Lesson Plan for teaching: “Hokey Pokey”
Grade level: 3rd or 4th grade
Aim:
For years, children have enjoyed any and all forms of
music in combination with movement. Not only will the
children be able to move and expel energy, the children will be
able to use their muscles and bodies as accessories to the song.
Objective:
Learn as much as possible in the half-hour/ forty-minute
period of the song “Hokey Pokey”.
Motivation:
Most children are not able to let go and get wild at home
with their parents there. By allowing the children to sing out
loud, shake their arms, shake their legs, shake their entire
bodies while accelerating in speed the entire time, the children
are able to now associate music and body movement with
excitement and fun. This song allows children to be free with
their movements and bodies while still maintaining order by
insisting the children follow the explicit instructions of which
arm gets shaken when and which leg goes in or out.
Materials:
Sheet music, piano, guitar or CD for teacher
accompaniment, blackboard, and pictures of children in
various positions of the “Hokey Pokey” (right hand in, left arm
out, backside in, head out, etc.).
Vocabulary:
Various parts of the body
Activities:
Children stand in a large circle. Teacher stands in the
middle and explains the object of the song.
By using the large example cards of the children in
various positions of “Hokey Pokey”, the children will be more
comfortable participating in the activity. Children can be shy
and embarrassed around their peers when they are asked to
perform physical activities but when the children are at ease,
they will be more comfortable will the activity.
Once the music accompaniment begins, the teacher
begins to call out the name of the body part that will go in and
out and get shaken. The teacher will begin with simple body
parts like arms, legs, elbows, knees, etc. The children will follow
the instructions, turn in the circle and return to their original
spot where they will wait for the music to speed up and the
teacher to call out the next instruction.
Once the children get the hang of the song, the teacher
can start asking for body part suggestions. The teacher may
call specifically on a child and ask “Mark, which body part
should be next”? to which he would hopefully be very excited
and pick something fun like the big right toe or the right ear!
Children of this age group feed off the energy of others around
them so the more excited the children that are being called on
get, the more excited the participating children will be.
I believe you can also include clapping hands, stamping
of feet, and even cheering to the song. The more energy that’s
incorporated by the teacher, the more energy the children will
give in return. I also believe that the children can perform this
song in motion, either moving in a circle or moving around
the room.
Multiple Intelligences addressed:
1) Musical: we learned the song. 2) Body: we learned
more about body parts, where they are located, how they
move, and range of motion. 3) Visual: if movement
around the room has been incorporated, the children will
learn to focus and visualize on multiple things. 4)
Interpersonal: working together to come up with new
movements for the group.
Assessment:
Observe children to see who is more comfortable
performing in front of the class. Observe children to see which
ones thought up more creative movements for the group to do
together. Observe children to see which ones embraced the
activity and which ones believed they were too “grown up”.
Observe children to see which ones could keep up with the music
acceleration and the faster body movement.
Summary:
Why is it good to have excitement and fun in our lives
and why is it so important to have it incorporated in the school
day? What happens when the children get too in to the
activity, if that happens?
Lyrics to: “Hokey Pokey”
You put your right hand in,
Take your right hand out,
Put your right hand in,
And shake it all about,
You do the Hokey Pokey
And turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about
Chorus:
Oh, the Hokey, Pokey,
Oh, the Hokey Pokey,
Oh the Hokey Pokey,
That's what it's all about
Other verses
You put your
You put your
You put your
You put your
You put your
You put your
You put your
left hand in…
right foot in…
left foot in…
right elbow in…
left elbow in…
right knee in…
left knee in…
You put your whole self in…