Smart Moves 1

Smart Moves 1: Tots thru Pre-K

Important:

Music can be played for movement or simply for music appreciation.
Make sure the actions are age appropriate. Modify accordingly.
Clear the area of toys and furnishings to avoid trips and falls.
Space children properly to avoid collisions, interference and distractions.
Practice the moves and steps prior to playing the song.
Physically guide children through the song – WITH ENTHUSIASM!
Review class room rules to avoid chaos.
Use child-safe props.
Use the fine motor (sit down/cool down) songs at the end of your active session.

Note:

Some songs can be modified for children with special needs.

1. In My Body

Heightens self-esteem, improves coordination, encourages independence, and introduces counting. Individual movement song that can be completed seated or standing, involving simple counting, listening, and familiarity with body parts: 2 waving hands, 2 tapping feet, 2 flapping ears, 1 shaking seat, 2 hugging arms, 2 knocking knees, 2 blinking eyes, and chomping teeth, 1 nodding head, 1 round tummy, 2 kissing lips, 10 fingertips. Discuss other parts of the body, how many of those parts we have, and how we can move them.

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

Two waving hands
Two waving hands
Two tapping feet
Two tapping feet

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

Two flapping ears
Two flapping ears
One shaking seat
One shaking seat

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

Two hugging arms
Two hugging arms
Two knocking knees
Two knocking knees

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

Two blinking eyes
Two blinking eyes
And chomping teeth
And chomping teeth

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

One nodding head
One nodding head
One round tummy
One round tummy

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

Two kissing lips
Two kissing lips
10 finger tips
10 finger tips

In my body
My body
So great to be
In my body

So great to be
So great to be

In my body
In my body

2. Build a Bridge (for Tots)

Hand or interactive body song that introduces building of structures: bridge-tunnel-road, cave-tower-wall.

a. Children build imaginative structures using just their hands (Diagram A) and/or arms.

b. Children can partner up or team up, join hands and build the first set of structures (Diagram B).

Allow children to build their own bridge, cave, wall, etc. out of one or a variety of materials such as scarves, blocks, connecting toys, a sheet, or table cloth that can be turned into an obstacle course.

Build a bridge
Build a tunnel
Build a road

Build a bridge
Build a tunnel

Build a bridge
Build a tunnel
Build a road

Build a cave
Build a tower
Build a wall

Build a cave
Build a tower

Build a cave
Build a tower

Build a cave
Build a tower
Build a wall

3. Take That Rope (Action)

Rope game that encourages imaginative play and can promote team work. Individuals can use a short string; large groups can use a rope for this exercise. Group size is determined by the length of the rope, scarf or string. Review how the entire body moves while completing the following actions: Take that rope and row a boat using opposite arms or both arms together, repetitive pull in a tug-a-war motion, raise up above head in a pumping motion, ride like holding the reigns of a horse (or with one leg over the rope), repetitive yanks to tighten into one solid line, shake rope loose (along with body), wrap rope around hand, waist, group of kids at waist, block, chair, or other pre-assigned item.

Row that rope when I say, “GO!”
Row that boat, around you row
Row that rope when I say, “GO!”
Row it, row it, row it, ROW!
Row it, row it, row it, ROW!

Pull that rope around you go
Pull that rope, you pull and tow
Pull that rope around you go
Pull it, pull it, pull it, GO!
Pull it, pull it, pull it, GO!

Raise that rope, when I say, “GO!”
To the sky, up high you go
Raise that rope up high you, “GO!”
Raise it, raise it, raise it, GO!
Raise it, raise it, raise it, GO!

Ride that rope when I say, “GO!”
Ride it like a horse, you know
Ride that rope when I say, “GO!”
Ride it, ride it, ride it, GO!
Ride it, ride it, ride it, GO!

Yank it tight when I say, “GO!”
One tight rope, when I say, “GO!”
Yank it tight when I say, “GO!”
Yank it tight now, yank it, GO!
Yank it tight now, yank it, GO!

Shake it loose when I say, “GO!”
Loosey goose, when I say, “GO!”
Shake it loose when I say, “GO!”
Shake it, shake it, shake it, GO!
Shake it, shake it, shake it, GO!

Wrap that rope, when I say, “GO!”
Wrap that rope, around you go
Wrap that rope when I say, “GO!”
Wrap it, wrap it, GO!
Wrap it, wrap it, GO!

4. Can You Find the Color?

Concentrates on color identification, reactive movement and agility. When a color is found, the child completes the physical action: Blue/Shake, Green/Run, Yellow/Move Slowly, Black/Climb up, White/Jump, Red/Stop.

Consider posting colors on the walls, using small colored items in a restricted area, using shapes of different colors, pinning a color to the kid’s shirts, or using the colors in the clothing that the children are wearing. Discuss under what circumstances children might actually move this way. Relate colors to events, traffic lights & signs, experiences or things.

