Johnny Hammers
Traditional
Judy Caplan Ginsburgh performs this song in A Flower is An Educated Weed, A 40 page book of teaching philosophies and hands-on, creative ideas for making learning active and fun and a CD containing 32 songs for the early childhood classroom .
See below for Judy's transition ideas for naptime from A Flower is An Educated Weed.
"Hammer" with 1 arm.
Johnny hammers with 1 hammer, 1 hammer, 1 hammer
Johnny hammers with 1 hammer all day long.
"Hammer" with 2 arms.
Johnny hammers with 2 hammers, 2 hammers, 2 hammers
Johnny hammers with 2 hammers all day long.
"Hammer" with 2 arms and 1 foot.
Johnny hammers with 3 hammers, 3 hammers, 3 hammers
Johnny hammers with 3 hammers all day long.
"Hammer" with 2 arms and 2 feet.
Johnny hammers with 4 hammers, 4 hammers, 4 hammers
Johnny hammers with 4 hammers all day long.
"Hammer" with 2 arms, 2 feet, and your head.
Johnny hammers with 5 hammers, 5 hammers, 5 hammers
Johnny hammers with 5 hammers all day long.
Add this verse very slowly at the end complete with lots of stretches and yawns:
Johnny's very tired now, tired now, tired now
Johnny's very tired now, he goes to sleep.
Transition ideas from A Flower is An Educated Weed:
Naptime is typically a problem area in most classrooms. There are always those children who are resistant to relaxing and settling down for any period of time. One of the things that works best for me is to engage children in a very physical, fun song right before they settle down for nap or rest time. This distraction can help ease the anxiety of naptime.
Once children have made the transition to their cots or rest area, try a song like the very active "Johnny Hammers". You will notice that I have added a final verse which you should use as a way to wind down and relax into nap. As you sing the "tired" verse, stretch out, yawn, lie down. Really make the most of this last verse. At the end, have an aide or another teacher turn the lights down and immediately turn some soft music on. Now it is time for nap.