Kindergarten Lesson 13
This song is included to give the students practice in keeping a beat. Do the actions that the song suggests.
Create new verses with new ways to keep the beat. For example: put the beat on your knees (pat knees)
Later, substitute instruments for the body percussion.
Listen to "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers".
Play along with instruments.
Create movement with paper plates.
This song is a really cute action song to teach your students. Action songs are great because the students are engaged, the students learn to watch the teacher, and the actions help them to understand and to remember the lyrics. Only a few words change each verse, so the repetition will also make the song easier to learn. This is one of the students’ favorites!
This song can make a beautiful performance piece.
Divide your class into 8 groups. Begin the song with just one group.
Each time you add a candle, have another group sing. If you give each student a plastic tealight or a flashlight with the lens covered with yellow tissue, you will have safe “candles” for the students to light up as their group joins in.
Consider adding instruments to accompany the song. Have finger cymbals or triangles play each time a number is sung. Start with one, adding one finger cymbal player each time. Choose an instrument to play “burn, burn, burn.” Use rhythm sticks, egg shakers, sandpaper blocks or any instrument that you and your students think would be a good way to “illustrate” the word. Choose one other instrument to play on the word “Hanukkah” and “here.”
Because the song is so repetitious, finding ways to add variety such as using soloists, instruments, or changing groups will make it more engaging for the students and for your audience if you perform it.
Teach the song by rote and do the actions as suggested by the words. Each time there is a number, hold up the correct number of fingers. You could put the number words in the pocket chart and point to them as you sing the song.
1. Introduce the song by having the students share everything they know about germs. The teacher could write what they know on a large piece of chart paper. Some of these facts might be useful in helping the children to create new verses for the song. Listen to the song and have them listen for the ways that the song suggests - washing hands, not sharing drinks and covering your mouth when you cough.
2. Teach the song by rote.
Teach the movements, suggested below, or have the students create their own movements.
