subject: Winter Hokey Pokey in Sign Language [print this page] Most children probably already know and love the hokey pokey song, so Id like to introduce to you a way to have a little more fun with it. In the cold winter months, you cant help but to draw more attention to winter clothing and what you can do to keep warm outside. Your students will have a lot of fun singing and will be able to easily learn more vocabulary words and more about the winter season. You can introduce the idea by teaching the sign for winter, which is to shake fists and arms in front of body as if shivering. For the song, instead of using body parts, I suggest you substitute winter clothing to put in and out of the circle, such as this: You put your right mitten in,
You put your right mitten out
You put your right mitten in and
You shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey and You turn yourself around
Thats what its all about Continue the song and substitute right mitten with the following signs: Right/Left mitten Hold out one hand and keep the opposite hand in a fist as if putting on a glove
Right/Left boot 1) Pretend to pull a boot onto foot, 2) Make upside down Bs with hands and put together, or 3) Sign shoes - Bump fists together
Hat Place arms/hands over head as if to put on a hat, or pat your head
Scarves Make the motion of wrapping a scarf around neck
Coats Pull arms/hands over shoulders as if pulling on a coat
Snow pants Make sign for snow by trickling fingers down in front of self, and follow by the sign for pants by brushing hands up on legs
Socks Point two pointer fingers down opposite each other Remember to have fun while singing and signing with your students. Theyll become much more engaged in the activity and learn while doing so. Stay warm! Remember, that you can find more ideas on my blog at www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog
