Shake, Shimmy, & Dance: 6/21

It’s summer time again, which means eight weeks straight of Shake, Shimmy, & Dance!

The Plan

Book
Monsters Love Covers by Mike Austin
A classic favorite of Shake, Shimmy, & Dance! I’ve been trying to not overuse books, but I can’t help it with this one. Tons of movements, color identifications, a surprise rainbow at the end? They love it! I also like the different kinds of movement (both gross and fine motor) can be done with this book. I make “dance” and “wiggle” large movements, but “squish” and “squash” are smaller hand gestures.

Props
Parachute!

The Playlist

Hello & How Are You? — Old Town School of Folk Music
Jump Up (It’s a Good Day!) — Brady Rymer
Dance With Me — The Not-Its
Clap Your Hands — Old Town School of Folk Music
Wheels in the City — Laura Doherty
No More Monkeys — Asheba
Under a Shady Tree — Laurie Berkner
Shake Hands With Friends — Ella Jenkins

How It Went

The group REALLY enjoyed Monsters Love Colors today and I’m happy that I chose it. Both “Jump Up” and “Clap Your Hands” have instructions built into the song. “Dance With Me” was our free dance for the day — there are instructions if parents want to listen, but it was a lot of movement.

I love the first time that I pull out the parachute every session. It’s such a magical experience watching the kids who know and love it squeal, AND watching the first-timers eyes widen as the colors get bigger and bigger. Our parachute songs were: “Wheels in the City” where we held the parachute and walked, making a wheel; “No More Monkeys” which included five stuffed monkeys jumping on the “bed” aka the parachute; and “Under a Shady Tree” which the grown-ups made a “tree” for the kids to run under.

(For an example of the Powerpoint and handouts that I made for each Shake, Shimmy please visit the original post.)