One of our music class activities that encouraged both rhythmic coordination and creativity for some classes this year was learning and performing clapping rhythms to our favorite songs. Clapping games are a great way to incorporate rhythm and movement while reinforcing many valuable skills: gross motor skills, rhythmic concepts such as keeping a steady beat, coordination skills, and sequencing a variety of steps.

An online site that offers a variety of clapping games from around the world is http://funclapping.com/. This site offers many classic clapping/skipping songs that parents and grandparents will remember from their own school days, along with songs and games played around the world! Click on the many links it offers and choose some to learn this week.

Becoming an expert with a favorite clapping pattern? Try changing one aspect of your clapping rhythm by making it faster, slower, louder, or softer.

Try out your new clapping pattern or create your own to these songs and many others found @ https://musicplayonline.com/

• Dr. Knickerbocker / Kindergarten #17
• Rig A Jig Jig / Grade 1#66
• A Sailor Went to Sea to Sea / Grade 2#65
• Lukey’s Boat / Grade 2#34
• Miss Mary Mack / Grade 4 #17

Send along a video of your performance to paula.chapman@nbed.nb.ca to share here on this page. I’d love to hear from you and see what you are creating! Have fun and have a great music-filled week!