Using many manipulatives...
- have the children sort by color/shape/size.
- graph the piles that they sort.
- count, add or subtract the items. (add 1 color/shape/size to/from another)
- make patterns using the the different characteristics.

Can you find the color blue
Can you find the color blue
When you find the color blue
Shake Shake Shake
Shake Shake Shake
Shake Shake Shake

Can you find the color green
Can you find the color green
When you find the color green
Run, Run, Run
Run, Run, Run
Run, Run, Run

Can you find the color yellow
Can you find the color yellow
When you find the color yellow
Move slow, slow
Move so slow
Move slow, slow

Can you find the color black
Can you find the color black
When you find the color black
Climb on up
Climb on up
Climb on up

Can you find the color white
Can you find the color white
When you find the color white
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump

Can you find the color red
Can you find the color red
When you find the color red
Stop, Stop Stop
Stop, Stop Stop
Stop, Stop Stop

5. From Here to There

Encourages children to follow directions and develops motor skills: Crawl, fly, jump, and tip-toe. They can move freely, around & through cones, hula hoops, or other objects that are set equidistance apart or are in the form of a circle. They can move around the outside or inside of a pre-assigned shape that is marked off with tape or rope, or up and down inclined pads or mats. Discuss who moves this way. Introduce books with similar subject matter.

Crawl, Crawl
Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like little bugs
On hands and knees
We crawl from here to there
Crawl, Crawl
Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like little bugs
On hands and knees
We crawl from here to there

Crawl, Crawl
Crawl, Crawl
Crawl, Crawl
Crawl, Crawl

We crawl from here to there

Fly, Fly
Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like soaring birds
With flapping wings
We fly from here to there
Fly, Fly
Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like soaring birds
With flapping wings
We fly from here to there

Fly, Fly
Fly, Fly
Fly, Fly
Fly, Fly

We fly from here to there

Jump Jump
Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like kangaroos
With 2 long feet
We jump from here to there
Jump Jump
Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like kangaroos
With 2 long feet
We jump from here to there

Jump Jump
Jump Jump
Jump Jump
Jump Jump

We jump from here to there

Tip Toe Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like quiet mice
With tiny feet
Tip toe from here to there
Tip Toe Around, Around
To get from here to there
Like quiet mice
With tiny feet
Tip toe from here to there

Tip Toe
Tip Toe
Toe Tip Toe

Tip toe from here to there

6. Roll That Ball to Me (for Tots)

Rolling ball exercise improves hand-eye coordination and social awareness:

Children can pass the ball by lifting it and handing it to another, pass it from their hands to another's (overhead, between legs, over then back under, around each side), or pass the ball from one of their own hands to the other off the floor.
Roll the ball from side-to-side in front of them, from front to back on the left or right side, around an object (cone, other ball, etc.), around their body, between their legs while standing, or around a designated shape on the floor. Children can also roll the ball freely and run or walk to retrieve it.
Roll the ball to the person opposite them or into a net (to the front, at an angle, or to the side).

Pass that ball to me
and I will try to catch it
Pass it with your hands
And let go

Pass that ball to me
Ever soft and gently
Pass it once more
Here we go

Roll that ball around
And then can try to catch it
Roll it around again
And let go

Roll that ball around
Ever soft and gently
Thank you, once more
Here we go

Roll that ball to me
and I will try to catch it
Watch it come back to you
Don’t’ let go

Roll it to me again
Ever soft and gently
Thank you, once more
Here we go

7. Go Round the Village (for Tots)

Facilitates teamwork and social interaction. Can be played holding hands or grabbing the outside of a parachute, round table cloth, or rope, or magic band (elastic sewn together at both ends). Feel free to call out a change in direction while traveling “round & round” in a circular motion. Action: Travel around in a circle, step in closely and back out, travel around, raise and lower arms (and legs) as if going up and down the ladder, travel around, bend down and sweep up from the floor, travel around, spread out wide and keep circling, travel around, step in closely and back out.

Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
As we have done before

Go in close and back out now
Go in close and back out now
Go in close and back out now
As we have done before

Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
As we have done before

Go up and down the ladder
Go up and down the ladder
Go up and down the ladder
As we have done before

Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
As we have done before

Go down and sweep it up now
Go down and sweep it up now
Go down and sweep it up now
As we have done before

Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
As we have done before

Go wide and spread it out now
Go wide and spread it out now
Go wide and spread it out now
As we have done before

Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
As we have done before

Go in close and back out now
Go in close and back out now
Go in close and back out now
As we have done before

Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
Go round and round the village
As we have done before

8. We’re Moving Around

A rhythmic song that encourages dramatic play and develops motor skills: March, slide, hop, gallop, kick, tip-toe, stop. Children can move freely, line up in a formation, move around or through designated objects (cone, long rope, climber, etc.), or step around the room on a pre-marked or imaginary shape (circle, square, or triangle, etc.). Consider marking the shape on the floor with tape or rope. To improve coordination, children can complete the action while clapping to the beat, holding a prop such as pom-poms or noise makers in each hand, or holding a ball between their hands. Relate the actions to an animal or place.

