Recommended for 5-year-olds! A collection of ideas for plays and dances for senior kindergarteners’ performances
The recital is the culmination of the 5-year-olds’ life at the kindergarten.
As teachers, you want it to be an event that conveys the children’s growth.
That’s where the dilemma of choosing the program comes in.
Selecting pieces that let the children enjoy themselves and shine with enthusiasm is something every teacher puzzles over.
So we’ve gathered ideas that are perfect for 5-year-olds, such as plays and ensemble performances.
We’ve picked out a variety of ideas to match your school’s unique style, so please use them as a reference when deciding on your program.
Recommended for 5-Year-Olds: A Collection of Ideas for Senior Kindergarten Recitals—Plays and Dances (1–10)
[Play] Peter Pan
![[Play] Peter Pan](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/knM3kWZghX8/sddefault.jpg)
Let me introduce a play of Peter Pan that delights with its fantastical world.
The island where children can remain children forever is called Neverland, and the story unfolds there—one that kids absolutely love.
In addition to the magical element of flying through the sky with Tinker Bell’s pixie dust, the battle scenes between Captain Hook and Peter Pan are sure to be thrilling and exciting.
Along with dialogue, try performing your own unique Peter Pan with sound effects and songs that only children can bring to life!
A play and song themed around future dreams
A play and song themed around “future dreams” that lets you feel how much the children have grown since they were babies is perfect for their final school performance.
Ask the children in advance what they want to be in the future, and on the day, have each child wear a costume of their chosen future self and present one by one.
Speaking in front of others about their dreams and the reasons behind them can be nerve‑racking, so it’s a good idea to practice beforehand where and how they’ll present.
It may also help the flow to have the teachers in charge decide in advance when the piano will come in and when to bring out any props for the presentations.
[Play] Elmer’s Adventure
![[Play] Elmer’s Adventure](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/avJqy3dBfxI/sddefault.jpg)
The beloved story “Elmer’s Adventure” is perfect for the senior kindergarteners’ performance.
Since the original Elmer story is a long work, let’s decide which parts to include in the play.
It’s recommended to incorporate as many key scenes as possible as you go.
When assigning roles, it’s wonderful to first ask the children which roles they’d like and then arrange it so multiple children can share a single role.
Creating props and sets together with the children during class may also help unite their feelings and excitement for the performance.
[Dance] Children’s Kabuki
![[Dance] Children's Kabuki](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BWsEPfdWrOE/sddefault.jpg)
The dance for Children’s Kabuki looks incredibly powerful and cool when performed by five-year-olds! The song gives a pop impression, but the choreography is packed with many Kabuki elements, making it a performance you can’t help but watch intently.
If you match the costumes to the music with a Kabuki-like, traditional Japanese look and incorporate Kabuki makeup, it adds even more impact.
Since many of the moves are very dynamic, this is an idea we definitely recommend to teachers who want their older kindergarteners to showcase a uniquely powerful dance.
[Operetta] The Talkative Omelette
![[Operetta] The Talkative Omelette](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uuBVf5XSJF8/sddefault.jpg)
A play I recommend for older kindergarteners is The Chatty Tamagoyaki.
It’s an operetta, with songs and dances at its core.
In the video that’s introduced, the children move and dance in time with the lines on the CD to express the story.
When a play gets longer, memorizing lines, positions, movements, and dances can be tough, so coordinating movement to pre-recorded lines may be easier to learn and proceed with.
Since there are no spoken lines by the children, they can focus on the movement, making it feel like a musical and resulting in a fun performance.
Song
I want to keep getting along with everyone forever.
Even if there are things we can’t do, if we try again and again, we’ll surely manage.
How about singing the inspiring, forward-looking song “Ne” at your recital? It’s often performed at kindergarten graduation ceremonies, but since it’s not a ballad, it’s moving without making the atmosphere too subdued—that’s a key selling point.
Be sure to sing it loudly and energetically.
Seeing the children sing with smiles will surely warm the hearts of teachers and parents alike.
[Play] The Three Magic Talismans
![[Play] The Three Magic Talismans](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iMHpIh3a_QA/sddefault.jpg)
Here is an introduction to “The Three Charms” from Japanese folktales.
This story features a mountain witch (yamanba) and is a scary tale, but many children love spooky stories.
For kids who are fascinated by things like ogres, ghosts, or even hell despite knowing they’re scary, I think this makes a great play-acting activity.
It seems fun for the children to discuss what kind of yamanba to portray and decide together how to deliver their lines.
While keeping in mind that not only adults but also very young children might be watching, wouldn’t it be a delightful play for the children to take the lead and enjoy themselves?