Do you know the five steps to washing your hands well?

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Do you know the five steps to washing your hands well? Wash Those Germs Away, written by children’s songwriter Kathy Kampa, was inspired by the COVID-19 virus and a call to better hand washing by our school nurse. This song will teach you (and those you love!) how to to wash your hands thoroughly. Join this group from around the globe. Protect yourself from COVID-19 and other germs.

Here are some suggestions for teaching this song:

For young learners, check their knowledge of the different parts of their hands. Here are two ways to do this.

  1. First, let’s name each of the parts of the hand. You can say, Show me your fingers. Let’s say ‘fingers.’ Show me your thumbs. Let’s say ‘thumbs.’ Let’s count our fingers and our thumbs. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10! Continue in the same way with the other parts of the hand. Show me your fingernails . . . palms . . . . wrists.
  2. Then, you can prompt the names of each part of the hand by showing: What are these? (wiggle your fingers) Fingers!
Trace around students’ hands and label the parts.

Now prepare soap and a towel or paper towel. Practice the song in your head and in your heart. Pretend to turn on the water.

Get started:
Turn on the water. Get the soap.
Rub your hands together. Let’s wash our hands.
Turn off the water.
Sing:
1. Wash between, wash between, wash between your fingers,  
Wash between, wash between, wash between your fingers.
2. Wash the back side of each hand,
Wash those germs away!
3. (Start with your pinkie and work towards your thumb,
then start with your thumb to your pinkie.)

Then wash your fingers one by one,
Wash each finger,
Wash your thumbs,
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, almost done!
4. (Bend your fingers to wash your fingernails in your palm.)
Now you wash your fingernails and wash your palms,     
wash your fingernails and wash your palms,
5. Wash your wrists, both right and left,
Wash those germs away!    
Wash those germs away!  
Wash  –  those  – germs  – away . . . . . . . . . YEAH!
Shake off that water and dry your hands.

Thanks to creative artists

—- Andre DiMuzio for arranging this song

—–Brady Foster for compiling all of the videos!

Thanks to Trudy Midas at Espana Silk for her support.

Thanks to everyone who joined in this hand washing compilation.

Wash your hands poster design with girl washing hands illustration

Thatcher Buck

Karoline Buck

Brady Foster

Yuzuho Fujisawa

Emma Hayashi

Maiko Hayashi

Barbara Hoskins-Sakamoto

Patrick Jackson

Kathy Kampa

Brooke Kearney

Lori Kampa Kearney

Shannon Kearney

Yoko Matsui

Dina Mitchell

Nao Oshima

Callie Sisel

Tomoko Tanaka

Christian Vilina

Chuck Vilina

Craig Wright

Special Thanks to Taruna Kapoor and students:

Kindergarten children:

Pushti Bhatti

Vihaan Singh

Pre-Nursery

Prince Rana

Arubhav Shishodia

Ranya Goel

    Want to see some fun outtakes? Thanks to dogs Addie and Allie who joined in the fun! We also thank the pair of feet for trying to do this song.

    For more kid-tested music and movement activities, check out more music on iTunes. Kathy has produced two music CDs for very young learners, Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone, which build English language skills through movement while nurturing creativity and imagination! Grown and loved by real kids!

    Songwriter Kathy Kampa is a passionate educator of young learners. She seeks to nurture children’s imaginations and spark creativity through fun and engaging activities. Kathy believes that music and movement should be a part of every young child’s education. Kathy’s Songs for Kids (Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone) are available on iTunes and Magictimekids.com.

    As a PYP (Primary Years Program) teacher in Tokyo, Japan, Kathy uses a globally-minded and inquiry-based approach to teaching through which students develop 21st century skills. She also supports the development of English language skills by creating songs, chants, and TPR/movement activities targeted to young learners’ needs.

    Kathy and her husband Charles Vilina are also co-authors of Magic Time, Everybody Up, and the ELTon award-winning course Oxford Discover, all published by Oxford University Press.

