Movement Activities
CIRCLE GAMES
Group circle games can be opportunities to work together as a group and support the development of musical skills: listening, responding with natural movement, starting and stopping with the music, gross motor abilities, beat competency, following a conductor/leader, moving with expression, and varying dynamics, tempi, and meter. When initiating a circle game in the classroom, consider:
Placement of the children - it works best if the children are situated and know which direction they’ll be moving in before the music starts. Also, consider an arrangement where each child has enough space to safely move. Everyone standing in a circle works well, but if your classroom doesn’t allow enough space for a large moving circle, you can chart a path around the room, and show this path to the children before you begin the game. Polyspots can also be useful for marking spaces and for creating a path for the children to follow.
Choosing movements - for activities where you or the children can choose the movements, make choices that are inclusive of all children in the class. For instance, with a group of two-year-olds, you would want to select movements that twos can do well, like walking, bouncing, or twisting, whereas for five-year-olds, you can think about skipping, hopping feet together, or standing on one foot.
As I Was Walking Down the Street, U.S.A. - suggested ages 3-5
Cucanandy, Ireland - all ages
Dance with Me, Germany - all ages
Five Little Speckled Frogs, U.S.A. - all ages
Get on Board, U.S.A. - suggested ages 3-5
Hop, Hop Went the Little Green Frogs, U.S.A. - all ages
Jingle Bells, U.S.A. - all ages, associated with winter holidays
‘Liza Jane, U.S.A. - all ages
Macaroni, USA - all ages
New River Train, U.S.A. - all ages
Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow, Great Britain - suggested ages 3-5
Oh, Belinda, U.S.A. - all ages
Old Brass Wagon, U.S.A. - all ages
Over the River and Through the Wood, U.S.A. - suggested ages 3-5, associated with Thanksgiving
Pitter Patter Goes the Rain, U.S.A. - suggested ages 3-5
Plant a Seed in My Garden, England - all ages
See How I’m Jumping, Flemish - all ages
Spirit Song, U.S.A. - suggested ages 3-5
Sunny Weather, Windy Weather, U.S.A. - all ages
S’vivon, Israel - all ages, associated with Hanukkah
That’s a Mighty Pretty Motion, U.S.A. - all ages
The Ants Go Marching, U.S.A. - suggested ages 3-5
The Birdy Flies Away, Germany - suggested ages 3-5
Walking in the Green Grass, U.S.A. - all ages
We’re Floating Down the River, U.S. - all ages
PARTNER DANCES
Brother, Come and Dance with Me, Germany - suggested ages 3-5
London Bridge, Great Britain- suggested ages 3-5
Tue, Tue, Ghana - suggested ages 3-5