The Grand Old Duke of York Marches
Kids march like the Duke's soldiers to the traditional "The Grand Old Duke of York": stretch tall on "up," crouch on "down," and hover on "halfway up." It warms up the legs and practices responding to cues.
How to play
- Teach the three moves: tiptoes for "up," squat for "down," bent knees for "halfway" (1 min).
- March freely to the drum, knees high (1 min).
- Sing while marching and change height on each word (2 min).
- March in a line behind the teacher-Duke over an imaginary hill (1 min).
- Finish with a slow march and a soldier salute (1 min).
Rules
- March without bumping, eyes forward.
- On "up" or "down," change height and keep your feet moving.
- The Duke leads and everyone follows.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only "up" and "down," marching in place.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add "halfway up" and march around the yard.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child becomes the Duke and chooses the path.
Adaptations
- For wheelchair users, "up" is arms up, "down" arms down, "halfway" arms straight out.
- For deaf or hard-of-hearing kids, the teacher shows the height with a hand everyone can see.
- Children who feel crowded in line can march beside the teacher.
Learning goals
- March coordinating arms and legs.
- Change level on a word cue.
- Enjoy a traditional English singing game.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Tambourine: 1
Teacher tip
Sing slowly and exaggerate "halfway"—it's the trickiest. A strong drumbeat keeps marching from turning into running.
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