Summer is a wonderful time of year to engage young children with fun, upbeat music. This collection of lively summer songs is perfect for keeping kids entertained during the long sunny days. With catchy melodies about sunshine, beaches, fireflies, and all the joys of summer, these tunes will have children singing, dancing, and celebrating the summer season.
Scoop up Sand
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Ten Little Indians”
Scoop up sand and put it in your bucket.
Scoop up sand and put it in your bucket.
Scoop up sand and put it in your bucket.
How much do you have?
We Sail a Ship
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “What do you do with a drunken Sailor”
We sail a Ship with a (boy) named ________________.
We sail a Ship with a (girl) named ________________.
We sail a Ship with a (boy) named _________________.
Early in the morning.
I’m a Fish
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a little Teapot”
I’m a little fishy, I can swim. here is my tail, here is my fin.
When I want to have fun with my friends,
I wiggle my tail and dive right in.
Bubbles Flew Over the Ocean
By: Jean Warren
Sung to: “My Bonnie lies Over the Ocean”
My Bubbles flew over the ocean
My Bubbles flew over the sea
My Bubbles Flew over the rainbow.
Oh come back my bubbles to me.
Come back, Come back,
Oh Come Back, my bubbles to me!
To The Beach
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “London Bridge”
We are going to the beach,
to the Beach, to the beach,
We are going to the beach,
in our bathing suits.
We will find there rocks and shells,
Rocks and shells, Rocks and Shells.
We will find there rocks and shells,
to gather by the water.
We will build a sand castle,
Sand castle, sand castle,
we will build a sand castle,
with bridges and a tower.
We will have a picnic too,
picnic too, picnic too,
We will have a picnic too,
With Sandwiches and oranges.
Home we head with Sunburned Cheeks,
Sunburned Cheeks, Sunburned Cheeks,
Home we head with sunburned Cheeks,
and treasures from our visit.
We’ve Been Playing
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’ve been working on the railroad”
We’ve been playing in the playground
All the morning long.
We’ve Been playing in the playground
Having Fun and singing songs.
Now it’s time to dust ourselves off,
Go in and eat our lunch.
Then we’ll brush our teeth and lay down
Look Out here we come.
Playground Song
By: Jean Warren
Sung to: “Row, Row, Row, your Boat”
Pump, pump, pump the swing,
pump the swing so high.
you pump so high
You touch the sky
Then down you come again.
Climb, climb, climb the bar,
Climb the bar so high.
You climb so high
you touch the sky
Then down you climb again.
Ride, ride, ride your trike,
around the yard again.
You ride so fast
you’re back at last
Then around you go again.
Let’s go to the Beach
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “A Hunting We Will Go”
Let’s go to the beach
To swim and play and run.
Building castles in the sand
Is ever so much fun.
We’ll fix a picnic lunch
And eat it when we like.
And when we all are nice and full
We’ll take a nature hike.
Be sure to wear your suit
And bring along your float.
We’ll ride so far out in the surf
Pretending it’s a boat.
We’ll find some pretty shells
And throw the gulls some bread.
Put on a lot of suntan oil
So that we don’t turn red.
We’ll never want to leave.
Such fun this all has been.
But we’ll come back another day
And do it all again!
A Filled Up Picnic Basket
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “A Tisket, A Tasket”
A tisket, a tasket, a filled-up picnic basket.
Mom stuffed it with such yummy treats,
I can’t wait to unpack it.
Unpack it, unpack it,
I can’t wait to unpack it,
Crackers, cheese, and fresh fruit please,
Kept safe tucked in our basket.
Our basket, our basket,
There’s more things in our basket.
Juice and bars and my toy cars
To play with – let’s unpack it!
Can You Blow A Big Bubble?
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “The Muffin Man”
Can you blow a big bubble?
A big bubble, a big bubble?
Can you blow a big bubble,
With your bubble wand?
I’m a Little Bubble
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little bubble, shiny and round.
I gently float down to the ground.
The wind lifts me up and then I drop.
Down to the dry ground where I pop.
Ten Little Bubbles
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Ten Little Indians”
One little, two little, three little bubbles.
