“The Owl Chicken Bunny Song” Young children really enjoy this funny activity, which gets them moving in some very silly ways! It’s from my most recent book, “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Rhythm Instruments and More for Active Learning” (Gryphon House, 2015). Children should be standing in a circle. Make circles around your eyes with your […]
Tag Archives: action songs
April showers bring May flowers, as the saying goes. But here in New Jersey, the rain, in blatant disregard of both the calendar and corny old sayings, is still falling. No one’s a big fan of bad weather, but I’d argue that it’s particularly annoying for preschool teachers. Young children need to get outside every […]
All Aboard! Trains in Story and Song Trains are one of those things, like farm animals and dinosaurs, that young children don’t really have a lot of experience with, but they’re still fascinated by them. I guess most children are more likely to come into contact with trains. If you count subway trains. (But I […]
(This article appears in the October issue of TEMPO, the magazine of the NJ Music Educators Association.) Reinventing the Wheels on the Bus: Music Improvisation with Young Children Several years ago, I was presenting a workshop on rhythm instrument activities to a group of elementary music teachers. It was going well, the participants seemed interested […]
Here’s a fun blog post from my publisher, Gryphon House, about how music and movement activities promote muscle development. It includes an activity from my book “101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children,” called “Animal Footsteps.” Music Activities to Boost Language Development and More August 27, 2015 Music activities for preschoolers not only stimulate the brain […]
That time of year is almost here – September! It’s when early childhood teachers welcome new students – always an exciting and challenging time. It’s also when many of us start units on apples. They’re in season, and conveniently, they help children learn shapes (circles), colors (red, but sometimes green and yellow too), healthy eating, […]
Hi! I had a very fun chat with Anna Wilmoth, the wonderful Marketing Director at Gryphon House, about my career in early childhood music, my new book, and more. It appeared on the Gryphon House blog last week. You’ll find a lot more great early childhood information and resources at their website. KidsChat: Abigail Flesch […]
This article of mine is in this month’s issue of “Teachers Net Gazette.” Young Children Need These ACTIVE Music Activities! By Abigail Flesch Connors Includes 2 unique, upbeat and engaging active music activities you can easily adapt to your classroom or music program! From the author’s latest book, Shake, Rattle and Roll! Rhythm Instruments and […]
This article is in this month’s issue of Creativity Portal. “I Have an Idea!”: Creating Music and Dance with Young Children By Abby Connors | Updated 7/3/15 From the way young children react when they see me enter their classroom for a music enrichment class, you’d think I was driving an ice cream truck with […]
I’m so happy to announce the publication of my new book! ISBN: 9780876593493 Pages: 184 Publisher: Gryphon House Published: 06/01/15 Item Number: 10061 Shake, Rattle, and Roll Rhythm Instruments and More for Active Learning by Abigail Flesch Connors Music and movement go together like books and reading—they spread joy! It’s no secret that quiet doesn’t always […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 