Money Concepts Songs and Activities

Tooth Fairy Poem 
Last night I lost a tooth

Just like cousin Jenny

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a penny

Last night I lost a tooth

When I ate a pickle

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a nickel

Last night I lost a tooth

When I ate a lime

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a dime

Last night I lost a tooth

It was a little shorter

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a quarter

Last night I lost a tooth

I gave a big holler (Ouch!)

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a dollar

Money Rap

A penny is one cent (stomp)

A nickel is five (pat knees)

A dime is ten cent (clap hands)

A quarter twenty five (snap fingers)

Teaching Idea: Use the body percussion for an addition problem.  Clap, Clap Snap would be 10 +10+ 25 = .45 cents.

Coin Order Tune: Ten Little Indians

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Put them in that order.

Teaching Idea:

1. Have the some coins either plastic or cut out and have the students put them in order.  

2. Talk about how much each coin is worth and how much these coins add up to.

The Money Song Tune: Itsy, Bitsy Spider

1 cent is a penny,

10 cents is a dime,

5 cents is a nickel,

Now you know that I'm...

learning about the money,

and which coin is which.

Don't forget the quarter-

It's worth 25 cents!

Dr. Jean's Money Song Tune: Shortnin' Bread

Chorus:

I like money to buy things at the store.

Money, money, money, I always want more!

A penny's worth one cent.

A nickel's worth five.

A dime's worth ten cents.

A quarter's twenty-five.

Chorus

Lincoln's on one cent.

Jefferson's on five.

Roosevelt's on ten cents.

Washington's on twenty-five.

Chorus 

A building's on one cent.

A building's on five.

A torch is on ten cents.

An eagle's on twenty-five.

Three Little Nickels A Fingerplay

Three little nickels in a pocketbook new,

(hold up three fingers)

One bought a peppermint, and then there were two,

(bend down one finger)

Two little nickels before the day was done,

One bought an ice cream cone, and then there was one

(bend down another finger)

One little nickel I heard it plainly say,

"I'm going into the piggy bank for a rainy day!"

Three Shiny Quarters 

Three shiny quarters in a pocketbook new (Hold up three fingers)

One bought a gumball, then there were two (Bend down one finger)

Two shiny quarters, before the day was done

One bought a sticker, then there was one. (Bend down another finger)

One little quarter, I heard it plainly say,

"I'm going in the piggy bank for a rainy day!"

Teaching Ideas

1. Brainstorm with the students about different things you can buy with the coin.

2. Change the coin to different amounts and add up how many three of them makes

Found a Penny Tune: Oh My Darlin'

Found a penny,

Found a penny,

Found a penny just now.

Just now I found a penny.

Found a penny just now.

It's worth 1 cent.

It's worth 1 cent.

It's worth 1 cent just now.

Just now, it's work 1 cent.

It's worth 1 cent just now.

Change the penny to different coins and different amounts.

Wonderful Websites:

1. Money Instructor: Printable worksheets, custom worksheets, printable play money, lesson plans

2. Four Fun Games for Money Recognition: Fun games like bingo and a printable die

Favorite Money Books

1. The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy

2. Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Lanczak Williams

3. A Quarter From the Tooth Fairy by Caren Holtzman

Lucky Leprechaun Game: Key Signature

The Lucky Leprechaun Game is played like "Old Maid" except the goal is to be the last player holding the Lucky Leprechaun. 


Goggle Doc: Shamrock Key Signature Cards

Shamrock Key Signature  Cards

1. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals out all the cards to the players. It doesn’t matter if they don’t come out evenly.

2. Each player picks up his cards and holds them so that other players cannot see them. Players may want to organize their cards so that like notes are together.

3. Next, players take out of their hands any pairs they have. For example, if a player has two A's, the player takes that pair out. All the pairs from all the players’ hands go into a pile, face down, in the center of the table. However, if a player has, for example, three C's, he can only put down the pair.  Depending on the level, pairs do not have to be the exact same note.  For instance you can have a Middle C and a Bass C be a pair.

