Here are some ideas for games & activities for each song.
I Wish I Was
Act out the animal movements. When you join in with “mm, mm, mm”, put your lips together and shake your head from side to side while pointing with your index finger – you really mean ”NO!”
Get Ready To Rock & Roll
Get up and dance. Don’t forget to shout “Hey!!”
In A Simple Way
During this quiet song pretend to be the sun, a baby, a song and the earth.
My Bird Feeder
In this fun game, put a chair in the middle of the room, that is the “bird feeder”. Choose one child to be “the squirrel”, he/she stays off to the side until the end. For the first part of the song all the children are birds flying around the bird feeder in a circle. When the music changes with the words “the little birds come…” the birds all go to the feeder and start to eat. As the music introduces the squirrel, the child who is the squirrel comes and chases the birds away. Repeat the game with a different “Squirrel”!
I’ve Got A Cold
The motions for this song are:
1) sniffle like you have a cold;
2) Sneeze “ah-choo”;
3) as you say “yick” – point both your thumbs down;
4) “to me” – point to yourself;
5) “click” – pretend you’re clicking a TV remote.
The Leaf
Imagine you are the last leaf left on a tree in autumn. When you hear “floaty, floaty, floaty, float”, fall slowly to the ground like a single falling leaf. The speed of the music changes during this song from slow to fast to slow. Rake the leaves, jump in the pile and brush those colored leaves off of yourself!
Birthday Party
Pretend to have a birthday party. Imagine all the gifts your family and friends bring you. Have fun opening them up. Count the years with your fingers at the end of each verse.
Like The Animals
Can you be like all the animals in this song: A lion, a spider, a giraffe, a worm, a kitty cat or one of your own choice?
Planting A Flower
It’s spring and you are planting flowers with your family and friends. Join in the activity while singing the song. Be sure to bring your shovel, plant food and water. Don’t forget the flower!
My Fingers Went A’Walking
Take your fingers to your favorite playground. Let them have fun playing on all the equipment.
A Horse Named Hannah
Spend a day on the range with Hannah and her friends. Stay in one place as you act out each verse, then, at the right time, be sure to gallop around the room with Hannah.
Let’s Get In Our Car
Drive around your town in your family car. Then stop the car, get out, and pretend to do the important job of the people in your town.
The Mighty Tree
With your fingers, act out the story of the rabbit, owl and squirrel who live in this mighty and tall tree.
The Giant and the Rainbow
Be a giant climbing over the beautiful colors of the rainbow. Exaggerate all your movements.
One By One and Two By Two
Move to the beat while you sing about all these parts of your body. Some are in pairs and some are one of a kind.
I’m Fast
You can be fast, slow, tall and small while singing this song. Keep up with all the motions. How fast and how slow can you say your name?
Once A Dragon
Pretend to fuss and cry like the animals and people of this song as everything they do turns out wrong.
Sounds Of The City
Dance to this rock song while you act pout the motions of sounds you hear in a big city. Quickly make a subway train. Some kids can be dogs and others their owners as you sing, ”arf, arf.” As the river, stand in one place and gently more your arms in a waving motion. For the “growing grass” start in a crouch and then slowly and silently grow tall. Be a happy free bird! Always sing the chorus.
Bedtime’s Not An Easy Time
Quietly sit and act out the story of this bedtime lullaby. Don’t go to sleep yet!