John Glenn’s Ride
Text by CK Emanuel
To the Tune of: Ring Around the Rosie
Race around the planet;
HOLD HANDS AND TURN IN A CIRCLE
Johnnie flew the Friendship.
KEEP MOVING IN THE CIRCLE
Faster! Faster!
TURN FASTER
NASA blasts off!
JUMP UP THEN FALL DOWN
*John Glenn was the first American to orbit the planet. He flew in the Friendship 7 capsule.
Information Source: Ethier, Bryan. “John Glenn: First American to Orbit the Earth.”American History (1997): History Net. 12 June 2006. Web. 20 May 2015.
Participation: Ages 3 and up
Skills Utilized/Reinforced: Gross Motor; Knowledge of Space History
Possible Modifications: This game works very well in a large group, much as “Ring Around the Rosie.”
However, if you are doing a storytime where handholding is an issue, “John Glenn’s Ride” also works well with kids spinning/twirling individually. My kids usually love to get dizzy!
A second option is to have the kids run along the edges of the room or predesigned circle formation.
Themes: Space, Travel, Adventure, History, Speed, Hero
Storytime: For The Next Generation 