* Singing Games & Dances for K-2 *
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Sun Is In My Heart in NEDM’s I’m Growing Up book/CD/DVD
We find this to be comforting for both us and for the children.
Little Seed – In NEDM’s “I’m Growing Up” book/CD/DVD.
We love “the little wait…” in this fingerplay/song.
Tree Song – in NEDM’s Down in the Valley collection
Lorraine Hammond, who composed this wonderful singing game, is a songwriter and musician, and the best known Appalachian dulcimer player in the country. She is in the greater Boston area. The piano arrangement on the CD is Peter’s. We find this to be a calming, centering dance, both for the children and for ourselves. I introduced it with a story about Roger moving to Vermont in the 18th century, creating a farm, raising a family, and planting an apple orchard.
Eensy Weensy Spider – traditional
I showed you my version of using my acting the story of the nursery rhyme out with my hands and different voices to make a talking spider, water spout, a talking rain cloud and a talking sun.
Wake Me – this is in the online notes.
Of course you can make up your own motions and verses. in NEDM’s I’m Growing Up book/CD/DVD
Strolling in the Park – not in the online notes. in NEDM’s I’m Growing Up book/CD/DVD
Simply sing the first part of the song while all randomly stroll around. All stop at “I was taken by surprise” and act surprised, then at “By a pair of lovely eyes”, blink your eyes at someone”, then continue strolling at “while strolling in the park one day. Then make up your own actions: skating in the park, reading in the park, skipping in the park, etc.
Mi Cuerpo not in the online notes. Traditional, in NEDM’s I’m Growing Up book/CD/DVD
Mi Cuerpo, mi cuerpo, hace musica
Mi Cuerpo, mi cuerpo, hace musica
Mis manos hacen clap, clap, clap
Pis pies hacen stomp, stomp, stomp
Mi boca hace la, la, la
Mi cintura hace cha, cha, cha
Cha, cha, cha – cha, cha, cha
Mi cintura hace cha, cha, cha
La, la, la – la, la, la
Mi boca hace la, la, la
stomp, stomp, stomp – stomp, stomp, stomp
Pis pies hacen stomp, stomp, stomp
Clap, clap, clap – clap, clap, clap
Mis manos hacen clap, clap, clap
My body, my body, it makes music
My body, my body, it makes music
My hands go clap, clap, clap
My feet go stomp, stomp, stomp
My mouth goes la, la, la
My waist goes cha, cha, cha
Cha, cha, cha – cha, cha, cha
My waist goes cha, cha, cha
La, la, la – la, la, la
My voice goes la, la, la
stomp, stomp, stomp – stomp, stomp, stomp
My feet go stomp, stomp, stomp
Clap, clap, clap – clap, clap, clap
My hands go clap, clap, clap.
Old Brass Wagon – this is in the online notes. in NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD
Do this as an a cappella singing game, children making up some of the movements. With the music from the CD it can also be young children’s first experience of a partner dance with instrumental music. I say “Just do what Mary Alice says.”
Kindergarten Reel – this is in the online notes.
in NEDM’s Listen to the Mockingbird
A great first partner-longways-dance-to-instrumental music for young children. Here is the mp3 for the music to Kindergarten Reel. If you cannot download it from that link, send me an email <amidonpeter@gmail.com> and I will email you the mp3. Of course you can play the music on anything; piano, French horn, recorder. After doing this dance a few times you can put on any jig or reel and have them dance the Virginia Reel: really the same dance but start with: Forward and Back, right hand turn, two hand turn, dosido.
Noble Duke of York – this is in the online notes.
This is in NEDM’s “Alabama Gal” book/CD/DVD. I added the up, down halfway up and jumping movements that the rest of the dancers do while the top couple sashays down the middle and back. My favorite moment is when the top couple’s sashay back up the middle turns into a skipping cast off just as the other dancers land from their jump and, skipping, follow the lead couple in the cast off.
Blaydon Races – this is in the online notes.
The original dance is in NEDM’s Chimes of Dunkirk. Of course, as the children get older and more experienced you can transition them gradually from my K-2 version to the original version.
Going to Alberta – this is in the online note and In NEDM’s Sashay the Donut collection.
This is a GREAT way to teach the ballroom position (used for the waltz, the polka, and for a contra dance swing) at the same time as a simple polka step. We have found this to be a great dance for little kids, big kids mixed ages, community dance, in short, for anyone. You can do it as an a cappella singing game, or accompany it with piano, guitar, accordion, or Orff instruments, or do it to the music of the Sashay the Donut CD.
At the Bottom of the Sea – this is in the online notes and In NEDM’s Down in the Valley collection.
One child is the “fish” swimming through the ocean, others are seaweed on the floor. at “Oh” the lead fish child stops in front of one of the “seaweed” children, and uses their name: “Dorothy, Dorothy, we love you.” Then Dorothy puts her hands on the lead fish’s shoulders and follows. Each child adds on in the back of the line when they have been called on with “I love you.”
NOTE: You can also have each chosen child get in FRONT of the line and be the new leader for that time through.
Hunt the Cows – not in the online notes. In NEDM’s Down in the Valley book & CD
Here is a pdf of the music and the dance. Young children LOVE singing games where they alternate between lying down and jumping up and down.
Bye ‘n Bye – this is in the online notes.
This traditional Appalachian lullaby is my current favorite for ending a class with young children. I sometimes change the words to say something silly (“oh no, oh no, where, where, where is the floor, I’ve lost the floor where’s the floor (I am looking at the ceiling and they are all yelling “Down here, down here”) Oh yes, there it is, the floor, oh yes”) or to talk about what is happening (“Now it’s time for me to go, to say goodbye, Bye ‘n bye . . .”).