Snow or Shine...Outside is Fine

It's Groundhog Day....well, it was just yesterday.  What is it about Groundhog Day that makes you think of spring?  Is it that Groundhog Day is exactly halfway between winter solstice and the spring equinox?  Is it that you are tired of winter and hoping for an early spring?  Is it that you want to be outside "dancing your merry kinder kapers"?

Don't let the weather stop you (you will get cold long before your students will.  Layer up!).  I am all about getting out and exploring the world around me.

Two things I like to do when Groundhog Day rolls around are explore shadows and go on a Let's Find Spring scavenger hunt.

Shadows and the passing of time.

If the groundhog sees his shadow, there is supposed to be six more weeks of winter.  In this old English song they sing:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,

Come, Winter, have another flight;

If Candlemas Day brings clouds and rain,

Go, Winter and come not again.

But, what is a shadow and how does it work?  These are all good questions for a Kindergartener to ask.  We explore shadows by tracing them with chalk.

Start first thing in the morning, find an open spot, trace the shadow of a student or two.  TIP: trace a box around their feet so they will know exactly where to stand for the second tracing.

Trace again (we did this at every recess)

and again...

And just when they your kiddos thnk they know what will happen next...SURPRISE!!  Their shadow grows tall.

At this point I like to share Robert Lewis Stevenson's poem My Shadow.  Lot's of good conversation about the earth, the sky, and the sun that does not move.

Then play some games.  Games like shadow tag and can you jump on my head, feet, arms, and other various body parts.  Remember children need the fresh air and sunshine.  They can tolerate a lot more cold than you can, especially if they are dressed correctly.

Too much snow trace with chalk?  In years past we have used a stick to trace in the snow.  This year I thought I would try snow paint (thin tempera paint in a spray bottle), but no snow for us, so it is chalk on the blacktop again

Let's Find Spring Scavenger Hunt

The second activity I like, is to go on a hunt for signs of spring.

Take your students outside and take a good look at the trees.  Closely look at the buds and the bark.  How big are the buds?  Are they still tight?  Do they look fuzzy?  Do they look different from one tree to the next?  Do you think the tree is dead?

Record and draw what you see.  A simple folded and stapled Nature Journal is great to keep track of what you are finding   Great for drawing, great for adding pictures you can take with a digital camera.  Don't do this only once....revisit the same tree and keep track of the changes.  Remember to bring out clipboards or something stiff to write on and pencils. 

We pick a tree in a special part of our schoolyard (we are lucky to have an outdoor education area with fruit trees and native "wild" areas).  We watch the tree closely all year long.  We have some fun  fall when they are loaded with apples and pears.

In the winter we check them out to see if we can tell if they are still alive.  Look at the buds.  Look closely.  Look around.  What do you see?

It doesn't have to be a fruit tree, any tree will do.

Rain, Snow, Sunshine.....take your children out in any kind of weather.  Look closely.  Find words to describe what you see.

Try this activity from Seconds at the Beach using paint chips to find colors in the world around you.  You will really want to look close, notice the details.  Elizabeth suggests you rename the colors on the paint chips.  Read all about it here.

This is Terri Izatt challenging you to:  Dance in the snow, Dance in the sunshine....Dance in the shadows....but just join me outside, dancing our merry kinder kapers.  

Let's all do THE GROUNDHOG JIVE!

Choo - Choo - Choo - Choo!

    Oh no – you’re gonna think I’ve lost my mind (ha – you’re just thinking that now?)  I’m “Miss Carole” from Macaroni Soup: Active Music for Active Learners, and this month I am talking ACT-TIVE!  Have you and your kids spent too much time indoors lately?   THE GROUNDHOG JIVE will definitely get the jiggles out, wiggles going and giggles flowing!  There’s no tune to learn (it’s a rap), but ya gotta be able to count to 8 and keep the beat!

    My preschool classes started the New Year with the introduction of musical vocabulary words like PITCH, TEMPO, SCALE and OCTAVE.  The latter is where the number 8 becomes important.  We sang up and down the scale, and identified the 8 notes (octave) as our fingers walked from toe to head and back in “On My Toe There Is A Flea!”   

