When it comes to Hallowe’en my repertoire of songs is not as large as some other seasonal favourites. Tweaking a few nursery songs and finding a few favourites online, I put together a small package of activities for a preschool music session.
5 Little Pumpkins ( A Popular Rhyme in the US)
5 Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate
The first one said “Oh my, it’s getting late”
The second one said “There are witches in the air”
The third one said “But we don’t care”
The fourth one said “Let’s run, Let’s run”
The fifth one said “Isn’t Hallowee’n fun?”
Then woooooo went the wind
And OUT went the lights.
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
There’s a Spider on the Floor ( To the tune of ‘Put your Finger on your Head)
Move the spider up your body and make rhymes with different body parts eg There’s a spider on my tummy and I really want my mummy, there’s a spider on my knee and he’s very scary. Lyrics to the first verse are here.
If You’re a Monster and You Know It (Spooky Version of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If you’re a monster and you know it then say ‘raaaaggh’
If you’re a witch and you know it say ‘HA HA’
If you’re a ghost and you know it then say ‘Oooooooo’
If you’re a dragon and you know it, breathe out fire.
If you love Hallowe’en then shout ‘BOO’
The Skeleton Dance
Doing the Skeleton Dance A slightly different version of the song ‘Dem Bones’
This is the Way we Carve a Pumpkin (to the tune ‘Here we go round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we carve pumpkin, carve a pumpkin, carve a pumpkin,
This is the way we carve a pumpkin on Hallowe’en.
This is the way we cut off the top….
This is the way we scoop out the seeds….
This is the way we cut out a face…..
This is the way we light it up….
The Jack o Lantern keeps monsters away….
Monsters away, monsters away
The Jack O lantern keeps Monsters away
On Hallowe’en
I Hear Thunder (Use a spring drum for atmospheric effect)
I hear thunder, I hear thunder
Hark don’t you? Hark don’t you?
Pitter-patter raindrops, pitter-patter raindrops
I’m wet through
So are you.
Bats are flying, bats are flying
In the night , in the night
Watch out for the witches! Watch out for the witches
What a fright, what a fright.
Trick or treating, trick or treating
Door to door, door to door
Gathering our goodies, gathering our goodies
More and more, more and more.
Instruments and Movement.
Turn off the lights and give each child a flashlight/torch.
Play spooky Music – We chose ‘Night on Bald Mountain’ by Mussorgsky .
Encourage the children to make their torchlight dance to the music.
Help the children to choose instruments that might add to the atmosphere. (Deep drums, a spring drum, rainmakers and penny whistles are especially good).
Right from the Start 