The mental and physical health benefits of outdoor play and physical exercise are well-known, and it is likely that finding creative ways to get your class active will be an important part of your curriculum this year. Active songs and playground games are great for this and could be enjoyed in small groups in a large, open space.
Singing outdoors is a good way to minimise risk, but if your school isn’t ready for singing yet, moving, dancing, stomping and clicking are all great alternatives! Body percussion is an excellent way of engaging in physical rhythm activities as well as being great fun. Try Clomp, Stomp or Crazy Clapping (just do the clapping!) from S!ng™ Warm-Ups.
Other non-singing activities could include asking your class to devise actions and dance routines for some of Out of the Ark's backing tracks, such as Coordination Funk or That's the Way We're Put Together from S!ng™ Warm-Ups, or If You Can Walk, You Can Dance from Songs for EVERY Singing School.
And, for even more ideas, have a look at the following five great songs and activities perfect for bubbles and non-singing music-making:Ages 3-6
This is a great action song to get rid of lots of energy or to warm up with on a cold morning. See if the children can add their own verses, listening hard to see whether they can match the three one-syllable words at the beginning of each verse so that their new verses fit with the existing rhythm.
2. Look What I Can Do! – My World: All About Me
Ages 3-6
This song helps the children to show off what their bodies can do and how well they can do it. What other things can the children take pride in (show off!) about themselves? (Can they ride a scooter, curl their tongue, write their name etc.?)
3. Hey, You In The Middle – My World: All About Me
Ages 3-6
Choose a child to be the ‘leader’ and invent some weird and wacky actions for the class to follow. These sorts of songs are also perfect for developing important social skills: listening, eye contact, turn-taking, cooperation, self-confidence.
4. Moving To The Music – S!ng™ Something Silly
Ages 5-11
Jam-packed with actions and missing words, this brain-teaser will have the children clapping, stamping, jumping, wriggling and nodding, but can they do it all in the right places?!
5. Turning The Skipping Rope – My World: Toys & Games
Ages 3-6
A great song to use in the playground at break, in a PE lesson or even as part of a skipping workshop. Easy to learn and there’s scope for you to include several children’s names.
Written by: The Out of the Ark Education Team
