There is an order, a sequence of types of activities that will bring musical success. In the area of timing and singing, this is especially true if music is introduced at an early age. Goin’ on a Bike Ride is a delightful little activity for feeling the beat, hearing the rhythm and encouraging imaginative participation by easily creating new verses.
Here’s a couple ways we use the song to do this, depending on the ages and the setting of your classes.
Babies and Tots – adults alternate the child’s legs up and down, gently moving as each leg bends at the knew and straightens to the beat, as it would when riding a bike. Use the child’s name, Grandma, mommy, names of pets, puppets, etc, to create new verses of who is going along on the ride!
Preschool/K – Everyone stands in a large circle, holding on to the “Stretchy Band,” alternating hands while making the circular motion as if riding a bike. Teacher or Leader moves around the center, stopping on “who do you see?” The child sings who’s on the bike ride. (Imagination is welcome here! Ladybug? Dinosaur? Skunk?)
This adorable story book, Duck on a Bike, is a great way to give the children ideas of who may be riding on a bike!
What a year its been! Put yourself and your students in a great mood by singing and moving to this delightful song (and round!) about laughing and the arrival of summer!I just introduced my after school class to this for singing and Orff. Have a listen, and notice their creative choices for LOL! Be sure to watch until the end for ALL the laughs!
The music and activity suggestions are in a new FREE download in Music Box. Not yet a member? We’d love to have you join us!
And speaking about the arrival of summer, don’t forget to check out the info on our June Teacher Training!
TRANSITIONS! Make your lessons more musical! online or live teacher training is smooth, easy transitions with singing and participation between activities. Knowing how to handle transitions in mommy and me classes, preschools and elementary settings are an important part of the lesson planning. Here’s a glimpse of a transition with a group of 4-6 year-olds. Colors are Gliding – shows verse two only. This song and other transition songs can be found in Kids Make Music, Babies Make Music too.
Black History Month – Shosholoza
Shosholoza is found on the Brilliant Beginning CD (use your member discount when ordering) and is a popular song for our “exploration time” using gathering drum or hand drums for younger classes.
This week’s download features this song for BAG recorder players. (As requested from one of our awesome members!).
Before you watch my video this week, I’d like to share how I got to this point.
This goes WAY BACK! My most vivid memory as a kinder was the day my teacher dumped out the rhythm band box of “instruments” and then called our name to come get one. I wanted the triangle and I remember worrying that someone would pick it before my name was called!
My most vivid memory as a brand new early childhood music teacher, adding preschool classes to my elementary teaching, was the disappointed faces of young children who did not the instrument they wanted. Some even had tears and a fight actually broke out over the largest hand drum! Shouts of “I WANT THE BIG ONE!” still haunt me. (I never brought that large set of nesting drums to the preschool again! lol.)
I quickly came up with a more joyful and musical plan. I purchased a class set of shakers. And as soon as I could, I purchased a class set of rhythm sticks, finger cymbals and hand drums. All the same size, all the same color!
I led activities with each child having the same instrument. Happy students, better sound! As lessons progressed, I introduced activities where everyone had 2 instruments, later in the year, three instruments, even 4 or 5! (For these activities, refer to online or live training!)
Thanks to the late great Remo Belli, the quality of the percussion I use now is by far the most durable, the most musical tone, the best quality! (Members, be sure to use your coupon code for 25% off!) Here’s a little story and song that the children loved to act out as they played their set of little percussion, creating sounds for a frog, snake, bird, train, and more.
