Song of the Month
Every month the song/dance/activity will change. Many of the songs will be from my Recordings. Please print the page and do the activity with your child. Teachers may print the page to use with their classes. If you have questions, Contact Me.
April 2010
Bluebird, Bluebird
Listen to the whole song on Dancing Feet, or hear it here:
"Bluebird, Bluebird" is a song from my childhood. My friends and I did this song on the playground with big circles of friends, in the backyard with smaller circles, and even in the basement playroom with just my mom, sister and 2 friends! It's a traditional melody, but the game/dance can be found in many different versions. Perhaps it will bring back a memory for you! Circle dances are great for indoors when you have space, but even better outdoors. I suggest teaching the song indoors, and even practicing the "dance form", then take it outdoors at your first opportunity. The form is simple: a circle of children form the "windows", and the bluebird child weaves in and out of them! This song becomes an instant favorite wherever I teach it. Teachers tell me they hear it coming from the corners of the playground as children organize their own circles and raise their voices in song! Ah, Spring! Don't you just love it!!!
| Lyrics: | Bluebird, bluebird in and out my window Take a friend and tap them on the shoulder |
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| The Dance: | 1. Children stand in a circle holding hands. Raise hands high to form "windows". Demonstrate how to weave in and out the windows, then choose one child to be the bluebird. 2. As you sing the chorus, the bluebird weaves in and out the windows, stopping behind a child as you sing "Oh Johnny..." 3. Everyone in the circle lets go of each other's hands and claps on the beat while singing "Take a friend..." The bluebird lightly taps the shoulders of the child they are standing behind. 4. The child being tapped leaves the circle to hold the bluebird's hand, following the bluebird in and out the windows. Children in the circle hold hands high to form windows again. Repeat the whole sequence. Eventually you will have a long bluebird line weaving in and out the windows as the number of children in the circle shrinks! Miss Carole's ending? When I get down to the last two children in the circle, they become the bridge for "London Bridge Is Falling Down", and the bluebird leads the line through the bridge. Whoever gets caught in the bridge on "my fair lady (or gentleman)" will be the bluebird NEXT time we do the song! |
NOTE: Once the children know the song and activity, if I have more than 12 children in the circle I choose 2 bluebirds to start on opposite sides of the circle. It helps get more children involved and moves the song toward it's conclusion a little faster. BUT DON'T START WITH 2 BLUEBIRDS THE FIRST TIME YOU DO THIS! Children must understand the dance in its simplest form before complicating it (and adding to the excitement level!)