Celebrate our rich oral traditions through engaging rhymes, chants, and songs that develop phonological awareness, rhythm recognition, and cultural pride in young learners.
Caribbean Nursery Rhymes brings the joy of our islands' oral traditions into the Grade 1 classroom. Students learn traditional rhymes, chants, and songs passed down through generations, developing important pre-reading skills like phonological awareness, rhythm recognition, and rhyme identification. This activity celebrates Caribbean culture while building essential literacy foundations through the power of music and movement.
ELO 1: Learners will listen, speak, read, write, view, and represent to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences.
ELO 4: Learners will demonstrate an understanding of sounds and symbols.
"Brown girl in the ring, tra la la la la
Brown girl in the ring, tra la la la la
Brown girl in the ring, tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum, plum, plum!"
A circle game song with actions. Students take turns being the "brown girl" in the center.
"Chi chi bud oh! (Chi chi bud oh!)
Some a dem a holler, some a bawl (some a bawl!)"
A traditional call-and-response rhyme perfect for developing listening and oral skills.
"Tingalayo, come little donkey, come
Tingalayo, come little donkey, come
My donkey walk, my donkey talk
My donkey eat with a knife and fork!"
A playful song about a donkey with verses students can add to creatively.
"Every time I remember Liza, water come a me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl, wipe the tear from me eye"
A traditional Jamaican folk song teaching about emotions and rhyming patterns.
Students draw pictures to illustrate their favorite part of the rhyme. Display in class "Rhyme Gallery."
Invite grandparents or community elders to share rhymes and songs from their childhood.
Create a class book of Caribbean nursery rhymes with illustrations to share with families.
Add simple percussion instruments (shak-shak, drums, sticks) to accompany rhyme performances.
