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Skills and songs for the month of July |
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Leg Strength. Children need to practice running and jumping for leg strength and coordination and safe falling. Working on jumping high, long, and landing on two feet is a progression for vaulting in gymnastics as well as playground safety. |
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BeachBall Fun (hand-eye coordination). Learning to throw and catch is often frustrating for children. Using a beach ball that is not fully inflated gives them a little slower action, so they have more success catching. It’s a great summer time activity to practice catching, kicking, throwing, and bouncing. This also helps develop hand-eye coordination and timing which is important for all gymnastic skills. |
Hollow Body Shape.
Learning to hold a hollow shape (laying on back, with feet and head/shoulders slightly elevated) really helps increase core strength. When practicing this all muscles in the abdomen and back are engaged. A strong center allows children to have good posture. Practice your hollow shape at home. See if you can rock back and forth like a boat in the water! |
Reverse push-up, Crab Shape.
This shape is another way to balance on hands and feet. It is an early version of abridge shape that children learn later. Supporting weight on hands and feet help strengthen the upper body and core muscles for all those upsidedown activities we like to do in gymnastics. You can practice walking like a crab forward, sideways, backwards and around in a circle. Balance like a crab and lift up one foot or one pincher (hand)! |
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Suggested equipment and resources
- Plastic fish, sea shells from craft stores like Michaels
- Beach Towels and beach balls – Target, Walmart, etc.
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Music and Finger Play |
Waves in the Sea
(To the Tune of: Wheels on the Bus)
The waves on the sea go up and down,
(raise and lower arms)
Up and down, up and down,
The waves on the sea go up and down
All day long
Additional Verses:
The shark in the sea goes snap snap snap..
(clap your hands)
The fish in the sea go swish swish swish..
(swish back and forth)
The boats in the sea go toot toot toot...
(make blowing horn motion)
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Fish Song
(to the tune “Skip to my Lou”)
Sing this as you go through the movements with the children
Fish, Fish
Swim up high
Fish Fish
Swim down low
Fish fish
Swim so fast
Fish fish
Swim so slow |
Five Little Seashells
Five little seashells sleeping on the shore
(Hold up 5 fingers, bending down one for each verse.)
Swish! went a big wave, and then there were four.
(Move arms, palms up, to make the waves.)
Four little seashells quiet as can be
Swish! went a big wave, and then there were three.
Three little seashells pearly and new
Swish! went a big wave, and then there were two.
Two little seashells having great fun
Swish! went a big wave, and then there was one.
One little seashell lying in the sun
Swish! went a big wave, and then there were none.
Five little seashells gone out to sea,
(Point out to sea.)
Wait until morning and they'll return to me.
(Point to self.) |
Catching a Fish
One, Two, Three, four, Five
(count fingers on left hand)
I caught a little fish alive
(catch fingers on right hand with left hand)
Why did you let it go?
(release fingers quickly)
Because it bit my fingers so.
(shake right hand)
Which finger did it bite?
The little finger on the right.
(point to little finger on right hand) |
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