Suggestions for Music and Movement Activities

Music

Some ideas for making instruments and incorporating music and rhythm into your day:

• Find books that reinforce musical concepts, such as the PiggyBack Song series. You can find the PiggyBack series at any educational supply store. The songs in these books are simple and the melodies are familiar. In each book, the songs are categorized by different themes. 
• Dig up some classical music to use for rest or nap time. Let the children know who the composer is and what the piece is called. Talk about how the music makes the children feel.
• Play classical music during center time. This can help to cut down on aggressiveness and build the children’s appreciation for classical music.
• Sing, sing, sing during transition times.
• Create a Circle Time Song Cube by sliding two square boxes together into a cube. Cover the cube with contact paper. On a piece of paper that fits on one side of the cube write the name of a song or finger play. Add a picture so the kids will recognize the song. Do this for all six sides of the cube. At circle time, have the kids toss the cube--whatever song it lands on is the one you sing. Change the songs each month to correspond with your theme.

• Make great shaking instruments with many plastic soft drink bottles. Paint the outsides of them with brightly colored paint. Fill each one with a different size “rattle object”--beans, rice, pebbles, etc.--and screw the lids back on.
• Make “instruments” for studying vowel sounds. With a single hole puncher, punch a hole in each end of a toilet tissue roll as far from the openings as possible. Place a small sticker under each of the little holes. Write the long vowel sign above the top hole and the short vowel sign above the bottom hole. Place clear cellophane tape around the end that is put to the mouth to keep the roll from fraying. Then say a word, asking for a particular beginning vowel sound, and watch to see where the children place their fingers. Children love this “Silent Orchestra.”
• Make finger bells. Take a glove and some jingle bells from a craft store. Sew a bell on each finger and the thumb of the glove. Now wiggle your fingers.
• Make hand clappers. Trace the children’s hands on white construction paper, and then cut them out. Let the children color or decorate them however they want. Glue a lid from a frozen juice can on the back side of each decorated hand. Tape one end of a Popsicle stick to the backside of each hand. Put the lid parts of two hands facing each other, with the Popsicle sticks coming out from the bottom. Tape the Popsicle sticks together near the bottom. When the children hold and shake them, the “hands” will “clap” together.
• Make shakers from old baby bottles. Fill each one with a different item, such as rice, jelly beans, beads, etc. Discard the nipple. Hot glue the small plastic protector into the ring; then glue the ring to the neck of the bottle. These instruments can also be used as a math activity (counting jelly beans as they drop, etc.).

 

Movement: Gross Motor Development

Walking

• Walk slowly or quickly about in space.
• Walk in a circle, square, triangle, etc.
• Walk forwards and backwards.
• Walk on heels or tiptoes; walk lightly or heavily; walk sadly, happily, or angrily.
• Walk with bean bags on the children’s heads, potatoes on the backs of their hands, or cups of sand in the palms of their hands to aid in balance.

Running

• Run about in space informally.

• Run with knees high.

• Run in a circle or zigzag pattern.
• Run backwards, on tiptoes, or like various animals.

Jumping

• Jump in place; jump with feet apart or together.
• Run and jump in different directions.
• Jump to rhythm.
• Jump onto a piece of paper on the floor, or throw a bean bag on a certain color of paper and then jump to that color.

 

Hopping

• Hop in place; hop forward or backward.
• Hop sideways; hop in place using rhythms.
• Hop on one foot several times, then the other.

 

Skipping

• Skip forward and backward.
• Skip in place; skip in a circle; skip to a rhythm.
• Skip with a partner.

 

Objects to Use

• Ropes: make the rope as tall as you can; make it into a circle, square, etc.; tie it in a knot; jump over it, go under it, or walk on it.
• Parachute: make waves with the parachute; put a ball in it and roll it to a friend; run in a circle with it and have children run under it.
• Tires and Tubes: walk around the rim of tire; walk around a group of tires; step in and out of each tire in a group; run around a tire; jump from tire to tire; jump up and down on a tube.
• Balance Beam: walk forward, backward, sideways, etc.; walk with an object balanced on your head; hop on one foot or imitate animals while walking on it.
• Balls: throw a ball up, down, through a hoop, backwards; bounce it, catch it; bounce while running, walking, hopping, or skipping; kick it while stationary; kick a thrown ball; kick with your eyes closed.
• Hoops: roll with one hand; spin the hoop and run, skip, walk, or hop by it until it drops; jump in and out of a hoop on the floor; rotate on foot, hand, waist, or neck; toss hoop in the air and catch it.

 

Movement: Fine Motor Development

 

Building and stacking

• Build a tower with one hand, and then with the other.
• Make a shape for children to copy. 

Placing pegs in pegboard

• Place pegs with one hand; with both hands simultaneously.
• Remove pegs using alternating hands.
• Copy a design from memory.

Stringing beads

• String large and small beads.
• String a bead pattern.
• String spools, macaroni, shells, etc.

Doing puzzles

• Begin with puzzles of three or four pieces.
• Move to more complex puzzles.

Lacing Cards

 

Sorting Objects

• Sort using hands, then tongs, then tweezers.

 

Tearing paper into shapes

 

Braiding crepe paper or thick rope

 

Pouring

• Pour water, rice, cornmeal, paste, beans, etc.

 

Modeling clay

• Make shapes, letters, or numbers.
• Roll into strips and cut with scissors.

Using clothespins

• Hang up clothes in housekeeping area.

Screwing bolts into nuts

 

Playing with Legos, Tinkertoys, etc.

 

Drawing, writing, or tracing

• Trace shapes; copy shapes, numerals, or letters.
• Trace name.

Cutting

• Snipping.
• One strip.
• Straight line; alternating long and short lines.
• Curves; zigzag strips.
• Shapes.

 

Shadowing others’ movements

 

Balancing bean bags on various parts of the body