“Wiggly Wiggly Wormies”

I just invented this activity recently after a 
class of four-year-olds got very excited talking
about a worm they saw outside! I think that
almost all young children are fascinated by
worms and their wiggliness, whether they
think worms are cute or yukky!

The group should be standing in a circle
holding out their hands, palms down. Wiggle
your fingers as you sing to the tune of “London
Bridge”:

     Wiggly, wiggly clap, clap, clap,
(clap on “clap”)
     Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap,
Wiggly, wiggly (wiggle fingers)
     Clap, clap, clap, (clap)
     Wiggly, wiggly wormies!
(Wiggle fingers, and on “wormies,” wiggle
          them outward to be like wiggly worms)

Continue, substituting different actions for the
clapping. You could stomp, jump, nod, or kick,
for example. Then ask your students for their
ideas for different actions. One girl today had
a fantastic idea – “grow, grow, grow” – where 
she scrunched down a bit, then “grew” and 
“grew” up. Isn’t that original? One of the most
fun parts of working with young children is 
hearing their amazing ideas!