Dance Education Tools Archives - Bear Paw Creek Movement props, bags and totes made in the USA. Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:33:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cropped-Bear-Paw-Creek-Full-Color-Icon-Round-Crop-100x100.png Dance Education Tools Archives - Bear Paw Creek 32 32 Fall Canopy Scarf Activity with Songs https://musicandmovementproducts.com/fall-canopy-scarf-activity-with-songs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fall-canopy-scarf-activity-with-songs Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:33:50 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=65196 Fall Canopy Scarf Activity and Songs If you're looking for a quick, easy, and fun fall Canopy Scarf activity, we have a great one to share with you! Plus, a few songs that you can pair with the activity idea. A few benefits of the […]

The post Fall Canopy Scarf Activity with Songs appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Fall Canopy Scarf Activity and Songs

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and fun fall Canopy Scarf activity, we have a great one to share with you! Plus, a few songs that you can pair with the activity idea.

A few benefits of the Canopy Scarf:

  • Visually and tactilely stimulating
  • A great relaxation tool
  • Folds to a small size (highly portable)
  • Lightweight and see-through
  • Available in multiple colors

Keep reading to learn more about the activity, a link to a Spotify playlist, and video links with more song ideas.

 

Fall Leaves on a Bear Paw Creek Canopy Scarf

Our 9-foot Canopy Scarves function like a parachute, but are less stimulating and provide a calmer experience. This fall Canopy Scarf activity involves using some fall leaves, like these on Amazon, and placing them on top of the Canopy Scarf. I have also seen a few people make their fall leaves out of felt, which could be a great addition to the activity if you have kids or adults capable of safely using scissors to cut leaf shapes out of colorful felt. Allowing an opportunity to practice and encourage fine motor skills.

You can then experiment with different movements, such as up and down, side to side. Try lifting the canopy high and bringing it down fast to get the leaves to float in the air. A benefit of the Canopy Scarf is its see-through material. This allows you to have some kids sit or lie underneath the canopy while you move it around and get the leaves to swirl and float! Another idea is to see if any leaves fall off as you're doing different movements. If they do, you can pause and count how many are left on top in between each up and down section. A great way to practice those counting skills!

Keep reading for some song suggestions to pair with this fall Canopy Scarf activity!

Fall Canopy Scarf Activity and Songs
Share on X

Songs to Pair With the Fall Canopy Scarf Activity Idea

We have a Spotify Playlist with some song ideas from a few of our favorites, such as Stephanie Leavell at Music for Kiddos, Patina Jackson at Music Therapy Joy, and Laurie Berkner. If you have any songs that we should add to this playlist, feel free to send them our way! Be sure to follow us on Spotify and save this playlist for later. Below are a few videos with some song suggestions.

"Toss the Leaves", shown below by Sandra Hendrickson, can also be used with the Stretchy Band! To learn more about that, check out this blog post. Sandra also has a Free Stretchy Band Activity for "Toss the Leaves" Fall Movement Lesson available. Not only would you learn how to use the song with the Stretchy Band, but it would also give ideas on how to pair the song with the fall Canopy Scarf Activity.

Be sure to follow us @bearpawcreek on Facebook and Instagram, and tag us in any videos or pictures if you end up trying this activity!

 

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post Fall Canopy Scarf Activity with Songs appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> Ghost Movement Scarf Activity for Halloween — From Will Doublestein at Bow Tie Music! https://musicandmovementproducts.com/ghost-movement-scarf-activity-for-halloween/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ghost-movement-scarf-activity-for-halloween Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:06:25 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=63539 Ghost Movement Scarf Activity for Halloween — From Will Doublestein at Bow Tie Music! We are so excited to be sharing a fun, ghost movement scarf activity for Halloween from our friend, Will Doublestein. Will is an elementary school general music teacher from Indianapolis, IN. […]

The post Ghost Movement Scarf Activity for Halloween — From Will Doublestein at Bow Tie Music! appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Ghost Movement Scarf Activity for Halloween — From Will Doublestein at Bow Tie Music!

We are so excited to be sharing a fun, ghost movement scarf activity for Halloween from our friend, Will Doublestein. Will is an elementary school general music teacher from Indianapolis, IN. In 2013, he started uploading videos to a YouTube channel he named "Bow Tie Music".  At first, the channel was intended to be a way of distributing program videos to parents who couldn't attend their children's performances.

As time went on, it became a record of sorts, not only for his music programs but also of his other classroom activities. A few years later, after developing a library of resources, he realized that the videos could be a help to other music teachers needing ideas and inspiration. Eventually, his audience began to grow, and he is now able to help thousands of music teachers all around the world to reimagine music class and help their students develop a lifelong love of music.

We are so thankful for the way Will has used his platform, and we are thrilled that our movement props have been helpful tools in his classroom and that they have also been used to bring an element of fun for his students.

Keep reading to learn all about how you can use ghost props under black lights to add a spooky and fun element to your music class, and create a dancy party that your kids won't soon forget!

Dancing with Ghosts!

In this video, Dancing With Ghosts! Making dance parties SPOOKY for kids!, Will demonstrates how he uses black lights and Bear Paw Creek props to create a ghost movement scarf activity, perfect for the spooky season.

To create the "ghosts", all you need are some of our white movement scarves, our Indoor Outdoor Soft Snowball Movement Prop Set, and a 100W UV Black light like these from Amazon.com.

Will used the snowballs as ghost heads and the white scarves as the ghost's body to create a ghost perfect for a dance party! Using the black lights in your classroom creates a glowing effect for the white of the snowballs and scarves. To step it up a notch, you could use one of our 9-foot white Canopy Scarves to make a BIG glowing ghost! For the ghost head under the Canopy Scarf, you could use a big bundle of snowballs or one of our Balloon Balls.

In the video, Will is using 36-inch white movement scarves for the smaller ghosts. However, you can pick from any of the size options we have available, depending on the size ghost you would like to create with your students!

Ghost Movement Scarf Activity for Halloween — From Will Doublestein at Bow Tie Music!
Share on X

Songs to Use With the Ghost Movement Scarf Activity

We created a short Spotify playlist for you with song suggestions for your next dance party. Get creative with "Peek-A-boo Ghost" from The Laurie Berkner Band, jam out to "Ghostbusters" the remix, and get crazy with a couple of other songs that have a good dancing vibe!

To have a calmer moment in between dance sessions and let everyone catch their breath, try using Stephanie Leavell's "Blowing in the Wind". You can replace the words "my scarf" with "my ghost". For example: ...blowing in the wind, blowing in the wind, my ghost is blowing in the wind. Falling down, falling down, with a whoosh and plop!"

