Out Pops a Shoe, Now Dance It Too
Sitting in a circle with feet toward the middle, a made-up counting rhyme picks a shoe, and that shoe shows a dance that all the feet copy. It builds foot and ankle control and accepting a counting-out game where nobody is left out.
How to play
- Sitting in a circle with legs straight and feet in the middle, learn the rhyme: "Shiny shoe and shoe with lace, which shoe dances in this place? This one!" (1 min).
- The teacher taps one shoe on each word; the shoe where it ends shows a dance (tapping, circles, tiptoes) and all feet copy it with the same foot (1 min).
- Count out two more times; a child who has already danced crosses their legs so the rhyme lands on someone else, but keeps dancing with everyone (1 min).
- Now the last child chosen says the rhyme with the teacher, and one or two more shoes get picked and show dances with the other foot (1 min).
- Finish with all feet dancing at once: first fast like rain, then slow like snails, and finally still (1 min).
Rules
- The shoe that's picked is the boss.
- The other feet copy without standing up.
- Even after your turn, you keep dancing with everyone.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the teacher offers two dances and the chosen child points to one.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the chosen child makes up the dance and says which foot to use.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the chosen child says the rhyme for the next round, tapping the shoes themselves.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: if the feet don't move, the hand dances like a shoe and everyone copies it the same way.
- Autism: say before you touch their shoe, and respect it if they'd rather you point without touching.
- Visual impairment: the classmate next to them describes the dance and gently guides their foot.
Learning goals
- Move the foot and ankle in different ways with control.
- Copy a classmate's foot movements.
- Accept a counting-out game where nobody is eliminated.
Teacher tip
If someone is barefoot, the rhyme still works: "Sock so soft and shoe with lace." Count the words calmly so they can see the rhyme is fair.
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