Bugs may be creepy but it doesn’t mean your little ones won’t love singing about them! From ladybugs to horseflies and honeybees, these songs below are sure to include all the bugs your little ones find outside.
These songs are perfect to teach preschoolers about bugs after some fun in the sun foraging for little critters. After they learn these, they may not find the bugs so creepy after all!
Bugs
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
Big bugs, small bugs, big bugs, small bugs,
See them crawl on the wall?
Creepy, creepy, crawling, never, never falling.
Bug, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs.
The Little Cricket
Original Author: Unknown
(Point to one finger at a time.)
The first little cricket played a violin.
The second little cricket joined right in.
The third little cricket made a crackly song.
The fourth little cricket helped him along.
The fifth little cricket cried, “Crick-crick-cree.
The orchestra is over and it’s time for tea?
Flutter, flutter, Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
Flutter, flutter, butterfly.
Floating in the summer sky.
Floating by for all to see,
Floating by so merrily.
Flutter, flutter, butterfly,
Floating in the summer sky.
Ant Hill
Original Author: Unknown
Once I saw an ant hill with no ants about. (fingers curled under, concealed)
So I said, “Dear little ants, won’t you come out?”
Then, as if the little ants had heard my call,
One, two, three, four, five come out? (as numbers are called, fingers are extended)
And that was all!
Oh, the ants are busy!
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain”
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
See them dig and dig and dig.
Lots of tunnels, oh, so big.
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
Roly-Poly Caterpillar
Original Author: Unknown
Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Into a corner crept, (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)
Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)
Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)
Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Wakening by and by, (“stretch” right pointer finger)
Found himself with beautiful wings
Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)
Ladybug Fly
Submitted by: Julie
Sung to: “Three Blind Mice”
Fly, fly, fly
Ladybugs fly
Fly over here
Fly over there
They fly up high and they fly down low.
Around and around and around they go.
They fly fast, and they fly slow.
Oh, ladybugs fly
Five Little Ladybugs
Submitted by: Julie
Five little Ladybugs climbing up a door
One Flew away then there were four
Four Little ladybugs sitting on a tree
One flew away then there were three
Three little ladybugs landed on a shoe
One flew away and then there were two
Two little ladybugs looking for some fun
One flew away and then there was one
One little ladybug sitting in the sun
She flew away and then there were none
Also Great to use a a flannel glove fingerplay
Ants Go Marching
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “When John Comes Marching Home”
The ants came marching two by two, Hurrah! Hurrah!
(Students walk in pairs of 2 side by side each other in a circle)
The ants came marching two by two
The little one stopped to tie his shoe.
They all go marching down around the town.
Boom, Boom, Boom.
Other Verses:
The ants came marching three by three…
The little one stopped to climb a tree.
The ants came marching four by four….
The little one stopped to shut the door….
The ants came marching five by five…
The little one stopped to take a dive….
The ants came marching six by six….
The little one stopped to pick up sticks….
The ants came marching seven by seven….
The little one stopped to go to heaven…
The ants came marching eight by eight…
The little one stopped to shut the gate…
The ants came marching nine by nine…
The little one stopped to scratch his spine…
The ants came marching ten by ten
The little one stopped to say THE END!
Another Ants Go Marching
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “When John Comes Marching Home”
The ants go marching one by one
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one by one
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one by one
Watching Ants is lots of fun,
So let’s all go marching
One by one by one
Additional verses:
The ants go marching two by two/ Worker ants have lots to do;
The ants go marching three by three/ The ants all live in a colony
The ants go marching four by four/ Now they’re marching through the door
The ants go marching five by five/ Hey, it’s time to say good by
Insect Song
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Wheels on the Bus”
The firefly at night goes blink blink blink
Blink blink blink blink blink blink
The firefly at night goes blink blink blink
All around the town
The bees in the flowers go buzz buzz buzz….