If you have any other song ideas that we should add to this playlist, let us know! If you end up trying this ghost movement scarf activity, be sure to tag us in any photos or videos @bearpawcreek on Facebook and Instagram. For more resources and fantastic activity ideas from Will Doublestein, you can check out his website, www.bowtiemusic.net.

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post Ghost Movement Scarf Activity for Halloween — From Will Doublestein at Bow Tie Music! appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> 4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas from Elementary Music Teacher Lena Leon https://musicandmovementproducts.com/stretchy-band-activity-ideas-from-elementary-music-teacher-lena-leon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stretchy-band-activity-ideas-from-elementary-music-teacher-lena-leon Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:18:53 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=62863 4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas from Elementary Music Teacher Lena Leon We're back with four more Stretchy Band activity ideas from elementary music teacher, Lena Leon! From opposites, slow and fast, flowers blooming, and roly poly, Lena shares some of the best song and activity […]

The post 4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas from Elementary Music Teacher Lena Leon appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas from Elementary Music Teacher Lena Leon

We're back with four more Stretchy Band activity ideas from elementary music teacher, Lena Leon!

From opposites, slow and fast, flowers blooming, and roly poly, Lena shares some of the best song and activity ideas on her Instagram page, @the_crafter_teacher. We love her creativity when it comes to incorporating our movement props in her classroom. It is also clear in the videos she shares that her students love the activities as well.

Keep reading to learn all about the 4 Stretchy Band activity ideas!

4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas from Elementary Music Teacher Lena Leon
Share on X

4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas

Activity #1: "Slow and Fast" by Hap Palmer

With this Stretchy Band activity, Lena and her students sat in a circle on the floor while playing the song "Slow and Fast" by Hap Palmer. The music starts very calm and quiet as the students lift the band up and down in time with the music. Then, the song switches from slow to fast! Students rotate the band around and around as fast as they can in time with the music. This activity encourages listening skills, teamwork, and gross motor skills. Not to mention, the quick change in tempo always excites students as they race to get the band around as fast as their hands can go.

Activity #2: "Cross Dance" by Shenanigans

To create a fun and expressive music and movement activity, Lena used two Stretchy Bands (size Large and Extra Large) at the same time. Two groups sat in circles on the floor, the group with the XL Stretchy Band sat on the outside while the group with the Large Stretchy Band sat within the bigger circle. This activity is perfect for practicing active listening skills. While the song "Cross Dance" played, students had to listen to each section to do the following actions. A section: represented flowers blooming/move front, move back. B section: represented the wind blowing the pollen away/pass around to the right, then to the left.

Activity #3: Roly Poly, Roly Poly

Everyone stands in a circle holding on to the Stretchy Band for this activity. Lena stood in the middle while everyone chanted this fun Roly Poly song: "Roly poly, roly poly, up, up, up! Roly poly, roly poly down, down, down. Roly poly, roly poly, wait, wait, wait. Roly poly, roly poly, POP!" On each roly poly section, the students walked around in a circle. As the song continued, they had to listen carefully for the action, on up, up, up, the students lifted the Stretchy band up in the air. On down, they went down low to the floor. With wait, they had to freeze. When the POP came, everyone let go of the band!

Activity #4: Opposites Chant

"This is high, high, high! This is low, low, low. This is fast, fast, fast! This slow, slow, slow. This is soft, soft, soft. This is strong, strong, strong! This is wait, wait, wait. This is...let go!" This song and activity encourages active listening skills, teamwork and group participation, and also helps teach opposites. The opposites chant could be done with different group sizes, but would also work well in a one-on-one setting using a small Stretchy Band or Connect-a-Stretchy Band.

Videos of the Stretchy Band Activities in Action

Linked below are videos of all 4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas in action! Just in case you missed the other blog post with more ideas, The Crafter Teacher, you can check out 6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon.

If you don't have your own Stretchy Band and are interested in getting one, you can check them out here.

Let us know what your favorite activity is if you end up trying them out! And, if you have more ideas you would like to share, tag us in your photos and videos on our Instagram and Facebook @bearpawcreek. We love to see our props in action and are so inspired by the creativity you all have when it comes to music and movement activities!

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post 4 Stretchy Band Activity Ideas from Elementary Music Teacher Lena Leon appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> Six Fun Ways to Use Bear Paw Creek Movement Props with Songs from Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland https://musicandmovementproducts.com/six-fun-ways-to-use-bear-paw-creek-movement-props-with-songs-from-out-there-in-the-wild-by-jes-cleland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=six-fun-ways-to-use-bear-paw-creek-movement-props-with-songs-from-out-there-in-the-wild-by-jes-cleland Sun, 04 May 2025 15:23:58 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=62598 Six Fun Ways to Use Bear Paw Creek Movement Props with Songs from Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland At Music U, we believe music comes alive when we add movement, imagination, and a little bit of magic — and Bear Paw Creek's […]

The post Six Fun Ways to Use Bear Paw Creek Movement Props with Songs from Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Six Fun Ways to Use Bear Paw Creek Movement Props with Songs from Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland

At Music U, we believe music comes alive when we add movement, imagination, and a little bit of magic — and Bear Paw Creek's movement props make it even easier!

I'm thrilled to share a few favorite ways to pair their creative music and movement products with songs from my new children's album, Out There In The Wild, coming May 9th, 2025.

Keep reading for some ideas on how to turn a simple sing-along into a full-body, full-heart experience!

🌊 Motion of the Ocean — with Bear Paw Creek's Stretchy Band or Canopy Scarf

"Motion of the Ocean" invites kids to ride the waves, and Bear Paw Creek's Stretchy Band, is the perfect tool for the journey:

  • "Waves go up and crash down" — lift the band high, then swoop it down low.
  • "The tide comes in and goes out" — move it forward and back with flowing, gentle movements.
  • "Currents rip from side to side" — sway the band left and right with fun bursts of energy.

Or, try using the Blue Canopy Scarf for a fun variation. The canopy scarf is a favorite in my classroom and can give the same song and movements a brand-new experience. You might even invite a few at a time to stand under the scarf and imagine being deep in the ocean watching motion above!

☔ Raindrops Falling on Me — Two props, one joyful song!

Spring showers feel extra magical with another one of Bear Paw Creek's movement props, Wrist Streamers, in hand. As you sing "Raindrops Falling on Me," invite children to gently place their streamers on the body parts mentioned in the song—head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyelashes, and nose—just like raindrops falling from the sky.

It's a delightful way to support body awareness while reinforcing the rhythm and flow of the music.

