Streamer Dancing (Large Motor / Music)
Kids of all Ages
Get some rolls of different colored tissue paper streamers at the party section of your local grocery store.  Cut it into many differentstrips 2 to 3 feet in length, and set them out in an open area of your classroom.  Put on some tunes, and have the kids use the streamers to dance with.

 

Mood Music (Large Motor / Music)
Kids of all ages
Put together a compilation CD  of one minute snippets from a variety of music… everything from kids’ songs to heavy metal to Mozart.  If you lack the skills or equipment to do this, ask around, and you are likely to find a digital music junkie that can put one together in no time at all.  Play the music during centers time, and have the kids dance to it, using exaggerated movements and facial expressions for how the music makes them feel.  If it’s a sad song, have them pretend to cry and mope around.  If it makes them excited, jump around.  Angry, throw a pretend tantrum.  Conduct group time afterward to talk about the power of music to affect moods, and discuss how certain songs make you feel.

 

Tap dancing (Activity)
Collect a few pairs of old sneakers in a size that is universal for the kids in your class. (You can also go to Wal-Mart and buy the cheapest tennis-shoes they have, usually for a few bucks each, or visit a secondhand store.) Use craft glue or liquid nails to glue a large washer onto the heel and a smaller one on the toe of each shoe. Next bring a large piece of either plywood or particle board into your room to create a ‘stage.’ Have children put on the shoes and then tap-dance on the board. The metal washer should make a nice clank against the wood.