Fly Little Bird

In teaching my Mother Goose Guitar class, I realized there aren’t  enough interactive children’s songs in minor keys. Children are drawn to their sad, plaintive sound. I also wanted a song that would be easy for beginning guitarists, and this one only has two chords! So if you play guitar, even a little, this is a good one for you. The children will be busy acting out the song, so it’s a good one for self-conscious beginning guitarists. You can also play along with the recording. Just have fun! (Don’t forget, the guitar chords are always on  the sheet music).

Fly Little Bird  - lyrics

Fly little bird across the mountains,

Fly out over the sea

Come home little bird , you must be tired

And I have food for thee.

Activity:

Have children seated in a line or a circle (if in a circle, leave an opening for birds to fly in and out).

Choose one or more child to be a bird, and have the other children cup their hands as if holding food for the birds. Sing or play the song, and have the first bird(s) fly around the room until the last line, when they come back to the circle or line. They choose “food” from one of the children, and trade places with them while they become the next bird to fly. The song is sung four times on the recording, so you may plan accordingly. For example, if  you have 12 children in your class, begin with 3, and by the end of the song every bird will have flown! Of course you can sing the song without using the recording, and sing as long as you like!

Variations and more ideas:

1. Give the children scarves to use for wings as they fly around.

2. Have returning birds lie down to “rest” as the lyrics indicate

3. Use 4 different colors of birds, and give each child one color. Then change the lyrics to say  “Fly little bluebird,” Change the color each verse. 

3. Print out pictures of different kinds of birds, and change the lyrics to say “Fly little robin,” or whatever bird you are using. Use birds indigenous to your area, and children can learn about their own birds.

4. Talk about birds before singing this song– where they live, and what they eat, and where they go. Visit the web site below for information and activities, or check out simple non-fiction books from your library.  Or you may wish to use this song after reading a story about a bird. Two of my favorites are The Best Nest, and Are You My Mother? Both are by P.D Eastman.

Websites for bird pictures

www.Enchantedlearning.com       www.images.google.com        www.birding.about.com