4. The player to the left of the dealer (Joel) spreads out his hand, face down, on the table. The player to his left (Amy) picks up one of those cards. If she can make a pair by using that card, she removes the pair and puts it in the pile at the center of the table. Otherwise, Amy just keeps that card.

5. Now, Amy spreads her cards on the table, face down, so that the player to her left can pick up one card out of her hand.

6.  Play continues in this way. Eventually, one player will be left with card "The Lucky Leprechaun" and that players wins.  You can also see who has the most pairs and they can be the winner as well.

Can also be played with Shamrock Keyboard Cards

Shamrock Key Staff Cards

Tic Tac Toe Levels 1-3

Tic Tac Toe is a classic game that can be played with just about anything. When playing at an individual lesson, I play one side of the board and the student plays the other.   I then pick an Alphabet card and mark the corresponding note on the Tic Tac Toe board.  You may only mark one note at a time.  The first player to get three in a row wins.  Another way to play with the boards is to make the player have to cover all notes on their board for a 'wipe out' of all notes.

Level One covers all the notes in Middle C Position.  Here are instructions for a group lesson
Also try Tic Tac Toe for the Keyboard

Google Docs: Tic Tac Toe Level One

Tic Tac Toe Level One: Middle C Position


Google Doc: Tic Tac Toe Level Two: C position

Tic Tac Toe Level Two


Google Docs: Tic Tac Toe Level 3: Add space notes in Treble Clef

Tic Tac Toe Level Three

Try your luck at some St. Patrick's Day Group Games

I am having group lessons this week and we are playing some of my St. Patrick's Day Games:
Pot of Gold Game
Lucky Leprechaun Game
Lucky Penny Game
Tic Tac Toe:

To make Tic Tac Toe in line with the St. Patrick's Day theme,  I have the students use the lucky coins to cover their boards.  You could also use some foam shamrocks :).

I love doing stations at my group lessons and it helps me get my different leveled students grouped together.  Most games lend themselves to having different levels.  I just have the students choose from a different stack of cards.  I separate them into color groups and then write the color on a post it note and attach it to the stack of cards I want them to choose from.  Sometimes I have an older student help a younger one as well.

The one game that has to be separated into levels is the Lucky Leprechaun Game.  I have some pre readers that couldn't play the staff game and you have to mix the cards all together.  So I separate the group by their level of notes they have learned on the staff.

Below are the directions for the games.  I leave the directions at each station and I monitor the groups by walking around and helping when needed.

Tic Tac Toe Instructions
Tic Tac Toe Instructions

Lucky Leprechaun Instructions
Lucky Leprechaun Instructions

Lucky Penny Game Instructions
Lucky Penny Game Instructions

Pot Gold Game
Pot of Gold Instructions

Lucky Leprechaun Game with Keyboard Cards

Here is the same Lucky Leprechaun Game with Keyboard Cards.  I am having a lot of fun playing this game.  The kids enjoy seeing who has the Leprechaun at the end.


Goggle Docs: Shamrock Keyboard Cards
Shamrock Keyboard Cards
Instructions:

1. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals out all the cards to the players. It doesn’t matter if they don’t come out evenly.

2. Each player picks up his cards and holds them so that other players cannot see them. Players may want to organize their cards so that like notes are together.

3. Next, players take out of their hands any pairs they have. For example, if a player has two A's, the player takes that pair out. All the pairs from all the players’ hands go into a pile, face down, in the center of the table. However, if a player has, for example, three C's, he can only put down the pair.  Depending on the level, pairs do not have to be the exact same note.  For instance you can have a Middle C and a Bass C be a pair.

4. The player to the left of the dealer (Joel) spreads out his hand, face down, on the table. The player to his left (Amy) picks up one of those cards. If she can make a pair by using that card, she removes the pair and puts it in the pile at the center of the table. Otherwise, Amy just keeps that card.

5. Now, Amy spreads her cards on the table, face down, so that the player to her left can pick up one card out of her hand.

6.  Play continues in this way. Eventually, one player will be left with card "The Lucky Leprechaun" and that players wins.  You can also see who has the most pairs and they can be the winner as well.


