Materials
file cards
pencil or pen
sticky note pad
Instructions
1. Children learn so much more when they use their bodies. This activity can be
done at any time of the day as you transition from one activity to another. It
will also help children develop the skill of pattern making.
2. Clap a short rhythm with your hands. Repeat the rhythm three times for the
children to hear. Then ask them to clap the rhythm with you. For example,
clap two times fast and two times slowly, or clap three times fast and two
times slowly.
3. After the children have demonstrated that they can correctly clap the
rhythm, ask them to walk around the circle to the beat of the rhythm. (If you
clapped two times fast and two times slowly, have the children take two
quick steps followed by two slow steps.)
4. Have the children move their bodies to the rhythm. For example, have them
stand on their tiptoes two times and then bend their knees and bounce on
their legs two times. Or, have them put their hands up in the air two times
and then touch their knees two times.
More to do Math: The children can repeat the patterns that they have heard and then
create the same patterns with manipulatives. For instance, they can assemble
the blocks in the same pattern they were clapping two big blocks, two small
blocks, or two blue blocks, then two red blocks, and so on.
