Instrumental Activity Book - Early in the Morning

The "Early in the Morning" activity book presents a delightful non-instrumental game that combines singing with physical activity, perfect for engaging young children. The game starts with the children sitting in a circle, and one child is chosen to play the role of the postman. As the group sings the "Early in the Morning" song, the postman walks around inside the circle, keeping in time with the steady beat of the music. When the lyrics reach "postman's knock," all the children clap their hands in rhythm, and as the song mentions "up jumps," the child sitting in front of the postman stands up, pretends to open a door, and receives pretend letters from the postman in sync with the music. The song's rhythm is further emphasized when the children tap their knees to the pulse on the count of "1,2,3,4." The game continues with the child who received the letters becoming the new postman for the next round.

For an instrumental twist on the game, children can use claves or similar tapping instruments to add an extra layer of musicality. As the song plays, children tap their claves together for the "postman's knock" and then play them on the floor for the "1,2,3,4" beat. When it's a child's turn to jump up as the new postman, they leave their claves on the floor, which are then picked up and used by the next child who takes their place. This version of the game not only introduces the children to the basics of rhythm and instrument playing but also encourages coordination as they manage the timing of the lyrics, claves tapping, and the physical actions of the game. It's a fun and interactive way to explore musical concepts while enjoying a playful and social activity.