Song: The Spinning Song

An example of an activity one teacher created to help draw into the group a child who had previously isolated herself.  She and her classmates spent a lot of time spinning!

Materials

A guitar or autoharp is very nice with this song, otherwise clap the beat

Song: THE SPINNING SONG, by Gary Curtis Turchin

Two children spin with arms outstretched.
(Child’s name) and (Child’s name) are spinning, spinning
(Child’s name) and (Child’s name) are spinning, spinning
(Child’s name) and (Child’s name) are spinning, spinning
They are spinning around

Spinners might keep spinning but act dizzy and stumble around. Spinners fall down!
(Child’s name) and (Child’s name) are dizzy, dizzy
(Child’s name) and (Child’s name) are dizzy, dizzy
(Child’s name) and (Child’s name) are dizzy, dizzy
They are falling down

(Repeat with new spinners)

Procedures

1. Select two children to spin in the middle of the circle formed by the seated group of children. Instruct children in circle on how to hold out hands to protect spinners from colliding with circle.

2. Spinners keep spinning and falling while group sings the song.

3. Select two new spinners or let old spinner’s select new ones before sitting back down in circle.

4. Most everyone will probably want a turn spinning, so spinning in pairs only could take a long time. Try expanding the spinning groups to include all the boys, then all the girls ("All the girls are spinning, spinning," etc.), or tennis shoes, sandals, then hard shoes ("... are spinning, spinning"), or group spinners according to eye color, clothing color, or let children think of the new categories.