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Repeat after me" sing-along songs can help engage preschool students.
Repetition is an effective learning tool for young students. Having preschoolers repeat after you in lesson plans can introduce and reinforce concepts while offering a forum to practice and memorize new ideas. Singing "repeat after me" phrases can make lessons even more memorable and entertaining to the students. The Boy Scouts website has a number of them that will work for preschoolers.
"The Green Grass Grows All Around"
Different elements of nature are described in "The Green Grass Grows All Around." Each line is repeated in the verses, while the chorus is sung together. It begins, "There was a tree (there was a tree)/ All in the wood (all in the wood)/ The prettiest tree (the prettiest tree)/ that you ever did see (that you ever did see)." The song goes on to describe the surrounding grass around the tree while building on the line that preceded it.
"One Sunny Day"
The song "One Sunny Day" begins, "One sunny day (one sunny day)/ I met a bear (I met a bear)/ out in the woods (out in the woods)/ A way out there (a way out there)." The verse is then repeated as a class with the children doing the "echoes." Do a second verse with the children repeating after you, then sing the verse again as a class. Continue this pattern for the rest of the verses.
"Oh Mosquito" and "Physical Fitness"
"Oh Mosquito" and "Physical Fitness" incorporate motions into the repetition, which makes them even more appealing to preschool-aged children. Both were written by Clare Mansfield, a cub scout den leader who uses songs in her meetings. "Oh Mosquito" starts, "Oh mosquito (repeat)/ Oh mosquito (repeat)/ Mosquitoes everywhere (repeat)/ Even in my hair (repeat)." For "Physical Fitness," the lyrics begin "Physical fitness is my goal (repeat)/ in my body and my soul (repeat)/ Reaching up to touch the sky (repeat)/ Stretching higher with every try (repeat)."
"Boom Chick-A-Boom"
This is a simple one. The only verse is "I said a-boom chick-a-boom! (repeat)/ I said a-boom chick-a-boom (repeat)/ I said a-boom a-chick a-rock a-chick a-boom (repeat)." The chorus is "Uh huh (repeat)/ Oh yeah (repeat)/ This time (repeat)/ We sing (repeat)." The last line of the chorus is an adjective that can be changed each time such as "louder, softer, faster, slower or whisper."
"Bear Hunt"
"Bear Hunt" is another classic song that encourages singers to act out the lyrics. For example: "Goin' on a bear hunt (repeat)/ And I'm not afraid (repeat)/ Got a real good friend (repeat)." Throughout the song, the singer describes obstacles in its path. The children can act out what they must do to get around or over these obstacles. For example, after the children repeat the line "Oh, look! It's a tall tree" they pretend to look up and go around the tree. The last line of the song calls for the children to hug.
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