As a variation, try Individual Creative Movement Chiffon Scarves! Kiddos love transforming them into imaginary puddles—spreading them across the floor and leaping in with squeals of joy. It's pure rainy-day magic, no umbrellas required.

🎈 Five Roly-Polies — with Bear Paw Creek's Balloon Ball

"Five Roly-Polies" is all about rolling, and Bear Paw Creek's Balloon Ball makes it extra interactive!

  • Roll the ball across the group circle during every "roll, roly-poly" refrain — giving kids a chance to work on gentle pushes, teamwork, and timing.
  • Watch the smiles grow as they anticipate the ball coming to them!

 

Six Fun Ways to Use Bear Paw Creek Movement Props with Songs from Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland
Share on X

🐞 Get Out Beetle — with Bear Paw Creek's Balloon Ball

You can keep the fun going with "Get Out Beetle!".

Pass the Balloon Ball around the circle during the verses, and toss it in the air when you get to the big "Get Out Be-Be-Be-Beetle!" shout! Children can do this with partners, small groups, or even a big circle. It's a simple but exciting way to encourage listening skills, quick reactions, and group connection.

To extend the experience, "Get Out Beetle!" also comes with a picture book, interactive digital book, and a teaching guide full of extension activities to bring the story and song to life in even more ways.

🩵 Inspiring Kids to Explore and Fall in Love with Music

At Music U, we love seeing how Bear Paw Creek's beautifully made props can turn a musical moment into an unforgettable memory. Whether you're singing songs from Out There In The Wild at home, in a classroom, or outside under the sky, these props help kids move, explore, and fall in love with music again and again.

Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland is available on May 9th, wherever you stream music — we can't wait for you to sing, dance, and explore along with us! To check out the different resources Music U has available along with ways to follow along to stay up to date, click here. To check out all of Bear Paw Creek's movement props, click here.

Stay tuned for more exciting things this week as we celebrate the release of Out There in The Wild, including a fun giveaway!

Ready to sing, dance, and play?

Four Songs from Out There in The Wild by Jes Cleland to use with Bear Paw Creek movement Props
Motion in the Ocean Song to Use with Bear Paw Creek Stretchy Band Best Stretchy Band Songs for Teachers Music Therapists and Parents
Raindrops Falling On Me Songs for Kids Best Scarf Songs Bear Paw Creek Creative Movement Scarf Activities
Bear Paw Creek Balloon Ball Songs Jes Cleland Childrens Musician Best Songs for Creative Movement
Bear Paw Creek Music and Movement Props Best Songs for Movement Props Activity Ideas for Teachers Music Thearpists
Jes Cleland

Jes Cleland

For over a decade, I've helped young musicians find their voice through Music U, the teaching studio I founded in 2013. What began as a small preschool music class — filled with singing, movement, and playful discovery — has grown into a thriving community of learners, families, and educators across Nashville.

At Music U, my teaching style is rooted in creativity, connection, and joy. I believe that music is a natural language for young children, and my classes focus on nurturing that through hands-on activities, imaginative play, and lots of opportunities for self-expression. I respect children's ability to engage deeply with music and believe they deserve quality songs and meaningful experiences. In my classes, we move with scarves, explore rhythms, make up silly songs, and dive into a wide range of musical genres — from jazz to rockabilly to Celtic and Latin music — helping students build musical skills and a lifelong appreciation for learning.

As a songwriter and recording artist, I create music that invites children into a world of wonder and storytelling. My upcoming album, Out There In The Wild (releasing this May), celebrates playful melodies, big feelings, and the magic of everyday adventures. I'm also the author of Get Out, Beetle!, a whimsical children's book that blends music and hilarious characters to inspire curiosity and laughter.

Whether through a song, a story, or a lesson, the goal is always to spark confidence, creativity, and a genuine love for music.

Follow along on Instagram, Facebook and my Website for updates on new music, books, and more!

The post Six Fun Ways to Use Bear Paw Creek Movement Props with Songs from Out There In The Wild by Jes Cleland appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> Top 3 Movement Props with Activity Ideas for Music and Movement Month https://musicandmovementproducts.com/top-three-movement-props-activity-ideas-for-music-and-movement-month/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-three-movement-props-activity-ideas-for-music-and-movement-month https://musicandmovementproducts.com/top-three-movement-props-activity-ideas-for-music-and-movement-month/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:05:41 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=62478 Top 3 Movement Props with Activity Ideas for Music and Movement Month For the last two years, Bear Paw Creek and Sandra Hendrickson from Sing Play Create have celebrated Music and Movement Month in April. While this isn't a nationally recognized event, we love to […]

The post Top 3 Movement Props with Activity Ideas for Music and Movement Month appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Top 3 Movement Props with Activity Ideas for Music and Movement Month

For the last two years, Bear Paw Creek and Sandra Hendrickson from Sing Play Create have celebrated Music and Movement Month in April. While this isn't a nationally recognized event, we love to have a month dedicated to highlighting music and movement and all of its amazing benefits. This year, we're kicking it off by sharing our top 3 movement props with activity ideas for each one.

It is hard to pick a top 3 since we love all of our music and movement props and we know you do too. However, the three we are highlighting today have been among our best sellers since the very beginning of Bear Paw Creek in early 2000.

Keep reading to find out our top 3 movement props along with activity ideas for each one that you can use during this year's music and movement month (and year-round too!). Plus, find out how we will be celebrating all month long and how you can join in on the fun.

Movement Prop #1: Stretchy Band

Our Stretchy Bands have been without a doubt our best selling product since the very beginning. So it was a no brainer to include this prop in our top 3 movement props for music and movement month. Our brightly colored Stretchy Bands are made with latex or latex free tubing covered with fabric and include a hook and loop velcro closure.

They are great for practicing numerous goal areas and different skills such as: making shapes, rhythm, listening skills, color recognition, teamwork, and so much more. With five different sizes available, Stretchy Bands can be used in one-on-one settings, small groups, and during large group activities.

The activities you can do with the Stretchy Band are endless and we continue to be inspired by all of our amazing customers who share their ideas with us on Instagram and Facebook.

Here are some song and activity ideas to use with Bear Paw Creek's Stretchy Band:

Top 3 Movement Props with Activity Ideas for Music and Movement Month
Share on X

Movement Prop #2: Streamers

Our hoop and wrist streamers have also been one of our top best selling creative movement props since early 2000. Streamers are great fun for dynamic movement activities and dance. Chiffon scarves or vibrant satin ribbons flow 24" off of either a 4 1/2" plastic hoop or fabric wrist scrunchie. The Streamers come in either rainbow or primary colors. You can choose between sets of 6 which come in a drawstring storage bag or, purchase streamers individually to fit your needs.

