Inside: This Here is the Beehive circle time activity is loved by toddlers (and preschoolers) and adds simple counting while singing the song!

Put together a simple and fun song and activity for your toddlers and young preschoolers!

Here is a Beehive is a fingerplay that I have been reciting with my young students for decades. While we sing it most in the spring during our bug theme, it’s can be part of your circle time any time of the year!

Not only will your students use their listening skills, but they will be part of the activity by holding their own bee props while also working on number recognition and counting.

Watch the video:

Circle time with two and three year olds can be a challenge.

I personally know this after teaching this age group for over 26 years, and I get countless emails and messages from other teachers saying the same.

Teachers will say things like “They will get up and run away”. I ask what the children are supposed to be doing during that time.

Sitting.

Listening.

That can be a huge challenge for two and three year olds, as I found out in my early years of teaching.

It wasn’t until I added visuals that I saw a difference.

And when I created my own printable props for the children to hold, I really saw a difference.

I’ve learned over the years that young children are more focused when they are engaged in the activity, actually part of it.

I talk a lot about this in my videos over on YouTube.

If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to watch some of these videos: CIRCLE TIME PLAYLIST

In those videos I show different activities, as well as tips that have helped me in the 26+ years of teaching this age group.

Ready to learn more about this activity? Read on!

You could certainly create your own props by using something like Canva, but we’ve made it easy by doing that work for you! Plus, the packet has four other fun circle time activities.

Print the beehive and five numbered bees on cardstock (heavy paper) as well as the plain bees. You will want one plain bee for each child. If you are doing the number matching activity, you will also want enough numbered bees so that each child gets one.

I like to then laminate each item for durability.

Place a magnetic piece on the back of each numbered bee and the beehive.

Here is the portable magnetic board you see in my classroom.

Place a velcro piece on the back of each numbered bee and the beehive. (Be mindful of the hoop and loop – you will want to use what sticks to your felt board.)

Print the beehive and five numbered bees on cardstock (heavy paper) as well as the plain bees. You will want one plain bee for each child.

I like to then laminate each item for durability.

Place a magnetic piece on the back of each numbered bee and the beehive.

Place a velcro piece on the back of each numbered bee and the beehive. (Be mindful of the hoop and loop – you will want to use what sticks to your felt board.)

Place the beehive on your board and have the five numbered bees in your hand.

Give each of your children a plain bee prop.

If they have not held a prop before, show them how to hold them and tell them that we treat our props carefully and they are not to touch our friends.

To get them used to holding the props, give them directions for where the bees can land.

“Have your bee land on your shoulder!”

“Have your bee land on your knee!”

“Have your bee land on your head!”

This gets the children ready by listening to directions while moving their bees around.

Turn on the desired version of Here is the Beehive and as the song counts each bee, place them in numerical order on the board – one, two, three, four, five. The children will hold their bees while you sing.

You will be using the same numbered bees that you used for the fingerplay. You will also want numbered bees for the children to hold.

Make enough copies of the numbered bees so that each child has one and laminate them. You want to make sure each number is represented, and depending on how many children you have, you might have multiples of each number. I like to have my own prop as well to use as an example.

Put either a magnetic piece or a velcro piece on the back depending on what type of board you are using.

Invite the children to count the bees with you. You can count forwards and even backwards, if you’d like to add a bit more.

Each child will hold a numbered bee prop.

Before starting the activity with the children, take your bee and find the matching numbered one. Show the children how it’s the same number and place your bee under it.

Invite each child, one at a time, to walk up to the board and find the matching numbered bee.

Tell them to place their bee underneath it, just as you did with yours.