Mini Preschool: Halloween: Music/Poem/Story

Today was our first official day of preschool! (I only call it mini preschool because the kids are so young, and pre preschool would get really annoying to type.) We had it at Suzy's house. The overall theme is Halloween for October, and Suzy's sub-theme for the day was music/poem/story. She did such a good job putting it all together. In my opinion, it's one of the best days we've had. Suzy had the cutest apron with brightly colored pockets. And in each pocket she put a little halloween picture. The kids got to take turns each picking a picture out of one of the pockets.

Each picture had an activity to go with it, that had to do with music or a story or a poem, etc. Suzy did a really good job of mixing it up too, and it kept the kids' attention really well. Ivan had a bit of a rough morning and was throwing screaming tantrums all during preschool, so I was in and out with him, so I didn't get to participate as much as I would have liked. Anyways, to make sure I get it right, I'm going to copy off of Suzy's blog the info about the activities that went with each picture.

The candy: Each child got a piece of candy. We talked about knocking on doors and saying “trick or treat”, and then saying thank you after someone gives you a piece of candy. Then, while they were eating Suzy read a story called 10 Trick-or-Treaters by Janet Schulman.

Pumpkin: Suzy made pumpkin masks, and we did actions with them for two different poems.

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (five fingers up)
The first one said “Oh my it’s getting Late” (Hands on Cheeks)
The second one said “There’s a chill in the air” (arms around self)
The third one said “But we don’t care” (swing pointer finger)
The fourth one said “We’re ready for some fun!” (hand in air)
The fifth one said “Let’s run, run, run!” (running motion)
So woooo went the wind, and out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

and…

Halloween is coming soon I tell you what I’ll do (put pumpkin paper plate in front of your face) I hide behind my pumpkin face and then I holler BOO! (This one was Lincoln's favorite.)

Bat: Suzy showed the “batty-bat” song from Sesame Street.




Monster: We read “Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli” by Barbara Hicks

Witch: We pretended to fly around the room while singing this song:


1 little, 2 little, 3 little witches.
Flying over haystacks, flying over ditches.
Sliding down moonbeams without any hitches,
Hi, Ho, Halloween is here!

1 little, 2 little, 3 little witches.
Flying over barb wire and tore their britches.
Had to go home and sew some stitches.
Hi, Ho, Halloween is here!

Spider: We sang with actions to the tune of the itsy bitsy spider:

A creepy, crawly spider is coming straight at me. Closer and closer he climbs upon my knee. Up to my shoulder the spider’s much too near, “Happy Halloween” he whispers in my ear.

Ghost: We sang/did actions to If You’re A Ghost and You Know It (to the tune of If You’re Happy and you know it)

If you’re a ghost and you know it,
Just say Boo
If you’re a ghost and you know it,
Just Say BOO
If you’re a ghost and you know it and you really want to show it…
If you’re a ghost and you know it just say BOO


If you’re a black cat and you know it
Just say Meow
If you’re a black cat and you know it
Just say Meow
If you’re a black cat and you know it
And you really want to show it,
If you’re a black cat and you know it Just say Meow


If you’re a skeleton and you know it,
Wiggle your bones (shake your body)
If you’re a skeleton and you know it,
Wiggle your bones
If you’re a skeleton and you know it,
And you really want to show it
If you’re a skeleton and you know it,
Wiggle your bones.


If you love Halloween and you know it
Do all three (all 3 actions in order of appearance)
If you love Halloween and you know it
Do all three
If you love Halloween and you know it
And you really want to show it,
If you love Halloween and you know it
Do all three

Haunted House: Suzy used a CD called Wolfman Jack’s Halloween Special Monster Mash Bash. On it there’s a song called Haunted House that’s a lot of fun. She had the children dance to the music for this one.

Skeleton: We talked about how everyone has bones inside their body and how they are the hard things we feel when we touch our arms. Suzy had the kids help her put the skeleton together. Then we sang this song that tells what each bone is connected to.


With the toe bone connected
to the foot bone,
and the foot bone connected
to the ankle bone,
and the ankle bone connected
to the leg bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the leg bone connected
to the knee bone,
and the knee bone connected
to the thigh bone,
and the thigh bone connected
to the hip bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the hip bone connected
to the back bone,
and the back bone connected
to the neck bone,
and the neck bone connected
to the head bone,
Oh mercy how they scare!
With the finger bone connected
to the hand bone,
and the hand bone connected
to the arm bone,
and the arm bone connected
to the shoulder bone,
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the shoulder bone connected
to the back bone,
and the back bone connected
to the neck bone,
and the neck bone connected
to the head bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

And that was preschool. It was so fun. The kids LOVED all the songs and activities. Lincoln talked about it for the rest of the day.


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