Music Walk

Lesson 239 • By Debbie Haren (Expanded Version)
Grade Level: Preschool

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Walk in a circle to music and stop when it ends.
Identify and name basic colors.
Take turns responding to questions.
Follow simple group directions.
Build listening skills, self-regulation, and social participation.

Materials

Music (slow to moderately fast; upbeat preschool songs work best)
Cassette player, CD player, or digital speaker
Tape (to secure paper to the floor)
Construction paper in multiple colors
- Recommended: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple
- 3–4 sheets of each color
Open floor space for movement

Preparation (Part 1)

Tape the colored construction paper sheets securely to the floor in a wide circle.
Make sure you have one paper spot per child, with extras if you want multiple sheets of the same color.
Space papers so that several children walking together can move safely without bumping.

Game Procedure

Part 2: Walking to Music & Identifying Colors

Have children walk in a circle around the color papers, not standing on them yet.
Start the music.
When the music plays, children walk or march in a circle.
When the music stops, children quickly step onto the closest paper.
The teacher calls out:

“Who is standing on green?”
Children standing on green raise their hands and say their names.

Rotate through different colors each round.

Teacher Prompts

“Point to your color!”
“Say your color word!”
“Who has red? Who has blue?”
“Let’s count how many friends are on yellow!”

This reinforces color recognition and number sense.

Part 3: Optional Prize Version (For Celebrations)

For classroom parties, festivals, or birthdays:

Each time the teacher calls a color, children standing on that color win a small prize (sticker, stamp, or treat).
Continue playing until everyone has won or until all color cards have been called.

This allows all children to succeed and keeps the atmosphere positive.

✨ Helpful Variations

1. Movement Challenge

When the music is playing, try:

Tiptoeing
Hopping
Slow walking
Marching
Walking backwards (carefully)
Giant steps

2. Color Hunt

After stopping, ask students to:

Find something in the room that matches their color
Bring it back or simply point to it
Name it (“I found a red block.”)

3. Color Clues

Instead of naming the color, give a riddle:

“I’m thinking of a color that looks like the sky.” (Blue)
“I’m thinking of a color you see on pumpkins.” (Orange)

Great for vocabulary development.

4. Rainbow Rounds

Say:

“Everyone move to a new color!”
or
“Find a color you haven’t stood on yet!”

Safety Tips

Make sure the paper is securely taped to prevent slipping.
Keep walking pace slow to moderate — no running.
Space students evenly to avoid crowding.

Assessment

As students play, check whether they can:

Identify color words
Follow start/stop cues in music
Move safely and cooperatively
Respond when their color is named
Say their own name clearly when called upon

Color Musical Chairs (Without the Chairs!)