Number Yoga (Michelle Drees, Danbury, IA)
Have children hold yoga positions as you practice counting. (Scholastic has a cool alphabet book of yoga poses!)
Skip Counting
Practice counting by 3’s to “Are You Sleeping?”
Count by 4’s to “Row Your Boat.”
6 – “London Bridge”
7 – “Ten Little Indians”
8 – “This Old Man”
Skip Count Patty Cake (Barbara Davis, TN)
Practice counting by two’s by placing your hands on your shoulders as you whisper “one.” Shout “two” as you patty cake in the air. Whisper “three” as you touch your shoulders and then shout “four” as you patty cake…
For counting by three’s place hands on waist and whisper “one.” Hands on shoulders and whisper “two.” Hands patty cake and shout “three.” Whisper “four” with hands on waist. Whisper “five” with hands on shoulders. Shout “six” and patty cake…
Four’s – knees, waist, shoulders, patty cake
Five’s – toes, knees, waist, shoulders, patty cake
Easter Egg Math
Put a certain number of beans in an egg (5, 6, etc.) Children shake the egg and then open it so there are beans in each section. Next, ask them to write the equation. Continue shaking and writing different combinations of the beans in the egg.
Love It Cheer
Make a heart with your hands (index fingers touching at the top and thumbs at the bottom) and extend from your heart.
Rock Star Cheer Put hands down like a rapper and say, “Rock star!”
Smile Cheer Cock your head to the side, place your palms under your chin, and give a big smile.
Class Cheer (Julianna Tapia, Fullerton, CA) Encourage the children to create and give cheers to their classmates. In Julianna’s class when someone reads something a child will take it upon themselves to yell, “Super Reader,” and the rest of the class responds, “To the rescue!”
Brain Hug Song (Dara Gee, Lawton, OK)
(Tune: “If You’re Happy”)
I’m wrapped up (Extend arms and cross.)
Twisted up (Clasp fingers.)
Tangled up (Bring clasped hands under and next to chest.)
With self control.
I’m wrapped up (Extend arms and cross.)
Twisted up (Clasp fingers.)
Tangled up (Bring clasped hands under and next to chest.)
With self control.
I take care of me
With responsibility.
I’m wrapped up (Extend arms and cross.)
Twisted up (Clasp fingers.)
Tangled up (Bring clasped hands under and next to chest.)
With self control.
Your BrainWill Grow (Leah Steidinger, Gridley, IL)
Listen and learn and read every day your brain will grow, grow, grow.
Listen and learn and read every day your brain will grow, grow, grow.
It will grow, grow, grow. (Extend palms from your head.)
It will grow, grow, grow.
Listen and learn and read everyday your brain will grow, grow, grow.
Don’t listen, don’t learn, don’t read everyday your brain will shrink, shrink, shrink.
Don’t listen, don’t learn, don’t read every day your brain will shrink, shrink, shrink.
It will shrink, shrink, shrink. (Palms next to head and pull your body in as if shrinking.)
It will shrink, shrink, shrink.
Don’t listen, don’t learn, don’t read everyday your brain will shrink, shrink, shrink!
Smooch (Pamela Pounds, AL)
As children finish their work draw a pair of lips on their paper. Explain that they did such a good they need a “smooch.” Children get to put their own lipstick on the lips. Display their work around the school, in the lunchroom, the library, office, or even on the custodian’s door.
Exercise Stretch (Allison Ashley, IL)
I’m as tall as a tree. (Stretch tall)
I’m as wide as a house. (Arms out wide)
I’m as thin as a pin. (Hands by sides.)
I’m as quiet as a mouse. (Say in a whisper.)
Let children think of their own verses.