Fifty Nifty United States
This song has been popular for quite some time as a means for helping students remember all 50 United States (youtube video). In order to learn it by heart, they need to hear it many times. It can be difficult, however, to keep them engaged throughout. Here are some ideas:
Step 1: Watch the youtube video (with or without printed lyrics, depending on the language arts objectives) and make a list of important verbs. Let the students work in groups and write their verbs down to see which group gets the most. Listen only to the chorus from the beginning of the song to "we salute them now."
Compare lists of verbs and discuss briefly. Write the key verbs on the board and create actions for each one.
Step 2: Watch the youtube video again (chorus only) and do the actions as the verbs come up.
Step 3: Listen to the chorus again to identify alliteration (billows so beautifully in the breeze). You can replace (or repeat) this steps with any other parts of speech that you are working on, by the way. As long as the students are interested, keep repeating. The game element working in teams might sustain the class through multiple hearings.
Step 4: Invite the students to sing along with the chorus. When they come to the list of states, have them track the lyrics in an interesting way (pointing with thumbs or elbows, pinching the words, chopping the words, etc.). Make sure they hit each syllable (this is the rhythm, by the way). Then have them join in on the chorus when it returns, noticing and then discussing the differences. Repeat the ending chorus with the students singing.
Step 5: Listen to the list of states again and track in an interesting way.
Step 6: Listen to the list of states again, track, and sing along.
Step 7: Everyone stand and sing the entire song.
If this sequence is too long, split it up into multiple sessions. In subsequent sessions, you could focus on whatever portions the students don't remember. However, eventually have them sing portions without following written lyrics. Test the students (in a fun, challenging way) on their ability to memorize and say all 50 states in alphabetical order. "Which group can say all 50 states in alphabetical order?"
Step 1: Watch the youtube video (with or without printed lyrics, depending on the language arts objectives) and make a list of important verbs. Let the students work in groups and write their verbs down to see which group gets the most. Listen only to the chorus from the beginning of the song to "we salute them now."
Compare lists of verbs and discuss briefly. Write the key verbs on the board and create actions for each one.
Step 2: Watch the youtube video again (chorus only) and do the actions as the verbs come up.
Step 3: Listen to the chorus again to identify alliteration (billows so beautifully in the breeze). You can replace (or repeat) this steps with any other parts of speech that you are working on, by the way. As long as the students are interested, keep repeating. The game element working in teams might sustain the class through multiple hearings.
Step 4: Invite the students to sing along with the chorus. When they come to the list of states, have them track the lyrics in an interesting way (pointing with thumbs or elbows, pinching the words, chopping the words, etc.). Make sure they hit each syllable (this is the rhythm, by the way). Then have them join in on the chorus when it returns, noticing and then discussing the differences. Repeat the ending chorus with the students singing.
Step 5: Listen to the list of states again and track in an interesting way.
Step 6: Listen to the list of states again, track, and sing along.
Step 7: Everyone stand and sing the entire song.
If this sequence is too long, split it up into multiple sessions. In subsequent sessions, you could focus on whatever portions the students don't remember. However, eventually have them sing portions without following written lyrics. Test the students (in a fun, challenging way) on their ability to memorize and say all 50 states in alphabetical order. "Which group can say all 50 states in alphabetical order?"