What follows is one of my favourite preschool animal songs. I sing it often with my class.
I will share my favourite few verses, as well as a long list of other ideas.
Pick and choose which verses are your favourite, or fit best with your theme.
If You Want To Be A…
(tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you want to be a giraffe, stretch up tall,
If you want to be a giraffe, stretch up tall,
If you want to be a giraffe, if you want to be a giraffe,
If you want to be a giraffe, stretch up tall.
Actions: Reach for the ceiling everytime you sing “stretch up tall”
Other favourite verses include:
- If you want to be a lion, roar like me
- If you want to be a turtle, hide in your shell
- If you want to be a kangaroo, jump up and down
- If you want to be a flamingo, stand on one foot
- If you want to be a butterfly, flap your wings
Strategies:
- I don’t follow the same order of verses every time I sing this preschool animal song and I vary which animals I use. This keeps the children’s interest longer as it feels new each time.
- I switch between loud, medium and quiet verses depending on the children’s energy level. If they have lots of energy I do two or three loud ones, but if they start going crazy I regain their attention by using medium volume verses. Finally, I calm them down at the end, and sometimes in the middle too, by using a quiet verse. Your tone, volume and choice of actions will determine how exciting or calming each verse is.
- Pay attention to your children’s interest levels. Some days they may be happy to do a large number of verses, while other days they may only stay engaged for three or four. Once you start losing their attention move on to the next song/activity.
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- If I am transitioning into story time next, I sing the song through again but with these words:
“If you want to hear a story, sit right down.”
- As you read the different verses below notice how they use a wide range of motions and sounds. I would encourage you to use a variety so as to give the children developmental benefits in many areas.
Possible Verses (by theme)
Zoo Animals:
Lion – “roar like me”
Elephant – “swing your trunk”
Giraffe – “stretch up tall”
Flamingo – “Stand on one foot”
Gorilla – “thump your chest”
Kangaroo – “jump up and down”
Jungle Animals:
Gorilla – “thump your chest”
Tiger – “roar like this”
Elephant – “swing your trunk”
Snake – “slither like me”
Monkey – “swing your arms”
Sloth – “move real slow”
Safari Animals:
Lion – “roar like me”
Elephant – “swing your trunk”
Giraffe – “stretch up tall”
Cheetah – “run real fast”
Hippo – “stomp your feet”
Farm Animals:
Horse – “shake your mane”
Bunny – “hop up and down”
Pig – “oink like me”
Mouse – “get real small”
Frog – “jump up and down”
Insects:
Grasshopper – “jump up and down”
Bumblebee – “buzz like me”
Butterfly – “flap your wings”
North American Animals:
Bear – “roar real loud”
Eagle – “flap your wings”
Jack Rabbit – “hop up and down”
Skunk – “pinch your nose”
Wolf – “look at the moon” (howl)
Squirrel – “eat an acorn”