Get the kids involved in an upbeat singing game that uses hands and arms, legs and feet--even the entire body at one point--for large motor-skill practice. The children face each other in a circle and make sure there is enough room to move and do the motions without bumping into anyone. Get a recording of "The Hokey Pokey" at the library or download the song for classroom use free at The Teachers Guide website. Once you and the children in your care learn the song and the movements, make up variations to match thematic units of study ("put your left 'fin' in' for an ocean theme) or to match the seasons of the year ("pull your right snow boot out").
"Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" is a game of placing hands or fingers on the different named body parts in the song. This song can get the heart pumping with its full range of motion movements. Some versions speed up the verses progressively until everyone is dancing at super speed, much to the delight of the youngsters. The children should give each other space to do the motions. Recorded versions of "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" are available at the library and as a free download at The Teacher's Guide website.
Borrow a recording of "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" from your local library and line up the children for a follow-the-leader-type song with plenty of motor-skills action. The children's classic contains phrases that kids can interpret with motions as they march around the room. Kids get to pull a pretend train whistle as they march and sing "toot, toot." They yank imaginary horses' reigns as they say, "whoa, back," and rub their tummies in response to the song's mention of chicken and dumplings--while singing, "yum, yum." Sing and dance to this song during times of transition in your preschool classroom. At home, "The Hokey Pokey" can serve as an activity to do right before the kids jump into the car for a long trip.