    #handwashing #COVID #coronavirus #washyourhands #socialdistancing #corona #handwash #KIDSMUSIC #CHILDRENSMUSIC #KATHYKAMPA #MAGICTIMEKIDS CHILDRENSSONGS #MOVEMENT #MUSICFORKIDS #KIDS #FAMILYMUSIC #MUSICCLASS #BABYMUSIC #TODDLERMUSIC #KIDSMUSICCLASS #preschool

    Hand washing image Designed by brgfx / Freepik

    Discover the parts of a flower with this magical poem

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    Summer is here in the northern hemisphere. In Japan where I teach, we have been treated to an array of beautiful flowers from cherry blossoms to purple hydrangeas. I spend my summers in Minnesota. Here we can find gardens filled with colorful flowers–zinnias, day lilies, purple cone flowers, hollyhocks, daisies, bee balms, and more. In my video, we take you to Munsinger-Clemens Gardens, one of my favorite places to visit. Special thanks to Christian Vilina for his awesome video work.

    The kindergarten children at my school learn about living things in their unit of inquiry. They plant seeds and watch them grow. Have your students look at a real plant. Look at the stem, the leaves, the buds, and the flowers. Do all plants have the same types of leaves? Buds? Flowers? What do they look like?

    You can also use a picture of a flower like the one shown above, or get a silk one from a 100-yen store or a dollar store.

    My students love the magic of this poem called Here’s a Leaf. Yours will, too! I use small, lightweight hemmed scarves like these. Search for “hemmed scarves” or “juggling scarves.” Check the reviews. I like mine! These scarves expand beautifully for this poem. Young children can practice naming the color, too.

    Screen Shot 2020-03-19 at 16.55.57

    To begin, scrunch up the scarf in your hands, so that it can’t be seen. Here’s a video to show you how you might do it.

    Here’s a Leaf (also known as The Flower Poem) adapted by Kathy Kampa Available on iTunes (Jump Jump Everyone)

    Children listen and answer.

    Do you have a scarf? (Yes!) 

    Let’s scrunch up our scarves. (tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch . . . . .)

    (Bunch up the scarf in your hands so that it’s not visible.)

    Is your scarf very tiny? (Yes, it is!)

    Are you ready? (I’m ready!)

    Let’s pretend.

    Let’s plant a seed in the dirt.

    (Bend down and tap the ground, pretending to plant a seed in the dirt.)

    Water it!

    (Pretend to water the seeds by tipping your hands.)

    Watch it grow and grow and grow.

    (Stand up slowly.)

    Now show me your thumbs. Here we go.

    Here’s a leaf, and here’s a leaf.

    (Pretend that your thumbs are leaves. Wiggle one thumb, then the other.)

    Count them. 1-2.

    (When you count 1-2, move your thumbs up and to the side.)

    Here’s a bud.

    (Open your hands slightly to reveal the scrunched up scarf.)

    Here’s a flower,

    (Open your hands a little more.)

    blooming just for you.

    (Open your hands and let the scarf ‘bloom’ like a flower.)

    Hooray!

    (Toss the scarf into the air!)

    Let’s grab our scarves and do it again!

    For more kid-tested music and movement activities, check out my music on iTunes.

    Jump Jump Everyone
    Kathy has produced two music CDs for very young learners, Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone, which build English language skills through movement while nurturing creativity and imagination! Grown and loved by real kids!

    Kathy Kampa is a teacher, author, and teacher-trainer who specializes in working with young learners. As a PYP (Primary Years Program) teacher in Tokyo, Japan, she uses a globally-minded and inquiry-based approach to teaching through which students develop 21st century skills. She also supports the development of English language skills by creating songs, chants, and TPR/movement activities targeted to young learners’ needs.

    Kathy and her husband Charles Vilina are also co-authors of Magic Time, Everybody Up, and the ELTon award-winning course Oxford Discover, published by Oxford University Press.

    Special thanks to my son Christian Vilina for his vision creating this video.

