Stretchy Band Row Row Row Your Boat

Stretchy Band “Row Row Row Your Boat”

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” must be one of the first musical movement songs I learned as a child.  This song is versatile as you can sing it slow or fast, and create a different atmosphere.  You can make it energetic and fast, as in a race, or riding a slow and lazy boat down the river. One day I stumbled across this video using the stretchy band and Lynn Kleiner’s version of the song.

Top Dance Games Lesson Plans Children's Librarian Stretchy Band Make Moments Matter with David Row Middle School Teachers

Rowing Your Boat With a Stretchy Band

In the beginning of the video, you see Wendy Bacola using a version of the song from the album entitled “Songs of the Sea.”  Another fun way to row your boat with the stretchy band, is to get inside the stretchy band.  You can also hold on to the stretchy band with your hands a few feet apart, place your feet in between your hands and row with your feet. We have fun sitting back to back to do this one inside the stretchy band.

Make a stretchy band boat and “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat Click To Tweet

I reached out to Wendy to find out what version it was. I love the splash at the end of the song!  Here is her response to my email:

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Create Piggy Back Songs

In case it’s a new term for you, a piggyback song is taking an existing tune and making up new words to it. Iza Trapani is one of my favorite children's authors, and this is what she does!

Iza Trapani’s Row, Row, Row Your Boat is my favorite book to share when we are singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in circle time.  If you’re not familiar with her books, she takes traditional songs and adds lyrics to them with beautiful illustrations.

Iza Trapani Row Row Row Your Boat Music and Literacy Group Activity

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “Wheels on the Bus” song are my two favorite songs to use for piggyback songs.   You can read an informative how to post from the George Center for Music Therapy called Three Steps to Writing Better Piggyback Songs.

This week we had temperatures in the 70’s!  Spring is around the corner.  Here’s an idea of how we’ll be making up a song in the next few months.

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe your row quickly as you go.

Plant, Plant, Plant your seeds in the garden row.

Drip, drip, drip the water on your growing plants.

Eat, eat, eat all those veggies sweet.

Makes me want to get out there and start planting!

Janet Stephens

Janet Stephens

Janet is the founder, designer, and one of the seamstresses behind Bear Paw Creek's made in the USA line of creative movement props, and bags. She is passionate about her faith, family, and loves the journey of learning and growing this life provides.

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