Rhymetime Challenge Weeks One and Two

We are into the third week of the challenge.  I had better catch you up on the first two weeks.

The first week we focused on "Big Red Tractor."  Since we know this song well, I decided to use it to focus on steady beat.  As we recited the words, we used our instruments (and bouncing) to keep the pace of the song starting off at normal pace and then performed it fast and slow.

Here are the lyrics.  The colour changes as you please.

Bouncing up and down on a big red tractor

Bouncing up and down on a big red tractor

Bouncing up and down on a big red tractor

Bringing in the hay! YEA!

The great thing about this song is that it focuses specifically on rhythm by having the child bounce on a lap or by themselves as the song is sung.  Also, on the "YEA!" at the end is emphasised by lifting the young child in the air, giving the end a bit of a oomph.  I bet you just thought this song was about colours.

Last week we focused on Itsy, Bitsy, Spider.  We didn't really do anything interesting with the poem except use our fingers to help us emphasise the words.  Although nothing special was done, I love the children during this song.  Everyone loves it and it is one of my personal favourites.

The Itsy, Bitsy, Spider went up the water sprout.

Down came the rain and washed the spider out.

Out cam the sun and dried up all the rain.

The Itsy, Bitsy Spider went up the spout again.

Itsy, Bitsy Spider is a great poem to practise fine motor movement and improve dexterity when the poem is accompanied by the hand movements.

In case you are interested, here is a little blip about the history of nursery rhymes.