    Images: “Easter Lily” by Recherché Furnishings is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    Hello Spring

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    When I watch very young children, I often see them pointing at things–“Look! A butterfly! Look! A puppy!” Their chubby little fingers point to all of the wonderful things around them.

    With that thought in mind, I wrote this song called “Hello Spring.” The melody comes from a traditional Scottish song I have always loved called “Ally Bally.” Imagine this song as a greeting to the many things one might see in the spring.

    Hello Spring lyrics by Kathy Kampa on Jump Jump Everyone

    Hello bluebirds. Hello bumblebees.

    Hello red tulips. Hello cherry trees.

    Hello warm sun. Hello blue skies.

    Hello little ants, and orange butterflies!

    We filmed this video in Tokyo, Japan at the start of the pandemic.

    Special thanks go out to Andre DiMuzio for his beautiful arrangement. Thanks also to Connor McKeown and Christian Vilina for their help with this video.

    1. Teach students the vocabulary using the images here.

    2. Use my movements from the video, or create your own.

    3. I sing the song one part at a time, and the children echo. Then we all sing together.

    4. Your students may have more ideas for what they see in different seasons. Create a list and make your own song.

    You can find this song at iTunes and ETJbookservice.

    My second album is filled with many happy songs that have grown in my young learner classroom. Songs link to classroom content. Children can dance like falling leaves, bloom like a spring flower, move through the butterfly life cycle . . . . you’ll find LOTS of fun and magic in this album.

    Jump Jump Everyone

    Happy teaching!

    Kathy Kampa

    Kathy's bio photo

    Kathy Kampa is a passionate educator of young learners. She seeks to nurture children’s imaginations and spark creativity through fun and engaging activities. Kathy believes that music and movement should be a part of every young child’s learning.

    Kathy is the co-author of Magic Time, Everybody Up, and Oxford Discover (published by Oxford University Press). She has been teaching young learners in Tokyo, Japan for 30 years. Kathy is also active as a teacher trainer, inspiring teachers around the world.

    Time for Trick or Treat!

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    halloween-1773447_1920

    Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

    Are your students getting ready for Halloween? Mine are!  This song was inspired by the book “Where’s the Halloween Treat?” by Harriet Ziefert and Richard Brown (Putnam Juvenile).  As you read the book to students, you can see children dressed in different costumes going trick-or-treating. I also love the lift-the-flap book “Boo Who?” by Joan Holy (Scholastic). Both books are great for teaching students about Halloween.

    In this song, we chose these Halloween characters: a ghost, a witch, a monster, a skeleton, and a black cat. You can use these Trick or Treat picture cards. I like to make two copies of the pictures, one for students to see up close and one to find around the classroom.

    1) Have students sit in front of you. If you have one of the Halloween books, enjoy reading it with your students. Ask students, What do you see? They may be able to name some of the Halloween vocabulary words.

    2) Now use the Trick or Treat picture cards.

    Point to one word, such as ghost.  Ask students, What do you see? Encourage them to say, I see a ghost.

    Screen Shot 2019-10-20 at 14.33.30

    Continue with the other Halloween vocabulary in the same way.

    3) Now teach the phrase Trick or Treat.  You might explain the tradition of children going from house to house and getting treats from neighbors.  Show the children your treat bag, plastic pumpkin, or the Trick or Treat picture above. When children ring the doorbell or knock on the door, they always say, Trick or Treat!  We do this because It’s Halloween!

    4)  I like to teach students the melody of the song while I change the picture cards as I sing it.

    Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays.  (click on the title, then on Track #8)

    -Pat your legs on the chorus, Trick or treat . . . .

    -When you hear It’s Halloween put your arms up like you’re saying Hooray!

    -When you hear each of the characters (such as I see a ghost), point to each one. When you hear Oooooh, wave your arms in a spooky way.

