Doctor Knickerbocker

Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
He likes to dance and keep in time
Now let's get the rhythm of the feet [stamp, stamp]
Now we've got the rhythm of the feet [stamp, stamp]
Now let's get the rhythm of the number nine
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine
He likes to dance and he keeps in time
Now let's get the rhythm of the hips [sway hips]
Now we've got the rhythm of the hips [sway hips]
Now let's get the rhythm of the number nine
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine,
He likes to dance and keep in time,
Now let’s get the rhythm of our hands, [clap, clap]
Now we’ve got the rhythm of our hands, [clap, clap]
Now let’s get the rhythm of the number nine,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

ACTIVITIY:
Start standing in a circle.
a. We usually clap the beat when singing the 1st 2 lines
"Doctor Knickerbocker, Knickerbocker, number nine,
He likes to dance and keep in time,"
b. Follow actions in song e.g. stamp feet, sway hips and clap hands.
c. Count with fingers on the '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.'
 

Sally Go Round The Sun

Sally go round the sun,

Sally go round the moon,

Sally go round the chimney top

Every afternoon. BOOM!

(For older children instead of the word "Every" you can use a day of the week i.e. Saturday afternoon. BOOM! or Sunday afternoon etc when introducing the days of the week.)

ACTIVITIES:

YOUNGER CHILDREN

Walk around with your child or carry them.

On BOOM! lift them up in the air.

OLDER CHILDREN
Children stand in a circle with hands joined. 

Children circle around as they sing the song. 

On "BOOM!" the children jump in the air. 

Start the song again and go in the opposite direction.

       Hear the tune

EXTRA ACTIVITIES:
Sun shapes to colour, paint or collage.
Moon shapes to cut, colour, paint or collage including a star and moon mobile to make.

Children's Circle Dance: Sur le pont d'Avignon

Hans Thoma (1839–1924)

On the bridge of Avignon
They are dancing, they are dancing,
On the bridge of Avignon
They are dancing all around.

 

Sur le pont d'Avignon

On y danse, on y danse

Sur le pont d'Avignon

On y danse tout en rond.

 

 

Dancing in a circle is an ancient tradition common to many cultures for marking special occasions, strengthening community and encouraging togetherness. The circle is probably the oldest known dance formation. It is found even today in the community dances of many cultures.

Circle dances can be energetic and lively or gentle and reflective. The style and mood reflects the group and the interests of the teacher. WIKIPEDIA

Hokey Pokey

You put your hand in, you put your hand out
You put your hand in and you shake it all about,
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn around,
That's what it's all about.

(Repeat with leg, head, whole self)

Activity: This song is such fun with a large group of people all joining in but also good with just 2 - Even a grown up singing to a baby makes 2.

Development: Learning about body parts, following actions, understanding what comes next, developing balance and spatial awareness.

The Mulberry Bush

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush, so early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands.
This is the way we wash our hands on a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we...

(stamp our feet or shake our hands, or clap our hands or turn around etc.)

ACTIVITY: Make a circle, hold hands and move around. Stop and do actions. Repeat.

DEVELOPMENT: Learning about body parts, following actions, understanding what comes next, developing balance and spatial awareness.

Ring-a-ring-a-rosie

Illustration to ring-a-ring-a-roses in Kate Greenaway’s Mother Goose, taken from the Project Gutenberg version 1881

Ring-a-ring-a-rosie,
A pocket full of posies;
A tishoo! A tishoo!
We all fall down

The cows are in the meadow,
Eating buttercups:
A tishoo! A tshoo!
We all jump up.