Create a "Circle of Friends" board from heavy foam board, cut out one hand shape for each child and teacher in your classroom then glue them on the board in a random pattern or make a small circle inside a big circle of handprints. (If you have an Ellison machine you can quickly make many small handprints!) Cover the entire board with clear contact paper and then place a piece of velcro on top of each hand shape. Write each person's name on a separate rectangular piece of poster board, laminate, then attach matching velcro on the back of each name card. (If you are pressed for time: use index cards to make the name cards and have the children set them along the chalk ledge when they are playing the games.)
Hand out the name cards. After singing the above song together, the teacher then sings the following verse and as the child's name is sung, he/she attaches his/her name card to the "Circle of Friends" board.
If your name is (Sally) or (Bill,)
If your name is (Sally) or (Bill),
Come stay and play today,
If your name is (Sally) or (Bill).
Variation 1:
Before singing the song, ask 4 children to sit up front on chairs.
After singing the song, take turns guessing the names of the children
sitting up front. As their name is guessed have them place it on the
"Circle of Friends" board.
Variation 2:
Laminate cards with the letter of each child's first name in your
class. After singing the first verse of the song, change the second
verse and sing:
If your name starts with (A),
If your name starts with (A),
Come stay and play today,
If your name starts with (A).
The teacher will show the letter card, children will sing it, and those
children whose first letter of their name is being shown, will place their name on the board.
Variation 3:
Laminate cards with the number of letters in each child's first name.
After singing the first verse of the song, change the second verse and
sing:
If your name has (7) letters,
If your name has (7) letters,
Come stay and play today,
If your name has (7) letters.
The teacher will show the number card, children will sing it, and those
whose first name has that many letters in it, will place their name on
the board.
Variation 4:
Laminate cards with the last letter of each child's first name. After singing the first verse of the song, change the second verse and sing:
If your name ends with (T),
If your name starts with (T),
Come stay and play today,
If your name starts with (T).
The teacher will show the letter card, children will sing it, and those
children whose last letter of their name is being shown, will place their name on the board.
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How do you feel about learning with music? Do you have an idea to share?
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