Ages: 4+

Skills to practice and learn:
1. Directions of forward, backward, sideways, to left, to right, clockwise, counter-clockwise;
2. Gross motor skills and rhythms of marching, sliding and running;
3. Following directions;
4. Cooperation;
5. Circle shape;
6. Hear breaks in language through verse and song.

Preparation:
Enough clear floor space to move in; moving furniture to the sides of room works, as well as outdoors.

Method:
All join hands, and stretch out in circle shape facing center.

While holding hands teacher instructs to march forward to center and then march backward to place. Again, all march forward to center, and then march backward to place.

Still holding hands all slide sideward to right, (counter-clockwise), while facing center; then teacher instructs to stop; then all slide to left, (clockwise), while still holding hands.

Now drop hands and run forward to center and sit on floor. Alternately, at this point, instead of sitting, students run backward to form circle again, hold hands, and repeat sequence of counter-clockwise and clockwise circles while sliding.

For accompaniment teacher and observers clap, play rhythm instruments, say a verse or "sing a song". Some songs I have used: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep; Bobby Shaftoe; Mary Had a Little Lamb; Allouette; Frère Jacques and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Alternately, the changes in direction can be at the natural pauses in the verse or song.

After students learn the movement pattern they can sing along while moving.

Homepage for Teaching Rhythmic Motor Skills
Songs for a Circle Dance
Kinesthetic Learning Introduction
Combinations of Motor Skills for Fun and Practice
Rhythmic Motor Skills for Preschoolers
Rhythmic Motor Skills for School Age Children
Math while Moving - Addition and Subtraction
Homepage for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Recommended texts

Rhythms and Dances for School Age Kids
For grades K-12 in 100 pages, how to teach 16 rhythmic dance steps illustrated and described, plus 9 little dances, 18 ABA and other sequencing combinations, and 4 advanced group dances - for learning kinesthetically about math sets, sequencing, and language phrasing and rhythms. Can be adapted for special needs kids.


Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers
How to teach toddlers and preschoolers rhythms, floor exercises, large motor skills, expressive dance, kinesthetic mini-lessons and full dances in a 98 pages including photos and illustrations.


Article and photo credit Susan Kramer