Theme: Rhythm & Rhyme

Purpose: To develop rhythm and rhyming skills

PR: Little Listeners: Rhythm and Rhyme - These stories, songs and activities are great tools for helping preschoolers develop rhythm, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Throughout this program, we used scarves, tambourines and rhythm sticks.

New words introduced:
(tree) shoots
(knees) buckled
Scottish reel (dance)
"I feel like such a clot."
entranced

Suggested books:
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Monsen, Avery
How Do You Dance? by Heder, Thyra
Music is in Everything by Marley, Ziggy
Duck on a Disco Ball by Mack, Jeff
Bear Can Dance by Bloom, Suzanne
The Cat and the Rat and the Hat by Lynas, Em
Everybunny Dance by Sandall, Ellie
Giraffes Can't Dance by Andreae, Giles
Sing and Dance in Your Polka-Dot Pants by Litwin, Eric

Songs and rhymes:

TOSS YOUR SCARVES
Tune:  “Jingle Bells”
 
Toss your scarves, toss your scarves
Toss them way up high.
Toss your scarves up in the air,
‘til they reach the sky.

Wave your scarves, wave your scarves,
Twirl them ‘round and ‘round.
Twirl your scarves one more time,
Then let them, all fall down.

Craft/activity

Kazoos
Supplies: Cardboard tube, waxed paper, rubber band

What To Do:

Cut out a square of waxed paper that is 7.5 cm by 7.5cm (or have these already prepared).
Tightly wrap the waxed paper over one end of the cardboard tube and secure it with an elastic band. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the cardboard, it may cave in or bend.

Poke an air hole into the cardboard tube with scissors or a pen, right below the wax paper. Trim the waxed paper if necessary so it doesn’t cover the hole.

Put the open end of the kazoo to your mouth and hum a tune.

Feel the other end of the kazoo with your hand while you are humming.

Decorate your kazoo with markers, paint, or stickers.

*Make sure your mouth makes a tight seal.

It helps to say the word "boo" or "doo".

Experiment with covering the hole with your finger, adding more holes in the tube or adjusting the amount of air you blow into it. How does it affect the sound?