Learning about animals through MUSIC & MOVEMENT

BUTTERFLY by Victor Tan
Butterfly, butterfly
Gently flying low and high.
Butterfly, butterfly,
Always friendly, never shy.

Say to the flowers, Good Morning, Good Morning
See how colourful are my wings.


I've always loved this song, ever since I heard it more than 7 years old when I took Javen to attend Victor Tan's music and movement class. When singing the song, the children were given a cloth/scarf each and they were encouraged to dance and move gently, like a butterfly. The fluidity of the children's movement as they danced and swayed to the music was very graceful, and the young children (he was only two then) could relate to the way a butterfly moves.



See how colourful are my wings - as the children spread out their arms, this beautifully describes the colours and flow of the butterfly's wings. I also told the older children that the wings are usually symetrical.


I've since introduced this song to the children in Little Beans and they too could relate very well to the song - moving their arms gently as well as swaying their body up and down accordingly. The music too is very soothing and calming - the effect a butterfly can have on stressed nerves!



CRABS ARE CRAWLING by Victor Tan

Crabs are crawling, crabs are crawling
Crawling day and night.
Crabs are crawling, crabs are crawling
Crawling day and night.


Always move from side to side
Move from side to side

Another action song. The tempo is fast and actually mimics the pace of the crabs walking... too bad I can't sing the song here. Perhaps your child can sing it for you.

As the children sing, they move from left to right and right to left; never forward or backward as crabs cannot do so! The tempo picks up towards the end, and we always end up laughing as we sing the song!



INSECTS by Victor Tan

One, two, three
Four, five, six
Three pairs of legs
Crawling up, crawling down
Busy all day
Insects have six legs
No matter big or small

This, of course, teaches about the 6 legs of an insect!


There are many more songs composed by Victor to teach about animals and many more concepts. Thanks Victor, for the wonderful resources.