This circle time song is a good way for the students to see who came to preschool today. As they get to know their classmates they will remember and ask about the kids who didn't come in that day. The children love getting individual attention with the name game song sung to the tune of "Farmer in the Dell." For example for a little girl named Ashley you would sing, "Ashley is here today, Ashley is here today, turn around and then sit down, Ashley's here today." The student stands up as her name is being sung, turns around and then sits back down. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
Have the children in a circle and then hold up a blanket. One child stands behind the blanket so that his classmates can no longer see him. The class then sings this song to the tune of "Three Little Indians." Who's that hiding behind the blanket? Who's that hiding behind the blanket? Who's that hiding behind the blanket? Come out and tells us your name!" The child then pops out from behind the blanket and shouts his name. The children love the idea of getting to hide and popping out to reveal themselves.
For this game the children sit in a circle. The teacher starts off with a beanbag and chants with the name of the child to her right. For example, she would chant, "Hello Kelly, how are you? Who is sitting next to you?" That child then has to say the name of the child next to her. The class then chants her name of that child, "Hello Tommy, how are you? Who is sitting next to you." The game continues until it gets back to the teacher. Prompt any students that get stuck, although the child next to them will likely tell them their name.
Have the children stand in a circle. Everyone chants and claps along starting with the teacher's name. For example, the students will say, "Miss Kim stole the cookie from the cookie jar!" Miss Kim then says, "Who me?" while shrugging her shoulders, the class responds with "Yes you!" Miss Kim shakes her head chanting, "couldn't be," to which the class responds, "Then who!" The teacher then selects any child in the circle, "Michael". The chant continues with "Michael stole the cookie from the cookie jar," until everyone's name has been called. Kids love to have the attention for a little bit with this call-and-response game.