Winter Hokey Pokey in Sign Language

Most children probably already know and love the hokey pokey song, so I’d like to introduce to you a way to have a little more fun with it. In the cold winter months, you can’t help but to draw more attention to winter clothing and what you can do to keep warm outside. Your students will have a lot of fun singing and will be able to easily learn more vocabulary words and more about the winter season.

 

You can introduce the idea by teaching the sign for winter, which is to shake fists and arms in front of body as if shivering. For the song, instead of using body parts, I suggest you substitute winter clothing to put in and out of the circle, such as this:

 

You put your right mitten in,

You put your right mitten out

You put your right mitten in and

You shake it all about

You do the hokey pokey and

You turn yourself around

That’s what it’s all about

 

Continue the song and substitute “right mitten” with the following signs:

 

Right/Left mitten – Hold out one hand and keep the opposite hand in a fist as if putting on a glove

Right/Left boot – 1) Pretend to pull a boot onto foot, 2) Make upside down B’s with hands and put together, or 3) Sign shoes - Bump fists together

Hat – Place arms/hands over head as if to put on a hat, or pat your head

Scarves – Make the motion of wrapping a scarf around neck

Coats – Pull arms/hands over shoulders as if pulling on a coat

Snow pants – Make sign for snow by trickling fingers down in front of self, and follow by the sign for pants by brushing hands up on legs

Socks – Point two pointer fingers down opposite each other

 

Remember to have fun while singing and signing with your students. They’ll become much more engaged in the activity and learn while doing so. Stay warm!

 

Remember, that you can find more ideas on my blog at www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog