The colors of the ribbons bring excitement to the room as they flutter through the air. The children are concentrating hard to get their ribbons to follow the pattern of the teacher. You can palpably feel the enthusiastic and electrical feel of energy in the room as the children move their windwands to the pattern as the teacher sings.
What are some windward patterns you can use to the beat of a song?
Circle left, circle right
Circle up, circle down
Figure eight up
Figure eight down
Snake on the floor
Snake up and snake down
Over the shoulder right, over the shoulder left
Paint the sky, paint the floor
How do you make a windwand?
Get three lengths of ribbon (I used 3 ft.). Secure them to a dowel or embroidery hoop (or something for the children to hold on to).
Update – I got lots of questions about how to make wind wands, so I wrote this post for you! 🙂 How to make windwands.
There are also commercially made windwands:
http://www.westmusic.com/p/west-music-rhythm-ribbons
or
http://rhythmband.com/set-of-6-36-ribbon-wands/
or
Rainbow Rhythm Ribbon Set on Amazon
or
Yellowtails YTC-105 Rhythm Ribbon Set 6 3 L Asstd Colors on Sears.com
Using windwands with younger children: Do simple movements to the beat for at least 8 beats.
Using windwands with older children: Do a movement two times on one side, then switch to the other side. Follow with another type of movement. For example: Circle left 2x, circle right 2x, snake on the floor back and forth for 4 beats.
I will try to post some videos of using windwands with specific songs. Let me know what songs you would like to see!
Laura Bickmore
How about wind wand movements to scripture power?? 😀
Kristina
Thank you for posting this, I am reading your book and was curious about wind wands. So I got on your website and immediately saw this video! You anticipate my every need ; o) You are awesome, Sister Dance!
Laura Bickmore
Question for you – in reading your book and your activities on your other webpage, i noticed you said to obtain a wand for at least 1/3 of the primary children… So do you then have them switch and give it to someone who hasn’t had a turn after the song is finished and sing it again?
Laura Bickmore
OOOooonnnne more question 🙂
I have looked through appendix C in your book, and don’t see anything on making windwands. I know I can just tape ribbon to a dowel, or even ripple tie to a straw, but I want some nice wands like in your video – that have the “snap” to them. I swear I skimmed some instructions once on how to make them – do you have any links or info?
How to make a windwand | Teaching Primary Music
[…] Windwands is a post about how to use them. […]
The Holy Ghost: Windwands for Younger Children | Teaching Primary Music
[…] Here are some directions about how to use Windwands. […]
Sandra Bradfield
Thank you for directions on making the wind wands! I’m hoping to make some soon. I love that you share all of your great ideas. Our primary is changing for the better thanks to your inspiration!!!
Holly Taylor
I saw that you used wind wands for He Sent His Son, but I can’t find your pattern.
Kristin Hawes
I am with Holly. I would really love a wind wand pattern for He Sent His Son. I am having a hard time with the 3/4 timing instead of the 4/4 as you demonstrate here. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
Sharla Dance
(Because there is a rest on the first beat, these actions start on the first beat even before you say the word)
Circle 3x left, Circle 3x right
over the shoulder right, tap, tap, over the shoulder left, tap, tap
snake on the floor 3 beats to the right, snake on the floor 3 beats to the left
Up, tap, tap, Up, tap, tap
Repeat
Sharla Dance
I make up a different pattern using circles, over the shoulder, taps, and snake on the floor. I just make sure the pattern is 3 beats.