Slithering Songs

Usually I do not post the theme songs I use with my kids because I did not write them! Most of the time they are anonymous pieces I find on the Internet. Maybe I should, though.

Here’s a song about snakes that I wrote, based heavily on typical preschool counting songs:

Five Little Snakes
by Candace Lindemann

(start with five fingers up)

Five snakes molt their skin to grow some more, (children can reach for the sky)
One slides away and now there are four. (hold up four fingers)

Four crawly snakes climb a tree, (put hands together to show a snake shimmying up the tree)
One falls off and now there are three. (hold up three fingers)

Three slithering snakes in the muddy goo, (make a slithering motion with hands)
One hides under a rock and now there are two. (hold up two fingers)

Two cold-blooded snakes bask in the sun, (look up and smile)
One goes hunting and now there is one. (hold up one finger)

One crawly snake goes to find his mother. (hug your child)
Now there is no other! (open hands wide to show there are no more snakes)

And here is a classic snake song (edited to add: Amy pointed out  on facebook, this is by Shel Silverstein!):

I’m Being Swallowed By a Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein

I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor;
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor.
Oh no, he’s swallowed my toes.
Oh no, he’s swallowed my toes.
Oh gee, he is up to my knees.
Oh gee, he is up to my knees.
Oh fiddle; he swallowed my middle.
Oh fiddle; he swallowed my middle.
Oh heck, he is up to my neck.
Oh heck, he is up to my neck.
Oh dread; he swallowed my head!
Oh dread; he swallowed my…gulp!

I also found some fun snake songs on iTunes to play while the kids were crafting:

• Sammy the Snake (Sesame Street: Sing the Alphabet)
• Kassandra the Snake (Gretchen Parlata – A World of Happiness)

Educational Connections:

You can investigate some of the points brought up in these songs:

• How do snakes move without legs?
• Why do snakes molt?
• Why do snakes generally live in warmer climates and why do they spend so much time in the sun?
• How come snakes can eat prey so much larger than themselves?

PS: Yes, that is me, holding a snake, in Bangkok.