December Action songs: Hava Nagila and the Reindeer Hokey Pokey

December Action Songs give us much needed breaks from rehearsing our program.

 Hava Nagila Dance -- of sorts ---

What Child Is This?/Hava Nagila  Jingle Cats Meowy Christmas
Seriously, I love the Jingle Cats. It's a silly CD, but a terribly creative one, and that makes me happy. Anybody can arrange Christmas music for traditional instruments. It takes an extra bit of genius to make it work with cats & dogs.

I use the second half of this track, so it starts right on the introduction to the Hava Nagila portion. Three year olds are generally not ready to dance the Hora, so we just do a fun, easy dance.

First 8 counts: holding hands, we walk to the right
Second 8 counts:  holding hands, we walk to the left
3rd -- We "scoop" our hands low as we move to the center & then stand up tall on 4 counts, then move backwards "scooping" low, and stand tall again.
4th -- repeat going in & out of the circle
on the "uru achim" we stomp our feet
last section of the song -- I am never sure how to choreograph! Yesterday we tried a modified skipping to the right & then to the left. I would love to do a step -kick, but it proved way too difficult last year.

(to teach this I sing the melody of the Hava Nagila using words like
"To the right, we're walking to the right, we're walking to the right, and now we'll go the other way--"
"To the left, we're walking to the left, we're walking to the left, and now listen to what I say"
"Scoop to the middle, stand up tall, Scoop to the back and stand up tall"  etc....

The Reindeer Hokey Pokey

Accom. the Hokey Pokey

Bill Evenhouse  The Folksinger Sings Songs for Children and Learners of English

This album offers many accompaniment tracks. I use this instrumental recording of the Hokey Pokey because it does not go too fast. The range is quite low for my voice -- I often speak/sing here & there to give my voice a break. It has a really long intro -- or no intro depending on how you look at it!

Because it's an accompaniment track, you could use it to make up all manner of Hokey Pokeys!
Here's how we use it:

You put your red nose in
Put your red nose out
Put your red nose in, and shake it all about
Do the Reindeer Hokey Pokey (at this we put our hands on top of our head like antlers)
And turn yourself about
That's what it's all about! (clapping)

Other verses:

Front hooves (both hands)
Back hoof (one foot)
Other hoof (other foot)
Antlers (hands on top of head)
Little Tail (hands held together behind back, wiggle for a little tail)
Whole Self