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Printable Version

Copy of the song, "Clap Your Hands" and keyboard or other instrument to accompany. Recordings of various styles and tempos (for the variations)

Teach the song. Children usually automatically clap as the words say, "Clap, clap, clap your hands. Clap your hands together!" (That is the "A" of ABA) On the "La-la" part (the "B" part) I have them make the windshield wiper motion with their hands. After they know the song well, I take suggestions for the motion they would like to make on the B part. The rules for the motions are:

Stay within your space
No sounds made with the motion
The motion should show the beat
Let several children take turns leading the group on the "La-la" section doing their motion.

A variation on this idea is to play music with a good strong beat--a Sousa March is great. Choose a child to be "it" and that child gets to keep the beat and the class follows the same motion. "It" chooses a student to be "it" -- continue around the room.

Another variation is to choose slower dreamy music and have the students make motions that go with the music. Students seem to really enjoy getting to be "it" and moving to the beat.

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