    Here are the lyrics:

    Trick or Treat

    Words and music by Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina

    copyright © 2013 by Kathleen Kampa

    Chorus:

    Trick or treat! ch-ch-ch  Trick or treat! ch-ch-ch

    It’s Halloween!  Say “Trick or treat!”  ch-ch-ch

    Trick or treat! ch-ch-ch  Trick or treat! ch-ch-ch

    It’s Halloween!  Say “Trick or treat!”   ch-ch-ch

    Verse:

    I see a ghost!

    I see a ghost!

    Ooooooooooooooh!

    Sing again with Halloween characters: witch, monster, skeleton, black cat

    5)  Now your students are ready to stand up and move to the song!

    Make a circle.  Practice a movement standing in one spot for each Halloween character.

    Here are some suggestions; however, using your own imagination is even better!  Your students will certainly have some interesting ideas!

    For the ghost, you might move your arms like you’re floating.

    For the witch, you might pretend to make some witch’s brew or cast a spell.

    For the monster, you might make scary arms and stomp in place.

    For the skeleton, you can move your elbows up and down.

    For the black cat, you can creep in place.

    On the chorus, Trick or Treat . . . march around the circle.

    On It’s Halloween, put your arms up in the air as you continue marching.

    On each of the verses (such as I see a ghost), stop in one place and pretend to be that character.

    On Oooh, do spooky arm movements.

    Then begin marching again around the circle.

    6) On the next class, put the picture cards around the room. Add new characters to the song. Invite your students to draw their Halloween costumes and post the pictures around the classroom.

    7) Finally,  sing this song at your Halloween party. At our party, I lead the students around the room singing the chorus of “Trick or Treat.” We stop to ring the bell or knock at a pretend door.  One by one, my students’ parents pretend to open the door. The students say, Trick or Treat!, Thank You! and Happy Halloween!

    In addition to having fun, this song teaches young learners:

    a.  simple phrases, especially for EFL / EAL students –

    It’s Halloween!  Trick or Treat!  I see a ____.

    b.  Halloween vocabulary words and sight words

    c.  movements, such as marching, that go from one place to another

    d.  ways to move and stop

    e. how to express their own ideas for the vocabulary words and inspire their creativity

    We hope that your students enjoy singing and dancing throughout the month of October.   The music for this song and other Halloween favorites (Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Skeleton Dance, Marching Monsters, I’m A Witch) are available on Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays.

    Special Days and Holidays

    You can find it at iTunes, CD Baby Store, and ETJbookservice.

    If you like this, my second album has more happy songs for children that have grown in my young learner classroom. Dance like falling leaves, bloom like a spring flower, move through the butterfly life cycle . . . . you’ll find LOTS of fun and magic in this album, too.

    Jump Jump Everyone

    Happy teaching!

    Kathy Kampa

    Kathy's bio photo

    Kathy Kampa is a passionate educator of young learners. She seeks to nurture children’s imaginations and spark creativity through fun and engaging activities. Kathy believes that movement should be a part of every young child’s learning.

    Kathy is the co-author of Magic Time, Everybody Up, and Oxford Discover (all by Oxford University Press).

    The Cow Says “Moo”

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    black and white dairy cow s head

    Photo by Jan Koetsier on Pexels.com                         

    Young children LOVE to learn about farm animals. Try out this delightful song, The Cow Says ‘Moo’ from Jump Jump Everyone by Kathy Kampa (available from ETJbookservice, CD Baby, and iTunes).

    Show pictures of the various farm animals. Children might suggest additional animals from the farm, too.

    black and white dairy cow s head

                         cow

    white sheep during daytime

    Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com

                      sheep

    brown horse on grass field

    Photo by David Dibert on Pexels.com

                     horse

    beagle puppy

    Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

                        dog

    nature animals pig alp rona

    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

                          pig

    two brown hen and one red rooster

    Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com

                           rooster

    Name the animals. What does each animal say? You can make a game matching the animal picture with its sound or with its name.

    You can hang the picture cards on the board in the order of the words. Children can stand and sing the song. There are two parts to the song.

    The first part is the animal name and sound. Did you notice the pattern in the song?

    The cow says “Moo”

    The cow says “Moo”

    “Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo!”

