Following are 4 combinations of large motor skills, numbered 1 - 4 to make learning them more fun. They are listed from easiest to most difficult. For more advanced combinations numbered 5 - 8 click here.
Suggestions:
1. Practice singly or with partners, or in sets and groups.
2. Possible shapes to move along: straight or curving lines, circles, squares, rectangles.
3. Forward, backward and diagonal directions.
4. To begin, hold arms out to side or hold hands on waist; later arms can swing in opposition to legs. (When right leg steps forward, left arm swings forward.)
5. It is fun to use props, such as swinging a scarf overhead side to side.
Teacher or onlookers clap rhythm using hands or rhythm instrument.
tum = a strong beat of one count.
ta = weaker beat of half a count.
& = a pause in action; a transition to a different step.
For descriptions and illustrations of how to do the motor skills click here:
Rhythmic Motor Skills for Preschoolers
Intermediate Rhythmic Motor Skills for School Age Children
Advanced Rhythmic Motor Skills for School Age Children
Combination 1.
walk, walk, walk, walk, & slide, slide, slide, slide,
& walk, walk, walk, walk, & slide, slide, slide, slide, &...
Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum, &...
Combination 2.
jump, jump, jump, jump, & walk, walk, walk, walk,
& jump, jump, jump, jump, & walk, walk, walk, walk, &...
Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum, tum, tum, tum, &...
Combination 3.
walk, walk, walk, walk, & skip, skip, skip, skip,
& walk, walk, walk, walk, & skip, skip, skip, skip, &...
Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, & tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, tum ta, &...
Combination 4.
march, march, march, march, & gallop, gallop, gallop, gallop,
& march, march, march, march, & gallop, gallop, gallop, gallop, &...
Clap: tum, tum, tum, tum, & ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, ta tum,
& tum, tum, tum, tum, & ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, ta tum, &...
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