Today I’m sharing a fan-favorite (at least in my classroom!). Here We Go Zudio is FUN! FUN! FUN! This song is a traditional African American song game, and has been played and loved by children for years!
This is an excellent movement song, and is a great way to get your class up and dancing. I’ve found that even the older students who are starting to feel like they’re “too cool” for some of the song games joyfully join in with this one. It’s just so catchy and delightful! The instructions on the card are for an older classroom (I’d say 4th or 5th grade usually)
Younger children might enjoy a simpler game of “do as I’m doing”–here’s a simpler version for younger friends: -All friends stand in a circle and hold hands. First verse: gently swing arms to the beat, clap once at the end of the first verse to drop hands. Second verse: Starting at the beginning of the circle, one friend goes to the middle of the circle to do their dance move. All clap once at the end of the verse. Third verse: All friends copy the dance move, clap once at the end of the verse, and join hands again to repeat the first verse. Go down the circle until all have had turns.
This version eliminates the place-moving that happens in the authentic game, which can be tricky for younger friends. Thinking about how to hold hands, then what dance move to do, and then where to go stand at the end is a lot for children to process!
Even with my older students I have them take a second before we begin playing to decide what their dance move will be. There’s really no time in the game for a “hang on…what am I going to do?!” moment, the action needs to keep on going for the game to work!
For larger classes, I split the game into two concurrent games so that we’re not sitting there singing the song 40+ times. Songs can get worn out, and we don’t ever want that!
So what are we learning in this song and game? Musical skills: -Dotted eighth + sixteenth note (we call it a tim-ki in my classroom when we read the rhythm aloud). -minor toneset l,drm -steady beat (arm movements in first verse, walking down the alley in verses 2+3)
Social Skills: -holding hands -cooperative partnerships -turn-taking -place-moving -mirroring -whole body movement
Holy cow, that’s a lot in one song! For younger friends, the musical skills would be experienced, not labeled. As always, you can begin labeling/reading the music as the students learned the skill you are isolating. For example, my 3rd grade students could sing the solfa, and my 4th/5th grade students could read the rhythm.
I hope you have so much fun with this song!
Click Here To Download the Free Song Card
Happy Singing! -Lauren