Fern Michonski / Fern’s Music
Pre-School Music Education Expert: The Children’s Advocate for Love and Kindness, Inspiring Creativity and Joy.
July 11, 2012—Beach Day at Pre-School Summer Camp
Today I was at a local pre-school, sharing music with the children as part of their summer camp experience. The children spent part of their morning playing in the sprinkler and then they happily padded into music class, all excited to share music about the sea.
We shared finger-plays about seashells as well as a song my father-in-law wrote years ago for my children when they were young. My kids always called it, “The Fishy Song.” I tell the children to turn on their imaginations because I’m going to turn them into fish! I show them how to place one hand right on top of the other. That becomes their fish. If done correctly, their thumbs poke out of each side and I tell them those are their “fish fins.” Then I say, “Get ready, here we go on a trip into the ocean, under the water, out into the sea. What do you think we are going to find?” As I begin singing the song, the children’s eyes grow big with wonder and excitement. It is one of their favorite songs.
The Fishy Song
I’m just a little fishy, swimming in the sea,
Just a little fishy, won’t you swim with me.
Here we go, round and round, swimming up and swimming down
In the light and in the dark—Quick let’s hide here comes a shark!
Here’s comes a shark, he’s really mean,
Got sharp teeth, the biggest you’ve seen,
He’ll mess you up if you’re in his way,
Let’s all hide ‘til he goes away! (Phew—he’s gone!)
I’m just a little fishy, swimming in the sea,
Just a little fishy, won’t you swim with me,
Here we go, round and round, swimming up and swimming down,
In the dark and in the light—Here comes a whale, oh what a sight!!
He’s really big; he’ll make you sail,
When he comes by and swishes his tail,
Oh look, look, not too far—
Here comes a fish that looks like a star!!
I’m just a little fishy, swimming in the sea,
Just a little fishy, won’t you swim with me.
Here we go, round and round, swimming up and swimming down
Let’s all swim far away; we’ll come back some other day.
© 1991 Walter J. Michonski & Fern C. Michonski Fern’s Music/Fern Forest Enterprises
The children love it so much. Then we chat about all the creatures that live in the sea. Today one little girl raised her hand and suddenly said, “Hey Miss Fern, did you see the news today? Something else you might find at the beach is an alligator that might bite off your arm!” Wow! For a little 5-year-old, she was certainly current with her news. Sure enough, just this morning that story was all over the internet. She was quite impressed and so was I. I assured her that most of our beach adventures would not include arm-eating alligators! We also started sharing the news of spotting Great White Sharks off the beaches near Chatham, MA. Everyone decided they didn’t want to swim at THAT beach!
We all had a wonderful morning pretending we were at the ocean. Enjoy your summer vacations to the beach—just remember, watch out for any fins and alligators! 
