Materials
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
felt in a variety of colors
scissors
flannel board
Instructions
1. This is a simple activity, requiring no materials, and is an excellent way to
develop rhythm and listening skills.
2. Have the children sit in a circle on the floor. Clap a pattern for them to
repeat, beginning with a simple pattern of one clap, two claps. If the children
can do this successfully, clap your hands on the first beat and your knees on
the second.
3. Add a third beat and accent the first "one-two-three, one-two-three,"
clapping your hands on one, and slapping your knees on two and three.
4. You may vary the pattern, increasing the difficulty as the children progress.
More to do Language: For variety, clap the syllables in words and the children's names,
letting the rhythm indicate accented syllables. For example, "hi-ber-nate" or
"E-liz-a-beth."
Nursery Rhymes: Use clapping to accompany nursery rhymes. For example:
One, two, (clap hands)
Buckle my shoe (slap knees)
Three, four (clap hands)
Shut the door. (slap knees)
