Summer Dance Lesson 1

Resources for Summer Dance Lesson 1: Summer
Activity: ‘Penny in the Water’ (adapted from the traditional ‘Penny on the Water’)
In the nursery: Get the children into a circle. “One of my favourite thing to do in the summer is go swimming. Now we’re going to take turns going swimming but first you need to learn the special song.” Sing the song performing the actions described below using the ‘imaginary’ parachute. Take out the real parachute, place a soft fish toy (or other toy) on top and sing and perform the actions again, flinging the fish toy high up into the air as you say “Whee!” Repeat and then take the soft toy away. Choose a volunteer to be the first swimmer. They hide under the parachute and jump up at the end as the parachute is lifted. Make sure to substitute ‘Penny’ with the child’s name.
If there are more than 12 children in your class, select two or three children to hide under the parachute at once. Use the following lyrics. Children in the water, children in the sea. Up jumps a little fish and up jumps me.
At home: As above only use a scarf or other piece of material (tea towel, muslin etc.) instead. You hold two corners of the scarf and your child holds the other two corners, so it’s nice and flat/horizontal. Sing the song and move it from side to side to the pulse, then lift it up high as you say “Whee!”. Place a soft fish toy (or other soft toy) on top and repeat. Next, your child hides their face as they sing the song and then they pull down the scarf to reveal their face as they say “Whee!”.
Words
Penny in the water, (move the parachute from side to side to the pulse) Penny in the sea. (as above)
Up jumps a little fish, (as above)
And up jumps she/he. (as above)
Whee! (the children in the circle lift the parachute up high) Other Ideas!
1. Try the activities at a slow tempo for “slow fish” and at a faster tempo for “fast fish”.
2. Ask the children which other activities they like to do in the summer. Play some upbeat music and move around the room as you act out performing the various activities. E.g. Bike riding,
running, building sandcastles, jumping over waves, hiking etc.
EYFS Aims
PSED (MR), (SC/SA) & (F/B)
To take turns hiding under the parachute and jumping up
PSED (MR), CL (LA) & UW (PC)
To play a game that involves learning each other’s names
PSED (MR) & PD (MH)
To work cooperatively, make good eye contact and move in sync with each other and the parachute
PD (MH)
To develop fine motor skills through gripping onto the parachute, gross motor manipulative skills through moving it as instructed and locomotor skills through jumping up
CL (LA) & (S)
To develop listening, attention and speech through singing
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