Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is about getting children up and active. It is a series which celebrates this special time in the life span when young children are finding out about what their bodies can do. Through play, dance and drama the presenters and toys invite young children and their families to explore and develop the skills of body movement and action.
Theme Notes Series 289: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Episode 2
PRESENTERS
Leah Vandenberg and Jay Laga’aia
PIANIST
Peter Dasent
TOLD STORY
The Magician’s New Trick
(A story told by the Play School team)
FILM
“Henna Hand Painting” (Play School, ABC)
SONGS
Open Shut Them
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin / ABC Music Publishing
Wash Your Dirty Hands
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin / ABC Music Publishing
My Hands Are Clapping
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin / ABC Music Publishing
Head and Shoulders
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin / ABC Music Publishing
Like a Leaf or Feather
Composer: Mary Champion De Crespigny
Publisher: EMI Music
Let Everyone Clap Hands with Me
Composer: Mary Miller & Paula L. Zajan
Publisher: Music Sales Australia
Thumbelina
Composer: Frank Loesser
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

IDEAS FOR LATER
Visit a park or garden and see how many different sorts of flowers you can find.
Pretend you are a marionette puppet – bend and stretch and dance on your toes.
Create a family of dancing fingers by drawing faces on the fingers of a pair of disposable gloves.
MAKE AND DO
How to Make Thumb Ballerinas
You will need:
- 2 pieces of silky fabric (approx. 30cm square)
- Scissors to cut a hole in the centre
- A fine texta
Draw a face on the inside of your thumb using a fine texta. Place your thumb through the hole in the fabric and then make your thumb dance.

MAKE AND DO
How to Make Flower Hand Prints
You will need:
- 2 plastic plates
- 2 colours of paint
- Ap
