Animal Action Replacement - Music and Movement for Preschool

Animal Action is actually a great set of songs (there are multiple versions with different lyrics including different animals) by the wiggles (if memory serves me correctly). I do recommend them as preschool children enjoy these songs, and it gets them up and moving in ways that cause them to practice body awareness and improve gross motor skills and development.

However, if you've had enough of the wiggles, want to introduce a little classical music, and encourage similar types of movement, try the original "Animal Action" - Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saens. The piece does the same thing as animal action by using different instruments and themes to represent different animals and their movement style. You can even find illustrated children's books that come with a CD with the music on it. If you have an experienced listener, see if he/she can guess what animal is being represented or at least describe or show you the type of movement the music suggests before telling him or her what animal to imitate.  Then move to the music as if you are the animal depicted.  You can then extend the "lesson" by identifying the instruments that are used (this is identified on many copies intended for kids anyway) in each section of the piece.

Have fun!