Language focus: Rock, scissors, paper. 1, 2, 3. Right hand/left hand. Butterfly, snail, crab, lion.

Classroom benefits: Rock Scissors Paper Fingerplay #1 is mare than just a song. It's a GREAT little activity you can do anytime, anywhere...with one child or 100. It's simple, fun, and requires nothing more than your hands and your imagination.

Preparation: Before singing the song, practice making the hand gestures (rock, paper, and scissors) first. Make sure all of the children can make the gestures and then call out "ROCK" and get all of the kids to make a "rock" gesture. Continue calling out "ROCK" "SCISSORS" or "PAPER", challenging the kids to make the corresponding gesture as fast as they can. You can have the kids take turns calling out rock, scissors, or paper, too.

With slightly older kids (4 and over), spend a little bit more time practicing "right hand" and "left hand." You can say, "Show me your right hand!" (demonstrate holding up your right hand). "Show me your left hand!" (demonstrate holding up your left hand). "Right hand! Left hand! Right hand! Right hand! Right hand! Left hand!" etc.

Once the children show command of the gestures, you are ready to sing the song!

Lyrics and actions:

Rock scissors paper (Make rock, scissors, and paper gestures with your hands.)
Rock scissors paper (Make rock, scissors, and paper gestures with your hands.)
One, two, three (Count to three with your fingers.)
Play with me (Point to your chest with your thumbs.)
Right hand PAPER! (Place your right hand out flat.)
Left hand PAPER! (Place your left hand out flat.)
[playful music] (Connect your thumbs together and make a butterfly.)
It’s a BUTTERFLY! (Fly your butterfly up and down and all around…if you like, pause the music here and spend some time flying around the room!)

Rock scissors paper
Rock scissors paper
One, two, three
Play with me
Right hand ROCK!
Left hand SCISSORS!
[playful music] (Place the rock on top of the scissors , the rock becomes a snail shell and the scissors become the snail’s antennae.)
It’s a SNAIL! (Again, pause the music here if you like…have the snails crawl around the room and talk to each other…talk with your kids about snails!)

Rock scissors paper
Rock scissors paper
One, two, three
Play with me
Right hand SCISSORS!
Left hand SCISSORS!
[playful music] (The scissors become a crab’s pinchers. Hold them up to the side of your face and open and close your pinchers.)
It’s a CRAB! (Hold your pinchers up and walk around the room sideways!)

Rock scissors paper
Rock scissors paper
One, two, three
Play with me
Right hand PAPER!
Left hand PAPER!
[playful music] (Place your hands on both sides of the face to simulate a lion’s mane.)
Oh no! It’s a LION! (Growl and stalk around the room!)

Activities

Once children are familiar with this tune and activity, you don’t need to listen to the CD to play. It’s such a simple tune and such a simple activity, you can do it anywhere, anytime. Be creative…make up new combinations! This is a great little activity for focusing children’s attention.

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