The ants in the grass go march march march…
The crickets in the leaves go chirp chirp chirp…
The caterpillar in the field goes creep creep creep….
Can you move with me?
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Do Your Ears Hang Low”
Can you wiggle like a worm?
Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl upon the ground
Like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?
Can you flip? Can you flop?
Can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you give a little shake?
Can you dance like bee
Who is buzzing round a tree?
Can you move with me?
Bugs
Original Author: Unknown
June bug, stink bug,
Ladybug, chinch bug,
Water bug, pink bug,
Please-don’t-pinch bug!
Horsefly, housefly,
Dragonfly, deer fly,
Firefly, fruit fly,
Buzzing-in-your-ear fly!
Honeybee, bumblebee,
Queen bee, drone bee,
Worker bee, nurse bee,
Leave-me-alone bee!
Gypsy moth, luna moth,
Beetle and mosquito,
Bugs and insects
Really are neat-o!
Cockroach, katydid,
Cricket and cicada,
Grasshopper, mantis,
Catch you all later!
A Fly is on my toe
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Farmer in the Dell”
A fly is on my toe,
A fly is on my toe,
Hi-ho, just watch me blow.
A fly is on my toe
Other Verses:
A fly is on my nose ,my head, my ear, my elbow, my knee, etc..
I’m a Firefly
Original Author: Unknown
I’m a little firefly
Look at me!
I’m as happy as I can be.
See my light flicker and shine so bright
Now watch me fly into the night!
ACTIVITY: Have children stand in a circle with their hands behind their backs. Dim the lights. Provide 2 flashlights that are easily turned off and on. Have the group sing the song above. When they sing “See my light flicker” the children holding flashlights begin to turn them off and on and pair up at the center of the circle. They then give the flashlights to two different children. Continue to play until each child has had a turn.
Firefly
Original Author Unknown
A little light is going by,
It is going up to see the sky.
A little light with wings.
I could have never thought of it,
To have a little bug all lit
And made to go on wings.
Bug Fingerplay
Original Author: Unknown
1, 2, 3 ( hold up fingers)
There is a bug on me! (point to shoulder)
Where did it go? ( brush off)
I don’t know ( Shrug Shoulder and look really puzzled)
Never Hurt a Ladybug
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Yankee Doodle”
Ladybugs are in my yard.
Just look at them devour
Those pesky aphids on the leaves
Of Mother’s pretty flowers.
Never hurt a ladybug.
We need them in the garden.
Ladybugs help flowers grow
So we must never hurt them.
Ladybug Rhyme
Original Author: Unknown
Begin by asking the children to stand several feet from one another.
Ladybug, ladybug, (move fingers)
Let me see your crawl, (crawl slowly on all fours)
Hurry after those harmful bugs (move quickly on all fours)
But be careful, do not fall! (fall over)
Ladybugs
Original Author: Unknown
Lady bug, lady bug,
How are you today?
Lady bug, lady bug,
Are you going to stay?
Lady bug, lady bug,
Or will you fly away.
Pretty Ladybugs
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Muffin Man”
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
1 black spot, 1 black spot;
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
Pretty ladybug!
8 Ants
Original Author: Unknown
One ant two ants, three ants four.
Our picnic is their grocery store.
Five ants, six ants, seven ants, eight.
They are crawling on my plate!
Eight ants, seven ants,
Stomp around.
Six ants, five ants
On the ground.
Four ants, three ants,
On the run!
Two ants, one ant,
No more fun.
Ants Live here
Original Author: Unknown
Ants live here
by the curb side, see?
They worry a lot
about giants like me.
Once I saw an Ant Hill
Original Author: Unknown
Once I saw an anthill
With no ants about;
So I said, “Dear little ants
Won’t you please come out?”
Then as if the little ants
Had heard my call,
One, two, three, four, five came out,
And that was all.
The Swarm of Bees
Original Author: Unknown
One little honeybee by my window flew;
Soon came another – then there were two.
