Grade 1 Music Performing Songs – Singing games Notes
Music — Performing Songs
Subtopic: Singing games (for age 6 — Kenya)
- Sing short, simple songs clearly and in time 🎶
- Follow a leader and take turns (call-and-response)
- Move safely while singing (clapping, stepping, passing)
- Use simple Swahili and English words to join in
Start with a short warm-up to get voices ready:
- Take deep breaths together: “Sawa – in, out” (breathe in through nose, out through mouth) 🌬️
- Hum quietly: mmm mmm (slide up and down once) to wake the voice
- Clap 4 steady beats: clap-clap-clap-clap, repeat 👏
1. Circle Song (Ring and sing)
Children hold hands in a circle and sing a short line while walking slowly. At the end of the verse, everyone sits or curtsies.
Example (Swahili & English):
Swahili: “Twende twende, twende sasa, tukicheka pamoja, huuu!”
English: “Let’s go, let’s go, we play today, we laugh together, yay!” 🎉
Teacher tip: One child leads the song (or the teacher). Keep the steps small so everyone moves safely.
2. Call-and-Response (Echo game)
Teacher or a child sings a short line, the class repeats it back like an echo. Use Swahili and English for learning words.
Example:
Leader: “Jambo! Jambo!” — Children: “Jambo! Jambo!” 👋
Variation: Use a drum or clap pattern for the leader and children repeat the rhythm.
3. Echo Clapping (Rhythm repeat)
Teacher claps a short pattern (e.g., clap–clap–pause–clap). Children echo. Then children make patterns for the class to repeat.
Use: simple 4-beat patterns. Say the words while clapping: “Clap-clap-rest-clap” 👏
Helps: listening, steady beat, and team work.
4. Pass-the-Scarf Singing Game
Children sit in a circle and pass a colorful scarf while singing a short song. When the teacher stops singing, the child holding the scarf does a safe action (wave, shout “Jambo!”).
Song idea: “Pass the scarf, pass it slow, pass to friend, hello hello!” 🎈
Safety: Use soft scarf and remind children to sit while passing.
5. Freeze Song (Musical Statues)
Play a short song. Children dance or move in place. When the music stops, children freeze like statues. Restart and repeat.
Use easy words: “Dance, dance, freeze!” or “Cheza, cheza, simama!” ❄️
- Small drum or tambourine (ngoma rhythm) 🥁
- Scarves or small soft toys for passing 🎈
- Colored cards for taking turns (one color = your turn)
- Use short lines and repeat them often. Children learn by hearing the same words again and again.
- Mix Swahili and English — this helps bilingual learners. Example: “Twende, let’s go!”
- Encourage soft, clear singing. Praise every try: “Asante! Nzuri!”
- Keep games short (3–5 minutes) so children stay interested.
- Notice shy children — give them small parts (clap once, echo one word) to build confidence.
What to look for: Can the child sing one line, follow a clap pattern, and move safely?
- Give simple checks: “Sing the line” / “Clap the pattern” / “Freeze when music stops.”
- Ensure safe space: clear floor, no running indoors, soft props only.
Sing, move, and smile — cheza na kuimba! 🙂