Our Summer Circle Time

For us, this summer has been a time for learning and trying out new rhythms. This has been a little bit stressful because I’m not sure what we’re doing. I think this is probably normal for a family with very young children. Things change so quickly in this stage of life. One nice thing I have to share with my children is our circle time. Honestly, at this point it doesn’t happen at a set time everyday, but when we sit down and go through it together, just having that micro-rhythm brings ease and comfort to the day.

I chose some rhymes, finger plays, a couple of songs, and one chant that encourages movement (because that’s what children do!).

Our Summer Circle:

Poem: We Have a Little Garden by Beatrix Potter

We have a little garden,

A garden of our own,

And every day we water there

The seeds that we have sown.

We love our little garden,

And tend it with such care,

You will not find a faded leaf,

Or blighted blossom there.

Finger play: Here is the Beehive

Here is the beehive. Where are the bees? (hold up fist)

Hidden away where nobody sees. (cover fist with other hand)

Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive (bring head to fist, as looking in the hive)

One, two, three, four, five. (Hold fingers up one at a time)

Bzzzzzzz! All fly away!

Song: The Fly Has Married the Bumble Bee

Fiddle-dee-dee, Fiddle-dee-dee, The fly has married the bumble bee

Fiddle-dee-dee, Fiddle-dee-dee, The Fly has married the Bumble Bee

Says the fly, says he,

“Will you marry me? And live with me sweet Bumble Bee?”

Fiddle-dee-dee, Fiddle-dee-dee,

Oh I love you and you love me!

Fiddle-dee-dee, Fiddle-dee-dee, The Fly has married the Bumble Bee

Says the Bee, says she,

“I’ll live under your wing, You’ll never know I carry a sting”

Fiddle-dee-dee, Fiddle-dee-dee

Oh I love you and you love me!

Chant and Movement: Oats and Beans and Barley Grow

Oats and Beans and Barley Grow (holding hands, skipping in circle formation for first verse)

Oats and Beans and Barley Grow

But you or I nor anyone know,

How Oats and Beans and Barley Grow

First the farmer sows his seed (act out each line)

Then he stands and takes his ease

Stamps his feet and claps his hands

And turns around to view the land.

That’s our little daily set of songs and rhymes! What songs do you like to sing in the summer?