Two happy honeybees in the apple tree;
One more bee came buzzing up – then there were three.
Three busy honeybees starting to explore
Another bee came to help – then there were four.
Four laden honeybees flying to the hive;
They were joined by one more bee – then there were five.
Five tired honeybees with the others mix;
Now there’s a swarm of them – a hundred times six.
Bumble Bee
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Jingle Bells”
Bumble Bee, bumble bee,
Landing on my nose,
Bumble bee, bumble bee,
Now he’s on my toes.
On my arms, on my legs,
On my elbows.
Bumble bee, oh bumble bee
He lands, and then he goes.
Buzzing Bumble bees
Original Author: Unknown
6 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around the hive
One buzzes off and that leaves 5.
5 buzzing bumblebees
Flying near my door,
1 buzzes off and that leaves 4
4 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around a tree,
1 busses off and that leaves 3
3 buzzing bumblebees
In the sky so blue
1 buzzes of and that leaves 2
2 buzzing bumblebees
Flying by the sun
1 buzzes off and that leaves 1
1 buzzing bumblebee
Looking for some fun
It buzzes off and that leaves none.
Bee Fingerplay
Original Author: Unknown
Here is the bee hive (hold fist together)
But where are all the bees (hold up hands)
Hiding very carefully
1,2,3,4,5 (Hold up fingers one at a time)
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (Walk and try to sting someone)
(You can also use both hands and have 10 bees.)
Caterpillar Chant
Original Author: Unknown
A caterpillar looks so small.
It is hardly there at all.
It munches on green leafy treats,
And it gets bigger as it eats.
It eats and eats, ’til pretty soon,
It wraps up tight in a cocoon.
When it wakes up it blinks its eyes
And says, “I’m now a butterfly!”
Butterfly Chant
Original Author: Unknown
A burst of blue,
A shock of green,
A flap of wings is all that’s seen.
A flutter in the flower beds,
A burst of blue,
A bit of red,
A whisper as it flutters by,
You’re oh so pretty, butterfly.
Lady Monarch Song
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Yankee Doodle”
Lady Monarch made a hat
of flowers, leaves and spring things,
Went to town to show it off
But she forgot her earrings.
Lady Monarch cried and wept,
She was very sad,
Then two bees sat on her ears,
So she was very glad.
Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar
Original Author: Unknown
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar in the garden creeps
He spins himself a blanket and soon falls fast asleep.
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by
To find he has wings of beauty, changed to a butterfly.
Pretty little butterfly, what do you do all day?
I fly around the flowerpots, nothing’ to do but play.
Nothing’ to do but play, darling’, nothing’ to do but play.
So fly butterfly, fly butterfly, don’t waste your time away.
Little Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little butterfly
I have wings
I fly around
And see all things.
When I see a flower
That looks great
I call out
To all of my mates.
The Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
I spin and spin my chrysalis (or cocoon) circle middle finger on opposite palm
Then go to rest inside close hand around finger
When I come out open fingers slowly
I’ve changed indeed…
Look! I’m a butterfly! fly fingers away
I’m a Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Skip to My Lou”
I’m a butterfly, come fly with me
I’m a butterfly, come fly with me
I’m a butterfly, come fly with me
Come fly with me, my darling
A butterfly, come drink nectar with me
A butterfly, come drink nectar with me
A butterfly, come drink nectar with me
Drink nectar with me, my darling.
A butterfly, now sleep like me
A butterfly, now sleep like me
A butterfly, now sleep like me
Come sleep like me, my darling.
I’m a Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
Butterflies in flight,
Are such a lovely sight.
They dart about…1, 2,
Way up high into the wild blue.
Their colors are so lovely and bright,
in orange, yellow, green and white.
Butterflies in flight,
Are beautiful both day and night.
The Fuzzy Caterpillar
Original Author: Unknown
Once there was a caterpillar fuzzy as could be,
He ate and ate and ate all the new, green leaves.
