Music & Movement: Transportation

I’ve never done a Music & Movement program before, but I’ve always wanted to and we finally had some space in the calendar and I knew that I definitely needed to do a little preschool programming. It was a little intimidating to put together, probably because I am a musically and rhythmically challenged individual – can’t hold a tune and am constantly running into things and even clapping off-beat sometimes. But, in the end, I borrowed some ideas from the ALSC blog, Miss Meg’s Storytime, and Storytime Katie and created a program that I could not only run, but enjoy too! We patted our lap and clapped our hands to Bread and Butter, tapped rhythm stickers as I sang Down by the Station (not sure how, but I was able to hold the book and a rhythm stick in one hand and tap with my other hand while singing… multi-tasking at it’s finest!), and as cool down waved our scarves and learned some opposites at the same time.

The kids definitely had a lot of energy as it’s been raining here almost non-stop for the past week and a half. They loved dancing to the music I chose on our iPad and stretching in our warm-up. Overall, I’d consider the program to be controlled chaos – meaning I definitely learned a few things I’d do differently next time, but overall had a lot of fun!

Opening: Bread and Butter (Jbrary)
Bread and butter
Marmalade and Jam
Let’s say hello as quiet as we can

Verses:…loud as we can
…slow as we can
…fast as we can
…high as we can
…low as we can
…nice as we can

Book: Down By the Station by Jennifer Riggs Vetter (rhythm sticks)

Activity: Yoga Stretches (mountain, star, triangle, etc.)

Music: Shake Your Body Down by Laurie Berkner Band (dance)

Book: The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort (sign language for each animal)

Music: Shake, Rattle and Rock by Greg and Steve (with shaker eggs)

Activity: Wave Your Scarf Up and Down (with scarves) (Jbrary – to the tune of London Bridge)
Wave your scarf
up and down,
up and down,
up and down.
Wave your scarf up and down,
wave your scarf.

Verses: left and right…
fast and slow…
high and low…
around and around
wave goodbye

Closing: Bread and Butter (Jbrary)
Bread and butter
Marmalade and Jam
Let’s say goodbye as quiet as we can

Verses:
…loud as we can
…slow as we can
…fast as we can
…high as we can
…low as we can
…nice as we can