see also: Picture Books with Recipes
Berries turned green, berries turned red. (Turn around to the right; then turn to left)
Berries turned blue, then Mama said, (Turn back to the right)
“Pick me a few.” I said, “Yes, Ma’am!” (Mime picking; point to self, nod head)
So Mama made pie and blueberry jam! (Make circle with arms)
Blackberries, blackberries on the hill.
How many pails can you fill?
Briars are thick and briars scratch
But we’ll pick all the berries in the blackberry patch!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, pick some berries. (Mime picking berries)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, eat some cherries. (Mime eating)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, smile real sweet. (Trace smile with fingers)
Then blackberries & blueberries, eat, eat, eat! (Make small circles with fingers; mime eating)
Five red strawberries, sweet to the core.
Bear came and ate one and then there were four.
Four red strawberries, growing near a tree.
Bear came and ate one and then there were three.
Three red strawberries, for you and you and you.
Bear came and ate one, and then there were two.
Two red strawberries, sitting in the sun.
Bear came and ate one and then there was one.
One red strawberry, left all alone.
Bear came and ate it and then there were none.
--Mel's Desk
*Can also be made into a flannel board rhyme.
My berries cluster black and thick,
For rich and poor alike to pick.
I’ll tear your dress, and cling, and tease,
And scratch your arms and hands and knees.
I’ll stain your fingers and your face,
And then I’ll laugh at your disgrace.
But when the bramble-jelly’s made,
You’ll find your trouble well repaid.
--Cicely Mary Barker
Cherries, cherries, ruby red,
Want to try one? Go ahead!
Cherry pie or cherries jubilee,
Find the pit and plant a cherry tree.
They'll stain your mouth and hands bright red,
So never eat cherries under the covers in bed.
I had a little cherry stone
And put it in the ground,
And when next year l went to look,
A tiny shoot l found.
The shoot grew upwards day by day,
And soon became a tree.
I picked the rosy cherries then,
And ate them for my tea.
All around the strawberry field,
I pick some juicy berries.
I take them home and
Give them a wash…
POP! Goes the berries.
Strawberry, strawberry, how do you grow?
With sun and water, don't you know.
First blooms a flower that smells so sweet.
Then grows a strawberry--a tasty treat!
I am a strawberry, red and sweet.
See all my seeds and my cap so neat.
When I grow ripe and ready to eat,
Pop off my cap—a tasty treat!
Where oh where are all the children? / Where oh where are all the children?
Where oh where are all the children? / Way down yonder in the strawberry patch.
Pickin’ up strawberries, / put em in the basket, (3 times)
Way down yonder in the strawberry patch.
Take the berries home and wash em up / Take the berries home and wash em up
Take the berries home and wash em up / Way down yonder in the strawberry patch.
Slice the berries up and make a pie. / Slice the berries up and make a pie.
Slice the berries up and make a pie. / Way down yonder in the strawberry patch.
1 berry, 2 berry, 3 berries 4,
5 blueberries...let's count some more!
6 berry, 7 berry, 8 berry, 9
10 blueberries are mighty fine!
Now, I've got a bucket of blueberries
that I want to eat...
It's time to cook up a great berry treat.
I'll mix up some things
and stir with all my might.
Then I'll have a delicious
Blueberry delight. (I pantomime holding a bowl and stirring as fast as I can)
Blueberry pancake, (place felt pancake)
blueberry pie, (place felt pie)
blueberry muffin, (place felt muffin)
My, oh my! (rub tummy and smile big smile)
Flannel Board:
Songs:
Bread and Butter, Marmalade and Jam (chant)
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (use various types of berries)
Activity:
Fill it-Dump it--Each child gets a small cup and picks up red and blue plastic poker chips on the floor. When the music pauses, the kids dump out their cups and start over.
Books:
Blueberries for Sal, Robert McCloskey, c.1976
Jamberry, Bruce Degan, c.1983