Teaching Music with Putumayo Kids

Every classroom needs music. I always had music playing when the students walk in every morning and while they did their morning warm ups. Even though my school had a music teacher once a week, my class learned about different types of music from different eras and cultures around the world through Putumayo Kids.  

I linked Putumaya Kids music to lessons we were learning in other curricular areas. For example, my 2nd graders were studying African myths in Language Arts and reading "How the Guinea Fowl got her Spots." For music time I used the Putumayo Kids "African Playground" CD and their online lesson plans for this particular CD. We discussed the instruments and how African music played a role in their culture. We learned African songs and made noise shakers for Music, made origami paper boats for Art, and studied the continent of Africa for History.

Parents and teachers need to go to Putumayokids.com, listen to the songs, read the lesson plans for each CD, and buy one of the many fabulous CDs they have to offer.

Learn to Spell Colors Through Song

My little nephew started Kindergarten this school year. He is such a brilliant mind and soaks up information better than a sponge. He has always loved to sing and to have all eyes on him. He now goes around grandma and grandpa's house singing his color songs that jingle to the tune of popular nursery rhymes. These songs not only help him learn how to spell his colors, but also things that are the color he's singing about.

I love these songs so much and it's just so sweet to hear the little ones sing it, so I decided to share them with you.

Red

Tune: Are you Sleeping?

R-E-D, R-E-D

I can spell red, I can spell red.
Firetrucks are red
Stop signs are red, too

R-E-D, R-E-D

Blue

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell

B-L-U-E spells blue.
B-L-U-E spells blue.

Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-L-U-E spells blue.

The big sky is blue.
The ocean is too.

Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-L-U-E spells blue.

Green

Tune: Bingo

There is a color we all know.
Can you guess what it is?
G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N
That's how you spell green.

Grass and leaves and trees are green
and grasshoppers are green, too.

G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N
I like green, don't you?

Yellow

Tune:If You're Happy and You Know It

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow
Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow

Like the early morning sun
When the day has just begun.

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow
Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow

Like the smiley face who's yellow
He is such a happy fellow

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow

Orange

Tune: 10 Little Indians

O-R-A-N-G-E, O-R-A-N-G-E, O-R-A-N-G-E
Orange is what that spells

Jack o' Lanterns are always orange
Carrots are always orange
Oranges are always orange

O-R-A-N-G-E

Black

Tune: She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain

B-L-A-C-K spells black. Yes, it does!
B-L-A-C-K spells black. Yes, it does!

Some cats are black
Some bats are black
Some boots are black
And I like black

B-L-A-C-K spells black. Yes, it does!

Purple

Tune: Camptown Races

P-U-R-P-L-E
Purple, purple
P-U-R-P-L-E
Purple's what that spells

Purple grapes on the vine
Purple Kool-Aid's fine

P-U-R-P-L-E
Purple's what that spells