Tapestry of Faith: Chalice Children: A Program about Our Unitarian Universalist Community for Preschoolers

Activity 6: Circle Games

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Children's baskets (Activity 5, Baskets)
  • Colorful, plastic Easter eggs, at least 3 per child

Preparation for Activity

  • Familiarize yourself with the games and songs, with the addition of eggs and baskets. Find the melody for "A Tisket, A Tasket" online.

Description of Activity

Play the games and sing the songs the children have enjoyed before, this time adding variations that use the baskets and eggs. Keep the pace brisk to help the children stay focused.

Welcome, Chalice Children

Ask children to stand, as they are able, in their places. Sing "Welcome, Chalice Children" to the tune of "Little Rabbit Foo-Foo."

Variation for Easter: When the children clap or jump into the circle, give each child a plastic egg to put in their basket. You will need one plastic egg, per child, per verse. At the end of the song, have children return their eggs to you, to make room to receive more eggs.

Welcome, Chalice Children,

We are Unitarians.

Jump into the circle,

Jump, jump, jump.

Welcome, Chalice Children,

We are Universalists.

Jump into the circle,

Jump, jump, jump.

Welcome, Chalice Children,

My name is [leaders' and children's names, in turn].

Jump into the circle,

Jump, jump, jump.

Alternate verses:

We are Chalice Children!

Welcome to our circle!

We are Chalice Children!

Clap, clap, clap!

We are Chalice Children!

Let's all put our eggs back!

Let's all put our eggs back,

Drop, drop, drop!

Optional verses:

We are Unitarians!

We are Universalists!

Welcome to our circle!

Clap, clap, clap!

We are Chalice Children!

Let's all welcome... [name of a child in the group]

Welcome to our circle!

Clap, clap, clap!

Make New Friends

Make new friends, but keep the old,

One is silver and the other is gold.

A circle is round, it has no end.

That's how long I'm going to be your friend.

Find a Friend at Church

"Find a Friend at Church" is sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell." Have the children gather in a circle. Have one child walk around the outside of the circle while the first two lines of the song are sung. The child then chooses a friend. For Easter, add this step: The teacher gives each child an egg for their basket.

The two friends hold hands and skip around the circle while the remainder of the verse is sung. The first child returns to the circle, and the game is repeated with a second child walking outside the circle. Continue until all have had a turn to choose a friend.

I'll find a friend at church.

I'll find a friend at church.

Heigh ho, the derry oh, I'll find a friend at church.

We'll skip around the room.

We'll skip around the room.

Heigh ho, the derry oh, we'll skip around the room.

Variation: Instead of "skip," ask the player to choose the action, such as run, walk, hop, or jump.

If You're Happy and You Know It

Sing "If You're Happy and You Know It," leading the children in the actions noted after each line. For Easter, add this step: Give each child a plastic egg and invite them to hold one half in each hand and clap the two halves together:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. [clap-clap]

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. [clap-clap]

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. [clap-clap]

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet. [stomp-stomp]

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet. [stomp-stomp]

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet. [stomp-stomp]

If you're happy and you know it, shout "Hurray!" [hoo-ray!]

If you're happy and you know it, shout "Hurray!" [hoo-ray!]

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you're happy and you know it, shout "Hurray!" [hoo-ray!]

If you're happy and you know it, do all three. [clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!]

If you're happy and you know it, do all three. [clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!]

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you're happy and you know it, do all three. [clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!]

Variation: Sing this welcome song to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It" (from Channels to Children: Early Childhood Activity Guide for Holidays and Seasons, copyright 1982). Each time the verse is sung, the leader shakes the child's hand. Repeat with each new child:

Good morning, [child's first and last name],

How are you?

Good morning, [child's first and last name],

How are you?

How are you this special day?

We are glad you came to play.

Good morning, [child's first and last name],

How are you?

It Isn't Any Trouble

Sing "It Isn't Any Trouble" to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic:" For Easter, give everyone a plastic Easter egg as a prop. When the word "smile" is sung, hold the halves of your egg to your two cheeks, and smile:

It isn't any trouble just to s-m-i-l-e.

It isn't any trouble just to s-m-i-l-e.

So smile when you're in trouble.

It will vanish like a bubble,

If you only take the trouble just to s-m-i-l-e.

Variations: Instead of "s-m-i-l-e," substitute "g-i-giggle-e":

It isn't any trouble just to g-i-giggle-e. [giggle]

It isn't any trouble just to g-i-giggle-e. [giggle]

So laugh when you're in trouble.

It will vanish like a bubble,

If you only take the trouble just to g-i-giggle-e.

Or, substitute "ha-ha-ha-ha-ha":

It isn't any trouble just to ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. [laugh]

It isn't any trouble just to ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. [laugh]

So laugh when you're in trouble.

It will vanish like a bubble,

If you only take the trouble just to ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

A Tisket, A Tasket

Children sit in a circle with their baskets and eggs. One child skips around the circle and drops their basket behind another child. That child stands up and becomes the skipper, while the original child picks up their basket and sits down in the vacated place.

A tisket, a tasket,

a green and yellow basket

I wrote a letter to my friend

and on the way I dropped it.

I dropped it, I dropped it,

on the way I dropped it,

A little child

they picked it up

and put it in their pocket.

Including All Participants

If the group has any children for whom jumping and standing is difficult, you may consider substituting "clapping," "stepping," or "wiggling" as options for the songs.