Cat, Hat, Bat: Rhymes With Moves
The teacher starts a made-up rhyme with a gesture, and children finish it with the rhyming word and their own move: "A cat in a... hat!" They practice hearing rhymes and expressing meaning through movement.
How to play
- In a circle, say "cat, hat, bat" with a gesture for each; repeat and notice that they sound the same at the end (2 min).
- Say "A frog jumped onto a..." while hopping like a frog, and children finish "log!" by lying stiff as a log (2 min).
- Keep going: "A bee up in a... tree!" (stretch tall like branches), "A goat sailing a... boat!" (rowing) (3 min).
- Around the room: the teacher just does the first animal's move and says the line; everyone completes the rhyme and acts it out (3 min).
- Together, invent a rhyme for a classmate ("Jake likes to... shake!") and we all do it (3 min).
Rules
- I wait for the teacher to finish before I say the rhyme.
- Every word gets a move.
- Any rhyme that sounds right counts, even silly ones.
Variations
Easier
Age 3: the same three rhymes repeated several times.
Standard
Age 4: new rhymes completed with help from a picture.
Harder
Age 5: children invent the second half and its move, even if the word is unexpected.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: all gestures can be done with arms and face.
- Hearing impairment: show two pictures for each rhyme, the start and the rhyming word.
- Autism: let them copy the teacher's move without having to invent one.
Learning goals
- Recognize words that rhyme.
- Complete simple rhymes.
- Express word meanings with the body.
Teacher tip
Say the first part with a strong rhythm and stop dead before the rhyme; that pause makes them jump in. Kids love silly rhymes, so let them through.
PatioLab has "Cat, Hat, Bat: Rhymes With Moves" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
"Al Pasar la Barca" Parachute Rowing
Sitting around the parachute, children row by pulling the fabric toward them and letting it go toward the middle to the rhythm of the traditional Spanish song "Al pasar…
"Corro de la Patata" Parachute Circle
Children circle with the parachute while singing the traditional Spanish song "Al corro de la patata" (Potato Circle), and on "achupé, achupé" everyone sits down…
"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down).
"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain
Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as…
«A la Zapatilla por Detrás»: The Slipper Behind Your Back
Sitting in a circle with eyes covered, one child walks around the outside with a slipper singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «A la zapatilla por detrás» («the…
«A Tapar la Calle»: The Chain That Blocks the Street
Half the class forms a hand-in-hand chain that walks forward singing the traditional Spanish song «A tapar la calle» («Block the street so nobody passes»), while the…