Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
 



Here's a great site with the visuals for Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
 



The 12 Apostles Song  (Sung to Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes)
 



I made pictures of the body parts and for a fun activity they could mix them up in any order. The seniors loved this. They thought it was the best! (by Angela Terry)
 



We do Head Shoulder Knees and Toes, too, but a little differently.  I have cards with pictures of all the body parts.  They are laminated and have magnets on the back.  The first time we sing it normally.  Then I ask a kid to come up and rearrange them to see how hard they can make it.  They know that they "win" if they do it so that my hair is totally flipping around from having to go from the head to the toes too quickly. I usually only give them to the count to 10 to switch all the pictures around.  We do this two or three (or four) times and even the big kids (and the teachers) love it.  Idea by Christine in Fargo, North Dakota 
 



One thing I have done with this song is "Impromptu" Head Shoulders Knees and toes. The person leading the song picks the body parts on the spot as you are singing the song. Most often it doesn't rhyme but it really promotes watching the chorister. I usually start off and we go through the song once. They really have to watch to know which part of the body (or action) we might do. We usually play the song a bit slower than normal. After I have done it once, I have one of the children come up and be the leader. For the smaller children you kind of have to help them, but they love it. In Sr. we sometimes have 4 children come up they each pick a body part in turn. Gets confusing but is a blast! (Idea by Katie Beattie)
 



Another way is to sing what you wear on those parts:

hat, sweater, pants and shoes; pants and shoes
glasses, muffs, chapstick, kleenex (I have the kids come up with it,
they are very ingenious!) (what they wear during winter...summer)
theme it!

Also what part does:

nod, shrug, bend and wiggle; bend and wiggle...
blink, hear, talk and sneeze..... (have the kids tell you what they
do, it can be really funny)

I've also done the Armor of God to it...

helmet, breastplate, girt and shod; girt and shod....
shield and sword is the armor of God.

also what they represent....

salvation, righteousness, truth and peace.....
spirit and faith is the armor of God.

(Idea by Janet)
 


 

An alternate second verse which gives them a greater challenge (and you):

Neck, elbows, hips and feet, hips and feet
and thighs and rears and lips and teeth,
Neck, elbows, lips and teeth, lips and teeth.
 

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
 

Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat,
Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat,
And hair and hips and chin and cheeks,
Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat.

 


 

Basically we take the two different sections of the song and reverse the words in the section.  Instead of Head Shoulders Knees and Toes we start with our toes and say:
 

Toes, Knees Shoulders Head

Shoulders, Head

Shoulders, Head

Toes, Knees Shoulders Head

 

Then we say:

Nose Mouth Ears and Eyes



An idea by Jenny Lynn from www.eprimary.dk
 



Spanish version of Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes

  • cabeza = head

  • hombros = shoulders

  • piernas = knees

  • pies = toes
    (actually pies means foot or feet and dedos de pies is toes,
    but doesn't fit in the rhythm of the song)

  • ojos = eyes

  • orejas = ears

  • boca = mouth

  • nariz = nose
     

This page was  last  updated: 
 
  December 18,  2006

 

Home  |  SugarDoodle ShoppeMy Favorite Websites  |  View all Subjects  |   Contact Me