1. Activities for Children grades K-3
Music and Movement
Activities for Children grades K-3

2. Clapping Rythms 2/4- (1-2-rest-rest, repeat) March, Jump, Hop
¾- (1-2-3) Emphasis on 1) Swing, Sway
4/4 (jog, stomp, bounce)
6/8-Double time (march, Rock)

3. K-2 developmental stages
Can reproduce melody
Can start to synchronize movements with rhythm
Sing and move with a group
Call and response songs
Can perform 2 movements simultaneously (march and play an instrument)

4. 2n-4th grade development
Starting to read lyrics
Can learn simple folk dances
Enjoy duets with friends
May be interested in dancing / playing an instrument
Can synchronize movements to the beat of the music
Can compare three or more sounds

5. “Make Believe Walks” Walk like you are: Big and strong
Happy and Jolly (Santa Claus)
Really angry
Really sad
Looking for the towel with soap in your eyes
In a parade
Over hot sand burning on your feet
Trying to get through sticky mud

6. Move like your favorite animal at the zoo…
Tall giraffe
Kangaroo
Chimpanzee
Elephant
Lion
Skunk
Gorilla
Tiger
Bear
Hippo
Slippery seal

7. “Make believe striking” (Hit only the air)
Play a big bass drum
Swing a bat
Hammer a nail
Chop wood
Swat a mosquito
Hit a ball
Saw some wood

8. “Making shapes” Show me these shapes with your body:
Round
Flat
Narrow
Long
Short
Crooked
Straight
Make your body look like a:
Chair
Table
Ball
Pointy pencil
Flower
Teapot
Rug

9. Palm-to-Palm Sit back-to-back with a partner
Leader makes a shape with his palms facing the follower
Follower must make the same shape and touch palms
When follower touches palms-this switches leader and follower
How many shapes can you make?

10. Let’s Slither Pair up sitting back-to-back with a partner
Stretch out on stomachs one in front of the other
Student in back grabs ankles of student in front
They slither across the gym until every two-person snake connects with all members of the class to form one bog slithering snake

11. “Pass the Action” Start in a circle One person is the “starter”
He / she makes an action with his body
The mirror passes the action to the next student
Repeat the exact movement all the way around the circle
New student starts

12. “Pass the face” Start in a circle One person is the “starter”
He / she makes a face at another student (mirror)
No other student should see the starters face
The mirror passes the face to the next student
What does the face look like when it returns to the “starter”

13. “Pass the Beat” Start in a circle One person is the “starter”
He / she claps out a beat
Each child repeats the beat exactly
Keep an even tempo all the way around
New student starts with a new rhythm

14. Group Balance Form a standing circle
Place your hands on the shoulders of your neighbor
Maintain steady balance without falling and:
Stand on only one foot-then switch feet
Lean to your right…then to your left
Rise on tiptoes only …then heels only

15. Find ___ ways to…
Place hands on the floor and move your feet (with hands still)
Move but leave only one hand on the floor
Move with one foot and both hands on the floo

16. Body part challenges
Touch a hand to your ankle-then move your hand as far away form your ankle as possible
Bring your head to your knees
Touch an elbow to your knee-
Touch your elbow to your foot
Touch the floor with an:
Elbow
Shoulder

17. Locomotor combo movements
Walk-leap-hop
Run-jump-leap
Gallop-jump-hop
Walk-turn-jump
Stretch-swing-jump
hop-sit-roll

18. 10-second movements
How many different movement can you perform in 10-seconds
Prolong a single movement for 10 seconds

19. Loco with a partner Walk and run in synchronization
Keep physical contact in all directions
Use all different directions
Use all locomotor skills
Which was easiest
Which are the most difficult?

20. The Clock
Children watch the hands on a clock to determine the speed of their movements

21. Elements of movement
Space
Shape
Time
Force
Flow
Rhythm

22. Space
Personal and general
High and low
Forward and backward

23. Pathways
Straight
Curvy
ZigZag

24. Choose your target Stay in personal space
Approach the target and return to your personal space in the following ways:
In a straight path
From one side and then the other
From the back
Zigzagging
Walk forward-return sideways
Walk sideways-return backwards
Walk forward, make a half turn and continue backward toward your target

25. Time
Slow and fast

26. Force
Strong and light

27. Flow
Bound and free