    The cow says “Moo”

    The second part includes TPR actions. Practice these with the children. Did you notice the rhyming words? That’s important for our students!

    When the cow says “Moo” you’ve got to clap, clap, clap,

    When the cow says “Moo” you’ve got to pat, pat, pat,

    When the cow says “Moo” you’ve got to touch the floor,

    Are you ready for more? Count 1-2-3-4!

    Children listen for the next animal sound. In this song you’ll find a sheep (baa), horse (neigh), dog (woof), pig (oink), and rooster (cock-a-doodle doo). The verse with the rooster is slightly different.

    Screen Shot 2019-09-14 at 18.30.22

    Once children know the song, they can be given a picture card of the animals. I like to sing this song in a circle (see Let’s Make a Circle Big and Round). In my small classes (six children or less), each child gets one animal card or puppet. I put my picture cards on strings so that the children can move around the circle. They can, however, sit or stand in place with the card on the floor. With a large class, you can take turns, or give every child a card. When each animal is called in the song, the child/children with that card goes to the middle of the circle.

    The music for this song is available on the CD “Kathy Kampa’s Jump Jump Everyone!”

    Jump Jump Everyone

    You can find it on iTunes, CD Baby Store, and ETJbookservice.

    Have a wonderful time singing and moving with your students!

    Kathy Kampa

     

     

     

    Let’s Add a Little Music and Movement

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    If you’re looking for activities for young learners, check out my Facebook LIVE workshop. I teach children from age 2 – 12 in Tokyo, and these activities have all been LOVED in my classrooms. The activities support English language development as well as developmental body movement.
    Today’s FB LIVE (February 21, 2019) included the following: It Is Raining (focus on body parts), Little Worms (vocal expression, yoga movement, building group unity), Come and Sit In Front of Me (transitional), Tiny Egg (Butterfly Life Cycle, creative movement, connection to Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar), Flitter Flutter Butterfly (pronunciation practice, rhyming sounds, movement), Here’s a Leaf (seed-leaf-bud-flower), Folding Scarves (transitional), Scarves Please (Transitional), We Love Hina Matsuri (song/canon for Japanese Girls’ Day), We Did It.  You can find all of the lyrics inside the CDs. 

    If you like my music, it’s available on iTunes or https://www.etjbookservice.com/…/kathy-kampas-cds-4/

    Materials for "Tiny Egg" chant

    These are the materials used for the Tiny Egg chant (available on iTunes)

    Kathy Kampa's Special Days and Holidays

     .     .  Children’s songs for special events for pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary students

    Jump Jump Everyone

    Jump! Turn into butterflies. Plant magical flowers!

    Happy New Year 2018!

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    two-thousand-eighteen-2819045_1280

    Happy New Year! We have celebrated O-shogatsu (New Year’s) with toshikoshi soba and o-sechi ryori, traditional New Year’s foods. Starting on Monday, I’ll be back in the classroom with my students. This song was written with our son Christian when he was in elementary school. Christian and Chuck are singing it at home for you:.

    Happy New Year

    Words and Music by Christian Vilina and Kathleen Kampa  © 2013

    Happy New Year!  Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year!  Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year!  Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year!  Hip hip hooray!

    How should we move with this song? When students first listen to the song, they might like to jump, march, or twirl around.

    When I first teach the words to this song, students keep a “steady beat” by patting their legs. To make it a little more challenging, they can create a pattern by patting their legs once, then clapping their hands. Think “pat-clap-pat-clap” or “down-up-down-up.” Do this for the first three lines.

    We like to do something special on the last line:

    —  On Happy New Year!  my students like to shake their hands above their heads. Some students like to turn around quickly!

    —  On Hip hip hooray! students roll their hands, then jump once in place.

    For an even bigger challenge, students can do the pat-clap pattern with a partner by patting their own legs, and then clapping both hands with a partner.

