Bus Song Gaps
What you need
- a rug or floor cushions to sit on, facing each other
How to do it
- Sit facing each other and sing a bus song they have heard many times, such as "The wheels on the bus go round and round", rolling your arms. See what they do.
- Sing it again and stop just before the last "round", arms still rolling.
- Whatever comes, a word, a sound or just their arms, sing on together.
- Do the same in later verses.
Why it matters
The actions go with the words, so rolling arms give a clue to the missing word.
What they're learning
- Song words
- Filling in a word from a song they know.
- Listening for the gap
- Hearing the song stop and knowing it is their turn.
- Actions with words
- The rolling arms and the word go together.
What to look for
Notice the word coming out just as their arms roll, right where the gap is.
A tip
Leave the gap a little longer than feels natural before you sing on. If nothing comes, sing the word yourself and carry on, so the song keeps going.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: keep to the first verse and leave the gap in the same place each time
Harder: let them choose the next verse and leave a gap at the end of each line