Can also be played with Shamrock Staff Cards
Shamrock Key Signature Cards

A Great Half Step, Whole Step Game

A Wonderful game to reinforce the difference between half steps and whole steps called Crazy Keys.  The thing I love the most about this game is the wiggly worms.  Great manipulative item, that is fun, especially for boys.  Jen's Piano Studio has some other wonderful ideas.  She has put a lot of time and effort into creating some great resources.  Check it out!

Lucky Leprechaun Game

The Lucky Leprechaun Game is played like "Old Maid" except the goal is to be the last player holding the Lucky Leprechaun. 

How to Play:  Use the Shamrock Staff Playing Cards

Google Docs: Shamrock Staff Playing Cards

Shamrock Staff Cards
1. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals out all the cards to the players. It doesn’t matter if they don’t come out evenly.

2. Each player picks up his cards and holds them so that other players cannot see them. Players may want to organize their cards so that like notes are together.

3. Next, players take out of their hands any pairs they have. For example, if a player has two A's, the player takes that pair out. All the pairs from all the players’ hands go into a pile, face down, in the center of the table. However, if a player has, for example, three C's, he can only put down the pair.  Depending on the level, pairs do not have to be the exact same note.  For instance you can have a Middle C and a Bass C be a pair.

4. The player to the left of the dealer (Joel) spreads out his hand, face down, on the table. The player to his left (Amy) picks up one of those cards. If she can make a pair by using that card, she removes the pair and puts it in the pile at the center of the table. Otherwise, Amy just keeps that card.

5. Now, Amy spreads her cards on the table, face down, so that the player to her left can pick up one card out of her hand.

6.  Play continues in this way. Eventually, one player will be left with card "The Lucky Leprechaun" and that players wins.  You can also see who has the most pairs and they can be the winner as well.


Can also be played with Shamrock Keyboard Cards

Shamrock Key Signature Cards

Dr. Seuss Songs

It is Dr. Seuss' Birthday on March 2nd and to celebrate I have compiled some songs inspired by his wonderful books

Click on the picture for a copy of these songs!

Wocket in my Pocket  Sung to “Did you ever see a lassie”

Did you ever see a wocket that lived in my pocket?

Did you ever see a wocket that lived in my pocket?

He goes this way and that way, and this way and that way

Did you ever see a wocket that lived in my pocket?


Substitute the things in the book for the underlined words
Have children come up with other ideas like "there's a ghar in my car "or a "tamera in my camera"

Mulberry Street  Sung to “As I was walking down the street”

As I was walking down the street, down the street, down the street

A cart and horse  did I meet Heigh, Ho, Heigh, Ho, Heigh Ho

Rig a jig, jig and away we go, away we go
Away we go, rig a jig and away we go, Heigh, ho, heigh, ho, heigh, ho


Substitute the things Marco sees for the underlined words

The Cat in the Hat Song Sung to “Addam’s Family”

The cat in the hat (snap, snap)

The cat in the hat (snap, snap)

The cat in the hat, the cat in the hat 

The cat in the hat (snap, snap)

He causes so much fun

But when the fun is done

You will be the one

To send that cat away

If I Ran the Zoo
Down in the zoo with the beat in your feet
Tell me the animal that you'd like to meet
A lion, a lion, she wants to meet a lion


Keep a beat with stomping or pats and ask children to name an animal


We're Going to the Zoo
We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you
You can come too, too, too
We're going to the zoo, zoo zoo

See the elephant with the long trunk swingin'
Great big ears and a long trunk swingin'
Snuffin' up peanuts with a long trunk swingin'
And we can stay all day!

See all the monkeys they're scritch-scritch scratchin'
Jumpin' around and scritch-scritch scratchin'
Hangin' by the long-tail scritch-scritch scratchin'
And we can stay all day!

There's a big black bear he's a huff-puff-a-puffin'
His coat's too heavy he's a huff-puff-a-puffin'
Don't get too close to its huff-puff-a-puffin'
Or you won't stay all day!

Well the seals in the pool all honk-honk-honkin'
Catchin' the fish and honk-honk-honkin'
Little tiny seals all honk-honk-honkin'
And we can stay all day! 


