Sing it Silly

To make our classroom community strong and successful, it’s important to think before we act. When we think before we act, we are practicing self-control. Today, we are going to play a game where you will need to focus your attention and practice self-control.

1. Teach students how to sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” (point to corresponding body part at the right time): Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes. Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes.
2. Invite the students to repeat the sequence, singing the words and pointing to the corresponding body parts.
3. When students are familiar with the song, switch it up by changing the order of the body parts in the song (knees, toes, shoulders, head, etc.).
4. Students should try to follow along with the teacher and do correct motions.

• What about this game was easy or hard for you?
• What strategies did you use? What might you do differently next time?
• When do you need to focus at home or at school?
• How else would you like to play this game?

For primary school students:

• To make this game simpler, keep the words and motions in the correct order but ask students to sing a different way each time: fast, slow, like a robot, etc.
• Invite students to write their own words to the song.

For students in grades 5-6:

• Sing the song in the correct order but tell students to do the opposite of what you say: when you say “head” they touch their shoulders, and vice versa; and so on.
• Use the words and actions from “Four Corners” and add the challenge of mixing up the order of movements.
• To make the game more difficult, increase the number of words and actions. For an extra focus challenge, facilitate two games at once. Students will need to ignore the distraction of the other group singing!