one other farm-related song) – buy from ABC Shop
Counting and Alphabet Sing-A-Long Boxset Volumes 1, 2 & 3 (CD – there are no other farm-related songs, but it’s a fantastic set, and will feature heavily in future music group programs) – buy from ABC Shop

—

5. Giddy up horsey

Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up horsey, giddy up, giddy up, GO! GO! GO!

This is a great one for bubs. Bounce bub on your knee as you sing along, and older kids can prance around, pretending to ride their horses.

Props: none needed. We tried to use hobby horses, but found that the kids who missed out got upset. Better off letting them prance unassisted.

—

6. Baa baa black sheep

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?

After riding horses, it’s time to visit the sheep. Try and spot the black one!

Props: we went prop-less for this one, using our fingers to count the bags of wool instead. If you have older kids at your music group, you can use cotton wool balls to represent the bags of wool.

Music:
The Fantastic Big Book of Children’s Songs (sheet music – includes one other farm-related song) – buy from Booktopia or Book Depository
Traditional Stories, Rhymes & Songs from Play School (CD – includes three of the songs in this program) – buy from ABC Shop
There’s a Bear in There… (CD – includes four of the songs in this program, and one other farm-related song) – buy from ABC Shop

—

7. Tractor saves the day (story)

I changed things up here, including a short rhyming story of a tractor.

Props: we happen to have a toy tractor that was perfect for this story. Otherwise, the pictures in the story will more than suffice.

Book:
Tractor Saves the Day (Mandy Archer and Martha Lightfoot) – available from Booktopia or Book Depository

—

8. Dingle dangle scarecrow

When all the cows were sleeping, and the sun had gone to bed…

Let’s drive the tractor out to visit the scarecrow! Dingle dangle scarecrow is a hit with every kid I’ve ever sung it with. Ask them to sing the second chorus as loud as they can and you’ll be blown away.

Props: yourselves. Jump up in the field, stick your arms out, and get ready to shake your arms and feet! If you’re feeling creative, you can dress up as a scarecrow to add interest. Some old jeans, a flannelette shirt, a straw hat and boots should do it.

Music:
…It’s Play School (CD – includes two of the songs in this program, and four other farm-related songs) – buy from ABC Shop

—

9. Oats and beans and barley grow

Oats and beans and barley grow, oats and beans and barley grow…

This is another dancey movement song. Oats and beans and barley grow was the undisputed favourite song of farm music group. It was also the one I was least confident of leading into it. Which is usually how it pans out.

Props: yourselves. There’s a dance to this – however you decide to perform this one, I recommend watching this YouTube clip to become familiar with the dance. (I changed this dance slightly for our program; the children in our group were much younger than those in the clip, so we just repeated the first two verses, and didn’t have anyone in the middle of the circle. But you can tailor it to suit your own group.)

—

10. Windmills go round

Windmills go round, round and around, up to the sky, down to the ground…

More movement for the kids as everyone becomes a windmill. Circle your arms around, reaching as high and low as you can.

Props: your arms!

Music:
There’s a Bear in There… (CD – includes four of the songs in this program, and one other farm-related song) – buy from ABC Shop

—

11. Muddled-up farm (story)

After all that dancing, I decided to wind down the farm songs program with a favourite story, Muddled-up Farm (which I reviewed in February).

The story is funny and engaging, and the children can expend the last of their energy trying to teach the animals the correct things to say (or trying to guess what incorrect things they might say instead).

Book:
Muddled-up Farm (Mike Dumbleton and Jobi Murphy) – available from Booktopia or Book Depository.

—

And that’s where our farm music group program ended.

If you’d like to create your own program, here are some other songs I considered while putting it together:

  • The chicken dance
  • If you were a farmer
  • Click go the shears
  • What can a cow do?
  • I like goats
  • I’m a cow

And here’s that last one, in case you’re not familiar with it:

Too funny!

So, are you ready to host your own toddler music group?

I hope so. Good luck. Let me know if you have any queries, and please feel free to provide any feedback or links to other versions of the songs that you know about.

 

Do you host a music group? Do you have any insights or suggestions to share?

* Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to buy the item, I earn a little commission but you don’t pay any extra.

Filed Under: Music group programs, Songs Tagged With: children, farm, music, music group, singing, songs

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Comments

  1. Amy @ HandbagMafia says

    April 14, 2015 at 7:47 am

    This is a similar thing to what my local library runs- very cool! The little ones love it!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:54 pm

      They certainly do!

      Reply
  2. EssentiallyJess says

    April 14, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    You are awesome Em. I am in awe.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:54 pm

      Thanks Jess. That’s lovely, but it’s really a whole load of fun!

