Singing Games Activity Book - Hot Potato

The "Hot Potato" singing game is a lively activity designed to engage children in both music and movement. The game is accompanied by a catchy tune with the lyrics "Hot potato, pass it on, hot potato, pass it on," encouraging children to keep the rhythm and pass a ball in time with the music. The activity book provides two variations of the game to maintain excitement and challenge for the participants. In the first game, children form a circle with one child in the center holding a ball. The central child starts the game by bouncing the ball to their peers in sync with the musical pulse, particularly on the word "hot." When the lyrics reach "get rid of," the child in the middle throws the ball to another child in the circle, who then takes the central position, continuing the game and ensuring the rhythm remains steady.

The second variation of the "Hot Potato" game also involves children standing in a circle, but with no one in the middle. The ball is bounced around the circle, and when the song reaches the word "rid," the child holding the ball throws it across the circle to another participant. This new recipient then decides the next direction to bounce the ball, keeping the game dynamic and unpredictable. Both games aim to develop children's coordination, timing, and listening skills, as they must bounce and throw the ball in time with the music and be ready to respond when the lyrics cue them to "get rid of" the hot potato.