Hi! It’s Miss Carole of Macaroni Soup – and here in Chicago we’ve had a
long, cold Winter. I’m jumping for joy
for the flowers popping up in my yard (see below) and being able to run around
without a down coat, mittens, boots, a scarf and 2 layers underneath! How about you?
Ready to Celebrate Spring?
Ready to Celebrate Spring?
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| Rain is falling down.... |
Though we’ve had terrible tornados recently, we’ve also had lots of
gentle rains to coax the grass and flowers along and give our big trees a
much-needed drink. In my classes we are singing and dancing our favorite rain songs – and here they are! I’ve also
included info about instruments that make the sound of the rain AND a link to
my “How to Make a Rainstick” blog! Here
we go!
SPLASH!
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| SPLASH! |
Lyrics:
Rain is falling down, SPLASH!
Falling to the ground, SPLASH!
Pitter patter, pitter patter
Rain is falling down,
SPLASH!
SPLASH!
This is about as easy and FUN as it gets – my 1 year olds love it – but so
do my 4’s and 5’s!
What
to do:
Start out sitting tall on your knees, arms stretched up high (top picture.) Wiggle
your fingers as they descend to about chest level, then slap the floor on “SPLASH!” Repeat. Wave wiggly fingers overhead for the pitter-patters, then repeat
the first sequence.
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| Pitter patter, Pitter patter! |
For Toddlers – 3’s, repeat several times until the “splash” is in
unison. With older children, vary the volume
– loud, softer, softest, no sound, just motion.
SINGING IN THE RAIN
Hear it HERE, and it’s on my “Dancing Feet” cd.
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| Thumbs up, shoulders back, knees together! |
I’m singing in the rain,
Just singing in the rain!
What a glo-ri-ous feeling,
I’m happy again!
Teacher: Thumbs up!
(kids echo)
Shoulders back! (echo)
Knees together! (echo)
ALL:
Choo-choo, cha-cha,
Choo-choo, cha-cha
Choo-choo, cha-cha
Choo-choo, cha-cha!
Repeat Chorus, adding a new move to the list each time:
Bottoms-up!
Tongue out!
Eyes closed.
What to do:
This is an echo song – explain first to the children that “whatever I say and do – you say and do it
after me! Let’s practice: thumbs up! (echo) shoulders back! (echo)”.
Demonstrate the chugging motion as
you turn in a circle for choo-choo, cha-cha.
Then you are ready to start! Stand
up! Hands overhead, swaying side to side
while singing the chorus.
Tired of Tooty-Ta? Add this one to your repertoire! It’s a winner!
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| Choo-choo, cha-cha! |
My 4’s and 5’s class has always made rainsticks to go with this song –
we make tip them back and forth during the chorus, putting them down quickly to
do the echo/movement parts! It’s hectic
and quick – but fun!
It encourages children to move, sing AND listen!
It encourages children to move, sing AND listen!
Check out my May 2012 PreKandKblog for details on how to make excellent rainsticks that will last for years!
Want more rainy songs? Try these:
April 2012 "Rain, Rain Go Away" and "I’m
a Little Seed"
June 2014 "Ducks Like Rain"
You may find even more rainy songs on my website’s Song of the Month archive!
There’s also the adorable “Jump in
the Puddles”, rhythm-based “The Raindrops are Falling” and “It Ain’t Gonna Rain
No More”, all on my “Season Sings” cd!
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| Large rainstick from Chile! |
Planning a Professional Development Workshop or Conference for Fall? Need a Keynote for 2016? Call Carole: 847-384-1404.
Yours for a Rainy Song!
Carole Stephens
Macaroni Soup! Active Music for Kids! (left) - from my garden. Thank you, rain!
Your ideas are total kid-engagers! Love the instrument zoo sonic - world-culture - connections! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Miss Brigid. Wait - I'm practicing my cresCENDO!!!!!
ReplyDelete