   Next step:  we clap a steady beat in 4/4 time, then do it again, double-time.  Now you’re ready for the piece de resistance:  THE GROUNDHOG JIVE!

To start:  Clap on the beat – quarter notes if you’re musically inclined – while counting:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 (each number is a beat)  

Then faster (eighth notes!)

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Then rap:

Groundhog One said to Groundhog Two

Let’s all do the groundhog chew!

Choo – choo – choo – choo -- 

Choo – choo – choo -- choo (first 8 beats)

Choo-choo-choo-choo-choo-choo-choo-choo

Choo-choo-choo-choo-choo-choo-choo-choo

Motion for choo-ing: Open and close hands, lobster-claw style! 

Climbing!

Groundhog Two said to Groundhog Three

Let’s all climb the groundhog tree!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: climb one hand high on each number!

Shut the door!

Groundhog Three said to Groundhog Four

Let’s all shut the groundhog door!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: one arm stretched in front,

other arm opens and closes door by swinging arm to side, then clap hands together in front!

Dance Party!

Groundhog Four said to Groundhog Five

Let’s all do the Groundhog Jive!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: dance move on each

beat, then let it rip in faster beat!

                                                                                                                                          Groundhog Five said to Groundhog Six

Pick up sticks!

Let’s all pick up groundhog sticks!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: bend down and

pretend to pick up a stick – I do 1 down, 2 up, 3

down, 4 up, etc, then pick up on each number

In the faster section!

Dreaming of Groundhog Heaven!

Groundhog Six said to Groundhog Seven

Let’s all dream of groundhog heaven!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: clasp hands in front of

body, and count VERY quietly – almost no sound!

Skating!

Groundhog Seven said to Groundhog Eight

Let’s all do the groundhog skate!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: push feet along floor in

skating motion, then faster!

Shine on!

Groundhog Eight said to Groundhog Nine

Let’s all do the groundhog shine!

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!

Motion for counting: flash hands upward on

each number, then faster!

Now that's attitude - eh eh eh!

Groundhog Nine said to Groundhog Ten

“Let’s not do this song again!

Eh eh eh, eh eh eh

Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh!

Motion: hook teeth over bottom lip and

wag finger (“no” style) on each eh!  Make

sure you’ve got plenty of attitude!

    I want to thank my good friend Margaret Hooton in Pennsylvania for introducing me to the Groundhog Jive.  We haven’t been able to find an author to credit – anyone know?  This is my take on the jive – add your own spin!

    Here’s a little primer on groundhogs – I have several great pictures I got off the internet – to introduce children to this peculiar creature.  I love some of the alternative names: Whistle Pig, Woodchuck, and Land Beaver!  Though we make a big deal about Puxatawney Phil and his shadow, the reality is that groundhogs come out of hibernation when it’s time to mate, not because they’re great meteorologists!  Since I don’t want to explain mating (go ahead - you open that can of worms), I’ve said “They wake up and come out when it’s time to look for a husband or wife!”  Nuf said!

     I admit I was daunted at first at the prospect of learning the whole thing – but it was actually quite easy – the rhymes are a great help.  BUT – if you need a little help, email me for a one-page cheat sheet.  Also, if you need a little help with the beat or any of the motions, send me an email with your phone number and I’ll call you.  Really!  And if you want to wait (please don't!) you'll find The Groundhog Jive on my next cd, coming out in the Fall.

     The day after I introduced this song, one of my young-ish colleagues commented, “That Groundhog Jive is quite a workout – my thighs hurt last night!”  Yep – and I did it in several classes!  But I have to say that the kids really love it – check out those smiling faces!

     NOTE:  If you’ve looking for ideas for Chinese New Year, which starts January 31^st this year, check out my February 2013 blog, and several others here at PreK and K Sharing!  Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Yours for a Groundhog Jive!

Carole Stephens

Macaroni Soup! Active Music forActive Learners