Monday, November 29, 2010

Marching & Movement Christmas

Christmas Moves
Use holiday symbols to dramatize this circle dance. Have the children form a circle. Place a paper cutout in the center of the circle representing the symbol you are singing about. Sing this song to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush."
Marching around the Christmas tree,
Christmas tree, Christmas tree.
Marching around the Christmas tree
with Christmas on it's way.
-----
Skipping around the Christmas wreath,
Christmas wreath, Christmas wreath.
Skipping around the Christmas wreath
with Christmas on it's way.
-----
Hopping around the Christmas bell,
Christmas bell, Christmas bell.
Hopping around the Christmas bell
with Christmas on it's way.




Hiding from the Rain (or snow)
Arrange hoops in an open space (the hoops are the home base).
At the sound of the music the kids begin to turn around in the open space.
When the music stops, the entertainer bangs rapidly on a drum (like raindrops falling).
The kids run to find shelter from the rain (in the hoop).
When the rain subsides and the music begins, the kids may leave their home base and continue to wander around in the open space.


Snowflake Float
Children (or you) can create and cut out several snowflakes to use for a winter movement activity. Encourage them to spread out so they have enough room to move around without bumping into others. Each child can select a snowflake and toss it into the air and then try to keep the snowflake afloat by blowing it or using their arms to move the air underneath the it. See which child can keep their snowflake afloat the longest.
Indoor Ice Skating
Turn a carpeted classroom or living room into a movement activity by making an ice skating rink for children. Give each child two pieces of wax paper (or two paper plates) to use as ice skates. Children can position the paper underneath their socked feet and glide around the room. Create a “rink” by positioning items around the room for the children to skate around. Encourage them to move their arms while skating around the room. I'm planning on using this song from Charlie Brown's Christmas - Skating: Vince Guaraldi


Falling Snowflakes
Play classical music for children and encourage them to pretend they are a snowflake drifting through the air during a winter snowstorm. Children can use their whole bodies when pretending to fall through the air. When the music changes tempo, children can move faster or slower to match their movements to the music. Children can change from delicate snowflakes to hard frozen hail or soft wet snow adjusting their movements to correlate with their new form.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Jeanette, will you please, please, please email me the names of CD's you use in Music Makers, as well as great places to get musical instruments if you know of any? jennagunson@gmail.com

THANKS, Love your site!

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