The fabric wrist scrunchie streamer was an idea from Kathy Schumacher MT-BC at www.TunefulTeaching.com. They are wonderful as you can put them on your wrist, elbows, arms, or even ankles to have your hands free for other movement activities. She discovered this need for those with different abilities who are not able to grasp items. With the ability to put them on your wrist, individuals can still participate in group settings since they can join in on the movements without having to hold on to a prop.

Here are some song and activity ideas to use with Bear Paw Creek's creative movement Streamers:

Movement Prop #3: Balloon Ball

Last but certainly not least in the list of top 3 movement props for music and movement month is the Balloon Ball. The fabric Balloon Ball cover is made out of cotton/poly broadcloth in bright rainbow colors (we have specialty balloon balls as well). You place a balloon through the slit at the bottom, blow it up, tie it off, tuck in the tail, and the music and movement fun begins!

This is a great way for little ones to learn how to catch and throw as it is so light weight. With the lightness and softness of the Balloon Ball, it's great to kick around without worrying about somebody getting hurt. All balloons come with warnings about the danger of choking. With the fabric covering the balloon, it makes it safer to play with and eliminates the worry of balloon pieces flying everywhere if it pops. They are also great to use with parachutes or our nine foot canopy scarves. Put it on top and watch it bounce up and down as you move the parachute or scarf!

Here are some song and activity ideas to use with Bear Paw Creek's Balloon Balls:

Stay Tuned for More Music and Movement Month Celebration!

To keep up with all of the different ways we are celebrating Music and Movement Month this year and different ways you can join in, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

To check out all of our other products not listed in the top 3 movement props, click here.

We are thrilled to have you follow along and hopefully join in on the celebration with us!

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post Top 3 Movement Props with Activity Ideas for Music and Movement Month appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> https://musicandmovementproducts.com/top-three-movement-props-activity-ideas-for-music-and-movement-month/feed/ 2 Our Story — The How and Why Bear Paw Creek Began https://musicandmovementproducts.com/our-story-the-how-and-why-bear-paw-creek-began-creative-music-and-movement-props-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-story-the-how-and-why-bear-paw-creek-began-creative-music-and-movement-props-2 Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:04:42 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=62274 Our Story — The How and Why Bear Paw Creek Began This January marks 25 years in business for Bear Paw Creek, this is a big milestone for us and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. We have been […]

The post Our Story — The How and Why Bear Paw Creek Began appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Our Story — The How and Why Bear Paw Creek Began

This January marks 25 years in business for Bear Paw Creek, this is a big milestone for us and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.

We have been celebrating all month long by sharing some behind the scenes, a 25% off flash sale, and still have something extra fun planned for the end of the month. We also wanted to share a little bit about the how and why Bear Paw Creek was started. For those who have been following us for a long time, this story may already be familiar to you, but we have had a lot of growth over the last several years. Including more followers on social media and our blog, which makes this the perfect time to do a retelling of our story.

Keep reading to learn about the start of our business (before we were named Bear Paw Creek!), growth over the years, how our products are beneficial, and our goals moving forward.

The Start of Bear Paw Creek's Music and Movement Props

In January of 2000, sisters Janet Stephens and Kathy Schumacher MT-BC came together along with Janet's husband, Christopher Stephens, to create a business that was then called Props & Bags, Etc. With Janet looking to create an income from home and Kathy looking for someone to create products to meet a need in the music therapy community, they meshed their passion and ideas together to create products that would serve the music and movement community for years to come.

With Christopher's innovative mind, Janet's designing and sewing skills, and Kathy's experience in music therapy and knowledge of what that community needed, they introduced the creation of a unique line of movement props along with solutions for organizing and transporting them.

The Props & Bags, Etc. 2000-2001 catalog contained: stretchy bands, bean bags, streamers, tote bags, and instrument cases.

Our Story — The How and Why Bear Paw Creek Began
Share on X

Our Development and Growth Throughout the Years

In 2001, Bear Paw Creek picked up their first wholesale customer, West Music, who we continue to work with to this day! The movement props continued to grow in popularity which encouraged them to continue going and also create more props to add to the product line. In 2008, the brand name was changed to Bear Paw Creek.

Fast forward to 2012, Janet had the opportunity to take a course on building websites with WordPress. With this knowledge added to her "tool belt", she was able to create a new website to better offer Bear Paw Creek's products to the public.

The new website allowed them to open up and quickly expand the business's retail market as well as connect with customers on a one to one level through emails, blog posts, and in later years, social media. Bear Paw Creek continues to expand and grow, reaching more retail customers, along with a growing list of resellers, stateside and internationally.

In recent years I, Madison Stephens (Christopher and Janet's daughter), have taken over the social media marketing for Bear Paw Creek. This opened up a whole other avenue of connection with our customers.

Seeing videos of stretchy bands, scarves, streamers, bean bags, and all of our other creative movement props being used in countries all around the world by people of different ages and abilities is both mind blowing and extremely humbling. It is an honor to be a part of this business my parents and aunt started and the impact it has.
Bear Paw Creek School Of Musical HeartBeats Australia Stretchy Band in Music and Movement Activity
Nancy Kopman Music With Nancy Kopman Shake Shake Shake with Bear Paw Creek Creative Movement Scarves
Pixie Pods Kids New York United States Music Classes for Kids Bear Paw Creek DiscoverDance Hoop Ribbon Rainbow Streamers
Bear Paw Creek Stretchy Band Creative Music and Movement Props for Music Therapists Teacher Jacqueline Chow Singapore Music Therapist

We have learned so much and have been inspired by all of you sharing your movement activity ideas on social media and how you use our movement props with your children, students, and patients. It has also led to some new product ideas, wonderful collaborations, and big growth for our business. If you aren't already connected with us on Facebook and Instagram, please give us a follow! And keep tagging us in your videos and pictures, it truly is one of our favorite things to see our products in use.

Bear Paw Creek: Retailer, Wholesaler, and Manufacture of Handmade in the USA Movement Props

Something that not everyone knows about Bear Paw Creek is that, for the last 25 years we have been the manufacturer, retailer, and wholesaler for our company. People are sometimes shocked to hear that our movement props are handmade by us in Missouri, USA!

When we first began in 2000, our target audience was music therapists. The music therapy community is wonderful and has been huge supporters of Bear Paw Creek. We are extremely grateful for them and all of the important work that they do! Over the years as our product was being purchased and shipped all around the world, we realized that music therapists are not the only ones that have a need for these props.

