Below are some song lyrics and poems we have collected over the years. If you have som fun nature lyrics to a great old tune, send it along. We'd love to post it here!

Songs:
Plants Are Producers | Head Thorax Abdomen | I Know An Old Lady | Five Senses, Give Me Five | Habitat

PLANTS ARE PRODUCERS 

Grade: First.
Lyrics by: Gay Grossman
To the tune of "Are You Sleeping Brother John?" ("Frere Jacques")

Plants are producers,
Plants are producers,
They make their own food!
Make their own food!
They need water, sun and good soil,
Water sun and good soil,
Then they can grow!
Then they can grow!

Animals are consumers,
PEOPLE are consumers,
We all need plants!
We all need plants!
Grains and fruits and veggies,
Grains and fruits and veggies,
Then WE can grow!
Then WE can grow!

This is easy to teach to young kids because each line is basically echoed, except for the change to PEOPLE. You could "rehearse" this before singing, by telling the kids that when you touch your chest (or some other signal) they should say "people."

After singing this song, ask: "What about animals that only eat meat?" Then you can all discuss the "secondary consumers" who are also dependant (indirectly) on plants.


HEAD, THORAX, ABDOMEN 

Grade: Second
Lyrics by: Zoe (a field camp student years ago)
To the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"

Head, thorax, abdomen....abdomen
Head, thorax, abdomen....abdomen
Six legs, two antenae, and compound eyes
Head, thorax, abdomen....abdomen

And sometimes wings (BIG FINISH!)


I KNOW AN OLD LADY 

Grade: Second

I know a young spider who swallowed a fly.
I know WHY she swallowed the fly.
So she won't die!

I know a young spider who swallowed a bug.
She felt its tug, so she wrapped up the bug,
She swallowed the bug right after the fly.
I know WHY she swallowed the fly.
So she won't die!

I know a young spider who swallowed a gnat.
Fancy that! She swallowed a gnat!
She swallowed the gnat right after the bug.
She swallowed the bug right after the fly.
I know WHY she swallowed the fly.
So she won't die!


FIVE SENSES, GIVE ME FIVE! 

Grade: Kindergarten and preschool
Lyrics by: Gay Grossman
To the tune of "Skip to My Lou"

Five senses "Give me five!"
Five senses "Give me five!"
Five senses "Give me five!"
To learn about my world.

With my eyes I see see see.
With my ears I hear hear hear.
With my nose I smell smell smell
To learn about my world.

With my tongue I taste taste taste.
With my skin I feel feel feel.
My fingers really like to feel
To learn about my world.

End: "Give me five!"


HABITAT 

Grade: 4th or 5th
Lyrics by: Gay Grossman
To the tune of "Lollypop"

Chorus:
"Habitat, habitat, habi- habi- habi-,
Habitat, habitat, Habi- habi- habi-,
Habitat, habitat, habi- habi- habi-
Habitat. HabiTAT!

Chant in rhythm:
We all need water and we all need food.
We all need shelter and space to move.
We all need a place where we can roam.
We all need a place to call our home!

Sing the Chorus again...