Learning Through Music
Popular Activities
Parent & Teacher Tips
Understanding our bodies and how they work
“Dry Bones”
Parent Tip
- For a very young child, a parent can point to the child’s bones as they are sung about in the song. During the chorus, both parent and child can pretend to move “loosely” like skeletons.
- Older children can point to the bones of their own bodies as they are mentioned in the song (or, if you have a picture of a real skeleton, have your child point to the various bones as the song is sung). During the chorus, walk “loosely” like a skeleton.
- This is also fun to do around Halloween.
Teacher Tip
- Play the song and have children point to the bones of their own bodies as they are mentioned in the song (or, if you have a picture of a real skeleton, have the children point to the various bones as the song is sung). During the chorus, have the children walk and dance “loosely” like skeletons.
- This is also fun to do around Halloween.
Thinking and rhyming skills
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Parent Tip
- While riding in the car, choose any easy word to rhyme (e.g. cat, dog, eat...)
- Have your child think of a word that rhymes with that word.
- Take turns rhyming the word until you or your child can’t think of any more.
- Start with a new word to rhyme.
Teacher Tip
- During circle time, choose an easy word to rhyme (e.g. cat, dog, eat...).
- Go around the circle and have the children think of words that rhyme with that word.
- When they can’t think of any more words to rhyme with the first word, start again with another word.
- Continue until all children have had a chance to rhyme a word.
The special bond created by singing together
Choose any song that you as a parent feel confident in singing without the aid of a CD
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Parent Tip
- CDs should be used as a way to learn the songs well enough to feel confident in singing them alone. They are also useful for game-type songs that are longer and harder for a parent to take the time to learn well enough to do alone (e.g. cumulative songs, circle games and dances).
- Many busy parents don’t feel like singing all the time, or don’t have the confidence in their singing ability. To be able to use a CD in the car or at other “needed” times is a great convenience.
- The benefits of teaching a song by yourself and singing it along with your child are many
- You can sing at a tempo easier for young children to sing along.
- You can stop at any time and repeat phrases or actions.
- The children's attention is focused on you.
- The spirit created by singing together is special.
- Remember that children aren’t focused on how good or bad your voice may be; they are more interested in sharing a fun time with you.
Teacher Tip
- CDs should be used as a way to learn the songs well enough to feel confident in singing them alone. They are also useful for game-type songs that are longer and harder for a teacher to take the time to learn well enough to do alone (e.g. cumulative songs, circle games and dances).
- The benefits of teaching a song by yourself and singing it along with your class are many:
- You can sing at a tempo easier for young children to sing along.
- You can stop at any time and repeat phrases or actions.
- The children's attention is focused on you.
- The spirit created by singing together is special.
- Young children aren’t focused on how good or bad your voice may be—they are more interested in just having fun with you.
Telling time and recognizing special times of the day
“Round the Clock” to the tune “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
Parent Tip
- Use an analog toy clock or manual alarm clock with hands.
- Choose the times of day you want to sing about (snack time, bed time,...).
- Chant or sing these words while turning the hands of the clock.
- Round the clock the hours go,
- Sometimes fast and sometimes slow,
- Tell me what the two hands say,
- They will tell the time of day, (pause while child figures out the time)
- It’s 8:00 and time for bed,
- Come with me you sleepy head. (make up your own last phrase)
Teacher Tip
- Use an analog toy clock or manual alarm clock with hands.
- Choose the times of day you want to sing about (snack time, circle time,...).
- Chant or sing these words while turning the hands of the clock.
- Round the clock the hours go,
- Sometimes fast and sometimes slow,
- Tell me what the two hands say,
- They will tell the time of day, (pause as class figures out the time)
- It’s 10:00 and time to eat,
- Let’s sit down and have a treat. (make up your own last phrase)
Parent Tip
- This activity works best if the song is sung without a CD.
- Sit on the floor cross legged facing your child.
- Join hands and rock back and forth to the rhythm while singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” at a tempo suggested by the story you are telling. The “rowing” will get faster or slower according to the story.
- Make up a simple story while “rowing” with your child. The following is an example:
- "It's a beautiful day and we are rowing our boats while enjoying the warm sunshine. This is so relaxing! Oh, dear! What’s that I see in the water behind us? It’s getting closer…maybe we should row a little bit faster. (Sing the song at a little faster tempo and row the boats accordingly.)… Maybe it’s a CROCODILE!! (Sing and row faster)… Look again!… Whew! It’s just a beaver. We can slow down now…
- Keep rowing and let your child help make up the story.
Teacher Tip
- This activity works best if the song is sung without a CD.
- Children sit cross legged on the floor facing a partner.
- Partners join hands and rock back and forth to the rhythm while singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” at a tempo suggested by the story the teacher is telling. The “rowing” will get faster or slower according to the story.
- The teacher makes up a simple story while the children are “rowing.” The following is an example
- "It's a beautiful day and we are rowing our boats while enjoying the warm sunshine. This is so relaxing! Oh, dear! What’s that I see in the water behind us? It’s getting closer…maybe we should row a little bit faster. (Sing the song at a little faster tempo and row the boats accordingly.)… Maybe it’s a CROCODILE!! (Sing and row faster)… Look again!… Whew! It’s just a beaver. We can slow down now
- Keep the story going for as long as you want. Let the children help make up the story
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Parent Tip
- After learning the song, you and your child can continue by making up your own verses. For example:
- Did you ever see a frog walking a dog?
- Did you ever see a hog sitting on a log?
- Did you ever see a mouse painting a house?
- Did you ever see a cat wearing a hat?..
- This rhyming exercise helps pass the time while riding in the car.
- Have your child draw some of the verses you made up.
Teacher Tip
- After learning the song, continue by having the children make up additional verses. For example:
- Did you ever see a frog walking a dog?
- Did you ever see a hog sitting on a log?
- Did you ever see a mouse painting a house?
- Did you ever see a cat wearing a hat?...
- Children’s imaginations are wonderful and it’s fun to see how many different verses they can create.
- Turn this exercise into an art project and have children draw and color their favorite verse. Hang them in the front of the room and sing the song using the verses that have been illustrated.