Our music and movement props continue to be used by music therapists, but are also being used by music teachers, activity directors, recreational therapists, parents, dance instructors, grandparents, physical therapists, early childhood educators, special education teachers, occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists, and so many more.

All of these amazing people combine our props with music to help their patients target specific goal areas, work on a variety of skills, and sometimes, to just have fun with music and movement. A few of the skills movement props help target are:

  • Physical development: Props can help with coordination, balance, and gross motor skills.
  • Cognitive development: Props can help with spatial awareness, teamwork, and understanding of locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
  • Creative expression: Props can help with creativity and musicality.
  • Social-emotional development: Props can help with social-emotional development.
  • Strength and flexibility: Props can help with strength, mobility, and flexibility by encouraging movement.

A Thank you for Your Support and Our Goals Moving Forward

We cannot say thank you enough to all of our loyal supporters for the last 25 years. Bear Paw Creek would not be the successful business that it is without all of you trusting us to provide high-quality made in the USA movement props, sharing about them with friends, using them with your children and patients, sharing your music and movement activity ideas on blogs and social media, and coming back again and again to purchase our products.

Bear Paw Creek is honored to have the opportunity to make a small impact in the world with what we provide. But it's all because of our amazing community of people all around the world that our products have been as successful as they are.

Looking back on the last 25 years there has definitely been a lot of change and growth. However, our core values have remained and will continue to remain the same: commitment to the people who use our products, and enthusiasm for the manner in which our customers improve the lives of others.

It is our goal to continue to equip teachers, therapists, and parents as they seek to enrich the lives of others through creative movement products and music. We understand the importance of music and movement for developing healthy minds and bodies of all ages and are honored to have your trust and support as we continue to create high-quality movement props.

Here's to the next 25 years!

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post Our Story — The How and Why Bear Paw Creek Began appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> 6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon https://musicandmovementproducts.com/6-stretchy-band-songs-and-activity-ideas-from-music-teacher-lena-leon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-stretchy-band-songs-and-activity-ideas-from-music-teacher-lena-leon Fri, 27 Sep 2024 20:04:11 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=61863 6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon Are you looking for more Stretchy Band songs and activity ideas? Lena Leon is an Elementary Music Teacher who shares inspiration for fun, creative, and purposeful music lessons. All of her activities are […]

The post 6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon

Are you looking for more Stretchy Band songs and activity ideas?

Lena Leon is an Elementary Music Teacher who shares inspiration for fun, creative, and purposeful music lessons. All of her activities are wonderful for music class, circle time, group settings, and could also be adapted for one-on-one sessions.

She has been sharing so many great Stretchy Band songs and activities and I am thrilled to compile them here, in a blog post.

Keep reading to learn more about Lena Leon and the 6 Stretchy Band songs and activity ideas she has shared!

 

Lena Leon — "The Crafter Teacher"

It has been a pleasure connecting with Lena the last few months over social media as she not only shares Stretchy Band songs and activities but other movement ideas and resources as well. It's easy to see her passion for teaching in the videos and the genuine love and care she has for her students is beautiful and inspiring. Here is a little bit about why Lena calls herself "The Crafter Teacher":

"Hey Everyone!
A few of you have been asking me why I call myself “the crafter teacher” when I’m not even an art teacher lol. Fair enough, fair enough. Bear with me, it’s not about being crafty in the traditional sense. In my little corner of the world, I see myself as someone who tries, every day, to tailor and craft the learning journey to each of my unique and wonderful students. It’s like being a crafter for the mind, putting together music lessons that fit each student, with all the love and care in the world I can possibly bring to my classroom every day. SO these are a few of the things that are VERY close to my heart, and that’s why I feel I am a crafter teacher:

  • Personal touch: I believe every student shines in their own way, and I do my best to make sure the learning fits them, not the other way around. Even though I fail sometimes.
  • Creativity: If possible, I try to sprinkle a bit of magic into our lessons.
  • Diving deep: I’m always diving deep into the ocean of knowledge, hoping to light up their eyes with wonder.
  • Connections: More than anything, I want each of my students to feel seen, heard, and supported.
  • Forever a Student: The world is my classroom, and I’m constantly learning new ways to bring joy into our music class.
  • Flexibility Is Key: If one path doesn’t work out, I’m all about finding another.
  • Growing: It’s not just about the mind; it’s about nurturing the heart.
  • Passions: If I can light even a super mini tiny spark of passion for learning music in my students, then I feel like I’ve done something truly meaningful.

So, here I am, just another crafter teacher on her journey of learning, hoping to make a tiny little bit of a difference.
Here’s to the magic of teaching and the joy of learning, shared together."

6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon.
Share on X

6 Stretchy Band Songs — Perfect Music-Based Activities with the Stretchy Band!

The Stretchy Band songs listed below were shared by Lena Leon @the_crafter_teacher.

All of these Stretchy Band songs and activities are not only fun but also target a variety of skills and goal areas. With the Row Your Boat activity, Lena and her 1st grade class explored the changes in tempo: Adagio, Moderato and Allegro. The children did a great job listening and responding to the music. This also helped train their internal hearing since they sang the song in their heads. While using The Pianists song with the Stretchy Band, Lena and her class rotated the Stretchy Band in opposite directions while also incorporating up and down movements depending on the section of the song.

I have to say, I think my favorite Stretchy Band song and activity shared by Lena so far is Mary Poppins (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious). I never would have thought to use that song with the Stretchy Band! She also incorporated two Stretchy Bands into this activity. Lena had students using an XL Stretchy Band and then put students in the middle with a size Large Stretchy Band. This adds an extra element of fun and encourages active participation.

A few of the other skills Stretchy Bands can help children develop include: gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, cognitive skills, social skills, creativity/creative expression, and listening skills. With a large group of students Stretchy Band activities can also encourage and assist with teamwork, turn taking, and sharing.

Each of the photos below are clickable and will take you directly to the video. That way you can see these Stretchy Band songs and activities in action!

A Special Coupon Code to Save on Movement Props

If you don't have your own Stretchy Band yet, you can click here to shop our different size options. You can also use the code LENA10 to save 10% on your entire purchase!

For links to Lena's TPT store, YouTube Channel, Amazon Store, and a link to subscribe to her email list, click here.

I hope you and your kiddos enjoy these Stretchy Band songs and activities, if you share any photos or videos on social media be sure to tag us @bearpawcreek and @the_crafter_teacher. We love seeing our products in use and I'm sure Lena would love to see her activity ideas in action.

