Fingerplays & Songs
Sung to the tune of “The Bear Went Over the Mountain,” with an animal action for each verse.
Sing It
The squirrel climbed up the tree
The squirrel climbed up the tree
The squirrel climbed up the tree
To nibble all the nuts
To nibble all the nuts
To nibble all the nuts
Act like a squirrel nibbling
The squirrel climbed up the tree
The squirrel climbed up the tree
The squirrel climbed up the tree
To nibble all the nuts!
Walk two fingers up your other arm on the climbing verses, then nibble like a squirrel in the middle. The last verse comes back to the climb.
Other Versions
The bird perched on a branch…
To build itself a nest
Perch like a bird
The bear found a tree…
To give himself a scratch
Act like a bear scratching its back
The frog hopped out of the water…
To catch himself a fly
Hop like a frog
Try This
Let a child pick the animal and what it climbs for. Sing their version next, however silly it turns out.
Watch For
Children who join the repeated line, who copy the animal action, or who name an animal of their own.
No materials needed · 3–5 minutes · Community meeting, outdoor time, or nature walks
The Nest Schools