Teach “George Washington Bridge” by rote. Play the game. Use this as a fun warm-up activity. In the second lesson, try
this at different speeds.

Teach the song in unison. When they know it well, divide the class into three groups. One group sings all the “George’s”, one group sings all the “Washington’s,” and one group sings all the “bridges”. Stand up when it is your turn to sing. Sing at different speeds using the correct tempo terms

This is a traditional German three-part round sung in English. Be sure the students can sing the melody well in unison before trying it in parts. The first time you try singing in parts, have all the class sing the round in unison and you sing the round. If the class is successful, divide them into two groups. Have each group sing the round twice, with the second group beginning after measure four. When they are successful at this, try the round in three parts.

This song is an American spiritual. Traditionally in New
Orleans, the song is used as a funeral march. When accompanying the coffin to the cemetery, the band would play it slowly in a blues style. On the way back from the cemetery, the band would change to the quick. When Louis Armstrong recorded the song in 1938, it was the first spiritual ever recorded in a jazz style and made the song a trademark of early, traditional jazz. Teach the song by rote and enjoy singing it, or sing and accompany the song with body percussion.