And when he was finished and could eat no more,
He made himself a chrysalis that didn’t have a door.
While inside this chrysalis, he began to change,
The fuzzy caterpillar would never be the same.
After seven days, he broke out and my oh my,
The caterpillar he had been was now a butterfly.
We’re going on a bug hunt
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “We’re going on a bear hunt”
We’re going on a bug hunt!
We’re going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!
Oh my! A bee!
A black & yellow bee,
Flying over the flowers.
BUZZ…..
We’re going on a bug hunt!
We’re going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!
Oh, my! An ant!
A tiny, black ant,
Crawling through the grass.
Shh…
We’re going on a bug hunt!
We’re going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!
Oh, my! A grasshopper!
A big, green grasshopper,
Hopping around the tree.
Boing, boing…
We’re going on a bug hunt!
We’re going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!
Oh, my! A butterfly!
A pretty, orange butterfly,
Floating in the sky.
Whoosh, whoosh…
We’re going on bug hunt!
We’re going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!
Oh my! A spider!
A big black spider,
Creeping on the tree. Creep, creep…
Now take the class out on a real BUG HUNT. Keep the bugs only for a day. Then set them free. We call them part- time pets.
Never Squash a Bug
by Christa Koch of Preschool Education .Com
Sung to: “Row, row, row, your boat”
Never, never squash a bug,
There mother nature’s friends.
Catch one in a plastic jar,
Then let it go again.
Bumble Bee
by Christa Koch of Preschool Education .Com
Sung to: “Are you sleeping”
Bumble bee, bumble bee
Don’t sting me, don’t sting me.
Just fly to your home,
And leave me alone.
Don’t sting me, don’t sting me.
Bumble Bee
by Christa Koch of Preschool Education .Com
Sung to: “Oh Christmas Tree”
Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly
How I love your colors.
Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly
How I love your colors.
You fly so high and beautiful,
Your so soft and gentle.
Oh, butterfly, Oh, butterfly,
How I love your colors.
Catching Bugs
by Christa Koch of Preschool Education .Com
Sung to: “Mary had a little lamb”
Catch some bugs, and look at them,
Watch them, feed them.
Catch some bugs and look at them,
Then please let them go.
Keep Bugs Safe
by Christa Koch of Preschool Education .Com
Sung to: “Make New Friends, But Keep the Old”
Keep bugs safe, and let them go.
They belong in nature, yes the great outdoors.
Pretty Firefly
by Christa Koch of Preschool Education .Com
Sung to: ” This little light of mine”
See this pretty Firefly,
Flying in the midnight sky.
See this pretty Firefly,
Flying in the midnight sky.
See this pretty Firefly,
Flying in the midnight sky.
This firefly’s light is so bright.
Pretty Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Up on the House Top”
First comes a butterfly and lays an egg,
Out comes the caterpillar with many legs.
Oh, see the caterpillar spin and spin,
A little cocoon (chrysalis) to sleep in.
Oh, oh, oh, look and see
Oh, oh, oh, look and see
Out of the cocoon (chrysalis) my, oh, my
Out comes a pretty butterfly.
Ladybug
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “This Old Man”
Ladybug, show your spots.
You have red winds and black dots.
We will count those seven dots
On your shiny shell.
Lady, your spots are swell!
Hunting Bugs
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “A- Hunting we will go”
A-hunting we will go
A -hunting we will go
We’ll catch a (insert any insect here)
and put it in a box
(loudly) and then we’ll let it go!
The Little Caterpillar
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”
The little caterpillar crawled up into a tree,
Spun his cocoon and slept so quietly,
All through the winter he didn’t make a sound,
He dreamt of his new life when he’d be flying all around.
While he was sleeping the snow did gently fall,
Winter came and went, then her heard the robin’s call,
Come on Mr. Butterfly, out of your cocoon
Spread your wings and fly for me, while I sing my tune.