As Lena said, "Here’s to the magic of teaching and the joy of learning, shared together."

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post 6 Stretchy Band Songs and Activity Ideas from Music Teacher, Lena Leon appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers https://musicandmovementproducts.com/boom-tote-storage-bag-for-boomwhackers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=boom-tote-storage-bag-for-boomwhackers Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:07:32 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=61128 Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers® Have you ever played with Boomwhackers®? Have you ever tried to keep them organized? You wouldn't think a bunch of little tubes could be so hard to keep together but it's like they have a mind of their own. […]

The post Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers®

Have you ever played with Boomwhackers®?

Have you ever tried to keep them organized? You wouldn't think a bunch of little tubes could be so hard to keep together but it's like they have a mind of their own. They just keep...rolling.

There is a solution: The Boom Tote, a Boomwhacker® storage bag with a closeable drawstring top to make them all stay in one place and a mesh top so you can see the colorful Boomwhackers®. Plus, a zippered pocket for your extras!

Keep reading for more details on the Boom Tote for Boomwhackers® plus a fun giveaway with Haleigh at Helpful Harmonies Music Therapy.

 

The Boom Tote for Boomwhackers®

Back in 2012 a friend, Michelle Erfurt MT-BC, reached out to us with the idea of the Boom Tote. She says, “I happened to have a standard set of Boomwhackers® but had a hard time carrying them around. So, I made the Boom Tote. I guess the saying 'Necessity is the mother of invention' is true! Thank you so much for checking out the Boom Tote, I know it will help you carry around your instruments.”

The Boom Tote storage bag can hold a full octave (or 8 Boomwhackers®). It has a gusseted fabric bottom which extends the fabric area on the bottom allowing the Boomwhackers® to fit well. The drawstring has a cord lock to keep the bag securely closed and features a mesh upper section so that your instruments are visible. The Boom Tote also as adjustable shoulder straps for easy carrying.

The outer zippered pocket on the Boom Tote is large enough to easily hold a set of Octovator™ Tube Caps, keys, wallet or business cards. The Boom Tote measures 9" x 29"  with the pocket measuring 6.5" x 8" x 2". One of the best parts, the Boom Tote is machine washable!

We discontinued the Boom Tote for several years while we worked on redesigning it. With several requests and people reaching out asking when it would be available again, we worked hard to finalize the design and are excited to have this product back on our website! With the help of our Bear Paw Creek Insider's group, we decided to stick with black for the Boom Tote. By keeping the Boom Tote black, it really allows the colors of the Boomwhackers® to pop.

If you're interested in learning more about Boomwhackers®, how they work, and what they're used for, you can check out the About Us page on www.boomwhackers.com. This article also has some great information on Boomwhackers® and their history.

Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers® — Finally back on the Bear Paw Creek website!
Share on X

Boom Tote and Boomwhackers® Giveaway!

You know we LOVE giveaways here at Bear Paw Creek. So, to celebrate this product being newly released (again), we're doing a giveaway!

Bear Paw Creek and Helpful Harmonies Music Therapy are teaming up to give away:

  • A Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers®
  • A C Major Diatonic Scale of Boomwhackers®

The Boom Tote giveaway is open up to those in the USA and Internationally! To get the details on how to enter for you chance to win, check out our post on Instagram or Facebook. (HINT: You can enter both places for even more entries!)

Best Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers Boomwhacker Organization Music Educators Music Teacher Resources for Music Therapists

This giveaway ends on March 11th, 2024 at 11:59 pm CST. One winner will be drawn and announced on March 12th, 2024. Bear Paw Creek will contact you directly if you have won and will NOT require a payment method of any kind, so please be wary of any strange messages requesting payment info!

If you're like me and want the most giveaway entries as possible, enter your name and email below for an automatic 5 bonus entries. Good luck to everyone and thank you for your continued support!

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post Boom Tote Storage Bag for Boomwhackers appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> 5 Children’s Books to Use With Movement Props for Read Across America Week & National Reading Month https://musicandmovementproducts.com/5-childrens-books-to-use-with-movement-props-for-read-across-america-week-national-reading-month/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-childrens-books-to-use-with-movement-props-for-read-across-america-week-national-reading-month Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:23:21 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=61095 5 Children's Books to Use With Movement Props for Read Across America Week & National Reading Month Did you know that March 2nd through the 6th is Read Across America Week? This week is the nation's largest celebration of reading. The National Education Association (NEA) […]

The post 5 Children’s Books to Use With Movement Props for Read Across America Week & National Reading Month appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

5 Children's Books to Use With Movement Props for Read Across America Week & National Reading Month

Did you know that March 2nd through the 6th is Read Across America Week? This week is the nation's largest celebration of reading. The National Education Association (NEA) established this week of celebration to educate on the importance of reading and its benefits, especially for young children and adults.

Not only do we have Read Across America Week to celebrate, the entire month of March is National Reading Month! We are excited for the focus on literacy this month and thought it would be fun to compile a list of books that can be paired with our creative movement props.

Keep reading for 5 children's book ideas to use with movement props along with a book by one of our long-time friends, Maryann "Mar" Harman.

5 Children's Books to Use With Movement Props National Reading Month Read Across America Week Bear Paw Creek Creative Music and Movement with Props

1. "Wheels on the Bus" Book and Activity With the Stretchy Band

Wheels on the Bus has always been one of my favorite books. I have the 25th anniversary pop-up edition of this book and it is so fun to read, children are always fascinated with the interactive pages and the illustrations are beautiful. One of the great things about this book and song is that it is perfect to use as a Stretchy Band activity! This blog post by our friend, Carole Stephens, talks about the different movements you can do with the Stretchy Band while singing the song. Here is a snippet to give you an idea:

Start singing the traditional song, “The Wheels on the Bus”, while moving the band in circles away from your body. Children will follow along quickly. Below are motions for some of the additional verses. Feel free to add your own! This is definitely a favorite activity in my classes!

  1. Wheels — move Stretchy Band in circles away from body.
  2. Doors — legs straight out in front, lay back slowly, then sit up (yep, it’s sit-ups!).
  3. Windows — move Stretchy Band up’n’down- up on the word “up”, down on the word “down.”
  4. Wipers — move hands/band from side to side.
  5. People go bumpity-bump –— shake the band and wiggle all around.
  6. Babies cry — knock fists together, then apart quickly on “waa waa waa!”
  7. Repeat wheels verse to end the song

I'm also linking a few videos below to give you a visual idea of how to incorporate this fun Wheels on the Bus Stretchy Band activity into your next music and movement time. Including one where we customized the song and made it a "Wheels on the Tractor". Get creative with this activity and have fun with switching up a few words and changing the movements. Not only is this book and activity perfect for Read Across America Week and National Reading Month it's great to use year-round.