    Our biggest challenge? Students stand in a circle facing their partner. First they pat their own legs, then clap with their partner. Then they turn to the person on the other side (called a “corner” in folk dance), repeating the pat-clap. They repeat the pattern with their partner, then corner until the Hip hip hooray. Check out the video to see what my students did!

    Happy New Year 2018! We hope that you keep a song in your heart and a smile on your face. May 2018 be filled with lots of joy!

    Kathy

     

    Happy New Year is one of 15 great songs for kids on Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays. The CD includes a handy attached booklet with lyrics, and is available for teachers in Japan at ETJ Book Service.

    For teachers residing outside of Japan, the songs are available for download through iTunes. To hear the studio version of this song, go to iTunes, and click on Track #3.

    CDs are available for sale through the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, MN, Mad Robin Music & Dance in Seattle, WA, St. John’s University Book Store, Collegeville, MN, and The Fishing Pond, St. Cloud, MN.

    Stay tuned for our second New Year’s song, It’s The Year of the Dog!

     

    It’s Time for “The Turkey Dance”

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    Male of a turkeyIf you teach young learners, check out this simple song and dance. It’s called The Turkey Dance, and as you can imagine, it gives children a chance to dance like . . . . turkeys!!

    This is a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in your home or school. The Turkey Dance is a catchy tune and easy to do.

    Here are the lyrics, which go to the tune of “Turkey in the Straw.”

    The Turkey Dance

    Words by Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina, music adapted from Turkey in the Straw

    copyright © 2013 by Kathleen Kampa

    Spoken: It’s Thanksgiving Day.  Let’s move like turkeys.

    First, move your elbows!

    Move your elbows, do the Turkey Dance.

    Move your elbows, do the Turkey Dance.

    Stamp your feet and shout “Hooray!”

    It’s Thanksgiving Day.

    2. Now move your hips. . .

    Move your hips, do the Turkey Dance.

    Move your hips, do the Turkey Dance.

    Stamp your feet and shout “Hooray!”

    It’s Thanksgiving Day.

    3. Now move your knees. . . .

    4. Now move your head . . . .

    5. Now move your whole body!

    Teacher’s Notes:

    In this dance, students are pretending to be turkeys.

    Before you put on the music, show students a picture of a turkey like the one in this blog.

    Say “Move your elbows.”  These are the turkey’s wings.

    Repeat with each body part listed below: hips, knees, head, and whole body.

    Then practice, “Clap your hands and shout ‘Hooray!'”

    Finally practice, “It’s Thanksgiving Day!” by putting your hands together.

    My students also enjoy saying “Gobble! Gobble!” between the verses.

    1.  Make turkey wings by moving your elbows.

    2.  Make a tail by putting your hands behind your back and moving your hips.

    3.  Move your knees like you’re strutting.

    4.  Move your head forward and back.

    5.  Choose your favorite movements or make some new ones.  Dance!

    Here is a short clip of young learners from my English class enjoying The Turkey Dance.  It’s easy to do.

    For this catchy “hoedown” professional version that children LOVE to dance to, listen to The Turkey Dance on iTunes!

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone! No matter where we live, we all give thanks this season for the blessings we have.

    Kathy and Chuck

    ms kampa 12-8

    Kathy’s second children’s CD, Jump Jump Everyone, includes songs to move to, seasonal songs, and lots of transitional songs.

    Kathy’s CD’s are available at numerous locations:

    ETJ Book Service    Japan

    Mad Robin Music and Dance, Seattle, Washington

    Red Balloon Bookshop  St. Paul, Minnesota

    The Fishing Pond  St. Cloud, Minnesota

    St. John’s University Bookstore   Collegeville, Minnesota

    CD Baby

     

     

    Run, Run, Run!

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    happy kids , jumping
    I teach very young learners. I love the energy that these students bring to my class!  The question is how to harness that energy productively.  This chant from Magic Time One 2nd edition (OUP) is perfect for very young learners.

    In the lessons prior to this, students learned about various pets, such as cat, dog, rabbit, bird, turtle, and frog.  (Actually the artwork shows additional pets that the children find in the pictures). The four verbs in this lesson are jump, run, hop, fly.

