Nursery Rhyme Lummi Stick Routines

by Kelly Pfeiffer

Nursery rhymes are ideal for lummi stick routines. Nursery rhymes are recited with rhythmic patterns which provide a steady beat for lummi stick movements. Because preschoolers are familiar with many nursery rhymes, they will be familiar with the rhythm patterns of each specific rhyme. When preschoolers know and can predict the pattern of each rhyme, they will be able to make better guesses about when lummi stick movements will change in each routine. Reciting nursery rhymes while learning lummi stick movements and routines blends the familiar with the unfamiliar for preschoolers and provides a healthy learning opportunity.

Teaching Lummi Stick Routines to Preschoolers

Learning rhythm and coordination skills takes time. Sit across from preschoolers so that all preschoolers are able to see your lummi stick movements. Preschoolers will learn the lummi stick movements and routines better when they can watch an adult do the movements at the same time they practice the movements. That means that the adult needs to have a set of lummi sticks too.

Do the Same Routines Over and Over

Preschoolers learn through repetition. Lummi stick routines teach the brain and body to work together which provides a fun and fit way for preschoolers to develop coordination skills. Learning rhythm skills increases gradually over a long period of time. Preschoolers will best benefit from doing the routines several times each week.

Preparation

What You Need. The adult teaching the routine needs two lummi sticks and each preschoolers needs two lummi sticks. (Learn about lummi sticks and how to purchase or make them in the article Lummi Sticks - Coordination Fitness Activity.)

Lummi Stick Position. The routines below are beginning level routines and are meant to be tapped while sitting down on the floor with legs crossed.

Lummi Stick Movements - Instructions.See the article Lummi Sticks - Coordination Fitness Activity for explanations of the lummi stick movements written to the side of each nursery rhyme phrase.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle little star (Cross Tap - 4 times)

How I wonder what you are (Front Tap - 4 times)

Up above the world so high (Cross Tap Overhead - 4 times)

Like a diamond in the sky (Cross Tap Overhead - 4 times)

Twinkle, twinkle little star (Cross Tap - 4 times)

How I wonder what you are (Front Tap - 4 times)

London Bridge

London Bridge (Cross Tap Overhead - 2 times)

Is

Falling down, falling down, falling down (Front Tap - 6 times)

London Bridge (Cross Tap - overhead 2 times)

Is

Falling down (Front Tap - 2 times)

My fair lady (Tap Shoulders – 4 times)

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory dickory dock (Front Tap – 3 times)

The mouse ran up the clock  (Cross Tap – 3 times)

The clock struck one (Cross Tap Overhead – 1 time)

The mouse ran down (Roll Sticks Around Each Other While Moving Hands Downward Towards the Floor)

Hickory dickory dock (Front Tap – 3 times)

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns (Cross Tap – 6 times)

One a penny (Front Tap - 2 times)

Two a penny (Side Tap - 2 times)

Hot cross buns (Cross Tap – 3 times)

If you have no daughters, give them to your sons (Cross Tap – 6 times)

One a penny (Front Tap - 2 times)

Two a penny (Side Tap - 2 times)

Hot cross buns (Cross Tap – 3 times)

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Side Tap - 4 times)

Gently down the stream (Front Tap - 4 times)

Merrily (Cross Tap Overhead – 1 time)

Merrily (Side Tap - 1 time)

Merrily (Cross Tap Overhead – 1 time)

Merrily (Side Tap - 1 time)

Life is but a dream (Front Tap - 4 times)

Baa, Baa Black Sheep

Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool? (End Tap in front – 7 times)

Yes sir, yes sir, (Tap Shoulders – 2 times)

Three bags full (Cross Tap - 3 times)

One for my master, one for my dame (Side Tap - 4 times)

One for the little boy who lives down the lane (Front Tap - 4 times)

Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool? (End Tap in front – 7 times)

Yes sir, yes sir, (Tap Shoulders – 2 times)

Three bags full (Cross Tap - 3 times)