If I were a ....

As a person who LOVES surprises, you'd think I'd be better at keeping surprises to myself until the time for reveal.  I, however, cannot keep a surprise for anything.  I get overly excited about good ideas - especially when they relate to creative juices.  So, I'm just gonna go right on ahead and blog about a gift the kids are making for their parents!

Yesterday, we painted a butterfly and added pipe cleaner antennae.  Today - we stamped a bird onto a foam tree.  Each day, we're going to add another project to the collection, and all these projects will be nicely bound into a book with these song lyrics:

THE BUTTERFLY SONG
(If I Were a Butterfly)
Words and Music by Brian M. Howard If I were a butterfly
I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree
I'd thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea
I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me
 
CHORUS     
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me
 
If I were an elephant
I'd thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo
You know I'd hop right up to you
If I were an octopus
I'd thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me
 
If I were a wiggly worm
I'd thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear
I'd thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile
I'd thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for
making me, me
 
Copyright © 1974, 2002 Mission Hills Music
www.ButterflySong.com 
All rights reserved. (BMI)
International copyright secured.
CCLI - 35445

I love this activity because it gives us an art idea everyday, and has lots of fun repetition!  Since my girls live here, they can't very well bring their finished book home to surprise their parents with, so I'm using their artwork as a reminder for the kiddos about which part of the song comes next.  Their art is proudly displayed on the wall, while the kiddos in care have their art bound in a nice song book!  We'll sing this song everyday and hopefully even the littlest ones will begin to learn the motions.

I can't wait to see the finished project!