    First of all, students practice each of the four verbs–jump, run, hop, fly–standing in one place.  It’s also important for young learners to learn “Stop!”  It’s fun to make it a game by saying these verbs several times (Jump! Jump! Jump!), and then “Stop!”  You can do this with music by starting and stopping the music.  When my students, they love to make interesting poses, too.

    Secondly, put these four words into the chant pattern.  I like to do this as a fingerplay sitting with the students.

    For jump, place two fingers in your palm, then pretend to “jump.”

    For run, make your fingers move quickly in your palm.

    For hop, place one finger in your palm, then pretend to “hop.”

    For fly, move your fingers in the air.

    You can place the four picture cards in the order of the song like this.  Put the three verbs in one row, and run in another.

    Jump           Hop                Fly

                  Run

    You can see in the video that my students matched the animals to the picture cards.

    Run, Run, Run! from Magic Time One 2e Unit 10

    Jump! Jump! Run, run, run!

    Jump! Jump! Run, run, run!

    Jump! Jump! Run, run, run!

    Jump! Jump! Stop!

    Change jump to hop.  Then change to fly.

    Here’s a video of some of my very young learners performing this chant.

    Students extend this language by putting it into the phrase, It can _______.  Students are then able to talk about all of the pets they’ve learned about.

    Have fun!!!

    Simple Strategies For Getting Attention

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    How do you get all of your students’ attention?  As we move to student-centered learning, your students may be more engaged in small group work. Throughout your lessons, however, you may need to get their attention again.  How do you do it?

    First of all, with any strategy you use, you must practice it before you actually use it.  My students love to do this!  It’s easy to see how they continue to improve.

    Secondly, the success of each strategy depends on you, your group of students, their age, and their disposition. Figure out what works best. In a couple months, change it up with a new strategy.

     1. Get attention with something that creates an interesting sound.

    screen-shot-2017-03-06-at-9-29-03-pmWhat do you have readily available in your classroom?  One of the most interesting sounds I have in my classroom is a slide whistle.  If you have a big group of students, it quickly gets their attention.  Don’t have a slide whistle?  How about a tambourine or a kazoo?

    (Check out West Music for interesting instruments.)

    2.  Add a little rhythm to get attention.

    Rhythm Clap (copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina)

    (Clap on every syllable. Students echo your clap.)

    I   like    ba-na-nas.      (I   like    ba-na-nas.)

    I   like   po-ta-toes.        (I   like   po-ta-toes.)

    I   like   to-ma-toes.     (I   like   to-ma-toes.)

    3.   How about trying some rhyming conversations?  These help your students develop phonemic awareness too!

    My Grade One students love “Hands on Top.”Smiling boy posing in front of a wall

    Teacher says,  Hands on top! (put your hands on top of your head)

    Students answer, That means “Stop!” (students do the same)

    One, Two, Three, Eyes on Me is another rhyming conversation.

    The teacher sings, “One, two, three, eyes on me.”  (so-so, mi, so-so, mi)

    Hold up fingers as if you’re counting to three.  Point to yourself.

    The students answer, “One, two, eyes on you!”(so, mi, so-so, mi)

    Hold up fingers as if you’re counting to two.  Students point to the teacher.

    My students then do “Peace and Quiet” by putting two fingers in the air (peace) and one finger to their lips (quiet).

     4.  Butterflies 

    I lovimages-1e to pretend with my students.  Ask, “Where are your butterfly wings?  What color are your wings today?”  Pretend to paint each arm by gently rubbing it and naming a color.                                                        i.e  This wing is pink, but this one is purple.

    Raise and lower your arms out to your sides as if you are flying. Inhale and exhale.

    5. Candles

    Finally, inhale while raising your arms from your sides to above your head. Touch your hands together above your head, then bring them down in front of you.  Exhale when your hands are in front of your mouth.  This is an effective way to calm students after a lively activity.

    Having some strategies in place will help your classes run smoothly.