Victor Stec Oct.

20, 2018

Campbell, P.S., & Scott-Kassner, C. (2013). Music in childhood: From preschool through the elementary

grades (4th ed.). Cenage Learning.

Visit a park or playground to observe the movement of children at play. What games do they play that
include songs and movement? What movements can older children perform for which younger
children have not mastered the coordination? Make a list of your observations regarding children’s
use of space, time and energy.

While I did not visit a park or playground, whenever walking to my bus stop going to school or
home, I pass behind a school where I often have the opportunity to observe the activities in which
children partake with one another. As it is a kindergarten to grade 8 schools there is a great difference
between behaviours of younger and older children. In respect to the activities they play and their social
comportment, I found that younger students tended to participate in games with friends of exact
gender. Therefore boys played with boys, girls with girls. This was less prevalent with older students
who were more open to playing with both genders, nevertheless cliques of solely boy and girl groups did
exist. Through what I observed, I would estimate that this gender based exclusivity became less evident
in students grades five and above. As for activities played, younger boys were more physically active
than girls, and more likely to play in sports, although both genders equally took interest in imaginative
role playing games, with boys particularly keen on themes of fighting and action. Both girls and boys
were fairly curious in exploring and playing in their surroundings, notably the underbrush which
surrounded the back of the school. Older boys, from what I observed, only partook in physically active
games and sports such as basketball, Red A, running games, soccer, volleyball etc. Older girls were also
more inclined to play sports with both female and male cohorts. I furthermore noticed that girls were
more open to standing in groups and talking to one another in contrast to boys who never did so. I did
not detect any singing games played, mostly activities with movement. I can confidently say that I
witnessed younger students less likely to play activities such as volleyball or basketball possibly as a
result of the difficulty surrounding the coordination needed to effectively play the sport. They typically
played running games or soccer which in contrast, was less so represented in older kids who partook in
more skill demanding activities.

Begin a collection of songs, including game, dance, and action songs that require or suggest
movement. Organise the songs chronologically according to the level of kinesthetic development
necessary to enable children to successfully perform them.

Johnny Works with One Hammer - Grade 1

London Bridge is Falling Down - Grade 1

Ring around the Rosie - Grade 1

Teady Bear - Grade 1

Leak Kanseng - Grades 1-2

Victor Stec Oct. 20, 2018

Kumalata Vista - Grade 1-2

Charlie over the Ocean - Grade 1-2

A Ram Sam Sam - Grades 1-2

You turn, I turn - Grades 1-3

Skip to My Lou - Grades 1-3

San Sereni - Grades 2-4

Alabama Girl - Grade 2-4

Pleeng Chang - Grades 2-4

La Raspa - Grades 3-5

Dance the Kolo - Grades 2-6

Tinikling - Grades 3-6

Many of the songs on this list appear in our class textbook although I likewise featured some
that we have performed in class. Game, dance and action songs are among those on the list ordered
chronologically by suggested grades with which they could be practiced. Features that determined my
choice of grade levels include difficulty of rhythm, melody and movements that accompany the songs.