Games and Fun Stuff

Clapping Games

These are just a few of my favorite clapping rhymes from when I was a child. You can find a huge collection of such chants at this link. Please just remember to preview them before sharing; as some in their original form are not very politically correct (or just plain wrong).

A SAILOR WENT TO SEA, SEA, SEA
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea.
To see what he could see, see, see.
But all that he could see, see, see.
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea.

I HAD A LITTLE TURTLE (TINY TIM)
I had a little turtle;
His name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap.
And now he's home, sick in bed
With bubbles in his throat.

Bubble, bubble pop.
Bubble, bubble pop.
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble...
POP!

SAY, SAY OH PLAYMATE
Say, say oh playmate
Come out and play with me,
And bring your dollies three,
Climb up my apple tree.

Slide down my rainbow
Into my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more, more,
More, more, more, more!

Say, say oh playmate
I cannot play with you.
My dolly has the flu,
Boo hoo, boo hoo, boo hoo.

I have no rainbow,
I have no cellar door.
But we'll be jolly friends,
Forever more, more,
More, more, more, more!

Indoor Games

• Use your focus number for the number of jumps each child may have per turn. If; for instance, you are leaning about the number three, children jump three times before their distance is measured.
• Record best jumping distance for each child. Repeat the activity the next day or in a week to compare outcomes.
• Consider an Olympics twist on the game and award a gold medal, silver medal, and a bronze medal to the top three participants. If you want to give all children identical medals, that is great, too!