Receptive language, Expressive language, Awareness of differences in sounds
A young infant participates in a caregiver-led nursery rhyme with hand movements.
None
Be Prepared: Be familiar with the lyrics and tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
[Place the infant on his/her back in a secure, comfortable, reclining position. Ensure the infant can clearly see you. Smile and encourage the infant to make eye contact with you.]
I have a song to share with you! It is fun to sing a song!
[Pause for and acknowledge the infant’s response. Example: “You are smiling. I think you want to hear our song.”]
Our song is about a star. I am going to move my hands like they are a star in the song! You can listen to the song and watch my hands. Are you ready for our song?
[Maintain eye contact with the infant and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” slowly. Move your hands in pronounced, simple ways that correspond with the words of the song. Open and close your fingers rhythmically to represent twinkling stars. Raise your hands and gently wave them back and forth when you sing “up above the world so high.”
After one round of the song, describe the infant’s reactions. Example: “You watched my hands pretend to be twinkling stars! Look, now my hands are up high! The stars are twinkling high in the sky.”
Repeat the song and movements if the infant remains engaged. Encourage the infant to do a simple hand or arm action(s), such as move his/her hands and/or raise his/her arms.]
[Describe what happened during the activity. Example: “I sang a song about a star. You watched my hands pretend to be twinkling stars. Then you moved your hand! This is a fun song to share together!”]
Receptive language, Expressive language, Awareness of differences in sounds
Older infants participate together in a caregiver-led nursery rhyme with hand movements.
None
Be Prepared: Be familiar with the lyrics and tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
Invite 2–3 infants to join you for a song. Sit facing infants and introduce the song. Example: “Our song is about a star. The star is twinkling. We can pretend our hands are twinkling stars. (Open and close hands several times.) Some of us may know this song!”
Sing one round of the song slowly with corresponding hand actions. Smile and maintain eye contact with the infants throughout. Acknowledge infants’ reactions to the song and motions.
Invite infants to help you with another round of the song. Example: “Let’s all pretend to have twinkling stars! We can open and close our hands like this.” (Demonstrate.) Repeat the song slowly, encouraging infants to imitate your motions of opening and closing your hands. Some infants may imitate you by raising their hands during the song. Others may focus on the act of opening and closing their hands.
Describe and respond to gestures and/or vocalizations. Examples: “Noah, you are pretending your hands are twinkling stars! You are opening and closing your hands.” “Victoria, you said ‘star!’ Our song is about a twinkling star!”
Infants enjoy familiar songs, especially when offered with enthusiastic facial expressions. Some older infants may imitate some of your hand movements or begin to move up their arms when you sing and demonstrate “above.” Watch for and acknowledge small hand or arm movements that seem related to the song. Younger infants especially cannot be expected to make a “twinkle” action with their fingers, although they are likely to enjoy watching you do so. Infants may vocalize with cooing, babbling, and later saying one of the rhyme’s words. Others may listen to your voice and watch your movements. Positively recognize different forms of participation.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: several caged bells
Provide bells for infants to manipulate during a follow-up offering of the activity plan’s song and other nursery rhymes. Show and describe how to make a sound with a bell. Point to your ear as you describe “listen,” “hear,” or “sound.” Infants may want to repeat songs. Older infants may be interested in making different bell sounds at different tempos.
Materials Needed: Sign and Sing Along: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Annie Kubler
Share the book with a mixed-age gathering of children as a complement to the activity options for infants. Encourage toddlers and older children to try the signs described in the book. Younger infants and toddlers will enjoy listening and watching as you share the book. Infants may enjoy holding a caged bell or rattle during the activity.
© 2024 The Trustees of Purdue University | All Rights Reserved