Allowing students to sing and move around helps them to put their energy to positive use.
The first few actions of your morning can set the tone for the rest of the day ahead. This is true for children as well. Whether you are a parent or a teacher, you can use silly good morning songs to introduce the new day with a positive start. Singing good morning songs with children is an effective way to accomplish multiple goals, such as setting comforting routines, reminding children of responsibilities and simply allowing children to have fun.
Instructions
1. Adapt the well-known song "If You're Happy and You Know It" to be a good morning song that allows kids to move and use some excess energy. This can help the children to be more capable of sitting still later. In order to adapt the song, simply change some verses or add verses such as, "If you're happy and you know it, say 'Good morning!'" Some other phrases to add at the end of the "if you're happy and you know it" tag are: "shake a hand," "give a smile" and "pat a back."
2. Set a positive, cooperative tone by using a silly song in which children compliment each other. One way to do this is to play silly music in the background as the children dance around the room. When the music stops, the kids must freeze; when you say "Compliment!", the students must offer a compliment to at least one other person in the room. Do this for several minutes, or until everyone has received at least one compliment.
3. Offer attention to each child in the room by using a silly song that employs the name of each child. Have your students sit in a circle. Sing (to the tune of Happy Birthday), "Good morning to you, good morning to you; Good morning, good morning, good morning..." followed by a child's name. When that child's name is sung, he can do a dance or play a classroom instrument. Continue around the circle until you've sung to each child.
4. Create a sense of enthusiasm about the day by adapting the song, "If You're Happy and You Know It." Begin with the verse, "If you're awake and you know it...," followed by an action, such as "clap your hands" or "do a dance." Continue the song with the verses, "If you're happy and you know it," and "If you're excited and you know it."