We lift our knees
To the marching sound.
And march around
To the marching sound

We march around to the marching sound
Marching all around.

We slide our feet
To the sliding sound
Sliding sideways
All around

We slide our feet to the sliding sound
Sideways all around

We hop along
To the hopping sound
Just one foot
To the hopping sound

We hop along to the hopping sound
Hopping all around.

We’re galloping
To the gallop sound
Galloping
to the gallop sound

We’re galloping to the gallop sound
Galloping around

We kick our feet
To the kicking sound
Kicking feet
to the kicking sound

We kick our knees to the kicking sound
Kicking all around

We tip toe softly
Tip toe around
Tip toe
But don’t make a sound

We tip toe and don’t make a sound
Tip toe all around.

We’re stopping now
Stop moving around
Moving around
Stop moving around
Stand in place
And sit right down
Stop moving all around

9. Work Your Body (Sung to “London Bridges”)

Children are encouraged to follow directions and improve motor skills: Reach your arms and stretch them out, bend your knees and squat on down, take your hands and climb on up, from the waist we bend on down, take your hands and push them up, lift your legs and kick them out, take your body and turn it around.

Reach your arms and stretch them out
Stretch them out, stretch them out
Reach your arms and stretch them out
Work your body
Reach your arms and stretch them out
Work your body

Bend your knees and squat on down
squat on down, squat on down
Work your body
Bend your knees and squat on down
Work your body

Take your hands and climb on up
Climb on up, climb on up
Pull yourself and climb on up
Work your body
Pull yourself and climb on up
Work your body

From the waist we bend on down
bend on down, bend on down
From the waist we bend on down
Work your body
From the waist we bend on down
Work your body

Take your hands and push them up
Push it up, push it up
Press your arms and push them up
Work your body
Press your arms and push them up
Work your body

Lift your legs and kick them out
Kick the out, kick them out
Lift your legs and kick them out
Work your body
Lift your legs and kick them out
Work your body

Take your body, turn it around
Turn it around, turn it around
Take your body, turn it around
Work your body
Take your body, turn it around
Work your body

10. I Can Stand By Myself

Heightens self-esteem and encourages independence using the following actions: Stand, reach for toes, lift up one leg and balance, squat, spread arms wide, turn around.

I can stand by myself
By myself
By myself
I can stand by myself
With straight long legs
I can reach for my toes
By myself
By myself
I can reach
For the toes on my feet
I can reach
For the toes on my feet

I can lift up one leg
By myself
By myself
I can balance myself
On just one leg
I can lift up one leg
By myself
By myself
I can balance myself
Watch and see
I can balance myself
Watch and see

I can squat by myself
By myself
By myself
I can squat by myself
Bending both of my knees
I can squat by myself
By myself
By myself
I can squat using both of my knees
I can squat using both of my knees

I can spread my arms wide
By myself
By myself
I can spread my arms wide
Spread them wide to each side
I can spread my arms wide
By myself
By myself
I can spread my arms wide
At my sides
I can spread my arms wide
At my sides

I can turn right around
By myself
By myself
I can turn right around
With out falling straight down
I can turn right around
By myself
By myself
I can turn without falling down
I can turn without falling down

11. I Can Sit By Myself

Heightens self-esteem and encourages independence using the following actions: Sit, move toes, scoot, reach for toes, lift legs, straddle (spread) legs. Good sit down/cool down song.

I can sit by myself
By myself
By Myself
I can sit by myself
With straight long legs
I can move all my toes
All my toes
All my toes
I can move all the toes
On my feet
I can move all the toes
On my feet

I can scoot by myself
By myself
By myself
I can scoot by myself
I can scoot on my seat
I can scoot all around
While I’m still sitting down
I can scoot by myself
On my seat
I can scoot by myself
Watch and see

I can reach by myself
By myself
By myself
I can reach for the toes
For the toes on my feet
I can reach by myself
By myself
By myself
I can reach
For the toes on my feet
I can reach
For the toes on my feet

I can lift by myself
By myself
By myself
I can lift up one leg
Lift it up off the ground
I can lift by myself
By myself
By myself
I can lift up my other leg
I can lift up my other leg

I can straddle my legs
By myself
By myself
I can spread my legs wide
Spread them wide to each side
I can straddle by legs
By myself
By myself
I can spread by myself
Watch and see
I can spread by myself
Watch and see.

