Awkward Opposites

What to do: With a group of children, sing the ‘Open Shut Them’ song (lyrics below, although there are many different variants and additions you are free to use) doing the associated actions (e.g., open your hands at the word open, and close your hands at the word shut). Once children are familiar with this song, likely after at least a few sessions of singing the song, teach children the opposite actions to the song. Again, this will likely take at least a few sessions to become comfortable and competent with, but continually aim at successful completion of the opposite actions with each singing.

Lyrics: Actions:
Open shut them, open shut them. Shut hands on ‘open’, and open hands on ‘shut’ Give a little clap, clap, clap. Snap fingers on ‘clap’ Open shut them, open shut them. Shut hands on ‘open’, and open hands on ‘shut’ Put them in your lap, lap, lap. Pat shoulders on ‘lap’

Big and small hands. Big and small hands. Close hands for ‘big’, spread hands wide for ‘small’ Big, big, big, big, small, small, small, small. Close hands for ‘big’, spread hands wide for ‘small’ [Repeat these two lines]

Fast and slow hands. Fast and slow hands. Roll hands slowly for ‘fast’, and roll hands quickly for ‘slow’ Fast, fast, fast, fast, slow, slow, slow, slow. Roll hands slowly for ‘fast’, and roll hands quickly for ‘slow’ [Repeat these two lines]

Loud and quiet. Loud and quiet. Sing the word ‘loud’ quietly, and the word ‘quiet’ loudly Loud, loud, loud, loud. Quiet, quiet. Sing the word ‘loud’ quietly, and the word ‘quiet’ loudly [Repeat these two lines]

Too easy? How to increase challenge: Increase the tempo of the song, so children have to decide and execute the actions more rapidly. Other songs for variety could be Upsy Down Town, or make your own. In each case, involve children in planning/composing the words and actions for the song to enhance interest and enthusiasm.

Ideal formation(s): Small group, large group, or individual.

What it does: This activity challenges children’s ability to resist the impulse to simply copy the lyrics, and instead exert control over the thinking and behaviour to do the requested actions. It also involve inhibiting a natural urge or response (to act in accordance with the lyrics) and instead behave in a different way.

Links to EYLF:

• Demonstrate an increasing capacity for self-regulation; Persist when faced with challenges and when first attempts are not successful (from Outcome 1.2)
• Persist even when they find a task difficult (from Outcome 4.1)
• Sing and chant rhymes, jingles and songs (from Outcome 5.2)
• Draw on memory of a sequence to complete a task (from Outcome 5.4)