If You're Happy and You Know It, Jump
With the traditional "If You're Happy and You Know It" we do actions (clap, stomp, jump) and switch feelings: stomp when angry, yawn when sleepy. Kids express emotions through movement.
How to play
- Show the feelings cards: happy, angry, scared, sleepy (2 min).
- Sing the classic version: clap, stomp, shout hooray (2 min).
- Swap actions for jumps, spins and arms up (3 min).
- Hold up a card and sing that feeling: "if you're angry… stomp your feet," "if you're sleepy… stretch and yawn" (3 min).
- End with "if you're calm" and take big breaths (2 min).
Rules
- Stay in your own spot.
- Listen for the feeling before moving.
- Every feeling is OK to show.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just happy and sleepy with simple actions.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, four feelings with cards.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child picks a feeling and the group invents the move.
Adaptations
- Seated children express feelings with faces, arms and claps.
- For autistic children, the face cards help recognize each feeling.
- For blind or low-vision kids, describe the feeling aloud with an example move.
Learning goals
- Recognize and name basic feelings.
- Express feelings through gestures and movement.
- Coordinate movement with singing.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Feelings face cards: 4
Teacher tip
Always follow "angry" with a calm feeling. Ask "what do you do when you're mad?" and turn it into a verse.
PatioLab has "If You're Happy and You Know It, Jump" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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