For our young learners, Halloween presents an opportunity to nurture their creativity through imaginative activities. Explore creative movement like various Halloween characters.
Gather students in front of me to teach the vocabulary from this song. Sing the transitional song, “Come and Sit In Front of Me.”
Come and sit in front of me, in front of me, in front of me.
Come and sit in front of me, in front of me.
“What sounds do the characters make?” Show the pictures and practice the lyrics.
Show the Google Slides vocabulary images for the song “I’m A Witch.”
Then, stand in a circle and move around.
Sing the transitional song, Let’s Make a Circle
Wave a wand, and say Abracadabra! You’re a witch!”
Ask, “How does a witch move?” Wait for ideas and try some. “Get on your broomsticks and fly around the circle.”
Move in the same direction around the circle. Say “Stop!” to end the movement. It’s important to practice “stopping” with young learners. Make a pose like a witch.
Continue with the other characters. Describe how students are moving. “I see Emily creeping like a cat. Her back is arched.” Build more vocabulary and develop more interesting movements.
Now play the music!
The spoken cues on the recording guide your students’ movements. Students pose like the characters, such as the witch, then move around in a circle. You can show the characters on the Google Slideshow.
I’m A Witch
Words by Kathleen Kampa melody: Skip to my Lou
Spoken: Let’s be witches and fly on our broomsticks.
Hee! Hee! Hee! I’m a witch
Hee! Hee! Hee! I’m a witch!
Hee! Hee! Hee! I’m a witch!
Happy Halloween!
2. Spoken: Let’s be ghosts and float gently through the air.
Boo! Boo! I’m a ghost! (3X) Happy Halloween!
3. Spoken: Let’s be bats and fly through the night sky.
Eeek! Eeek! I’m a bat! (3X) Happy Halloween!
4. Spoken: Let’s be owls and turn our heads from side to side.
Whoo! Whooo! I’m an owl! (3X) Happy Halloween!
5. Spoken: Let’s be black cats. Put on your whiskers and sneak around.
Meow! Meow! I’m a black cat! (3X) Happy Halloween!
Add your own ideas! What sound does this character make? Some characters don’t make a sound, so use your imagination. How does it move?
Students can then move throughout your classroom rather than in a circle.
“I’m a Witch” is on Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays, available on Spotify or Apple Music.
Find more Halloween ideas on our Magic Time Kids blog and on my Pinterest page. If you’re interested in more of my work, check out my YouTube channel at Kathy Kampa.
My second album is filled with many happy songs that have grown in my young learner classroom. The songs encourage children to move. Many 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. This is available at iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify.
A little about me . . .
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 and her husband, Chuck Vilina, are co-authors of Magic Time, Everybody Up, Oxford Discover, Beehive, Buzz, World Class, and Blue Dot (all published by Oxford University Press). Their latest course Blue Dot encourages students to be changemakers and take action in the world.
Kathy has taught young learners in Tokyo, Japan for over 30 years. She’s also active as a teacher trainer, inspiring teachers around the world. She currently lives in Minnesota where she continues to teach young learners, write educational materials, and compose songs for children.
