Music and Movement

Activities for Children grades K-3

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)

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)

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

“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

Move like your favorite animal at the zoo…

– Tall giraffe– Kangaroo– Chimpanze

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– Elephant– Lion– Skunk

– Gorilla– Tiger– Bear– Hippo– Slippery

seal

“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

“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

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?

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

“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

“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”

“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

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

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

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

Locomotor combo movements

• Walk-leap-hop• Run-jump-leap• Gallop-jump-hop

• Walk-turn-jump• Stretch-swing-jump• hop-sit-roll

10-second movements

• How many different movement can you perform in 10-seconds

• Prolong a single movement for 10 seconds

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?

The Clock

• Children watch the hands on a clock to determine the speed of their movements

Elements of movement

• Space• Shape• Time• Force• Flow• Rhythm

Space1.Personal and

general2.High and low3.Forward and

backward

Pathways1.Straight2.Curvy3.ZigZag

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

Time

• Slow and fast

Force

• Strong and light

Flow

• Bound and free