Tips for co-operative learning in a Boogie Mites class | Blog | Boogie Mites

Tips for co-operative learning in a Boogie Mites class

Early Years settings place a great emphasis on co-operative learning and so I  wanted to pass on some things I have beem doing to encourage co-operative learning

 1.  Boogie Mites Row Row Row Your Boat song 

Ask the children to find a friend: sometimes they will arrange themselves in pairs but often they will be in 3s or 4s which is fine. Go through the different animals in the song, giving each animal its sound and action. Then begin the song and encourage the children to try and row in time to the music. Also encourage them to sing along to the song. 

2. Number Jive

Before you start the song explain go though the Pattercake Pattercake rhyme that appears in this song. Show them how to work in pairs clapping hands together and then clapping each others hands like we used to do in the playground decades ago. They most probably wont be able to to this in time to the music but they will really enjoy having fun with this game and they can play it after the Boogie Mites session too. If you find that the children in your group really catch on to this, you can make it a feature for the next few weeks, practicing without music and maybe trying some different sequences like tapping knees and then clapping. And try introducing some of those rhymes like "A Sailor went to Sea" which will go with our seaside theme that's coming up soon.

3. Let's Go to the Park

For this song I ask them to find a friend (again they may make groups of 3 or 4) and hold hands and dance around for the chorus. For the verses we do actions that follow the lyrics (act out football, cycling, walking) and then each time the chorus comes along, the children find their friends and dance around in a circle.

I have found that these paired activities work really well. The children really enjoy playing together and it provides a great opportunity for them to interact with each other. Try and incorporate at least one of these ideas in your workshops over the next 2 week s and let me know how you get on

Harriet

xx