ACTIVITY The Woodpecker Rap By Rae Pica An Activity for Preschoolers This activity offers an opportunity for the children to practice their rhythmic and listening skills. Curriculum Area Music and Dramatic Play Before You Start Talk to the children about woodpeckers and the fact that they use their very strong beaks to peck at the bark or wood of trees to dig holes for their nests and to drill for insects. Let's Begin 1. Explain to the kids that they’re going to pretend to be woodpeckers drilling at trees and they’ll “peck” in, echoing responses to the rhythms you set. For instance, if you clap four times at a slow tempo, the children use their heads to peck four times at the same tempo. 2. Repeat each pattern at least once, at a slightly faster pace. 3. Choose rhythm groupings according to the age and experience of the children you’re working with. Generally speaking, the younger the age group, the shorter and slower the rhythms should be. Furthermore An alternative is to use rhythm sticks or wooden blocks and striking tools to echo the patterns.   Picture of woodpecker

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