Anyone know of any creative movement songs/chants for children?

Question

Just wondering whether anyone had any ideas for this. Also there was a song/chant I knew along the lines- round and round and round we go, sometimes fast, sometimes slow did anyone know the full song and the rest of it? lol I forgot.

Answer 1

A personal favorite of my preschoolers and my children's choir.

Toot-ta-ta-da, toot-ta-ta-da, toot-DA-DA. [Group echoes.]

Thumbs up! [Group echoes.]

Toot-ta-ta-da, toot-ta-ta-da, toot-DA-DA. [Group echoes.]

Add each of the following, in turn:

Elbows in

Knees bent

feet together

seat back

Chest out

Chin down

Tongue out

eyes shut

turn around

and at the end sit down.

Also a fall favorite

Way up high in the apple tree(sheild eyes with hand and look up)

2 little apples smiled at me(hold up 2 fingers)

I shook that tree as hard as I could(pretend to shake the hand with the 2 fingers)

Down came the apples(put the 2 fingers down slowly)

Ummmmmmmmm, they were good(rub your tummy)

Also the hokey pokey is a good action/movement song.

Answer 2

During circle time, when the children are seated in circles, the teacher can teach a new song about the family with the use of their fingers.

Come and look and see, here's my papa ( show thumb then move it to the left in a wavy manner)

Come and look and see, here's my mama ( show thumb and index finger then move them to the left in a wavy manner)

Come and look and see, my brother tall. ( show thumb, index finger and middle finger then move them to the left in a wavy manner)

Sister! ( show 2nd to the last finger)

Baby! ( show pinky finger)  

(close fingers and kiss it together) mwaaaaaaaaah!

Love them all!  ;)

for the rhythm, you can create your own. ;)

Answer 3

I used to do a lot of movement songs/games with the children I taught, below is one that was a favourite amongst the children. If you would like more, please feel free to email me and I can give you a whole heap!

Gorillas In The Zoo

*The children sit on the floor in a circle, with one child standing in the middle

One gorilla in the land, the biggest in the zoo

The people came from all around to see what she could do.

She clapped her hands,

She turned around

She walked with four feet on the ground

Then she called another one to come and do it too.

*The child then calls another child to join in, and this continues until there are 8 children in the middle, singing that verse each time more children are added. Once there are 8 children you sing the verse but replace the last line with

Then they all went off to see flamingos in the zoo.

*start again with one child in the middle and the verse changes to

One flamingo in the land, the pinkest in the zoo

The people came from all around to see what he could do

He flapped his wings

He turned around

He hopped with one foot on the ground

Then he called another one to come and do it too.

Answer 4

I am a dancer and a dance teacher. I remember from my childhood the show Romper Room/Romper Room and Friends. There were two movement/song activities that I remember from the show "Bend and Stretch" and "Flopsy". I hope that these might help you out a little.

Answer 5

This is a great web site for songs, finger plays, and chants:

http://www.preschooleducation.com/

Click on music & songs and you'll find tons of stuff you can use in an early childhood classroom.

I've done the one you mentioned with the next line "where we stop, nobody knows"  We did it with a hoola hoop with a tape marker on one spot.  When the hoola hoop stops, the child holding the tape marker gets to choose what activity or area he will work (play) in next, or gets the children's attention for a moment while he talks about what he played with, what he did over the weekend, or whatever.

Answer 6

A site is a good idea but also try Greg and Steve CDs!  I use them all of the time for my class when I do not feel like  singing 5 little Monkeys for the umpteenth time.  The kids love them too! They are great fun!

Answer 7

try singing i love you by barney and put some easy dance steps for kids to do,,

Answer 8

The five little monkeys seem to be a favorite of the preschoolers

this is a subtraction song that you use with either finger or props and has several ways of singing it.  One is five little monkeys swinging from a tree........teasing mr. alligator can't catch me.......along came mr. alligator quiet as can be and snatched the monkey right out of that tree.  Good luck!!