SONGS AND RHYMES IN
ENGLISH LESSONS
PaedDr. Dana Mašínová
aj.damas@gmail.com
Songs are amazing tool for
teaching language, especially
to children.
Young learners pick up
vocabulary, grammatical
structures, and the rhythm of
the language.
writing
speaking
listening
four skills
reading
CHILDREN
pronunciation
intonation
rhythm
motivation
SONGS
vocabulary
grammar
TPR
HAVE FUN!
BE ACTIVE!
Why?
How?
When?
Songs
Rhymes
Chants
Where?
What?
"The use of music and mime,
rhythm and rhyme in the
context of action songs can be
one of the fastest and most
effective ways of presenting and
teaching new language."
Charles Goodger
SONGS AND GAMES FOR CHILDREN David Paul
Macmillan Heineman
• 16 songs with teacher’s notes
• Cassette
• All worksheets are photocopiable
Singing Grammar:
Teaching Grammar
through Songs
(Cambridge Copy
Collection)
Mark Hancock
Joanna Zaranska
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Hello!
Hello, hello. (Wave one hand, then the other hand)
Can you clap your hands? (Clap!)
Hello, hello. (Wave!)
Can you clap your hands? (Clap!)
Can you stretch up high? (Stretch!)
Can you touch your toes? (Bend down and touch your toes)
Can you turn around? (Turn around)
Can you say hello? (Wave, then say hello to as many people as you can!)
Hello, hello. (Wave!)
Can you stamp your feet? (Stamp your feet.)
Hello, hello. (Wave!)
Can you stamp your feet? (Stamp your feet.)
Can you stretch up high? (Stretch!)
Can you touch your toes? (Bend down and touch your toes)
Can you turn around? (Turn around)
Can you say hello? (Wave, then say hello to as many people as you can!)
Hello, hello. (Wave!)
Can you clap your hands? (Clap!)
Hello, hello. (Wave!)
Can you stamp your feet? (Stamp your feet!)
Listen to the letters
A for apple, B for bird,
C for cat, D for dog,
E for elephant, F for fish,
G for girl, H for hand,
I for insect, J for jug,
K for kite, L for lion,
M for monkey, N for nest,
O for orange, P for pencil,
Q for queen, R for robot,
S for sun, T for tree,
U for umbrella, V for van,
W for window, X for x-ray,
Y for yellow, Z for zoo
My farm
In my bedroom, in my house,
on the floor, I have a farm.
In my farm I have a cow.
Listen to my cow
A-moo-moo-moo goes my cow.
Listen to my little farm.
Listen to my farm.
In my bedroom, in my house,
on the floor, I have a farm.
In my farm I have a sheep.
Listen to my sheep.
A-baa-baa-baa goes my sheep.
A-moo-moo-moo goes my cow.
Listen to my little farm.
Listen to my farm.
Guess the title of the song
The mouse is in the cat
The mouse is on the cat 2x
E – I – E – I,
The mouse is on the cat.
Where is the cat?
The cat is on the dog…
The dog is on the bear…
The bear is on the box.
Where is the mouse?
The mouse is on the cat.
The cat is on the dog.
The dog is on the bear.
The bear is on the box.
E – I – E – I,
The box is on the floor.
There was an old woman
There was an old woman
who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children she
didn´t know what to do.
She gave them some broth
without any bread.
She kissed them all gently
and sent them to bed.
MINALA
HYREMS
Animal rhymes
Mouse, mouse, build a house;
Chick, chick, make it quick;
Cat, cat, find your hat.
Hen, hen, count to ten;
Goat, goat, get your coat;
Pig, pig, dance a jig.
Bear, bear, go upstairs,
Mite, mite, say good night;
Sheep, sheep, go to sleep.
This Little Pig
This Little Pig
This little pig went to market,
This little pig stayed at home,
This little pig had roast beef,
This little pig had none.
And this little pig went...
"Wee wee wee"
all the way home...
Alphabet_Spelling Rhyme
Animal chant
Who's having fun?
- Spiders in the sun.
Who's having lunch?
- Beetles in a bunch.
Who's chewing socks?
- Puppies in a box.
Who's fast asleep?
- Three black sheep.
