Open, Shut Them

Purpose: Young children always enjoy this finger game. They will learn to listen and move rhythmically, gaining greater control of their movements. At the same time, they are also learning important vocabulary (e.g. open, shut, lower, higher, faster, slower) that many children need to hear and experience over and over.

 

Materials/Advance Preparation:  none

 

Directions: 

Open, shut them,                        (open and close hands in front of you)
Open, shut them,  
Give a little clap clap clap.            (clap 3 times as you say “clap” )
Open, shut them, open, shut them,      
Lay them in your lap lap lap.        (fold hands in lap)  

Creepy crawly, creepy crawly,
Right up to your chin chin chin.      (fingers crawl up chest to chin)
Open up your little mouth,             (open mouth)
But do not let them in in in.            (quickly put hands behind back)

Higher higher,
Higher higher,
Almost to the sky.                        (hand over hand like climbing a ladder)
Then like little birdies                    (link thumbs together to make a bird)
Watch them fly and fly.

Lower lower
Lower lower
Almost to the ground.                    (hand under hand like climbing down a ladder)
Quickly pick them up again
And  turn them round and round.    (hands circle around each other)
Faster faster                                 (hands circle fast)
Slower slower.                              (hands circle slow)

Open, shut them,                           (open and close hands in front of you)
Open, shut them,  
Give a little clap clap clap.             (clap 3 times as you say “clap” )
Open, shut them, open, shut them,      
Lay them in your lap lap lap.         (fold hands in lap)

 

Eric Gidseg

 

              

             

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