The Little Caterpillar
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”
The little caterpillar crawled up into a tree,
Spun his cocoon and slept so quietly,
All through the winter he didn’t make a sound,
He dreamt of his new life when he’d be flying all around.
While he was sleeping the snow did gently fall,
Winter came and went, then her heard the robin’s call,
Come on Mr. Butterfly, out of your cocoon
Spread your wings and fly for me, while I sing my tune.
Caterpillar
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Addams family”
Refrain:
My tummy is fat (snap, snap)
I like it like that (snap, snap)
I wiggle around
I jiggle around
I wiggle around
My tummy is fat (snap, snap)
I’m a striped caterpillar
I’m such a chubby feller
I love to eat and eat,
Those leaves are such a treat
Back to refrain
Caterpillar Crawled
Original Author: Unknown
A caterpillar crawled (extend left arm and crawl right index finger up it like a caterpillar)
To the top of a tree.
“I think I’ll take a nap,” said he (wiggle right index finger)
So under the leaf he began to creep. (move under left hand)
He spun a cocoon and he fell asleep. (make fist around index finger)
For two long weeks he slept in that cocoon bed,
Till spring came along and said,
“Wake up! Wake up! You sleepy head.” (shake arms)
Out of the leaf he did cry. (hook thumbs and spread fingers to make a butterfly)
“Lo, I am a butterfly.”
The Life Of A Butterfly
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Skip to My Lou”
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
What’ll I be, my darlin’?
A chrysalis, now sleep like me…..
What’ll I be, my darlin’?
A butterfly, come fly with me…
Come fly with me my darlin’.
Now all together, lets do all three.
A caterpillar, a chrysalis, a butterfly — three.
Move your body like this with me.
The life of a butterfly, darlin’.
Do you like to Buzz?
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Do your ears hang low”
Do you like to buzz.
Are you covered all in fuzz?
Do you call a hive a home
In the garden where you roam?
Do you know how to make honey,
Are your stripes a little funny?
Do you like to buzz?
Little Wiggle Worm Song
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little wiggle worm, watch me go!
I can wiggle fast, or very very slow
I wiggle all around, then back I go
Down into the ground, to the home I know
Freddy Flea
Submitted by: Karen May
On my toe is Freddy flea (Touch toe)
Now he’s climbing up on me (climb fingers upward)
Past my tummy
Past my nose
On my head where my hair grows (wiggle fingers in hair)
On my head is Freddy flea
Now he’s climbing down on me (climb fingers back down body)
Past my tummy
Past my knee
On the floor (Stomp foot!) Take that you flea!
17-year Cicada Song
Submitted by: Karen Hyatt
Sung to: “The Wheels on the Bus”
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep.
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
For seventeen years.
The cicadas in the ground go dig, dig, dig,
Dig, dig, dig, dg, dig, dig.
The cicadas in the ground go dig, dig, dig,
To come up to fresh air.
The cicadas in the trees go climb, climb, climb,
Climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb.
The cicadas in the trees go climb, climb, climb.
To come up to fresh air.
The cicadas in the trees go burst, burst, burst,
Burst, burst, burst, burst, burst, burst.
The cicadas in the trees go burst, burst, burst,
To get out of their shells.
The cicadas in the trees go sing, sing, sing,
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing, sing.
The cicadas in the trees go sing, sing, sing,
All day long.
The cicadas in the trees go lay, lay, lay,
Lay, lay, lay, lay, lay, lay.
The cicadas in the trees go lay, lay, lay,
New eggs in the trees.
The cicadas in the trees go hatch, hatch, hatch,
Hatch, hatch, hatch, hatch, hatch, hatch.
The cicadas in the trees go hatch, hatch, hatch,
And fall down to the ground.
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep.
The cicadas in the ground go sleep, sleep, sleep.
For seventeen years.