5 Outdoor Activities with a Musical Twist

Do you ever do music outside?

I have taught many music time sessions outside.  Here are 5 different activities that have a musical element that you may like to try.

1. Bubbles

Bubbles are great to use outside as the wind will blow them and the children really enjoy watching them.  Here is a song I have written:

Bubbles to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle.

Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere Can you catch them in the air? See them floating round and round Quick! before they hit the ground Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere Can you catch them in the air?

2. Minibeast themed songs/rhymes

Maybe go on minibeast hunts looking for bees, butterflies and caterpillars.  You could follow this up by singing ‘Tiny caterpillar on a leaf’ (words and tune below) and/or 'On my foot there is a bee'; below you can sign up for FREE access to the activity plan, MP3 and video to help you learn this song. 

Words: (tune: she’ll be coming round the mountain)

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf , wiggle wiggle,

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf , wiggle wiggle,

There’s a tiny caterpillar, tiny caterpillar,

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf , wiggle wiggle.

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full, munch munch,

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full, munch munch,

He will eat the leaves around him, eat the leaves around him,

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full, munch munch,

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home, spin spin

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home, spin spin

A cocoon is what he’s spinning, a cocoon is what he’s spinning,

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home, spin spin.

Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away, flap flap,

Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away, flap flap,

Then he’ll be a butterfly, be a butterfly,

Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away, flap flap,

3. Pony trotting rhymes 

If you have hobby horses you could use these.  Here is a picture of the ones that I use.  'Horsey horsey' is always a favourite song.  I use these inside too but when the children have had the chance to use them outside it is great as they are not so restricted by space!

Horsey horsey don’t you stop

Just let your feet go clippety-clop

Your tail goes swish and the wheels go round

Giddy up, we’re homeward bound.

Tune:

4. Water activities

Use a water tray or, if you are able to, let the children go into paddling pools.  Whilst enjoying the water sing water-themed songs e.g. . Row, row, row your boat

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream

Rock, rock rock your boat

Gently to and fro

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Into the water we go. SPLASH!

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

If you see a crocodile

Don’t forget to scream ARGHHH!

Tune:

5. Parachute

There are lots of songs and pieces of music that can be sung and played whilst using a parachute.  The benefit of using it outside is that there is more space and you can use the wind to make the parachute balloon up. 

You could sing the song 'Five little ducks' whilst bouncing pictures of ducks or, if you have them, toy ducks on the parachute.  Start with 5 and remove one for each verse until the final verse where they all appear again.  

Five little ducks went swimming one day,

Over the hills and far away.

Mummy duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”

But only four little ducks came back.

Four, Three, Two, One

One little duck went swimming one day,

Over the hills and far away.

Mummy duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”

And five little ducks came back.

Tune:

 If you would like more ideas about using a parachute, please take a look at my online training course Parachutes, Lycra and Friendship Ring: https://www.musicintheearlyyears.com/parachute-lycra-and-friendship-ring

Whether you decide to do any of the above or not give outside music a try, as it is great fun! 

Happy music making!