Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Content Area Learning

This chapter is very interesting and truly talks about all the different areas of learning.  As I read the chapter and did some additional research online I came across a website that talks about tools that can be used to assist in the learning process.  One such tool is songs.  It's interesting to see how music can be used to create and activate "prior knowledge".  In other words, music can be used to help children remember subjects such as social studies.  For example, if a teacher is teaching the children all the great lakes, the following song can be used as an excellent tool.  The song is entitled:  "Great Lakes Jack" by Foster Brown.


I knew a sailor and his name was Jack
High diddle diddle dum day.
He had a boat and the boat had a crack
High diddle diddle dum day
He sailed on Lake Huron
But forgot and left the candle on.
So sailor Jack, he came back,
High diddle diddle dum day.
Chorus
He sailed on Lake Ontario
But the girl he loved was married-o.
So sailor Jack, he came back
High diddle diddle dum day.
Chorus
He sailed on Lake Michigan
But he met a pirate named Finnigan.
So sailor Jack, he came back,
High diddle diddle dum day.
Chorus
He sailed on Lake Erie
But the weather it turned dreary.
So sailor Jack, he came back
High diddle diddle dum day.
Chorus
He sailed on Lake Superior,
But its size made him feel inferior.
So sailor Jack, he came back
High diddle diddle dum day.

For those of you who would like to take a look at the different songs that can be used for all different content areas you can find them here:  www.songsforteaching.com/index.html.

Whoever said learning wasn't fun didn't use this kind of learning tool in their classroom.  I know that I have used this technique with my own children.  As educators, what songs can you share with us that you may have used in your classroom?


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2 comments:

  1. Nila PenaApril 30, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    Yes, I agree with you. My son learned his ABCs at the age of two with the usual ABCs song. Then he moved on to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Alphabet Song videos,
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEA0jzloK0. I learned the 50 states with the Fifty Nifty states song, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALhEGiA5k5I. As far as I remember music has always been a good tool to help students and adults learn concepts. I personally like singing, so I really enjoyed using music in the classroom. I used it in many lessons with English Language Learners, they really enjoyed it. It made the lesson interesting and it helped them stay alert.

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  2. Juan Miguel GarciaMay 1, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    As an educator I have heard many songs used and have used some myself. When I was in fifth grade I learned all the fifty states in alphabetical order and the presidents through a song. I can to this day recite those songs or bits of those songs that I learned. When I taught fifth grade math I show my students the polygon song that relates to math. This year some my technology uil students recited a song they learn about the water cycle and I recorded them and used it in their projects. I find that using songs engages our students and they have fun with them.

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