Penguin Action Song and Dance for Winter Activities

It’s winter and a penguin action song and dance is just what you need for any of your winter activities. Kids love penguins and they love to dance with them.

So I hope you can use this fun penguin action song and dance for a winter brain break. Perfect for a snowy and or rainy day or a day when you’ve got the flu! I know your children will adore this penguin action song all winter long!

PENGUIN ACTION SONG AND DANCE

“Penguins on the Ice” is an original song by Sandra Hendrickson or “Ms. Sandra” on the Sing Play Create Kids Music Channel.

[svp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvC0bv_0feA[/svp]

You can find this song on all of your favorite music channels too!

Click on the Picture to get the links to Apple, Amazon and Spotify Music Channels

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MOVEMENT FOR CHILDREN

Movement is a key element to healthy child development. Physical activity supports growth in motor skills, coordination, and cognitive development. It also enhances emotional well-being and promotes social skills as children interact and play together. For parents, caregivers, and teachers, integrating movement into daily routines is a simple yet powerful way to nurture a child’s holistic development. Whether at home or in the classroom, movement-based activities can inspire joy and creativity while fostering essential developmental skills.

One of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to introduce movement is through pretend play. Children love to mimic the world around them, and pretending to be animals is always a hit. Among all the animals children enjoy imitating, penguins often top the list! Their distinctive waddle, playful slides, and group-oriented behavior make them a fun and engaging subject for movement activities. I personally love watching children transform into penguins as they mimic waddling, sliding on their tummies, and even pretending to catch fish.

To make this kind of imaginative play even more engaging, I created a song called “Penguins on the Ice.” This action song is designed to provide a fun, structured way for children to move their bodies while learning important skills. It’s a perfect brain break or activity song for classrooms, homes, and daycare centers. The song encourages children to move in different directions, helping them develop spatial awareness and gross motor skills.

Why Directional Movement Matters

Directional movement is a foundational skill for young children. Learning to move left, right, up, down, and around helps children build coordination and spatial awareness, both of which are essential for more advanced physical activities and academic tasks. For instance, understanding directions is crucial when learning to read and write, as children must navigate left-to-right text and position letters correctly on a page. It also supports math skills, such as understanding patterns, shapes, and geometry.

“Penguins on the Ice” emphasizes these directional movements. The lyrics guide children to waddle left and right, slide forward and backward, and spin around like penguins playing on icy terrain. These actions are not only fun but also help reinforce the meaning of directional words through physical activity. By associating these movements with specific words, children can better understand and remember the concepts.

Gross Motor Skill Development

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body and are essential for activities like running, jumping, and climbing. These skills are critical for children’s overall physical development and independence. “Penguins on the Ice” provides a fantastic opportunity for children to practice these skills in a playful and engaging way.

The waddle movement, for example, strengthens leg muscles and improves balance. Sliding forward and backward encourages coordination and builds core strength. Spinning around challenges balance and spatial orientation, helping children develop a sense of where their bodies are in space. These movements collectively support physical development while keeping children active and engaged.

The Role of Music in Movement Activities

Music adds an extra layer of engagement to movement activities. It captures children’s attention, sets a rhythm for their movements, and creates a sense of fun and excitement. Songs with simple, repetitive lyrics are especially effective for young children, as they can easily follow along and anticipate what comes next.

The “Penguins on the Ice” song is designed with these principles in mind. The melody is upbeat and catchy, encouraging children to move energetically. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, making it easy for children to sing along and remember the movements. By combining music and movement, the song engages multiple senses, which enhances learning and retention.

How to Use “Penguins on the Ice” in Different Settings

One of the best things about “Penguins on the Ice” is its versatility. It can be used in a variety of settings, including:

Classrooms: Use the song as a brain break to give children a chance to release energy and refocus on their lessons. It’s also a great addition to music or physical education classes.
Homes: Parents can use the song as a fun indoor activity on rainy days or as part of a daily routine to encourage active play.
Daycare Centers: The song is perfect for group activities, helping children learn to move together and follow instructions.

To make the activity even more engaging, consider using props such as scarves to represent fish or mats to create icy slides. You can also incorporate storytelling elements, such as imagining a journey across the icy tundra or a day in the life of a penguin.

Incorporating Literacy Skills

The video for “Penguins on the Ice” includes the song lyrics, providing an opportunity for children to practice reading while they move. For kindergarten and older children, following along with the lyrics can reinforce sight word recognition and improve reading fluency. Younger children can benefit from hearing the words and associating them with actions, which supports language development.

Encourage children to point to the words as they sing or highlight directional words like “left,” “right,” and “round” to reinforce their meaning. This multisensory approach—combining music, movement, and reading—enhances learning by engaging different parts of the brain.

Tips for Success

To get the most out of the “Penguins on the Ice” activity, keep these tips in mind:

Create a Safe Space: Ensure there’s enough room for children to move freely without bumping into each other or furniture.
Demonstrate Movements: Show children how to waddle, slide, and spin before starting the song. This helps them understand what to do and builds their confidence.
Encourage Participation: Make the activity inclusive by adapting movements for children with different abilities. For example, children who use wheelchairs can move their arms to mimic a penguin’s wings.
Repeat the Activity: Repetition helps children master new skills. Encourage them to do the song multiple times, adding variations like faster tempos or different movement patterns to keep it interesting.
Celebrate Effort: Praise children for their participation and creativity. Positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and encourages them to keep trying.

Extending the Activity

For a more comprehensive learning experience, consider extending the “Penguins on the Ice” activity with related themes and activities:

Science Exploration: Teach children about real penguins, their habitats, and their behaviors. Show pictures or videos of penguins in the wild and discuss how they stay warm, find food, and care for their young.
Art Projects: Have children create penguin-themed crafts, such as painting pictures of penguins or making penguin masks to wear during the song.
Storytime: Read books about penguins, such as Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester or Penguin Problems by Jory John, to tie in literacy skills and spark imagination.
Math Games: Incorporate counting and patterns by having children count their waddles or create sequences of movements (e.g., waddle-waddle-spin).

Conclusion

Movement is an essential part of healthy child development, and songs like “Penguins on the Ice” make it easy to incorporate physical activity into daily routines. By combining music, movement, and learning, this action song supports gross motor development, spatial awareness, and literacy skills while providing a joyful and engaging experience for children. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or teacher, “Penguins on the Ice” is a wonderful tool to inspire active play and foster a love of learning.

PENGUIN ACTION SONG LYRICS

“Penguins on the Ice” action song is going to be a classroom favorite!

SONG: Penguins on the Ice
By Sandra Hendrickson

1 Penguins to the left. Penguins to the right.
Flippers up and flippers down penguins on the ice.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
NOW SPIN!

2
Swimming to the left. Swimming to the right.
Flippers up and flippers down penguins on the ice.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
NOW SPIN!

3
Jumping to the left Jumping to the right.
Flippers up and flippers down penguins on the ice.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
NOW SPIN!
4 Diving to the left. Diving to the right.
Flippers up and flippers down penguins on the ice.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle slide.
NOW SPIN!

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