Submitted by Caryn Mears, Kennewick, Washington
Idea posted June 21, 2010
I use the tune "Twinkle, Twinkle" and sing:
Red and orange and green and blue,
shiny yellow, purple, too.
All the colors that we know,
live up in the bright rainbow.
Red and orange and green and blue,
shiny yellow, purple, too.
I pass out one scarf to each child. Then, I teach them to stand up when we sing their color of the scarf that they are holding. We practice the beginning of the song with all the children with red scarves standing up when we sing, "red" and they keep standing, and the children who are holding orange scarves stand up second and so on, so that at the beginning they will all be standing up. Then when we sing, "All the colors that we know," we have all of the scarves waving. Next, when we sing the second verse with the colors, I teach them to sit down when we sing the name of the color of the scarf they are holding. It's very easy, but many learning things are taking place!
In addition, I use the song, "The World Is A Rainbow" (by Greg and Steve) and the children can do free movement. Also, use a fast song and a slow song. See if the students can move their scarf to make the first letter in their name or write their names in the air to the music. We like doing "Ss" in the sky or making crazy 8s.