- large hoop
- around
- over
- through
- under
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Language/L.PK.MA.1.e: Use the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by, with).
English Language Arts/Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g., taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/Self-Regulation: Follows simple rules, routines, and directions.
Language Development/Receptive Language: Attends to language during conversations, songs, stories, or other learning experiences.
Approaches to Learning/Persistence and Attentiveness: Maintains interest in a project or activity until completed.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 1: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 12: Listen to, recite, sing, and dramatize a variety of age-appropriate literature.
EEC Infant and Toddler Guidelines:
PW50: The older toddler engages in a variety of physical activities.
Recite Together: “Over, Under, Around, and Through”
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Following Directions, Gross Motor Skills, Vocabulary
Help children understand the meaning of the common prepositions over, under, around, and through by moving with a hoop.
- Stand facing children in a large open area.
- Have each child stand with a partner.
- Hold up a large hoop and recite the first verse of the chant, “Over, Under, Around, and Through.” Demonstrate following the directions as you chant each line.
Then use the following procedure to chant and demonstrate the second verse:
- Lay the hoop flat on the ground, signal to a pair, and chant the first line.
- Hold the hoop high in the air, signal to another pair, and chant the second line.
- Lay the hoop flat on the ground again, signal to a third pair, and chant the third line.
- Stand the hoop up in front of you, signal to another pair, and chant the fourth line.
Then chant the last verse. Repeat until all children have had a chance to go over, under, around, or through the hoop.
Over, Under, Around, and Through
Over, under, around, and through,
Look at what we can do!
<Child’s name> and <child’s name>, go over it. (children step over hoop)
<Child’s name> and <child’s name>, go under it. (children walk under hoop)
<Child’s name> and <child’s name>, go around it. (children walk around hoop)
<Child’s name> and <child’s name>, go through it. (children step through hoop)
Over, under, around, and through,
Look at what we can do!
English Language Learners: If children have difficulty understanding what each preposition means. Repeat each line several times until they can chant and act it out themselves.