The Oxcart Body Rhythm

Have you ever taught The Oxcart (archives) for Pioneer Day? You’ll have so much fun teaching this one-of-a-kind song in Singing Time with this The Oxcart Body Rhythm activity! You’ll teach 4 simple but impactful actions that each fit the song lyrics.

The Oxcart Body Rhythm

Sing through The Oxcart pioneer song once, before introducing this body rhythm.

Demonstrate the body rhythm as everyone sing through the song again. Did you catch the pattern? What action comes first? Here’s a pattern guide to help you follow along. We’ll start by walking in place, one step per note.

After that, we’ll pat on lap just like this, one time on each word we sing. Let’s sing along together and try it.

Call out “Pause” and ask the children which pattern comes next? Do you remember? We’ll roll our arms, try it with me. You’ve got it! Then finally let’s lean to the left and lean to the right and repeat. Perfect! Let’s finish the song with these next two actions.

Start at the beginning and sing all the way through the song with the 4 body rhythm actions.

Invite a class at a time to come up front and help you to lead the body rhythm pattern and show off how well they know it.

The Oxcart Body Rhythm Pattern:

Walk in Place – One step per note – “Here comes the ox-cart, oh, how slow”

Pat your lap on each word – “It’s pulled by an ox, of course you know”

Roll your arms – “The wooden wheels creak as they roll along”

Lean to the left and right – “Creak, creak, creak, creak, is their song”

Extension Activities:

• Invite the children to swap one of the actions from this pattern with their own ideas. What could they do instead? Continue to swap out the actions until you have 4 completely new actions!
• Let’s turn the actions into a line dance! Walk forward for the first line, pat your lap, roll your arms as you step backwards, then lean left and right. Make a quarter turn so you are now facing the left side of the room and start from the beginning.
• Let’s try the pattern again, but this time do the actions as slooooowly as you can. How about we try it this time moving as fast as we can?

For another fun similar activity, head over to see this The Handcart Song Arm Swings singing time activity!

The Oxcart Body Rhythm Printable Song Helps

This free in-post printable includes a 1-page printable with quarter page action cards.

This activity has extended printables including full page action cards and 1-page and 4-page lyrics action pages. You’ll find these bonus files included in The Oxcart teaching packet in my shop.

For another fun and engaging activity to help you teach this song, head over to this The Oxcart Egg Shakers singing time idea!

What other fun ways will you use this body rhythm singing time activity in your Primary room?