CH get into 5 groups:
1 question group /stand/
2 spider group /sit down/
3 beetle group
4 puppies group
5 sheep group
Colours Song
Don´t forget
your toothbrush
The wheels on
the bus
The Farmer Wants a Wife
Kididdles
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Do you like broccoli ice cream?
Do you like broccoli?
Yes, I do! (Thumbs up and
nod your head "yes".)
Do you like ice
cream? (Pretend to lick an
ice cream cone.)
Yes, I do! (Thumbs up and
nod your head "yes".)
Do you like broccoli ice
cream? (Make a "yucky"
face.)
No, I don't. Yucky! (Nod
your head "no".)
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, Rain.
Go away.
Come again another day
Little Johnny wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.
This Super Simple Songs
version is a great fingerplay
song that also helps children
learn family member terms
(daddy, mommy, brother,
sister, baby).
It's raining, it's pouring
The old man is snoring,
He went to bed
And bumped his head,
And he couldn't get up in
the morning.
We All Fall Down
•Actions (walk, fall, gallop, tiptoe, hop, twirl)
Walk around the circle. 2X
Walking, walking.
We all fall down.
Gallop around the circle. 2X
Galloping, galloping.
We all fall down.
Tiptoe around the circle. 2X
Tiptoe, tiptoe.
We all fall down.
I'm so sleepy!
Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy.
I'm so sleepy.
Hop around the circle. 2X
Hopping, hopping.
We all fall down.
Twirl around the circle. 2X
Twirling, twirling.
We all fall down.
Hop around the circle.
Twirl around the circle.
Hopping, twirling.
We all fall down.
B N
I O
G
Bingo!
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There was a farmer had a dog.
and Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O 3x
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog.
and Bingo was his name-o.
*-I-N-G-O 3x
And Bingo was his name-o.
Pat your legs!
*-*-*-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
Pat your head!
*-*-*-*-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
Jump!
*-*-*-*-*
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O 3x
And Bingo was his name-o.
Ten in a Bed
There were ten in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were nine in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were eight in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were seven in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were six in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were five in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were four in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were three in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were two in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There was one in a bed
And the little one said
"Good night!"
The Pinocchio song
(Keep your right and left arm up and kick your right leg
and left leg as you dance in and out.)
Everybody in. Everybody out.
Everybody turn around. Everybody shout. Hey!
Everybody ready. Here we go.
Let's do the Pinocchio.
Right arm! (Hold up your right arm.)
Left arm! (Hold up your left arm.)
Right leg! (Kick your right leg.)
Left leg! (Kick your left leg.)
Chin up! (Nod your head up and down.)
Turn around! (Spin.)
Sit down! (Sit down.)
Toys Song
Tune: Frere Jacques
What is red?
(Shrug shoulders.)
What is red?
Can you see?
(Shade eyes with hand.)
Can you see?
I can see a scooter.
(Do scooter action.)
I can see a scooter.
Point with me.
(Point to the scooter flashcard.)
Point with me.
What is pink?...
I can see a dolly....
What is yellow?...
I can see a teddy....
What is purple?... I can see a ball....
What is green?... I can see a car....
What is blue?... I can see a train....
Clothes song
Your T-shirt over your tummy.
Your T-shirt over your tummy.
Ee-ai-adio.
Your T-shirt over your tummy.
Your trousers on your legs.
Your trousers on your legs.
Ee-ai-adio.
Your trousers on your legs.
Your socks on your feet.
Your socks on your feet.
Ee-ai-adio.
Your socks on your feet.
Your shoes on your feet.
Youf shoes on your feet.
Ee-ai-adio.
Your shoes on your feet.
Your jacket over your tummy.
Your jacket over your tummy.
Ee-ai-adio.
Your jacket over your tummy.
Your hat on your head.
Your hat on your head.
Ee-ai-adio.
Your hat on your head.
Five Little Pumpkins
One little pumpkin smiling, smiling. 3x
One little pumpkin is happy.
Two little pumpkins pouting, pouting. 3x
Two little pumpkins are grumpy.
Three little pumpkins yawning, yawning. 3x
Three little pumpkins are sleepy.
Four little pumpkins crying, crying. 3x
Four little pumpkins are sad.
