ONE LITTLE FINGER
Language FocusOther songs about: parts of the body
Up and down. Parts of the body (finger, head, nose, chin, arm, leg, foot).
Classroom Benefits
"One Little Finger" is a fun and active song for learning or reviewing parts of the body. Simply point and follow along with the song.
Activity Ideas
Introduce new body parts names. Simply call out the body part and then point to it if students are unsure where it is.1
Give each student a chance to pick a body part. Stand in a circle as you sing the song. When you reach the "put it on your _____," have the next child call out a part of the body. Keep going around the circle until every student has a turn.2
Practice some simple counting by changing the number of fingers with each verse. "One little finger," "two little fingers," "five little fingers," etc.3
This song is great to sing with children under 2 years old. The caretaker can sing and point to all the parts of baby's body.4
See our Pinterest board Teach Parts of the Body for more ideas.
Language Focus
Parts of the body (head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, nose).
Classroom Benefits
Songs don't come much simpler than "Head Shoulders Knees And Toes," right? Well, actually…most experienced ESL/EFL teachers can share with you the experience of asking a student to name a part of the body and that student pointing to his knees and saying proudly, "Knees-an!" Or another student pointing to her toes and saying, "An-toes!" It can be difficult for young learners to hear the separation in the words.
Our super simple version of "Head Shoulders Knees & Toes (Let's Learn)" begins by first saying each of the body parts clearly and leaving room for the children to repeat as they touch/point to each part. When we begin singing in the second verse the children are able to better understand the linking of sounds and how words blend together, and they can generalize that skill to other listening activities.
Activity Ideas
This is great for a warm up song to use at the start of a lesson, or play it anytime you need a short break.1
Give each student a stuffed animal or doll and have them point to their parts of the body as they sing the song.2
IF YOU`RE HAPPY
anguage FocusOther songs about: emotions
Emotions (happy, angry, scared, sleepy). Actions (clap your hands, stomp your feet, say, "Oh no!" take a nap).
Classroom Benefits
"If You're Happy" is great for helping young learners express emotions. This version is another traditional kids song we have made SUPER simple. The traditional version of this song can be a little tough for younger learners. If you visit an EFL or ESL class, or even a class of younger native-speakers, you'll often hear the children singing something like:
If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble) clap your hands!If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble) clap your hands!If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble),(mumble, mumble, mumble)If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble) clap your hands!The tempo is often too quick and phrases like "and you know it" and "then your face will surely show it" aren't easy for young children to sing or understand through gestures and expressions. Since we like to use this song to teach emotions, we've slowed it down a little and simplified the lyrics to just the emotions and the body language that express those emotions. This version allows even very young kids to sing all the lyrics and act them out with gestures.
If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble) clap your hands!If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble) clap your hands!If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble),(mumble, mumble, mumble)If you're happy (mumble, mumble, mumble) clap your hands!The tempo is often too quick and phrases like "and you know it" and "then your face will surely show it" aren't easy for young children to sing or understand through gestures and expressions. Since we like to use this song to teach emotions, we've slowed it down a little and simplified the lyrics to just the emotions and the body language that express those emotions. This version allows even very young kids to sing all the lyrics and act them out with gestures.
Activity Ideas
Before or after this song, explore emotions by making faces in handheld mirrors.1
Tell students to make a happy/angry/scared/sleepy/sad/etc. face and take their pictures with a camera phone or a digital camera and then show them their pictures.2
Print out the pictures and make an emotions book or bulletin board. Write the emotion under each one.3
If you work with autistic children, an emotions book is great for helping the children to recognize other people's feelings. You may not be able to have your students pose for the pictures, but you can make an emotions book with photos of other people or by cutting out pictures from magazines.4
This is a great warm up song. The actions and gestures are so easy that new students are able to quickly follow along. After the song, ask the students their names and how they are doing. If they respond with "Imfinethankyouandyou?" ask instead if they are happy, angry, scared, sleepy, sad, hungry, etc. and gesture the word.5
See our Pinterest board on Teaching EmotionS.
WEB: http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/original-series/one/if-youre-happy/
THE BATH SONG
Language FocusOther songs about: parts of the body
"Can you _____?" "I can _____." "Wash your _____." Body parts (hair, feet, face, knees, shoulders, toes, hands, nose).
Classroom Benefits
This is a great song for introducing or reviewing parts of the body. It's also an excellent tool for communicating the meaning of "Can you _____?" and "I can _____."
It's a great song to role-play in class. Bring out some sponges and buckets and pretend to take a bath. Kids love it!
Activity Ideas
You can sing this song in a call-and-response format with the teacher singing the "Can you _____?" lines, and the children singing the "I can _____." lines. Alternatively, split the class up into 2 groups, and have one group sing the "Can you _____?" lines, and the other group sing the "I can_____." lines.1
Once the students are familiar with the song, you can do a number of variations, such as reversing roles and having the children ask you, "Can you wash your _____?"2
When you sing, "I can wash my _____," pretend to wash the wrong body part and see if the students catch it!3
Give baths to some stuffed animals.4
At home, this song becomes a great bath time song (without music--we don't recommend CD players in the bathroom!) Not only does it teach body parts but it is also a fun way to encourage your child to start washing her/himself.
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