Four little, five little, six little bubbles.
Seven little, eight little, nine little bubbles.
Ten bubbles floating to the ground.
Here’s a Bubble
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Where is Thumbkin?”
Here’s a bubble, here’s a bubble.
Big and round; big and round.
See it floating gently,
See it floating gently,
To the ground; to the ground.
POP! Goes the Bubble
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Pop! Goes the Weasel”
Soap and water can be mixed.
To make a bubble solution.
Carefully blow,
Now, watch it go!
Pop! Goes the bubble!
Bubbles
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle”
Bubbles floating all around (pretend to catch bubbles)
Bubbles fat and bubbles round (make a big circle w/ arms)
Bubbles on my toes and nose (point to toes; point to nose)
Blow a bubble. ..up it goes! (pretend to blow bubble; point up)
Bubbles floating all around. (pretend to catch bubbles)
Bub. . .bles fall. . .ing to…the…ground. (sing slowly & sink to ground)
Sing a Song of Sunshine
By: Jean Warren
Sung to: “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
Sing a song of sunshine,
Be happy every day.
Sing a song of Sunshine,
You’ll chase the clouds away,
Be happy every moment,
No matter what you do,
Just sing and sing and sing and sing
And let the sunshine through.
A Seashell
Original Author: Unknown
One day a little shell washed up (hold shell)
Out of the waves at sea.
I held the shell up to my ear, (hold shell to ear)
And I heard it sing to me.
Sh…sh…sh…sh. (children repeat)
A little shell washed up one day,
And lay upon the sand. (hold shell in hand)
It sang a song about the sea,
As I held it in my hand. (children repeat)
A Sailor Went To Sea, Sea, Sea
Original Author: Unknown
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea!
Five Little Sea Creatures
Original Author: Unknown
Five little sea creatures
On the ocean floor;
The lobster walked away
Now there are four.
Four little sea creatures
Living in the sea;
The octopus crept away
Now there are three.
Three little sea creatures
Wondering what to do;
“Good-bye,” said the starfish
Now there are two.
Two little sea creatures
Not having much fun;
Off swam the sea horse
Now there is one.
One little hermit crab
Sad and all alone,
Back came the starfish,
Back came the sea horse,
Back came the octopus,
Back came the lobster,
Then all five went home.
Take Me Out to the Ocean
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
Take me out to the ocean
Take me out to the sea
There goes a starfish and sand dollar,
I’m having such fun, I’ve just got to holler
Oh, it’s swim, swim, swim, underwater
Catch a ride on a whale, don’t fear,
For the sea animals are our friends,
Let’s give a great big cheer!
Sea Gull Song
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
I see sea gulls
I see sea gulls,
At the beach,
At the beach,
Soaring, diving, fishing,
Soaring, diving, fishing,
At the beach,
At the beach.
Other verses:
I hear the ocean,
I hear the ocean,
At the beach,
At the beach,
Crashing, splashing, foaming
Crashing, splashing, foaming,
At the beach,
At the beach.
Five Scrumptious Shrimp
Original Author: Unknown
Five scrumptious shrimp burrowed in the mud
Hiding from their predators in the slimy crud
Along came a fish as quiet as he could
GULP!
Four scrumptious shrimp burrowed in the mud….
etc.
Summer’s Here
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
Days are longer, sunshine’s stronger.
Summer’s here! Summer’s here!
Lets jump through the sprinkler,
Lets make lemonade,
Summer’s here! Summer’s here!
Hot Summer
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Farmer in the Dell”
In the summer it is hot
In the summer it is hot
Oh, when it’s hot,
I (activity) a lot
In the summer when it’s hot.
(Let each child name his/her favorite summertime activity to sing in the song)
You are My Sunshine
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “You are my sunshine”
You are my sunshine.
Bright, yellow sunshine.
You bring me sunlight
All through the days
You help the seasons go
You make the plants grow.
Please be my sunshine always.
Put A Hat On Your Head
Submitted by: Louise O’Hara
Put a hat on your head
Sun cream on your face
Play under a tree
that’s the safest place
When you’re playing outside
And you’re having lots of fun
stay under the shade
And keep out of the sun.