Here are the songs, transitions, and blessings for Earthroots Forest Kindergarten’s opening circle in January 2012.
Follow, Follow Me
Follow, follow me
To the ring of the fairies
Follow, follow me,
Where the fairies dance and sing.
Gather with you now
All the magic you can carry,
As we circle ‘round the dancing fairy ring.
Now Look Around
Now look around
We’ve made a ring
By holding hands you see.
Yes, here I am,
And there you are,
Together we are we.
Four Directions Chant
Good morning to the East where the sun rises in the morning.
Good morning to the West where the sun sets at night.
Good morning to the South where the land is warm.
Good morning to the North where the land is cold.
And good morning to the Earth which is my home.
Morning Song from Betty Jones’s A Child’s Seasonal Treasury
Good morning dear earth. (Crouch, touch ground)
Good morning dear sun. (Rise and extend arms to sky)
Good morning dear rocks and the flowers every one. (Crouch and knock fists on ground, then wave fingers and sway hands for flowers)
Good morning dear beasts. (Remain crouching, put hands on head for horns)
And the birds in the trees. (Flap arms while rising to stand)
Good morning to you and good morning to me. (Bow to others twice, then stand upright and cross arms over chest.)
Winter White
Winter white, winter white.
Snow flies round and round us.
Piling high to the sky,
Old Man Winter’s found us.
Winter white, though the night
Silence fills the forest.
Winter arms open wide
And lay a blanket o’er us.
The Noble Duke of York
The noble Duke of York
He had ten thousand men (Marching in place)
He marched them all up the hill (March standing as tall as you can)
And he marched them down again! (March with knees bent low))
And when you’re up, you’re up. (March standing as tall as you can)
and when you’re down, you’re down. (March with knees bent low)
And when you’re halfway up (March with knees bent just a little)
You’re neither up nor down! (Stand up, squat down quickly)
He marched them to the left (March to left)
He marched them to the right(March to right)
He marched them upside-down(Bend over and keep marching)
Oh, what a silly sight! (Marching in place)
Oh, what a silly sight! (Marching in place)
Open, Shut Them
(Do all the movements described in the verse)
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Lay them in your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them
right up to your chin
Open up your little mouth
but… do not let them in.
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
To your shoulders fly.
Then like little birdies let them flutter to the sky.
Falling, falling, falling, falling
Almost to the ground
quickly pick them up again and
Turn them round and round.
Faster, faster, faster, faster,
Slower, slower, slower, slower,
CLAP!
Squirrel Bounds
Squirrel bounds about the wood (Bound on all fours)
And jumps from tree to tree
Swinging on around the trunks (Hop about in own place)
To see what he can see
Among the highest branches
He waves his bushy tail (Lift rear-end and wiggle)
And chatters out his loudest song, (Squat on two feet facing in)
To say, “Good morning world” (Make clicking squirrel songs)
The Back Song
Dot, dot, dot
And a big question mark.
Little spiders crawl up your back
Little spiders crawl down your back
Little spiders crawl up your arms
Little spiders crawl down your arms
Cool breeze, tight squeeze.
Egg on the head and the yolk drips down.
Creepy crawlies, creepy crawlies…
Gotcha.
TRANSITION SONGS AND BLESSINGS
The Story Song
Anything can happen
In a fairy tale or rhyme
When you say the magic words
Once a upon a time
Handwashing Song
Time to wash our hands,
Time to wash our hands
Welcome, welcome
Welcome to our table
Welcome, welcome
We all join hands together. (We sing this until every one is at the table)
Snack Time Blessing
Earth who gives to us this food.
Sun who makes it ripe and good.
Sun above and earth below,
Our loving thanks to you we show.
Blessings on our meal.
Quiet Time Poem
Sitting, sitting quietly
I wonder what I may see-
What sound or smell the wind may bring…
I stop to notice everything.
Breathing, breathing calm and slow,
I let myself get in the flow
Of what is happening in this place
When I keep a slower pace.
Lunch Gratitude
Bless this food and everyone who made this meal possible. Let it remind us of our connection to the Earth, the Sun, the Water, the Air, all those who came before us and those who are yet to be born. May we keep them in mind in all we do.
CLOSING CIRCLE
Who will come to my wee ring?
My wee ring
My wee ring
Who will come to my wee ring?
And make it a little bit bigger?
The earth stands firm beneath my feet. The sun shines high above. Here I stand, so straight and strong – all things to know and love
I can turn myself and turn myself and stop me when I will. I can reach high on my tippy toes and hold myself quite still.
The Earthroots Tree Song
Standing like a tree with my roots down deep,
Branches wide and open.
Come down the rain,
Come down the sun,
Come down the fruits to the heart that is open.
Rainbow Bridge Song
Goodbye, goodbye
Blessings on your way.
May the sun shine bright
In your hearts today.