      Reply
  3. Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says

    April 14, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Your kids will have such fond memories you doing this as they grow – you rock mumma!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:55 pm

      Thanks Em. Hadn’t thought of that – if I’m part of their early music memories, then great! I hope it inspires them to keep going with it rather than put them off it.

      Reply
  4. stephanie@stephsjoy says

    April 14, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    What a great program you have put together! I recognise some of the songs but others new to me. I no longer have a toddler, but he is still happy to listen and sing nursery rhymes.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:56 pm

      Thanks Stephanie. My little girl is almost five, but still loving the songs. She’s the oldest in the group and likes to lead some of the songs – works for everyone!

      Reply
  5. Renee Wilson says

    April 14, 2015 at 10:13 pm

    The only thing missing from this post is a clip of you performing one of these songs 😉 Great collection there. You’ve mentioned some of our favourites and some new ones too. My two year old is a classic with Bingo. She hates the dog being called Bingo and gets really agitated. ‘No mummy, he’s not Bingo. Don’t say that mummy. No. Not Bingo’. She wants his name to be Toby … because that makes sense :/

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:57 pm

      Ha, thanks Renee! Funny you should say that – I’m working on a few more of these posts and can’t find a clip for a few of the songs. You’re onto something – I might just have to get in front of the camera and upload to YouTube!
      And that sounds adorable. (The first time.)

      Reply
  6. JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter) says

    April 14, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    Oh Em you are amazing! I wish my kids were a little younger again.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:58 pm

      Thanks Jodi! I’ve probably still got three years of this ahead of me before little man hits school. For all that the toddler years are exhausting me, I have to say this aspect is super fun!

      Reply
  7. Veggie Mama says

    April 15, 2015 at 11:32 am

    Hahah my kids are two and four and this is basically my life right now.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:58 pm

      The worst bit is when you’re out BY YOURSELF and still singing the nursery rhymes! (What? I’ve never done that! Ahem.)

      Reply
  8. Tash @ Gift Grapevine says

    April 16, 2015 at 2:19 am

    I can imagine all the kids going nuts for this! Mr TT’s favourite is dingle dangle scarecrow and what a great idea to finish with Muddled-up Farm (love that book). Ever considered taking your show on the road Em? 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 7:59 pm

      Um, no, absolutely not! Once a week and at my house is plenty exhausting enough. I got tired dancing to some body parts songs the other day – mega respect for children’s entertainers who sing and dance and jump around constantly!

      Reply
  9. Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions says

    April 17, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    I have to say, Dingle Dangle Scarecrow is one of my favourite songs. I love it on our Play School CD, and we do it in Zee’s swimming lessons, getting them to kick and splash their arms and legs about. It’s lots of fun.

    I wish we lived near you guys because I think the girls would love to go (and so would I!).

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 8:15 pm

      I wish you did too – and for plenty of other reasons! x

      Reply
  10. Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says

    April 17, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    You are one fab mama, Em! I used to love doing this with Bell when she was young, and we still crank out a few of the old songs every now and then x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 8:17 pm

      They never get old! My almost-five-year-old loves to make up new words to all her old faves.

      Reply
  11. Lauren @ Create Bake Make says

    April 18, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    You are amazing! Dingle Dangle Scarecrow and Five Little Ducks are two of my boys favourite songs.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 22, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      Do kids ever get sick of Five Little Ducks?

      Reply
  12. Jules says

    April 18, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    Great song choices . We do a similar music program at school , incorporating sign language and I also love that it encourages my students to speak and make the noises. We performed Dingle Dangle scarecrow and old Macdonald for our end of term assembly item. You Tube has some Wonderful Action Songs and music (especially when the Music budget is tight :() . Such a great thing you are doing Em . x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 23, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks Jules! I only know the alphabet in sign language, but would love to learn more. Your program sounds wonderful.

      Reply
  13. Bele @ BlahBlah says

    April 19, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    What an awesome idea. I love how kids respond to music and all the craziness it brings. Thank you for such a wonderful post x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 23, 2015 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks Bele! Kids love music.

      Reply
  14. Kelly Exeter says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:43 am

    I just love that you do this! The day you figure out how to combine grammar with kids’ music programs … you’re going to rule the world!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm

      Thanks Kelly! A toddler music group program about grammar? I actually have the perfect songs for it!

      Reply
  15. Sonia Life Love Hiccups says

    April 20, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    man you are an awesome mama Em and you just brought back so many memories.. B.I. NGO B.I.NGO B.I.NGO and Bingo was his namo! haha xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      April 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm

      Thanks Sonia! That song always reminds me of a really early Simpsons episode.

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Emily

I parent. I write. I blog. I play with words and numbers in my head. Constantly. It's crowded in there.

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