Set the right tone inside and outside the classroom with these movement, learning and singalong songs for children. Singalong to these songs on YouTube or sit back and play our Spotify playlist. If you like what you hear, check out the musical picture books or create your own back-to-school compilation. Don’t forget to explore the free teaching guides and activity sheets that accompany each story.
Wise Old Owl
From the musical picture book A Feast Beneath the Moon. Equal parts tongue twister and thought provoker, this danceable tune introduces children to a wise old owl who hears more the less he speaks. How’s that for a back-to-school lesson? Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Be Brave, Not Afraid
From the singalong picture book Free to Be Me. This empowering ditty offers children a vocabulary for bravery. It’s normal to be afraid sometimes, but we can also be calm, strong, and brave in all sorts of ways. Find activity prompts and exercises at the end of the musical picture book and free printable activity sheets.
All in Single File
From the musical picture book A Picnic in the Sun. Follow along as these farm animals file into a line and board a mystical, magical wagon-boat. This upbeat song is a little bit rap and a little bit funk, which makes it perfect for playtime, movement activities and more. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
From the musical picture book by the same name,I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. This classic folk song introduces children to a quirky old lady who swallows a heap of animals—from a dog, cat, bird and spider to that infamous little fly.
A Beautiful Day
From the singalong picture book Free to Be Me. Start every day off on the right note with this celebratory song filled with greetings and optimism. The second verse includes morning stretching instructions. Prepare listeners to move along with the lyrics by standing up tall, waving their hands, sitting down, breathing in, and breathing out. Find activity prompts and exercises at the end of the musical picture book and free printable activity sheets.
From the singalong picture book Sing Out! Six Classic Folk Songs for Tomorrow. This classic nursery rhyme remains popular for a reason. It’s always a hit during playtime, movement exercises and group dance activities. This rendition of Pop Goes the Weasel is accompanied by other classic songs like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, This Old Man, and Little Bingo.
On a Paper Airplane
From the musical picture book A Feast Beneath the Moon. Spark children’s imagination with this whimsical tune, which happens to be songwriter Jérôme Miniere’s favourite song on the album. “That song can make you fly, I think,” he says. It’s perfect for paper airplane craft time, puppet building activities, or simple locomotor and non-locomotor dance moves. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Frère Jacques
Attributed to Jean-Philippe Rameau, this French nursery rhyme found its way into more than a hundred languages, including Malagasy, Réunion Créole, Xhosa, and Mare Comorian, by way of French colonization in South and East Africa. Songs on the Vanilla Trailpresents four lyrical versions of the song for comparison from Madagascar, Réunion, South Africa, and Mayotte, respectively. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
My Heart
From the singalong picture book Free to Be Me. This twangy tune gives little ones the chance to explore their full range of emotions. An action or description accompanies each sentiment so they can discover ways to express or process each feeling. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed about our new releases and events and for a chance to win our subscriber giveaway. To order books for your library or bookstore, please contact Hornblower Books/University of Toronto Press (Canada, United States) and MMS/BookSource (United Kingdom). For additional information, email info@thesecretmountain.com.
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11 Children’s Songs to Add to Your Back-to-School Playlists
Set the right tone inside and outside the classroom with these movement, learning and singalong songs for children. Singalong to these songs on YouTube or sit back and play our Spotify playlist. If you like what you hear, check out the musical picture books or create your own back-to-school compilation. Don’t forget to explore the free teaching guides and activity sheets that accompany each story.
Wise Old Owl
From the musical picture book A Feast Beneath the Moon. Equal parts tongue twister and thought provoker, this danceable tune introduces children to a wise old owl who hears more the less he speaks. How’s that for a back-to-school lesson? Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Be Brave, Not Afraid
From the singalong picture book Free to Be Me. This empowering ditty offers children a vocabulary for bravery. It’s normal to be afraid sometimes, but we can also be calm, strong, and brave in all sorts of ways. Find activity prompts and exercises at the end of the musical picture book and free printable activity sheets.
All in Single File
From the musical picture book A Picnic in the Sun. Follow along as these farm animals file into a line and board a mystical, magical wagon-boat. This upbeat song is a little bit rap and a little bit funk, which makes it perfect for playtime, movement activities and more. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Peeyak, Neesoo, Nistoo
From the musical picture book Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town by Tomson Highway. This trilingual counting song teaches youngsters how to count in Cree, French, and English. Practice all three language skills with our free teaching guide, developed with the Cree Literacy Network, and download printable activity sheets.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
From the musical picture book by the same name, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. This classic folk song introduces children to a quirky old lady who swallows a heap of animals—from a dog, cat, bird and spider to that infamous little fly.
A Beautiful Day
From the singalong picture book Free to Be Me. Start every day off on the right note with this celebratory song filled with greetings and optimism. The second verse includes morning stretching instructions. Prepare listeners to move along with the lyrics by standing up tall, waving their hands, sitting down, breathing in, and breathing out. Find activity prompts and exercises at the end of the musical picture book and free printable activity sheets.
Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)
From the musical picture book, Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from East and Southern Africa. “Day-O!” was originally sung by Jamaican dock workers as they loaded crates of bananas into the holds of ships in the early morning. The mento call-and-response song offers opportunities for children to learn about history and take turns singing along. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Pop Goes the Weasel
From the singalong picture book Sing Out! Six Classic Folk Songs for Tomorrow. This classic nursery rhyme remains popular for a reason. It’s always a hit during playtime, movement exercises and group dance activities. This rendition of Pop Goes the Weasel is accompanied by other classic songs like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, This Old Man, and Little Bingo.
On a Paper Airplane
From the musical picture book A Feast Beneath the Moon. Spark children’s imagination with this whimsical tune, which happens to be songwriter Jérôme Miniere’s favourite song on the album. “That song can make you fly, I think,” he says. It’s perfect for paper airplane craft time, puppet building activities, or simple locomotor and non-locomotor dance moves. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Frère Jacques
Attributed to Jean-Philippe Rameau, this French nursery rhyme found its way into more than a hundred languages, including Malagasy, Réunion Créole, Xhosa, and Mare Comorian, by way of French colonization in South and East Africa. Songs on the Vanilla Trail presents four lyrical versions of the song for comparison from Madagascar, Réunion, South Africa, and Mayotte, respectively. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
My Heart
From the singalong picture book Free to Be Me. This twangy tune gives little ones the chance to explore their full range of emotions. An action or description accompanies each sentiment so they can discover ways to express or process each feeling. Download the free teaching guide and printable activity sheets.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed about our new releases and events and for a chance to win our subscriber giveaway. To order books for your library or bookstore, please contact Hornblower Books/University of Toronto Press (Canada, United States) and MMS/BookSource (United Kingdom). For additional information, email info@thesecretmountain.com.