| We all still enjoy singing the 'oldie goldies', which, for | | | | to be closest to the original lyrics and then decide |
| some reason seem to have a sticking power that | | | | which theory of origin best suits the song. You now |
| carries down through the generations. Many of those | | | | have an opening to make teams and work on |
| old songs are often relegated strictly to music class | | | | debating skills.! |
| for the younger set. However, with a little creative | | | | Research skills for younger students can be |
| thinking, they can be mined for the content of their | | | | introduced with songs such as Over in the Meadow |
| lyrics which can make a great launch pad for the | | | | or Be Kind to Your Web-footed Friends. Both of |
| teaching of ideas, skills and concepts to students of | | | | these songs contain information related to a science |
| all ages. | | | | study of animals (classification, adaptations, habitat, |
| More Than Meets the Eye ... or Ear | | | | habits etc.). Making charts to record and organize |
| For older students an interesting history research | | | | information from each verse of a song helps |
| topic could be to find the origins of nursery songs | | | | students by focusing on a well-known selection of |
| such as London Bridge is Falling Down, Ring Around | | | | text and enables them to easily find the information |
| the Rosey or Rock-a-Bye Baby. They will find some | | | | for each heading, which appears in the same location |
| theories that tell of gruesome beginnings for some of | | | | in every verse. Children also enjoy writing their |
| their favourite "ditties". In their digging around, | | | | 'report' on another animal by writing it in the format |
| students will encounter references to factual historical | | | | of another verse for the song. Each student then |
| events that can open the door to further discussion. | | | | prints up his or her verse on a page with a picture of |
| They could also be asked to search out all the | | | | the animal. These can be compiled in a class Song |
| versions of each song, determine which would seem | | | | Book as a singing science report. |