Movement and dance are integral in a great music education experience for children by providing ways to express, explore, and learn. This page contains dances, games, activities, lesson plans, and philosopy.
Table of Contents
- Body Shapes
- Highway #1 (from The Shenanigans)
- Down in the Valley by the Amidons (book)
- Step Lively by Marian Rose (book)
- Bump Up Tomato
- Rise Sally Rise Round De Doo Bop
PLEASE READ: Resource collections (especially older ones) need to be screened carefully for songs with a questionable past. Here’s a link to databases containing some of those songs.
Body Shapes
Body Shapes is all about students taking 3-5 minutes to move their bodies and relax their minds as they experience SEL through global music and movement as a class starter, brain break, or mindful way to transition to the next class or subject.
The resource includes SIX pieces and I’m excited to provide a GROWING list of songs on Spotify to add to that repertoire. Listen on Spotify or purchase the songs and add them directly to your PowerPoint.
Highway #1 (from The Shenanigans)
Students pretend to start their car and then when the singing begins, they step around Australia on Highway #1. They stop at different cities in Australia and have different moves to make. From the collection: Children’s Dances of Terra del Zur, Vol. 1 (paid link)
- walk walk and run run run
- heel and toe and stamp
- side together wiggle
- jump jump and clap clap clap
- skip skip and bump
- gallop gallop jump
- hop hop hop and stomp
Down in the Valley by the Amidons (book)
Favorites
- I Let Her Go Go
- Down In the Valley
- Alabama Mississippi
- Charlie Over the Ocean
Step Lively by Marian Rose (book)
Favorites
- Kinderpolka
- Sasha
- Ozark Rag
- Bingo
Bump Up Tomato
I’ll be adding lots of books/dances this summer and if you have one you want me to highlight, let me know in the comments below!
Rise Sally Rise Round De Doo Bop
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