2. "Tammy the Troll: A Dance in the Forest" — A creative dance book to use with movement scarves!

Our friends at Once Upon A Dance released an adorable book last year titled Tammy the Troll: A Dance in the Forest. We were so excited when they reached out to us asking about collaborating to make a set with the book and some of our creative movement scarves. You can check out the set here.

Readers are invited to stretch, spin, jump and more as they act out the journey to find Tammy. Kids are invited to use a creative movement scarf as a backpack, a paddle, butterfly wings, a towel, and a pillow to enhance the fun and explore the movements, dnace fundamentals, and early-learning concepts.

As kids move along with the book’s diverse characters, they explore levels, direction, spatial awareness, emotions, balance, movement quality, and more. Dance stories are a wonderful way to combine books and movement for kids who love both, making them great for Read Across America Week. Tammy the Trolls: A Dance in the Forest is perfect for dance class, creative movement play, physical education, or any setting where children are inspired to explore and express themselves.

3. "Shake my Sillies Out" (Raffi Songs to Read)

Many of us are familiar with Raffi's classic song, "Shake My Sillies Out".  When I ran across this book, Shake My Sillies Out (Raffi Songs to Read) on amazon I was so excited and thought it would be a perfect addition to our list of books for Read Across America Week and National Reading Month.

My first thought for a movement prop to use with this book and song was a streamer. We have several different streamer options from hoops to fabric wrist scrunchies, ribbon and chiffon, primary or rainbow! I can see each child or student holding a streamer while they shake, clap, jump, and wiggle their way through this classic Raffi sing-along book. You could also do this with movement scarves. Both the streamers and scarves would be less stimulating as they would be soft and quiet even with kids getting excited and moving around.

Another option would be egg shakers, of course! We have a variety of different hand instruments available on our website including egg shakers. While they would definitely add an element of noise to your music and movement time, egg shakers would be very fun to use with Raffi's "Shake My Sillies Out".

4. "My Many Colored Days" — A Dr. Seuss Board Book to Use with Scarves

Did you know that National Reading Month was started as a way to honor Dr. Seuss' birthday and motivate people of all ages to read every day? Once I found this out, I knew My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss had to be on our list of books for Read Across America Week and National Reading Month. This book is perfect for learning and reinforcing skills such as:

  • Color recognition
  • Identifying and exploring moods and emotions
  • Starting and stopping — motor control
  • Creating movements to match music and words

We have a kit available on our site that includes My Many Colored Days board book, IDEAS Music Color CD, and creative movement scarves. We have a group kit option as well as a small kit to fit your needs. You can check out the kit here! The music tracks accompany the Dr. Seuss board book and creative movement scarves. It can be used for both classroom and individual use. The music is also perfect also perfect to use by itself for exploration of movement, mood, and creativity.

5. "My Color Book" — Use Bean Bags and Scarves to Practice Color Recognition

Help children love learning by incorporating this colorful and engaging book by Kathy Schumacher MT-BC at Tuneful Teaching. The book is also a great accompaniment for learning sign language. The following signs/motions are included: my, color, book, sun, yellow, pumpkin, orange, sky, clouds, white, plum, purple, apple, red, leaping, frog, green, ocean, blue, acorn, brown, rolling, tire, black, everywhere, in, out, eyes, and look/stare.

The colors included are: yellow, orange, white, purple, red, green, blue, brown, black

By using a movement prop in tandem with the My Color Book, you can provide something tactile to further reinforce the color concepts. Our Primary and Neutral pack of Bean Bags would be perfect as it includes all of the colors listed in the My Color Book. You could also build your own kit of movement scarves by choosing the colors you need.

As you read through the book, have your child or student point to or pick up the corresponding colored Bean Bag or Scarf. In a group setting, you could pass out the Bean Bags or Scarves and as each color is read, whoever is holding that color could do a fun movement or just lift it up and repeat the colors' name.

BONUS Book: "Building Brains with Music: A must have guide on how to use music to enhance brain development"

Last but not least, I have to recommend this book by Maryann "Mar" Harman. She is a music educator with a Bachelor's Degree in Music and a Master's in Education, with an emphasis on Early Childhood and is a certified Level I Orff. These degrees contribute to her ability to write songs that are musically and educationally sound for children's music as well as fun and easy to use for teachers and parents.

This book is all about using music to enhance brain development and in it, Mar discusses how to use movement props with music to further enhance music's incredible benefits. Her book also includes access to 27 of her amazing digital songs.

We collaborated with Mar to put together a kit with different props and instruments to go with her book. You can check out the Music with Mar. Student Manipulative Kit here or click here to check out the book only.

I hope after reading this blog post that you are left inspired and maybe have a few more ideas on how you can use books with our movement props. If you incorporate any of these activities into your next music and movement time and share any photos or videos, please tag us! We love to see them. You can find us @bearpawcreek on both Facebook and Instagram. If you have any more book suggestions for us, send us an email at info@bearpawcreek.com. Happy reading!

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post 5 Children’s Books to Use With Movement Props for Read Across America Week & National Reading Month appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]> Five Winter Scarf Songs for Music and Movement https://musicandmovementproducts.com/five-winter-scarf-songs-for-music-and-movement-circle-time-songs-for-kids-best-creative-movement-scarves/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=five-winter-scarf-songs-for-music-and-movement-circle-time-songs-for-kids-best-creative-movement-scarves Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:21:27 +0000 https://musicandmovementproducts.com/?p=60919 Five Winter Scarf Songs for Music and Movement I have been seeing so many great winter scarf songs and activities on social media and thought I would compile a list of just a few of my favorites. It's always fun to do seasonal activities with […]

The post Five Winter Scarf Songs for Music and Movement appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>

Five Winter Scarf Songs for Music and Movement

I have been seeing so many great winter scarf songs and activities on social media and thought I would compile a list of just a few of my favorites. It's always fun to do seasonal activities with our creative movement props and our friends on social media always have great ideas!

Our scarves have been growing in popularity and have quickly become one of our best-selling products. From individual scarves in varying sizes to creative movement scarf kits, we have several different options that can fit your needs. Here is the list of five of my favorite winter scarf songs:

  • "Cozy" by Narwhals and Waterfalls
  • "Make a Snowball" by Miss Katie Sings
  • "Dance Like Snowflakes" by Jbrary
  • "Blowing in the Wind" by Stephanie Leavell
  • "Swirling and Twirling" by Patina Jackson

Keep reading for details on how these songs can be used with our creative movement scarves along with links and video resources for each one!

