Stella Ella Olla is singing game that is still evolving. The author learned this game from her students, and this is the variant that is recorded in Musicplay. But there are many other variants of the song. For example, "teega teega shark attack." "Singing es teega teega, cheese and macaroni." or "valo, valo, forgot to blow your nose." The author has observed children waiting backstage at dance recitals playing the game with no adult supervision. It's exciting to see children playing singing games on their own. This game is a good game for observing if students can keep a steady beat, and it's a good game to step out of and observe participation skills. To simplify recording grades, have your students form the circle in class list order.

Students may be able to read the rhythm and melody of the song.

Play the game!

The students form a circle. Each student extends their hands, palms facing up. Each player puts the right hand over the hand of the person on the right and the left hand under the hand of the person on the left. The clapping moves clockwise around the circle. The player who begins claps the right hand of the person on their left with their right hand. On the last word of the song, “five,” the player who is about to be hit must pull their hand away before being clapped. If they pull away in time, the clapper is out. If they get clapped, they are out.

Watch how this game is played.
We're spaced apart and don't touch - and it's fun!
Try playing Stella Ella in the same way this game is played.

Can you match the rhythm to the words of the song?

This activity doesn't self-correct, so check your answers by look back at the song.

When you get them all right, read the rhythms of the song.

Solfege or solfa is a way of naming notes that singers use: do, re, mi, fa, so, la ti, do. (Like in "do a deer")

Stella Ella uses the notes mi, so, la and high do. You start on high do.

Instrumental players usually use letter names: CDEFGABC' to name notes. Musicians call these "Absolute Note Names."

If you play a recorder you may be able to play this song.

Complete the note name challenge!

This is a fun game for children to play. If you have students who don't celebrate Easter, change that word to 'furry'. "Hide those eggs little furry bunny... " Teach the melody and the words of the song by rote and play the game. Have the students show the phrases in the song with arm motions. The phrase form is abac.

Choose five to six students to hide Easter eggs in the classroom while the rest of the class hides their eyes and sings the song. Eggs must be hidden in plain sight. The children hunt for the eggs. Choose new students to hide the eggs

Print and distribute the melody cards around the room. Have students hunt for them and copy the patterns onto the staff with the same number.