In the games of Whirlabout, Fairy Dance and
Butterfly Dance, the children are to sing the stanza first so that
they may, by thinking of floating leaves, fairies or butterflies,
get the idea of lightness of step and motion before engaging in the
dance. The preliminary lines of Grand Ladies are similarly meant to
induce the slow and formal movements which children also need, since
these cultivate control.
WHIRLABOUT
1.
The song is to be sung through without motions, or with illustrative
hand motions as preferred.
2. Children stand in a circle and trip lightly, in time to the music.
At “whirl about and twirlabout,” each child whirls in his place,
either just once or first one way and then the other; then all the
children sink to a sitting posture on the floor. The music is repeated
ad libitum for the game, but the singing is omitted.
FAIRY
DANCE
Children
form in a “fairy Ring,” and after singing the song the whole circle
dances around, first to the left, then to the right, while the music
is repeated. The singing and dancing may be alternated and the children
may, part of the time, dance as single fairies, keeping their steps
as noiseless and fairylike as possible.
PLAY
IN ALL SEASONS
Children
stand in a circle and tell what they like to play in any specified
season. After choosing some one thing from the toys, etc., mentioned,
they all sing the stanza inserting the appropriate word (kites,
snow, etc.,) as indicated; then while some sing the chorus, others
pretend to play with whatever has been chosen. The play can be varied
by sometimes keeping to the plays of one season and sometimes choosing
one play for each of the four seasons. The last stanza may be accompanied
by clapping.
THE
BUTTERFLY DANCE
The first stanza is to be sung by all the children standing in a
circle. Then the circle divides and the children stand in two rows,
facing each other. One row sings the second stanza, and the other
row replies with the third; then all join in singing the fourth
after which the children dance in couples while the whole song is
played again but not sung.
GRAND
LADIES
Children
stand in two rows at opposite ends of the room, facing each other,
and sing the first half of the stanza. At “We will greet you,”etc,
one row of children moves forward with very slow and stately steps.
As the song ends, they make low bows or curtseys to the other row
of children and then walk backward to their places with the same
slow step while the rest of the music is played. The song is repeated
and the other row of children takes its turn, moving forward, bowing,
and returning as the first row did.
If
the room is large enough, both rows play at the same time, but instead
of walking backward to their places, opposites may become partners
when the rows meet, all dancing slowly until the music ends.
A
LITTLE DANCING SONG
Children
choose partners and stand near them, all forming a large circle;
or, children stand in two lines facing each other, opposites becoming
partners. While singing the first two lines, all dance singly, or
rather, simply keep step to the music, and “point heel and tow”
when the song so directs. Then partners “bow very low” to each other
and dance away together, continuing the dance, without singing,
while the music is repeated.
THE
TRAIN
Since
children are so accustomed to playing “train” and the words of the
song indicate so clearly what is to be done, suggestions for this
play seem unnecessary. The children forming the train do not sing
except as they join in the “whoo, whoo!” and other sounds representing
the noise the train makes.
ECHO
PLAY
1.
This may be used simply as a singing play for a child just learning
to sing. After the song has been sung (the child singing Echo’s
part) different notes may be struck on the piano or sung by the
mother or kindergartner, and the child in trying to echo them will
get practice in distinguishing and reproducing tones.
2.
When played in kindergarten or with several children, the child
who is to be Echo goes behind a door or elsewhere, out of sight
but within easy hearing, and sings Echo’s answers to the children’s
queries. After this introduction the play is continued by giving
Echo a variety of sounds to repeat, --bird-calls, (phoebe, cuckoo,
etc.), high & low tones from voice or piano, rhythmic claps, short
phrases, etc. The children take turns in being Echo.
Besides
the games included under the heading Playtime, there are songs elsewhere
in the book which offer play material for little children.
THE
CANARY
This
may be played by one child alone, or by several children at once,
flying about and then sitting still and singing the twittering chorus.
When several children play, they may sing the chorus in turn or
all together; or responsively, some singing the first and third
lines, the others the second and fourth.
CHOOSING
A FLOWER
This
might be used as a memory play in kindergarten, several children
naming themselves after different flowers and one child being allowed
to take as many children out of the circle (“flowers for a bouquet”)
as he can designate by their chosen flower names. When he makes
a mistake, the child whom he misnamed becomes the chooser and he
joins the flowers. Kindergartners will see that this song could
also serve for various color games. For instance: singing the stanza
with a slight change in the last line.
(“I
would look at this,
I would look at that,
But a red flower I would take.”)
The
chooser might select a child whose clothing showed something red,
or select the red ball from among the colored balls, -- and so on
with the other colors using the corresponding word in the song.
In all “singing games,” this one sound rule should be followed:
Unless the activity is gentle and allows good position for singing,
the children who are playing should not sing.
