Toddler music group – farm songs

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.)

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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

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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.

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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.