Line up songs are a fun and engaging way to help young children transition from free play to more structured activities. Singing these simple, catchy tunes signals it’s time to stop, listen, and line up in an orderly fashion. The melodies and lyrics provide clear directions so kids know what behavior is expected. Line up songs build important skills like following multi-step instructions, taking turns, and self-regulation. Teachers often add movements like hand claps or finger snaps to focus attention and burn off extra energy. Line up songs make transitions smooth and pleasant for both students and teachers.
Partners
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “London Bridges”
Partners, partners stay in line,
Stay in line, stay in line.
Partners, partners stay in line.
Walk together.
Line Up
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “London Bridge”
Everybody make a line, make a line, make a line
Everybody make a line, make a line, make a line
For now it’s (Bathroom) time.
Substitute ( ) for appropriate word.
A Line up Song
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “If you are happy and you know it”
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door.
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door.
If you’re ready and you know it
Then it’s the time to show it
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door (or say no more).
Lining up 3579
Original Author: Unknown
3 5 7 9 Show me how to make a line
Please come quickly so we’ll be on time
3 5 7 9
Line Up
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “London Bridge”
Everybody make a line, make a line, make a line
Everybody make a line, make a line, make a line
For now it’s_______________ time.
(playground, music, bathroom, etc.)
Hands on Shoulders
Submitted by: Georgette Hinrichs
In the center I observe at, they sing a song while walking
down the hallway. The children put their hands on the
shoulders of the person in front of them.
Sung to: “Are You Sleeping”
Hands on shoulders, hands on shoulders
Here we go, here we go
Walking down the hallway, walking down the hallway
Nice and slow, nice and slow
Line up Rhyme
Submitted by: Tonya Pryor
Whenever I want the children in my Pre-K class to line up I
first tell them that when I call them, they are supposed to line
up. Then, I recite this clever little rhyme that I made up:
If you have on red, then you heard what I said.
(This means that you heard me say that it’s time to line up)
If you have on blue, then you heard what to do.
(This means that you know that you’re supposed to get in line.)
If you have on green, then you know what I mean.
(This means that I mean for you to get in line when I call you.)
If you have on white, then you know what’s right.
(This means that it’s right to get in the back of the line instead
of in front of someone else.)
If you have on black, then your name must be Jack.
(I ran out of things to say for this part and I didn’t want to
keep repeating “get in the back of the line.”)
If you have on yellow, then you’re a nice fellow.
(This is another case of when I ran out of things to say.)
If you have on purple, then you like to eat slurple.
(This is supposed to be a drink like the 7-Eleven Slurpee.)
If you have on pink, then you know what I think.
(This means that I think that you should get in line.)
(End of the poem)
If I have to call on a person who is wearing blue again because
they didn’t hear me or they weren’t listening, then I say, “If you
have on blue, then you should have known what to do.
I have been using this rhyme with my class since I started
teaching (about 8 months ago) and it has been effective in
teaching them their colors and in sharpening their listening skills!
A Line Up Song
Submitted by: Tish Hathaway
Tape colorful, laminated footprints leading out the door of our classroom.
Sung to: “If you’re Happy and you know it”
It’s time for us to line up at the door,
It’s time to find the footprints on the floor,
So stop what you are doing,
find the footprints on the floor
and line up at the door, at the door.