Dance & music

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Body is made up of bones and muscles. For older children learn about ligaments and the different kinds of way bone connect; for example: ball and joint socket.

*If our bones and muscles didn't allow us movement what would happen?

*Examine different x-rays or a plastic skeleton. Do the bones look similar? Different? Short? Long? Fat? Skinny? Round? Flat?

*What is music like in other countries? Listen to their music.

*What is dancing like in other countries? Learn to dance like they do.

ACTIVITIES:

*Take a dance class: country, jazz, tap, ballet, ballroom, hip hop, etc.

*Take a music lessons: vocal, piano, violin, guitar, etc. Learn to play your favorite song.

*Dance to music! Put in you favorite CD and boogie!

*Shadow dancing: Turn off all the lights on the room, shine a bright lamp at a wall with enough room for you to move and dance between the lamp and the wall. Watch your shadow!

*Freeze dance: play music and dance. When the music stops your freeze in place. Continue dancing when the music starts again...repeat.

MAKE:

*Tambourine: fill a paper/plastic plate with beans or rice. Hot glue a second plate to the top of the plate (rims will be touching). If you want decorate your tambourine. Hot glue ribbons, yarn, foam pieces, etc. onto your tambourine.

*Pie plate tambourine: fill a pie plate with beans or rice. Hot glue a second pie plate on top (rims will be glued together). You can decorate with hot glueing items on or try puff paints.

*Shakers: video here. Use paper towel rolls, clean tin cans, plastic cups, etc. Fill with beans, rice, noodles, etc.

*Guitar: using an empty cardboard cracker box cut a circle shape in the lower bottom section. Stretch rubber bands across the hole.

SONGS:

DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW?

Do your ears hang low?

Do they wobble to and fro?

Can you tie them in a knot?

Can you tie them in a bow?

Can you throw them o'er your shoulder

Like a Continental Soldier?

Do your ears hang low?

Do your ears hang high?

Do they reach up to the sky?

Do they wrinkle when they're wet?

Do they straighten when they're dry?

Can you wave them at your neighbor

With an element of flavor?

Do your ears hang high?

Do your ears hang wide?

Do they flap from side to side?

Do they wave in the breeze

From the slightest little sneeze?

Can you soar above the nation

With a feeling of elevation?

Do your ears hang wide?

Do your ears fall off

When you give a great big cough?

Do they lie there on the ground

Or bounce up at every sound?

Can you stick them in your pocket

Just like Davy Crocket?

Do your ears fall off?

HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,

Knees and Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,

Knees and Toes

And Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

HOKEY POKEY

You put your right foot in,

You put your right foot out;

You put your right foot in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,

You put your left foot out;

You put your left foot in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,

You put your right hand out;

You put your right hand in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in,

You put your left hand out;

You put your left hand in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your right side in,

You put your right side out;

You put your right side in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your left side in,

You put your left side out;

You put your left side in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your nose in,

You put your nose out;

You put your nose in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your backside in,

You put your backside out;

You put your backside in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your head in,

You put your head out;

You put your head in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your whole self in,

You put your whole self out;

You put your whole self in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about.

One of my favorite children's song and dance DVD is from the Laurie Berkner Band, visit their website here.

More action songs for children found here!