Songs+-+Balls

I tell the kids up front that "this is a lame game but we're doing it anyway." And then I get out my miniature basketball that has numbers on each  segment, 1-8. Their eyes light up.

 "I apologize for how bad the game is but we're doing it anyway cuz it has some sounds in it that I want to get into your head. (Demonstrate SM yet  again....) So here's the game. We'll stand in a circle. We're gonna sing the song and I'll toss the ball to someone. The person catching it looks at the tip of the thumb of their favorite hand to see which segment it's touching. Then the person says their name and the number. Then we say their name however many times the number indicated. Pretty bad, huh?"

 So after we say "John John John John John"...ad nauseum.... John throws the ball gently and underhand to someone across the circle and then - if you  choose - sits down. Then we sing the song and right after the song, the catcher will say "Susan 3", and we say Susan Susan Susan. And she tosses  it. The ball, not her lunch. And they love it. Go figure. From kindergarten to 6th. It's amazing how many kids catch that ball with their thumb on the  8........ What are the odds?

The song is an adaptation from Denise Gagne's tune in MusicPlay. It's SMSM and ends on D:

 Don't forget your number; don't forget your name. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> When you catch the ball, begin the game.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">************

Usually I read an idea and think, "wish I had that prop." This time I did!! So I've already got my little basketball numbered and ready to go, realizing that there should be other things we can do with this. One idea I just had, toss the ball to different students four times and keep track of their numbers, then have the class sing the "notes" back. We can even extend it to, how did that sound? Did it work as a melody? Can we do a longer string this time? I'm so excited for my new prop, thanks!