What basic english songs can I teach for a winter show

[Sunshine]

Sorry but its me again. Teaching English as a foriegn language. I am really stuck on a song with a SEA theme for 15 4x5year olds mainly arabic and no english at all, thought of row row row your boat etc. Also a short story/poem/song etc for 4 children 6 to 9 years old - I was thinking of The owl and the pussy cat first verse only. I have no music!.

I have to avoid any religious connections.

Can any one put me out of my misery and point me in the right direction any suggestions or ideas. Its been many a year since I was involved in this sort of thing.

[Gardengirl]

Sounds a daunting task! What about things like 'the wheels on the bus', but converted into a boat song; even if there's only a couple of verses....... the sails (blowing, while moving joined hands backwards and forwards), the engine (swooshy enginey noises, with hands making circles).

Lots of luck,

GG

[Anton Redman]

What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor ?

One More Day

Blow The Man Down

http://shanty.rendance.org/lyrics/shanties.php

Several of the others with a couple of verses cropped.

[Cat]

How about one, two three four five, once I caught a fish alive...  for the 6 to 9 year olds?  It's got counting an' everything [:)]

 

[amos]

My bonnie lies over the ocean?

[Sunshine]

Thanks Cathy I have already declared 1 2 3 4 5 as the winner for the 4-5 years old with my 2 star performers with leading roles. I am going to try The owl and the pussy cat with my older children and just hope my 2 english speakers can carry the rest.

But I have to say np to the old sea shanties. A) I do not know them and B) as an X sea dog as TOH I would not be able to sing the song without thinking of the ones TOH sings. Guess that would not go down too well!

But thank you all for the suggestions. Amazing what we all think about in our spare time!!!!!...

[Rob Roy]

Have you tried Google? I found loads of inspiration when looking for songs for teaching in Ecole Primaire.

[Gyro]

Row Row the Rattling bog is great fun.

http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/r004.html

As the song goes on the choras gets faster.

[Septime]

You should sing "hand, and shoulder knees and toes, knees and toes"

I'm french and our english teacher began his lesson by this song !

[Renaud]

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies,

Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;

For we've received orders for to sail for old England,

But we hope in a short time to see you again.

Chorus:

We will rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,

We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt sea.

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.

We hove our ship to with the wind from sou'west, boys

We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take;

'Twas forty-five fathoms, with a white sandy bottom,

So we squared our main yard and up channel did make.

Chorus

The first land we sighted was called the Dodman,

Next Rame Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight;

We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover,

And then we bore up for the South Foreland light.

Chorus

Then the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,

And all in the Downs that night for to lie;

Let go your shank painter, let go your cat stopper!

Haul up your clewgarnets, let tacks and sheets fly!

Chorus

Now let ev'ry man drink off his full bumper,

And let ev'ry man drink off his full glass;

We'll drink and be jolly and drown melancholy,

And here's to the health of each true-hearted lass.

[Tricia]

Dance to your Daddy...............You shall have a fishy on a little dishy you shall have a fishy when the boat comes in.

But the geordie words might confuse arab children [:)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utkMQJeiK50

[cooperlola]

The internet is so slow here that I cannot get any links for you but there are loads of shanties and sea songs on the net.

Sloop John B (Beach Boys)

A Sailor's Life (Denny/Thompson)

The Grey Funnel Line (Trad.)

Admiral Benbow (Trad.)

Captain Coulston (Trad.)

Davy Lowston (Trad.)

The Final Trawl (Trad.)

The Fisherman's Wife (Trad.)

I've got as far as F on my I-Pod but have physio in 10 mins....