1. "Cozy" A Winter Scarf Song by Narwhals and Waterfalls

Our new friends Paige and Adrian at Narwhals and Waterfalls wrote an adorable song called "Cozy" that is perfect to use with creative movement scarves. It's also a good family-friendly song to sing together at home during this cozy season. This song goes through all things winter. From warm jackets, hats and gloves, to playing outside in the snow, to hot chocolate and cookies, it's an interactive and engaging song that pairs well with scarves.

Click the YouTube video linked on the right to watch the official "Cozy" video and read the lyrics. You can also check out the two videos Paige shared on Instagram that demonstrate this winter scarf song in action. Click here to watch the first video and here to watch the second! Be sure to follow Narwhals and Waterfalls on social media and check out their website for more great learning resources.

2. "Make a Snowball" A Scarf Circle Time Song for Kids by Miss Katie Sings

I ran across Miss Katie's YouTube channel a couple of weeks ago and found this fun winter scarf song that has you make a snowball with your scarf. At the end of the song she has you throw your "snowball" up into the air!

This song encourages active participation and is great for practicing important listening skills as well as following directions. Plus, who doesn't love making a snowball, getting to throw it up in the air and then watch it fall slowly back to the ground.

You could add another element of fun by having each child pick a different colored scarf. Then, when it's time to throw the snowball, call out a color and that child would throw their scarf up in the air. This would add the skill of sharing of taking turns while also learning or practicing color recognition.

Be sure to check out the rest of Miss Katie's videos on her YouTube channel. You can also check out her website and Patreon community as well as her Instagram page for more songs and videos.

3. "Dance Like Snowflakes" A Winter Scarf Song from Jbrary

I love Jbrary's resources and was excited to run across this Scarf Songs and Rhymes playlist they created, which is where I found their video for "Dance Like Snowflakes". This winter scarf song is called "Dance Like Snowflakes" and is sung in the tune of Frere Jacques.

The lyrics are: Dance like snowflakes, dance like snowflakes. In the air, in the air. Whirling, twirling snowflakes. Whirling, twirling snowflakes. Everywhere, everywhere.

This song could easily be adapted to use while sitting or standing. You could have your children or students sit and sing this song while doing the arm and hand movements shown in the video. Or, allow them to stand and move their whole body while dancing like snowflakes with their creative movement scarves.

For more music and movement resources along with great book suggestions for story time success, go to Jbray's website. You can also subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them on Instagram for more inspiration.

4. "Blowing in the Wind" by Stephanie Leavell at Music for Kiddos

"Blowing in the Wind" by Stephanie Leavell at Music for Kiddos is one of the best scarf songs ever, and for good reason! This isn't just a good winter scarf song but can also be used year-round. I have seen some fun fall/halloween adaptions and it also fits in well during spring and summer.

"Blowing in the Wind" is very catchy, making it easy to learn! As an added bonus, there is a lot of learning going on when using the song. Oftentimes kids don't even realize that they are practicing important skills, they're too busy having fun.

Check out this blog post from Miss Kathy at Tuneful Teaching to learn more about the skills targeted in this versatile scarf song. You can click the linked video shared by Miss Kathy to see how scarves are used with the song and can also click here to watch the "Blowing in the Wind" lyric video.

Stephanie has generously allowed this song to be a free download! Click here to get your free Blowing in the Wind download.

Be sure to follow Music for Kiddos on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel. If you haven't taken time to look through all of the incredible resources available on musicforkiddos.com, you definitely should. Stephanie is well known for her high-quality children's music resources for music therapists, music educators, and parents.

5. "Swirling and Twirling" by Patina Jackson at Music Therapy Joy

When I first saw this video on Music Therapy Joy's Instagram I thought right away, "That would be a PERFECT scarf song!". I love Patina's writing and music style and am excited to share this one with you.

"Swirling and Whirling" is about a snowflakes journey as it falls to earth. Patina wrote, "As I was writing this song, I was imagining the journey of a softly falling snowflake… but no sooner had it landed than a gust of wind picked it up! It swirled and twirled and whizzed and whirled (can you picture snow swirling in the wind??) and started to land, but was picked back up…and started to land but was picked back up… til it finally found its home in a blanket of white!

By having your children or students use a scarf, they can mimic the actions of the snowflake by twirling it around. Left to right, up and down, twisting all around! You could either have your students sit for this song and just follow the movements with their arms and hands. Or, you could have them stand and move their whole body with the scarf like the snowflake. I love the anticipation in this song as well, it starts slow and smooth and then speeds up as the snowflake is moving faster and faster.

To listen to "Swirling and Twirling" on Spotify, click here. Be sure to follow Music Therapy Joy on Facebook and Instagram. For even more teaching and learning resources, check out the Music Therapy Joy website! Patina also recently started a YouTube channel that you definitely want to subscribe to. With Patina's positive energy and infectious joy, your kiddos or students will love watching her videos and will be having fun while learning.

Winter Scarf Songs for Circle Time and Music Class

I hope you enjoy these five winter scarf songs and find them useful and fun for you next music class, circle time, library story time, music therapy session, or just at home with your kids.

To get your own creative movement scarves or to add to your scarf collection, check out our Individual Chiffon Scarves here or our Creative Movement Scarf Kits.

If you have more scarf activity or song ideas, feel free to send them to us! You can email us at info@bearpawcreek.com or DM us on Facebook or Instagram. If you use any of these songs with our scarves, be sure to tag us @bearpawcreek and the song artist. We love seeing videos and pictures of our products in use and are thankful for the opportunity to provide you with quality music and movement resources.

I also want to say a big thank you to all of the amazing artists mentioned above. They are wonderful people and we are so thankful for their willingness to share inspiring and educational songs with all of us.

Now, go have fun with some scarves and winter songs!

Blog Post by Bear Paw Creek: Winter Scarf Songs for Music and Movement
Share on X

Madison Stephens

Madison Stephens

Madison has been a part of BPC her whole life. As a young child, she and her siblings helped stuff stretchy bands and flip bean bags. Over the last six years she has become even more involved and is now an official BPC employee with the role of seamstress and social media manager. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, going on walks with her dog, working with horses, or cooking and baking. Madison feels honored to have the opportunity to work alongside her mom, Janet Stephens, and be involved with the family business.

The post Five Winter Scarf Songs for Music and Movement appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

]]>