The Animals in the Zoo Sung to "The Wheels on the Bus"
The snake in the zoo goes hiss hiss hiss
Hiss hiss hiss, Hiss hiss hiss
The snake in the zoo goes hiss hiss hiss
All day long

Subsitute other animals and sounds

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
A - B - CDE (Teacher)
A - B - CDE (Students)
Grade One is where I want to be. (Teacher)
Grade One is where I want to be. (Students)
F - G - HIJ
Learning to read and write each day.
K - L - MNO
Many boys and girls we know.
P - Q - RST
Sharing books with you and me.
U - V - WXY
Now it's time to say good-bye.
Z - Z - ZZZ
Grade One is where I want to be.
(or, with the zed sound -)
Z - Z - ZZZ And the letters are in my head.

If You're Happy and You Know It
If you're happy and you know it,
Bounce around “b” “b”
If you're happy and you know it,
Bounce around “b” “b”
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Bounce around “b” “b”.
Catch a ball “c” “c”...
Dance with me “d” “d”...
Fall down “f” “f”...
Gallop like a horse “g” “g”...
Hop on one foot “f” “f”...
Jump so high “j” “j”...
Kick in the air “k” “k”...
Laugh out loud “l” “l”...
March in place “m” “m”...
Nod your head “n” “n”...
Paint a picture “p” “p”...
Quash a quilt "q" "q" ...
Run in place “r” “r”...
Sit on the floor “s” “s”...
Talk to me “t” “t”...
Vacuum the rug “v” “v”...
Walk around “w” “w”...
Yawn right now “y” “y”...
Zip your zipper “z” “z”...
 

Horton Hear a Who

Play Horton Hears a What?

Gather sound clips of effects or instruments and play Horton Hears a What?

Have children identify the sound.

Wonderful collection of songs on this CD.  I love the green eggs and ham song! Dr. Seuss Song CD

Check out these resources!

Pot of Gold Game

Here is a game for St. Patrick's Day that has students adding and subtracting rhythms.  Players try to be the first one to fill up their pot of gold!

Here are the directions:

Each player chooses a rhythm card that has an addition/subtraction problem on it.  You can make some or use my Rhythm Addition Cards.   Students calculate that answer and take that number of gold pieces to put on in their pot.  You can use pennies or bingo chips for your gold.  My students love my Magic Notes, so I will most likely be using them.

You could also roll rhythm dice, if you have any of them.  Another idea I had was to make time signature cards and have a missing rhythm.  The note value of the missing rhythm would be how many gold pieces the student gets to add to the pot.

Google Doc: Pot of Gold Game

Pot of Gold Game

Wonderful Music Term Game

Music Matters Blog has come up with another wonderful new game using Scrabble tiles called Fun Group Music game for knowing your terms and symbols

This game has students naming different terms and symbols and drawing the symbol on a whiteboard as well.  I could see using this to name instruments and composers as well, maybe even your favorite piece.

If you don't have scrabble tiles, consider using some boggle dice, letter tiles or beads with letters on them.

Candy Hearts Game: Tempo and Expression

I wanted to focus on tempo and expression, so I came up with a game that uses those cute little candy hearts for Valentine's Day.

I created heart cards with musical expressions on them and tempos.  Students will pick a expression card and perform the correct expression or tempo with the candy heart.  You can purchase the candy hearts or conversation hearts they sell at the store or use the ones I made below.

The student then reads the candy heart with the correct tempo (you can use a metronome) or expression.  I found it helpful to have the student say the words on the candy heart three times.  So, they would say "Be Mine, Be Mine, Be Mine" with a ritardando or  stacatto or a mezzo forte voice.  Afterwards I let the students eat their candy hearts, which they throughly enjoyed.

Goggle Docs: Candy Hearts Game

Candy Heart Game

Staff Note/Key Signature Stickers

Here are some staff note stickers I created using labels.  The label I used were an Avery Template 8160, size 1 x 2 5/8.  Once they are printed, they can be cut and stuck to just about anything.  I used them in my Valentine's Letter Game.

You could stick them to any foam shape and create a wonderful game.  Share any ideas you have.  I would love to hear any suggestions or ideas!


