Submitted by Elizabeth Lazar

Idea posted October 10, 2001

This is the flag routine I did for "The Heart of America" (Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 3, also available as a Singles Reproducible Kit) It is a very simple routine, but it sure doesn't sound simple when you write it all out!

Four rows of kids on the risers. I used four step risers. The top row stayed on the top. The next row moved down to the second step from the bottom. The next row stood on the floor right in front of the risers, and the bottom row knelt/sat on the floor. All the kids had an American flag held in their right hand. Flags start out at their side, out of sight. The motions are started by the top row and move on down the rows every 4 beats. Row 4 is the top row. Row 1 is sitting on the floor.

On the introduction, the kids get in position and snap their fingers on the beat. When the singing starts, the flag routine starts.

I am counting the beats when the singing starts (we) Get up each morning...

Beat 1-4: Row 4: Hold flag so it is hanging down in front of your chest. (The stars on the flag will be on the kid's left side of his chest and the stick will be vertical.) Hold this position for 16 beats - until next movement.
Beat 5-8: Row 3: Hold flag so it is hanging down in front of your chest. Hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 9-12 Row 2: Hold flag so it is hanging down in front of your chest. Hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 13-16 Row 1: Hold flag so it is hanging down in front of your chest. Hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 17-20 Row 4: Hold flag so the stick is vertical. The flag will be on your right side, but don't extend your arm. Hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 21-24 Row 3: Hold flag so the stick is vertical.
Beat 25-28 Row 2: Hold flag so the stick is vertical.
Beat 29-32 Row 1: Hold flag so the stick is vertical.
On "We're living in the heart, in the heart of America": Swish the flag to the right on the first "heart" and to the left on the second "heart." On the syllable "mer," the flags are held vertically on their right side. On the syllable "ca," they extend their arms so the flags are held high.
SECOND VERSE; ( We) live in a land...
Beat 1-4 Row 4: Make an arc with the flag from right to left and hold this position for 16 beats.
Beat 5-8 Row 3: Make an arc with the flag from right to left and hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 9-12 Row 2: Make an arc with the flag from right to left and hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 13-16 Row 1: Make an arc with the flag from right to left and hold this position until next mvt. occurs.
Beat 17-32 All rows make arcs from side to side every 4 beats.
On "We're living in the heart, in the heart of America," repeat the movement
done earlier.
On the musical interlude where there is a STOMP STOMP. We swished the flags on the stomp stomp. On "Listen to the heart beat," the flags are held vertically on right side (arms are not extended).
On the first "America," The flags make an arc from right to left, the other way on the second "America" and back on the third "America."
On the very last "The heart," the flags are held vertically on "the" and extend upward on the word "Heart."

© Plank Road Publishing, Inc. - Used by permission.