12. Can You Sit Down on Your Bum Bum?

Heightens self-esteem and encourages independence using the following actions: Sit down with legs straight, lift and bend knees, wiggle toes, twirl feet (counting 1, 2, 3), row arms around, push down low with hands, raise hands, wave hands. Good sit down/cool down song.

Can you sit down on your bum bum
And lift and bend your knees
Can you sit down on your bum bum
And lift and bend your knees

Can you wiggle your toes, and then some
Wiggle, wiggle and set them free (sounds)
And twirl your feet like so, so
Twirl and count 1, 2, 3

Can you take your arms and row, row
Row around and around please
Push down now, push down way low
Bring your hands back up to see
Now raise your hands like you know
And wave right back to me.

Can you sit down on your bum bum
And lift and bend your knees
Can you sit down on your bum bum
And lift and bend your knees

Can you wiggle your toes, and then some
Wiggle, wiggle and set them free (sounds)
And twirl your feet like so, so
Twirl and count 1, 2, 3

Can you take your arms and row, row
Row around and around please
Push down now, push down way low
Bring your hands back up to see
Now raise your hands like you know
And wave right back to me.

Can you sit down on your bum bum
And lift and bend your knees
Can you sit down on your bum bum
And lift and bend your knees

13. Stack Them Up!

Good cool down song that improves fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, counting, and team work with the simple sitting activity of stacking items. Kids can stack items such as bean bags, blocks, cones, cups, sticks, etc.; knock them down, and then re-stacking them. Encourage the children to count as they are stacking.

Stack ’em, stack them up
As high as you can go
You only have a short time
Start low and make it grow
One after the other
On top they go, you know
Stack it, keep on stacking
As high as you can go

When it’s up, it’s up
And when it falls, it’s down
So stack it. Keep on stacking
Build high up off the ground
When it’s up, it’s up
And when it falls, it’s down
No grumbles if it tumbles
And spreads itself around

Stack ’em, stack them up
As high as you can go
You only have a short time
Start low and make it grow
Now when it’s up, it’s up
And when it falls, it’s down
So stack it. Keep on stacking

Build high up off the ground
When it’s up, it’s up
And when it falls, it’s down
No grumbles if it tumbles
And spreads itself around

Stack ’em, stack them up
As high as you can go
You only have a short time
Start low and make it grow
No grumbles if it tumbles
Start low and make it grow

14. The More We Press Together

Good cool down song that focuses on isometric pressing of different body parts in the order they are called: fingers to fingers, hands to hands, elbows to elbows, knee to knee, feet to feet. Song culminates in pressing all parts together at one time. Can be played seated or standing. Can be played alone or with a partner. Discuss other body parts that can be pressed against one another. Attempt to press a balloon or ball between the body parts.

Come on and press together
Together, together
The more we press together
The happier we’ll be

Press fingers to fingers
Yes fingers to fingers
The more we press together
Come on press with me

Press fingers to fingers
And hands to hands
Yes, hands to hands
The more we press together
Come on press with me

Press fingers to fingers
And hands to hands
Add elbow to elbow
Yes, elbow to elbow
The more we press together
Come on press with me

Press fingers to fingers
And hands to hands
Add elbow to elbow
Then knee to knee
Yes, knee to knee
The more we press together
Come on press with me

Press fingers to fingers
And hands to hands
Add elbow to elbow
Then knee to knee
Press feet to feet
Yes, feet to feet
The more we press together
Come on press with me

Now let’s press all together
Together, together
Yes, press them all together
Come on press with me
Press fingers to fingers
And hands to hands
Add elbow to elbow
Then knee to knee
Press feet to feet

The more we press together
Come on press with me

15. My Face, My Face

Good sit down song that improves self-esteem and body awareness. Actions: Smile, bite, blink, smell stink, hear, cheer, look, read a book, brows lift, sniff, grin, and tongue out and in. Get children to mimic facial expressions and discuss emotions.

My face, my face is a beautiful place
Where smiles are bright
And teeth can bite
Where eyes can blink
And nose smells stink
My face is a beautiful place
My face is a beautiful place

My face, my face is a beautiful place
Where ears can hear
And mouths can cheer
Where eyes can look
Or read a book
My face is a beautiful place
My face is a beautiful place

My face, my face is a beautiful place
Where brows can lift
And noses can sniff
Where lips can grin
Tongue out and in
My face is a beautiful place
My face is a beautiful place

16. I Can Rest

Gross motor cool down song that encourages children to stop moving, squat down and sit, stretch legs out in front, lay their body down, and rest. Good time to read a story.

If I stop right where I am
And don’t move anymore
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute, right now

If I squat my body down
And sit right on the floor
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute, right now

If I stretch my legs out front
And don’t move any more
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute, right now

If I lay my body down
Lay down flat on the floor
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute, right now

I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute
I can rest for a minute, right now

17. In My Body SPANISH