Circle Time Songs
As a preschool teacher, circle time was my favorite time of the day! During this time, our classroom bonded and became a family. Circle time songs brought our class together, helped teach important concepts, and was fun for the students. Today I’m sharing my top five circle time songs and also a free PDF of the songs!
Why Songs are Important
The thought of singing in front of people may freak you out…but trust me, singing is so important for preschoolers and they do not care if you have a great voice or not! I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and sing with your preschoolers.
Singing in preschool is highly beneficial for young children and plays a crucial role in their development. Here’s why:
- Language Skills – singing helps with language development by introducing new vocabulary, improving pronunciation, and enhancing listening skills. It also helps kids understand rhythm and rhyme (which are foundational for reading!!)
- Cognitive Development – Song activities stimulate memory, pattern recognition, and sequencing. Songs often involve repetition and patterns that help children develop these skills.
- Social and Emotional Skills – Singing in a group setting fosters social interaction, cooperation, and teamwork. It also helps with children expressing their emotion in a safe and creative way.
- Creativity – Singing makes kids imaginative and creative! Children may even feel inspired to invent new songs or adapt existing ones!
- Routine – This routine of singing songs during circle time helps children feel secure and establishes a rhythm to their day.
Good Morning Song
Every time I begin our circle time, I start with this good morning song. I have students put both thumbs up and tap their fists on their legs while we sing this song.
The song is sung to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” The students love it and they usually sing enthusiastically! You can find more of my good morning songs here.
Weather Song
Part of our circle time routine is going over the weather. This time is short, yet so valuable to little learners!
Our favorite song to sing about the weather is this one!
The song is sung to the tune of Oh My Darling, Clementine. You can find this song and all my weather printables on this post.
Movement Song
Preschoolers NEED movement throughout the whole day! When sitting at circle time, they might get restless and need to move. Here is my favorite movement song!
There are so many fun movement songs! Check out more all about colors here.
Days of the Week Song
You can teach the days of the week to a fun, rhythmic song! Kids will catch on to this song quickly and they will enjoy snapping or clapping!
Rhyming Song
I love to rhyme and I love to teach through rhymes. One way you can work on rhyming skills with your students is with this rhyming song. It’s perfect to do during circle time, too!
The song is sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. You can find the printable cards you use with this song over on this post.
Free Printable
If you would like to use these songs during your circle time, I’d love to send you the free printable! Simply fill out the form below and the songs will be sent to your inbox!
More Songs
If you would love more songs and rhymes for your classroom, make sure to check out my Songs and Rhymes for Transition Times book! This has 150 songs to help with classroom management. I truly believe songs are KEY to teaching preschool!
