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LGA 3102 Teaching Songs and Poetry in Primary ESL Classroom

Prepare an appropriate selection of 4 songs and 4 poems (that covers various genres/types) Provide a justification for each of the selected songs and poems.

Title of song:
1. Are You Hungry? 2. Five Little Monkeys 3. Have You tried Wheaties? 4. The Bath Song

Song
Are you hungry? Yes, I am. Me, too. Let's eat! Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

: Are You Hungry


Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.) Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

Mmmmm, watermelon! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

Spaghetti! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

Are you hungry Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.) Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.) Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

Mmmmm, a banana! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!

French fries!

Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

Ice cream! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! I'm full! Are you hungry? Yes, I am. (Yes, I am.)

1. Banana

2. Watermelon
3. Spaghetti 4. French fries 5. Ice-cream

Why?
Fun, simple English song. (help create a welcoming environment). Teach the phrases, "Are you hungry?" and "Yes, I am!" Gestures make it meaningful. It is very satisfying to see children who are reluctant to speak, communicating their hunger using the gestures. Kids learn to express, "I'm hungry" by rubbing their tummies. Or they can reply to a caretakers question, "Are you hungry?" by giving a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Pedagogy Principles
In line with our pedagogical principle; coherence and overview learning (the language in the songs learnable through gestures). Active participation in action songs is another support reading technique that will aid in: i. Language development

ii.
iii. iv.

Concentration
Sequencing Higher order thinking skills

Purposes
Self expression, encouraging a child's own response in his or her use of body and speech. Encourage students to participate verbally. Provide relaxation (a legitimate opportunity to wiggle and move around).

Assist the child in learning to follow directions.


Increase attention span. They develop listening skills.

They teach order and sequence.


They increase manual dexterity and muscular control.

Song
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

: Five Little Monkeys


Three little monkeys jumping on the bed One little monkey jumping on the bed She fell off and bumped her head

One fell off and bumped his head

One fell off and bumped her head Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Four little monkeys jumping on the bed

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

1. 5 Little Monkeys

2. Mummy
3. Doctor 4. Jumping

Why?
Provide opportunities for children to practice a range of math skills. The studies have shown that counting rhymes will help children who have difficulties learning to read and count number. With counting rhymes, teachers can conduct activities that allow children to develop auditory memory skills because they work hard to remember the words and the number.

Pedagogical Principles
Learning is an ongoing process. It has been stated by several researchers that the golden age for learning is ages six through nine. During this age frame, children can memorize more quickly and remember for longer than any other time in their lives. Later, a learner can learn with other stimulus and the process of learning will not stop.

Purposes
Develop listening skills. Enhance mathematics skills. Develop motor skills.

Listening skills are necessary in order to learn.


Mathematical reasoning involved such as counting For this song, teachers can take a few minutes to go over some mathematical skills. For example, teachers can ask; "How many monkeys are there?". Several counting rhymes teach motor and coordination skills to young learners.

Song

: Have You Tried Wheaties


Have you tried Wheaties? Theyre whole wheat with all of the bran. Wont you try Wheaties? For wheat is the best food of man. Theyre crispy and crunchy The whole year through, The kiddies never tire of them and neither will you. So just try Wheaties, The best breakfast food in the land.

1. Wheaties 2. Breakfast food 3. Bran 4. Crunchy 5. Crispy

Why?
Children are easily attracted to advertisement that they come across on the television, radio and computers. More to this is when the product is on their favourite list. They will listen to it effortlessly. Cannot seem to stop humming it. Just saying the brand name is usually enough to start part of the jingle playing through young learners mind. Easily recalled even if they have not been heard for years.

Pedagogical Principles
Creating a fun and enjoyable environment is taking place. Young learners are easily motivated to learn language when the atmosphere allows them to be free but in control and having fun. Teachers can be creative by changing the lyrics but keeping the same music arrangement so that the words are stored in young learners mind. The lyric can be about the name of the president, the name of places, class mates names and also content of what to be taught in the class.

Purposes
Develop vocabulary.
For example, in Have You Tried Your Wheaties, young learners learn the words bran, crispy, crunchy, kiddies and breakfast. These words may be familiar for adults and children in western countries whose first language is English, but for second language learners they are not common in their vocabularies. Enhance memory skills. Cultivate the aesthetic values to the young learners.

Song
Can you wash your hair? I can wash my hair. Can you wash your feet? I can wash my feet. Can you wash your face? I can wash my face.

: The Bath Song


This is the way we take a bath. Can you wash your shoulders? I can wash my shoulders. Can you wash your toes? Can you wash your hands? I can wash my toes. I can wash my hands. Can you wash your nose? I can wash my nose.

I can wash my shoulders. I can wash my toes. I can wash my hands. I can wash my nose.
This is the way we take a bath.

Can you wash your knees? I can wash my knees.


I can wash my hair. I can wash my feet. I can wash my face. I can wash my knees.

1. Wash
2. Hair 3. Face 4. Nose 5. Hands 6. Feet 7. Knees 8. Toes

Why?
Cultivates cleanliness awareness to children.
It teaches about body parts and also movements on how to bath. Starting class with an active song allows the higher energy students to get the wiggles out and the lower energy students to pep up a little. It is also a stress-free environment when everybody is involved rather than pointing each one of them to read out a particular text.

Pedagogical Principles
Active participation. Trusting atmosphere. By this young learners can foster keen relationships with their peers and teachers as they enjoy the song.

Purposes
A great song for introducing or reviewing parts of the body. It is also an excellent tool for communicating the meaning of "Can you _____?" and "I can _____." Give enjoyment to them young learners tend to memorize better what is taught in the classroom. The lyrics will bounce around the students heads long after the class is over and also to introduce them to new words.

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