TdebCreations
"Home of ImaginationPlay"
Learning in Motion
"Learning in Motion"
What is "Learning in Motion" ?
Learning in Motion brings together the elements of thinking and movement to help children learn about the world around them. Learning in Motion is a term I devised to represent my version of Creative Movement.
Studies continue to prove that children learn best through play; facilitated-play offering the most valuable experiences and opportunities for optimal learning. "Learning in Motion" is just another way to put play into your child's day.
Children have a special interest in exercising their motor abilities in combination with cognitive skills especially when music and/or rhyme is introduced. Combining mind and body interactions with learning concepts provides an excellent opportunity to enhance children's learning while maintaining a fun approach that children will easily respond to and want to do more of, therefore reinforcing a love for learning which is the ultimate goal of every Early Childhood Professional.
This page will be a collection of activities "Learning in Motion" that you can do with your child/children to promote an enriched learning environment fun for all!
Think Concepts,
Think Movement,
Think Rhyme,
Think Music.....and you have "Learning in Motion"
Hugs n' Heart,
Tdeb:)
"Learning in Motion": Resources
Children's Music and Songs This site is a mother link of links.
Dr. Jean Jean Feldman has been actively involved in education for over 35 years as a classroom teacher, instructor of adults, author, and consultant.
Songs for Children Lots of old favorites here from Head Start
Games Lots of great games to play~anyday!
Songs for Teaching This site contains thousands of pages for you to peruse -- many with lyrics, sound clips, and teaching suggestions. The top educational pros offer practical suggestions based on the latest in brain-based learning.
CanTeach Songs & Poems
Music Education Madness LINKS
" Physical Fitness for Children "
Here are some places to put learning in motion and get the whole body moving.
- children pick it up quickly
- assists with focus/attention
- assists in brain development
- great fine-motor development activity for children
- great for adults when those joints begin to slow down
- officially recognized as a 2nd language
Songs, Fingerplays and Poems "FingerPlay"
FingerPlay: one of the hardest for me to 'get' yet one of the easiest for the children ~ they love fingerplays! And once they learn a fingerplay, you better not make a mistake or change a sign because they will surely let you know right away! I recently attended a mini workshop with WeeSign and was astounded at just how easy it is to learn sign language. I also realized that simple signs can instantly turn any song, verse or rhyme into a fingerplay! So, if you have always shied away from fingerplays please take my advice and give it another try ~ sign language and verbal language make for a beautiful union for learning that is not only fun but something you can take with you everywhere you go to delight others with your valuable artistic impressions or just another way to communicate with someone you might not have been able to before: think of the delight that would bring to others and yourself. Okay, off of my soapbox and onto drumming up some great resources you can put your signing to good work with. You can also visit TdebCreations for some great online resources for learning sign language: here. Enjoy. Hugs, Tdeb:)
NNCC Fingerplays Plus A note from NNCC...When children repeat fingerplays and rhymes, they are learning and practicing many important language skills: building vocabulary, rhyming, rhythm, memory, matching words with actions - just to name a few. Verses can also help develop children's muscle coordination and listening skills as well as strengthen children's understanding of concepts such as counting, colors, and spatial positioning (up, down, behind, etc.)
This is one of my children's most favorite fingerplay from NNCC:
Funny Bunny
Here is a bunny (raise two fingers)
With ears so funny
And here is a hole in the ground. (make hole with fingers of other hand)
At the first sound she hears,
She pricks up her ears (straighten fingers)
And pops right into the ground. (put fingers in hole)
Once the children mastered "Funny Bunny", one day a child shouted out, " Let's do Two Bunny's"!
Head-Start Lane : Tiny Tim , Right Hand, Left Hand , Sleepy Caterpillars , Five Little Fishes , Bunny and The Cabbage , Twelve Little Rabbits , Chipmunk in a Tree , Going to Bed , Beehive , Grandmas’ Glasses , There Was a Little Turtle , Beehive
Bunny and The Cabbage: What a wonderful follow-up for "Funny Bunny" !
Bunny and The Cabbage
Once there was a bunny (right fist forms bunny and two fingers his ears)
And a great big cabbage head (fist of left hand)
“I think I’ll have some cabbage,” the little bunny said.
So he nibbled and he nibbled (nibble cabbage head w/fingers of right hand)
And pricked his ears to say (ears straighten up)
Now I think it’s time to be hopping on my way.
FINGER PLAYS FOR NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN by EMILIE POULSSON
"WHAT the child imitates," says Froebel, "he begins to understand. Let him represent the flying of birds and he enters partially into the life of birds. Let him imitate the rapid motion of fishes in the water and his sympathy with fishes is quickened. Let him reproduce the activities of farmer, miller and baker, and his eyes open to the meaning of their work. In one word let him reflect in his play the varied aspects of life and his thought will begin to grapple with their significance."
Emilie's site is a rare find! The Fingerplays in this book are written in 1889 ~ are complete with unique sketchings and music to add more to the learning pleasure. Truely something to treasure for another 100 plus years!
Education Oasis Music & Movement for Children
Five Little Rabbits
Five rabbits were hiding
(clenched fist)
In the woods one day.
1-2-3-4-5 jumped out
(fingers come out as they count)
And then they ran away.
(imitate running with fingers.)
Natural Learning Lots of fingerplays to keep your little ones interests blooming! Enjoy.
