Following Directions Rhyme Activities

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  Once children begin school they will find many adults expecting them to follow directions. It's an important skill for safety, classroom management, understanding rules, and being able to follow through on a lesson. Learning to follow directions begins at home. Think of your child as your student. Learning to follow directions can be a fun, enjoyable process when approached with consistency and pre-planned activities. The following article is an excerpt from my book, The Pringle Plan For Following Directions, where you will find many more tips and activities.

Rhyme Activities  

    Each activity page tells what the teacher should say and instruct.  Unless otherwise noted, all activities are designed to be done while standing in place.  The words in italics explain how to demonstrate the directions. At times you may need to explain what you are doing, as you demonstrate.  Students will be using their imaginations while acting out the directions. You will find you need to explain less, and less with each repetition of an activity. How many times you repeat an activity, depends on how quickly your students learn to follow your directions.  Ultimately, you want your students to be able to follow your directions without the demonstration. Remember that many children need a lot of repetition, before they fully comprehend what it is you want them to do.  You may need to take time to explain vocabulary, as well as point out subtle differences in vocabulary such as the difference between toss and throw. Some students may at first be confused by the nonsense words, however once you explain that they don’t mean anything, they will have fun identifying nonsense words vs. real words. For students still developing their articulation skills, you may want to emphasize either the beginning or ending sounds. Your demonstration of the directions will be especially helpful to visual learners. Using a positive tone, with a pleasant facial expression will motivate students to participate in these engaging activities. 

Beginner Level – Best for Pre-K and Early Kindergarten

   The following two activities are from the first section of my book where you will find fifteen Following Directions Rhyme Activities appropriate for Pre-K students, as well as kindergartners who are going to school for the first time, or are just coming back after having the summer off.   

ACTION

   Students will first repeat the word you have instructed them to say. Then they will listen to your instruction and watch you demonstrate the action before performing the action themselves.   All actions are done while standing in place. Demonstrate while instructing, until students can follow with just the verbal instruction.

Say band. Now stand. (feet together, hands at sides)

Say rise. Now exercise. (jumping jacks)

Say fun. Now run. (run in place)

Say talk. Now walk. (walk in place)

Say parch. Now march. (march in place)

Say tip. Now skip. (skip in place)

Say top. Now hop. (small hop, in place)

Say bump. Now jump. (jump higher)

Say Vick. Now kick. (like you’re kicking a kickball)

Say boss. Now toss. (pretend to toss ball underhanded)

Say low. Now throw. (pretend to throw ball overhanded)

Say burn. Now turn. (spin whole body all the way around one time)

Say fling. Now swing. (one step forward and back, swinging arms in same direction)

Say bay. Now sway. (one step to side and back, swinging arms in same direction)

Say guide. Now ride. (squat like your sitting in a car, bounce lightly)

Say buy. Now fly. (arms spread to sides, sway upper body)

Say prance. Now dance. (freestyle in place)

Say fir. Now stir. (pretend to hold bowl in one arm and stir with other hand)

Say door. Now pour. (pretend to hold bowl and pour into baking dish)

Say make. Now bake. (pretend to slide baking dish into oven)

Say beat. Now eat. (pretend to bite into brownie and chew)

Say brink. Now drink. (pretend to drink glass of water)

Say book. Now look. (hold hands around eyes like binoculars)

Say glisten. Now listen. (cup ear with hand)

Say baste. Now taste. (pretend to lick finger)

Say bell. Now smell. (cup hand under nose and sniff)

Say such. Now touch. (hold one hand, back side up, and touch with opposite index finger)

Say wrist. Now twist. (bend arms at waist and twist upper body side to side)

Say bush. Now push. (one foot forward, hold hands in front and pretend to push a car)

Say full. Now pull. (one foot back, pretend to hold rope and pull)

Say pit. Now sit. (in chair, on floor, or in next activity area, depending on the daily routine you want to teach)

ART

 All actions are done while standing in place. Demonstrate while instructing, until students can follow with just the verbal instruction.

Say hand. Now please stand. (feet together, hands at sides)

Say free-ative. Let’s be creative. (nod yes)

Say vapor. Now get a piece of paper. (pretend to reach for paper and set in front of you)

Say wencil. Now draw with a pencil. (pretend to draw)

Say ner-aser. Sometimes you need an eraser. (pretend to erase)

Say voice. Now make a choice. (while students stand in place, walk around pretending to hold out crayons for students to point to and choose)

Say nayon. Now color with a crayon. (continue to act out)

Say ricture. What a beautiful picture. (nod and smile)

Say leazel. Put some paper on the easel. (continue to act out)

Say prush. Pick up a brush.

Say taint. Use it to paint.

Say gaintings. I always like your paintings. (nod and smile)

Say straw-ject. Let’s make a craft project. (nod yes)

Say selections. Now listen and follow directions. (fold hands to show ready, eyes on teacher)

Say dizzors.  Now cut with scissors. (hold out two fingers, make cutting motion)

Say blue. Hold together with glue. (act out according to the type and amount of glue you teach your students to use)

Say care. Be kind and share. (pretend to hand something to neighbor)

Say day. Let’s make something with clay. (nod yes)

Say bit. Roll it, cut it, sculpt it. (act out)

Say wit. Flatten it, stamp it, pinch it.

Say muh-zine. It’s fun to make your own design. (hold arms over head in victory stance)

Say tup. Now clean up. (pretend to pick up, wipe, and sweep)

Say zelf. Now compliment yourself. (pat self on back)

Say frown. Now please sit down. (in chair, on floor, or in next activity area, depending on the daily routine you want to teach)

The Pringle Plan For Following Directions, Laura S. Pringle

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 The Pringle Plan is a series of educational guides.

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