Dr. Emily AronoffBring Parshat Noach to Life Through Music and Movement
Bring Noah’s Ark alive with movement, imagination, and giggles. Calling All Animals is my Jewish movement song for Parshat Noach, designed for toddlers, preschoolers, and early-elementary learners. Use it in your Jewish early-childhood setting or family service to help children step into the story through rhythm, repetition, and pretend play.
Why I Wrote “Calling All Animals
I created this song to help children embody the story of Noah’s Ark. Each verse invites a new animal aboard, encouraging anticipation, turn-taking, and whole-body learning. When children stomp like elephants, flutter like birds, or roar like lions, they connect Torah stories with movement, sound, and imagination, the foundation of joyful Jewish learning.
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Lyrics:
Chords G C D
Part A:
Calling all animals, over here
It’s gonna rain, the flood is near
Noah’s ark can keep you safe and dry
As the rain pours down
From the sky
Part B:
This is the place to collect kids’ ideas and encourage them to move like that animal!
If I were a kangaroo, I’d jump to the boat,
I’d jump to the boat with my kangaroo friend]
If I were a kangaroo, I’d jump to the boat,
jump aboard and wait *
For the storm to end.
Back to A, repeat! Swap the animal names and movements each time you share part B.
If I were a bug, I would crawl to the boat
I’d crawl to the boat my my bug friend
If I were a bug I would crawl to the board
Crawl aboard and wait…*
For the storm to end!…
If I were a snake, I would slither to the boat…
If I were a bird, I would fly to the boat…
If I were a horse, I would gallop to the boat…
Noah’s family walked onto the boat….
*Deliberate pause! Sometimes, large movement songs can become chaotic and feel crowded. This pause was written as a preventative step to avoid an overwhelming experience. This is opportunity for the leader to regain attention and be able to control the energy flow between the transitions of parts A and B.
Beyond Cute and Fun
Songs like Calling All Animals are nutrient-dense experiences — joyful, efficient ways to support growth across multiple developmental domains while engaging children in sacred learning. As they move their bodies through space with others, they’re practicing coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. When they make animal sounds, they strengthen breath control, articulation, and vocal development — all while feeling agency inside a Jewish story: to imagine, decide, and embody.
This kind of embodied music-making reminds us that Jewish education begins not only in the mind, but in the body and the senses. Through rhythm and play, children build skills, confidence, and connection to Torah — all at once.
After singing, consider pairing this song with a rainbow song and scarves, or:
Songs and Strategies to Teach Noah’s Ark / Parshat Noach
To find additional ways to extend this theme through music, storytelling, and creative play.
Get Songleading Support to Share Every Story
If you’re ready for more support in leading Jewish music with intention and joy, join the Songleading for Kiddos Support Squad.
Inside, you’ll find:
• Detailed songleader guides and teaching strategies
• Research-informed insight into child development and engagement
• A warm, collaborative community of Jewish songleaders and educators
It’s a space designed to help you grow your skills, expand your repertoire, and bring more joy and meaning to every song you lead.
