Teaches

This version is faster and more energetic than the Learn It version, but still reasonably paced so that young learners can do all of the actions and sing all the words. And we've left a lot of space between verses for moving around the room. This one is a TON of fun!

Lyrics and Actions

(Everybody stands in big circle. As the bus noises fade in and the music starts, begin moving around the room pretending to drive the bus. You may want to give all of the students some props to act as steering wheels (tambourines work great). Honk the horn!)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The wheels on the bus go round and round. (Make your hands and arms go round and round in a circle.)
Round and round. Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round. Round and round.
(Go! Walking in a circle, everyone pretends to drive a bus and honk the horn.)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The door on the bus goes open and shut. (Clap your hands together on "shut" and open them on "open".)
Open and shut. Open and shut.
The door on the bus goes open and shut. Open and shut.
(Go! Walking in a circle, everyone pretends to drive a bus and honk the horn.)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish. (Mimic the motion of windshield wipers with your hands and arms.)
Swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish.
(Go! Walking in a circle, everyone pretends to drive a bus and honk the horn.)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep. (Pretend to be honking the horn on the steering wheel of a bus.)
Beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep.
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep.
(Go! Walking in a circle, everyone pretends to drive a bus and honk the horn.)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The people on the bus go up and down. (if you are standing, stretch up and then squat down...if you are sitting, point up and then point down.)
Up and down. Up and down.
The people on the bus go up and down. Up and down.
(Go! Walking in a circle, everyone pretends to drive a bus and honk the horn.)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The babies on the bus go wah wah wah. (Place your hands next to your eyes and pretend to cry.)
Wah, wah, wah. Wah, wah, wah.
The babies on the bus go wah wah wah. Wah, wah, wah.
(Go! Walking in a circle, everyone pretends to drive a bus and honk the horn.)

(Everyone stops and faces into the circle.)
The mommies on the bus go shhh shhh shhh. (Place your finger in front of your mouth as you make the shhh sounds. You can also pretend to cradle a baby in one arm).
Shhh shhh shhh. Shhh shhh shhh.
The mommies on the bus go shhh shhh shhh. Shhh shhh shhh.

Activities

After the song is great time to "play bus". Set up rows of chairs like the inside of a bus. Make a bus stop by putting some tape or rope down on the ground. Give each of the children several "coins" (colored chips work great, marbles will do... or use real coins). Make a small box into the fare collection box.

The teacher or parent can put on a bus driver's cap and use a tambourine as a steering wheel. "Open" the bus door and invite the children on. Ask, "Where are you going?" Elicit responses like "To the park/to the pool/to the zoo/to the library/etc. Say, "Two coins, please." and help the children pay. After all the kids have boarded, start "driving." Sing The Wheels on the Bus together. Turn left and turn right, having the kids lean with you as you turn. Call out the stops. "Next stop...the park!" "Next stop...the zoo!"

Kids LOVE this role-play. Let them take turns being the driver too!

Have a GREAT time!