Song Sticks

Music is my secret weapon as a preschool teacher! With these preschool song sticks and posters, you can always have the next song ready for circle time, transitions, homeschooling, or anytime throughout the day. Whatever song you might need, we have so many to choose from in our Ultimate Guide of Preschool Songs.

Song Sticks

As teachers, we know the value of having songs that are ready-to-go, making the day go smoother and saving us precious time. It’s even better when the kids love them and are super engaged! These printable song cards from our store check all of the boxes, making it one step easier to incorporate music into your classroom!

There are two parts this musical resource:

• A song poster or song card (depending on what size you print it) for each song with all of the words
• Matching song title cards that you can print and transform into song sticks

So many teachers have used these and told us that they love having preschool and kindergarten circle time songs printed out and ready to go! They love knowing all the words and having a visual to use at the same time. And by choosing a special helper to draw a song stick to choose the next song, the class is excited to see what’s coming next.

How to Use the Song Sticks

The song cards and song sticks are super easy to use. Just print, prep, and sing!

Suggested Materials

• 50 wide craft sticks (or popsicle sticks or wooden dowels)
• Song Cards and Song Sticks Printable from our store
• Scissors
• Laminator (optional)
• Glue or tape
• Small container or cup
• Binder or binder clip

Setting up the Song Sticks

1. Grab the Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays in our shop.
2. Download the printable songs onto your computer.
3. Print both the song cards and song sticks.
4. Cut the song sticks into individual titles.
5. Laminate each card and stick, if desired. We definitely recommend it!
6. Glue or tape the song sticks to a craft stick. You can also use a popsicle stick, a wooden dowel, a straw, or anything straight and sturdy!
7. Place the song sticks in a small container or cup, easily accessible for little hands to choose from.
8. Put the song cards into a binder or on a binder clip. You want them somewhere that’s accessible and easy to grab! I also recommend alphabetizing them for quick reference.

And you’re ready to go! 

During circle time or when you need a song break during the day, put 5-10 songs sticks in the song container for your special helper to choose from. Then, grab the accompanying song card with all the song lyrics, and you can lead the way! Rotate the songs based on your preschool theme or the season, and you’ll always have a fun familiar song to sing.

Song Stick Songs

The songs are broken into several categories, including:

• Math Songs
• Fingerplays
• Animal Songs
• All About Me Songs
• Original Songs

Most of these songs are popular songs that you will probably already know and can easily teach to your class! But if not, you can always pull them up on YouTube and listen to them there. There are 50 songs total, and here are some of them!

Math Songs

We’ve included some classic songs that teach kids about number order.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe – The Learning Station

The Learning Station always puts a new twist on familiar songs for kids, making them engaging in a new and exciting way! This one is done with a blues beat and with an increasing tempo that keeps you on your toes.

Ten in the Bed – Super Simple Learning

Have you noticed how kids hardly ever get bored in the middle of a song like this, even though adults might tend to find it repetitive? Repetition is great for kids! It helps them know what’s coming next and is wonderful for language development. Plus, when their brain doesn’t have to strain to find the next word, it’s free to concentrate on counting!

Fingerplays

Fingerplays for preschoolers are absolutely magical! These songs for kids are teachable moments that help children with fine motor development, pre-writing skills, language development, and so much more.

Itsy Bitsy Spider – Patty Shukla

This, to me, will always be the original fingerplay! Even before I knew how educational fingerplays are, I loved using this song in the classroom or with my own kids because it never failed to grab their attention.

The Wheels on the Bus – Super Simple Learning

This song is my #1 go-to when I need a song that’s sure to keep the kids engaged for a few minutes! In this version, all of the standard verses are covered, then feel free to add your own at the end! 

Animal Songs

Animal songs are always a winner, and these favorites are easy for young children to learn. These preschool songs and toddler songs are bound to be circle time favorites!

Five Little Ducks – Bounce Patrol

This animal song also doubles as a counting song and a fingerplay! They include harmonies around the melody, which keeps the song interesting and helps develop critical listening skills.

Alice the Camel – Jbrary

Another repetitive classic song for kids! Remember how much kids love repetition? Since their brains already know the song, they can focus on the tough math skill of counting backward. Counting on their fingers can be super helpful and will really work their fine motor skills!

All About Me Songs

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes – The Learning Station

While this is a great All About Me song that reinforces body parts, it’s also a perfect rhyming song, too! Rhyming songs are great for speaking and oral literacy, and they can also help children learn to read. Check out our other rhyming songs!

Original Song Sticks

Included in the printable song stick cards are several original songs written by our Preschool Inspirations team! They’re original, educational lyrics written to familiar tunes.

Square – Preschool Inspirations

(Sung to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell”)

I’ll tell you this one’s name, its sides are all the same. It’s called a square, I see one there. Four lines that make a frame.

Senses Song – Preschool Inspirations

(Sung to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell”)

I use my eyes to see, I use my eyes to see. I can look at you and me! I use my eyes to see.

I use my ears to hear, I use my ears to hear. I can hear all through the year! I use my ears to hear.

I use my nose to smell, I use my nose to smell. I can smell really well! I use my nose to smell.

I use my hands to touch, I use my hands to touch. My fingers help me very much! I use my hands to touch.

I use my tongue to taste, I use my tongue to taste. Spaghetti with tomato paste! I use my tongue to taste.

Five Fall Leaves – Preschool Inspirations

(Sung to the tune of “Skip to my Lou”)

Five fall leaves I see, five fall leaves I see, five fall leaves I see, one leaf just fell down on me!

(Repeat with four, three, and two leaves, then…)

One last leaf I see, one last leaf I see, one last leaf I see, that leaf just fell down on me!

No more leaves I see, no more leaves I see, no more leaves I see, we will wait for spring to be!

We hope these songs and song sticks will help transform your music time! Make sure to grab them in our store on Teachers Pay Teachers.