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