Presentation

  1. 1

    Gather the group. Sing a short, simple song with actions.

  2. 2

    Repeat the song and invite the children to join.

  3. 3

    Play music and walk on the line, matching the beat.

  4. 4

    Change the music: fast for tiptoe, slow for large steps.

  5. 5

    Hand out scarves and move freely to music.

  6. 6

    Play freeze dance: stop the music, and children stop moving.

  7. 7

    Close with a quiet song.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Learn songs in other languages from the continent being studied
  2. Lead the group in a song
  3. Create movements for a song
  4. Learn a simple folk dance

Control of error

The music: children hear when their movement does not match the beat or tempo and adjust.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Sings along with familiar songs
  • Changes movement when the music changes
  • Stops on cue

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.