On, Top, High, Low
Using song "Clap Your Hands Now" to follow directions and reinforcing target words high and low
Instructions
- Listen to the song “Clap Your Hands Now” by Pam Donkin or watch video here and follow actions
- Next, hold two of this month’s reading books in your hands (Do Unto Otters: A Book of Manners by Laurie Keller/The Alphabet Book by P.D. Eastman/ Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jim Aylesworth) or any two books
- Hold one book high in your right hand and one book low in your left hand
- Ask the child to choose a book by asking for high or low book
- Change roles and let child hold books and place in high and low positions
Simplify
Before listening to the song, "Clap Your Hands", review some of the actions. Make sure child is clapping by putting both hands together, check that child can get on tippy toes, clap up high in the sky and clap down low by the floor, clap left and right (you may need to stand in front of a child to show left and right), is able to tap his head and bend to tap his toes, and finally to tap his lap (the top of thighs when you sit down). Reviewing actions beforehand, allows you to see how well a child is listening if the actions are already known. Always join in the fun
Extend
After listening to the song, let a child tell you the actions they did while listening to the song - clap hands, stand on tippy toes, clap hands high, clap hands low, clap hands right, clap hands left, tap head, tap toes, and tap lap. Here are nine actions for them to recall. Listen to the song again or over the next month to see is they can recall all nine actions.
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
Can you describe how you feel when you listen to this song?
Would you rather be a kid for your whole life or an adult for your whole life?
Materials
- Song “Clap Your Hands Now” by Pam Donkin or watch video here
- Two books
Activity Resources
Share This Activity
Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Circle, Square
- Color - Red
- Number - Three, 3
- Alphabet Letters - C, R
- Senses - Smell
- Character Trait - Manners
- Target Words - On, Top, High, Low
Monthly Proverb
Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do to you
Did You Know?
“The human brain is 90% developed by age 5." Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Books to Read
"Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners"
by Laurie Kelly (Activity 12)
"The Alphabet Book"
by P.D. Eastman (Activity 4)
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears"
by Jim Aylesworth (Activity 13)
"The Alphabet Book". VIDEO
by P.D. Eastman (Activity 4)
"Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners" VIDEO
by Laurie Kelly (Activity 12)
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" VIDEO
by Jan Brett (Activity 13)
Music Playlist
"Three Little Birds"
by Bob Marley Album Legend (Reggae) (Activity 6)
"Race: The Final Starlight Express"
Album Starlight Express Original Cast (Broadway - Pop) (Activity 18)
"Clap Your Hands Now"
by Pam Donkin Album A Hop, Skip, and a Jump (Children) (Activity 15)
"Three Little Birds" VIDEO
by Bob Marley (Activity 6)
"Clap Your Hands Now" VIDEO
by Pam Donkin (Activity 15)
"Race: The Final Starlight Express" VIDEO
by Starlight Express Original Cast (Activity 18)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
Way Up High In An Apple Tree
(Activity 26 Month 3)
Way up high in the apple tree
Two little apples smiled at me
I shook that tree as hard as I could
Down came the apples
Mmmmmm they were good.
Peter (child’s name) Uses One Hammer
(Activity 21 Month 3)
Peter (use child’s name) hammers with one hammer one hammer one hammer
Peter hammers with one hammer all day long (tap fist on the floor)
Pater hammers with two hammers, two hammers two hammers (tap other fist too) Peter hammers with two hammers all day long.
Peter hammers with three hammers, three hammers three hammers (add one foot) Peter hammers with three hammers all day long.
Peter hammers with four hammers four hammers four hammers (tap other foot too along with fists) Peter hammers with four hammers all day long.
Peter hammers with five hammers five hammers five hammers (use your head) Peter hammers with five hammers And then he goes to sleep!