A fun singing game that helps children learn about loops, procedures and variables
Children make a circle. Teacher demonstrates the chant whilst clapping to keep the rhythm. At the ‘Hey Sam’, teacher points to a child and substitutes their name (Hi Jane / Tom / Marie etc). Child responds with ‘Hey what?’. That is repeated twice. Teacher then says ‘ Show us how to get down!’ Named person says ‘No way!’. Teacher repeats ‘Show us how to get down’. This time the named child says ‘OK!’ and gets down to the floor performing a particular action (waving wiggling etc) Teacher copies the action whilst continuing the chant from the beginning.
After the demonstration, all children join in the chant with the teacher and copy the action. When they can all do it, let the child whose name was called pick the next person.
This is the chant
D-O-W-N
And that’s the way to get down
D-O-W-N
And that’s the way to get down
Hey Sam
Hey what?
Hey Sam
Hey what?
Show us how to get down
No way!
Show us how to get down
OK
D-O-W-N
And that’s the way to get down
D-O-W-N
And that’s the way to get down
We use it as a fun game when we are talking about loops, procedures and variables. If you write the chant down ask the children to identify these and discuss them. To make it harder, once the children have played it maybe 10 rounds, ask them if they can spot the loop, find the procedure and identify the variables without writing it down.
