Submitted by Priscilla Whalen, Ohio

Idea posted May 16, 2005

Here is a scarf routine to "America The Beautiful" from Music K-8, Vol. 4, No. 1:
  • Students stand in a line or a circle with a scarf in each hand and hands down at sides.
  • O beautiful... - Raise right hand to left shoulder and then straight over head swirling the scarf. Hold.
  • ...for spacious skies, - Raise left hand to right shoulder and then straight over head swirling the scarf. Hold.
  • For amber waves of grain. - Bring the scarves gently down crossing arms back and forth.
  • For purple mountain... - Raise right hand to left shoulder and then straight over head swirling the scarf. Hold.
  • ...majesties - Raise left hand to right shoulder and then straight over head swirling the scarf. Hold.
  • Above the fruited plain. - Bring the scarves gently down crossing arms back and forth.
  • On the first America! - Bring the right arm straight up and make a complete body turn to the right. Keep arm raised.
  • On the second America! - Bring the left arm straight up with right arm and make a complete turn to left.
  • God shed His grace on thee, - Gently swirl the scarves downward while crossing the arms back and forth.
  • And crown thy good - Raise right arm up and swirl the scarf around head.
  • with brotherhood - Place both arms straight out in "Y" formation so you grasp/touch your neighbors fingers, then drop both arms.
  • From sea... - One person starts a wave motion by lunging left and pointing right arm to the left. The arm makes a circle as it moves from side up and around to point left.
  • Repeat the same routine for the second verse. For the extra "Americas" in the Music K-8 version of the song, we did:
  • Raise the right arm straight up.
  • Raise the left arm straight up.
  • Twirl in a circle.
© Plank Road Publishing, Inc. - Used by permission.