Nancy Stewart

Bluebird, bluebird, through my window,
Bluebird, bluebird, through my window,
Bluebird, bluebird, through my window,
Oh Johnny I'm tired

Red bird, red bird, through my window (repeat twice)
Oh Johnny I'm tired

Yellow bird, yellow bird, through my window (repeat twice)
Oh Johnny I'm tired

Purple bird, purple bird, through my window (repeat twice)
Oh Johnny I'm tired.

TRADITIONAL VERSION
This is played as a circle game. Children hold hands in a circle, arms up. One child
is chosen to be a bird who flies in and out of the "windows" created by raised
arms. On last line, children drop arms, and a new child is chosen to be the bird. If
you have a large group, you can have several birds at a time. Each one will choose
a new bird at the end of his or her turn.

VARIATION 1 for preschoolers:
Cut birds from 4 colors of felt, and give one to each child, alternating colors.
Place felt board in the middle of the circle. Sing the song once through for each
color. As you sing each color, the children with that color bird stand and fly
around the felt board until the last line, when they place their birds on the felt
board and fly back to their seats. Repeat with other colors.
NOTE: This song is a wonderful way to teach children how to play circle games.
Because the felt board is in the physically defines the middle of the circle, and
the majority of the children remain sitting,, the "birds" may only fly exactly
where you want them to. You won't be dealing with the usual frustrations of chil-
dren cutting across the circle because they don't yet have the skills to play circle
games.

VARIATION 1 for infants and toddlers
Cut out different colored felt birds. Sing shortened song (below) and slowly fly
each bird up to the flannel board as you sing. This is great for tracking (eye exer-
cise to follow an object)

Shortened Version

Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Oh Johnny I'm tired

Variation 2 for infants:
Sing the shorter version, but instead of using felt birds, use small nylon scarves or
ribbons. As you sing the song, sweep the scarf or ribbon across babies body, toes,
hands, or face, then "fly" it slowly around, up and down, so baby can follow with
his eyes. Babies love the feeling of the cloth brushing across their skin, as well as
the movement, and will squeal with delight! Repeat with different colors.

On the next page you'll find a pattern for the bird cutout

PATTERN FOR BIRD CUTOUT