Five little pumpkins laughing, laughing. 3x
Five little pumpkins are playing.
Grammarchants
Couch Potato
Do you like to swim?
Do you like to ski?
• I´m a couch potato.
• I like TV.
Does he like to swim?
Does he like to ski?
• He´s a couch potato.
• He likes TV.
• He doesn´t like to
swim.
• He doesn´t like to ski.
• He´s a couch potato.
• He likes TV.
Do you always get up early?
Do you always get up early?
• Yes, I do. Yes, I do.
Do you always get up early?
• Yes, I do.
Does he always get up early?
• Yes, he always gets up early.
• Yes, he gets up very early.
I do, too.
Do you always fix your breakfast?
• Yes, I do. Yes, I do.
Do you always fix your breakfast?
• Yes, I do.
Does she always fix her breakfast?
Does she always fix her breakfast?
• Yes, she always fixes
breakfast.
I do, too.
Singing grammar,OUP
New English File,OUP
Pretty woman, walking down the street
Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman
I don't believe you, you're not the truth
No one could look as good as you
Mercy
Pretty woman, won't you pardon me
Pretty woman, I couldn't help see
Pretty woman
That you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me
Wow
Pretty woman, stop a while
Pretty woman, talk a while
Pretty woman, gave your smile to me
Pretty woman, yeah yeah yeah
Pretty woman, look my way
Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me
'Cause I need you, I'll trear you right
Come with me baby, be mine tonight
Pretty woman, don't walk on by
Pretty woman, make me cry
Pretty woman, don't walk away, hey...okay
If that's the way it must be, okay
I guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow nigh, but wait
What do I see
Is she walking back to me
Yeah, she's walking back to me
Oh, oh, Pretty woman
Tips for using songs
pre-listening activities
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matching words + pictures/actions/gestures
drill new vocabulary (low, high, loud, quiet, triple-3xquickly,
selective…)
create a story (words from the song)
title – predict the content
jumbled letters from the title
brainstorm ideas about the topic (vocabulary)
while-listening activities
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perform your word/listen and do/
show the picture
put the words/pictures in order
gap-fill (missing words/phrases in a box) – first letter as a
clue
gaps – two words to choose from
highlighted words – decide whether they are correct, 2nd
listening – correct the wrong ones
cross out the wrong word in each line
blank rhyming words
grab the word/picture
phonetic transcription of words
correct the wrong words
selective listening (find nouns/articles/prepositions)
cut lyrics into strips: listen and re-arrange
listen and hold up your picture
wall/running dictation (in pairs)
words replaced with pictures
after-listening activities
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Chinese whisper
grammar tasks (count the prepositions, verbs, nouns…)
perform the song/rhyme (each CH/pair/group has a line)
Mexican wave
Fruit salad (palette, year…)
chain (each CH in a row adds one word to the lyrics
ladders (write words from the song)
snakes (last letter from one word is the first letter of the
next)
6 – 10 numbered FC: What´s N3? What´s 4+3? – FC N7
remembering the lyrics: fill in the gaps
change underlined words – write your own lyrics
www.supersimplesongs.com
www.dltk-teach.com
www.esl-kids.com
www.sitesforteachers.com
www.kididdles.com/musicsheets
www.the-bus-stop.net/songs
www.mothergooseclub.com/rhymes
www.bogglesworldesl.com
www.genkienglish.net
www.mamalisa.com
www.storyit.com
www.oup.com/elt/preschool
www.funsongs.co.uk/songs-in-action
www.mes-english.com
www.english-4kids.com
www.teachitworld.com
www.anglomaniacy.pl/songs-for-kids
SONGS
highly motivating
authentic examples of grammar and lexis
intensive listening practice
help better pronunciation
easy way to drill vocabulary
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use pictures, toys, movements
use simple structures, always demonstrate
sing with your kids
do not memorize songs, keep it fun
SONGS
include poor quality language
(slang, bad grammar, unnatural
word stress)
select carefully
"Songs are like an EFL teacher´s
Swiss Army Knife: portable,
handy, easy to use, and really
just fun!"
Murphey, 2002
Hope you enjoy the activities
and come up with lots of
other ideas!
Have fun!
THANK YOU!