Google Docs: Staff Note/Key Signature Stickers

 Staff Note Stickers

Valentine Letter Game

In this Valentine Game, students pretend to mail letters or valentines out while matching staff cards to their letter name.

Take some envelopes and write a letter on it from A to G.  Pass out the Staff cards so that each student has an equal amount of cards.  Place the envelopes face down.  Turn over the first enevelope and whatever letter is on the envelope, is the one the student must place in the envelope to mail.  If they do not have a card that matches the letter, then they don't get to play.  The first student(s) to get rid of all their cards win. 

A fun idea I had was to put the notes on foam Valentine's.  I got these last year at a great discount after Valentine's Day.  Be on the look out and you may find a good deal on these as well.  I used my labels and stuck the notes on them.
As we played this game this week, we tried to think of exciting places that the letter was going to.  A for "Atlanta" or D for "Dallas."  You could even add these places to the envelope if you wanted.

You could also play this with keyboard cards, chord cards and key cards.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

 

Valentine Songs

Five little valentines

Five little valentines, I bought at the store.
gave one to Mother, now I have _____.

Four little valentines, pretty as can be.
I gave one to Daddy, now I have _____.

Three little valentines, red, white and blue.
I gave one to brother, now I have _____.

Two little valentines, enough for everyone.
I gave one to sister, now I have ______.

One little valentine, what should I do?

I know what, I'll give this one to you!

Teaching Idea: 

1. Have Hearts cut out or foam ones to give to five children.  During the song they give their valentine to a fellow classmate.

2.  Ask the children who else could they give a Valentine to and put it in the song.

If you Love me and you know it Sung to: "If your happy and you know it"

If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands.
If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands.
If you love me and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands.

Other Verses: Say "I Love you" Blow me a kiss, Give me a hug

The Postman Brings a Valentine Sung to: "Mulberry Bush"

The postman brings a Valentine, a Valentine, a Valentine.
The postman Brings a Valentine, It says that I love you!

Teaching Idea:

1. Play a game similar to "Duck, Duck, Goose"  the children sit in a circle with their eyes closed and the postman walks around with a valentine or letter.  One the word "you" the postman drops the letter behind someone.  That person opens their eyes and runs after the postman.  If the postman can get back to the same spot and sit down they win. 

Counting Valentines Sung to: "Ten Little Indians"

One red, two red, three red Valentines
Four red, five red, six red Valentines
Seven red, eight red, nine red Valentines
Ten red Valentines.
Ten red, nine red, eight red Valentines
Seven red, six red, five red Valentines
Four red, three red, two red Valentines
One red Valentine.

Teaching Idea:

1. Have ten red hearts to count

2. Write the numbers or number words on the hearts to help with word association

H-E-A-R-T Sung to: "B-I-N-G-O"

To show you like your special friends,
Just give them each a heart.
H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T
Each heart says I like you!

Clap on the X

To show you like your special friends

Just give them each a heart

X-E-A-R-T, X-E-A-R-T, X-E-A-R-T

Each heart says I like you!

Keep taking away letters and clapping them.

You are my Valentine Sung to: "You are my Sunshine"

You are my Valentine, My special Valentine,
And I love you, yes I do.
You are my Valentine, My Special Valentine,
Please say you love me, too!

A Valentine....Sung to: "Skip to my Lou"

I have a Valentine just for you.
I wrote on the card, I love you true.
I wrapped it and mailed it yesterday
Close to your heart I hope it will stay.

Love, Love, Love Sung to: "3 Blind Mice"

Love, Love, Love Love, Love, Love (Clap hands on love)
See how it grows, See how it grows. (Point to eyes on 'see' then hands up on 'grow')
I love my friends and they love me, (Hands out then cross hands over heart on 'me')
We love others and then, you see, (Hands out then cross hands over heart on 'see')
There's more than enough for a big family (Hands out then cross hands over heart on 'family')
Love, love, love, Love, love, love (Clap hands on love)

Music is Fun!

I found this wonderful video showing an experiment using music as a way to motivate exercise.  I have enjoyed showing this to my students as well.