Old MacDonald's Moving Farm

We sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" and move like each verse's animal: slow, heavy cows, waddling ducks, galloping horses, pigs on all fours. Kids practice a range of locomotor moves and sounds.

How to play

1. The teacher shows animal pictures and how each one moves (2 min).
2. Sing seated, making only the animal sounds (2 min).
3. Sing standing; on each "here a… there a…" move like the animal around the yard (4 min).
4. A child picks the next animal card and the group invents its movement (2 min).
5. Finish as a very slow cow walking back to the barn to lie down (2 min).

Rules

• Use the whole space without bumping.
• When the verse ends, freeze like an animal statue.
• Everyone moves like the animal their own way.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users move at different speeds for each animal and make the sound.
• For blind or low-vision kids, the animal sound signals the change and a buddy walks with them.
• For autistic children, picture cards in order help them anticipate.

Learning goals

• Practice varied locomotor movements.
• Link animals with ways of moving.
• Learn a traditional English song.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Animal pictures: 6

Teacher tip

Pick animals with very different moves (gallop, crawl, slow steps). When piling up verses, go slow or it turns into fun chaos.

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