Clapping Rhyme

Thankfulness Clapping Rhyme © Jenny Jenkins 2015 https://sites.google.com/site/valueslessons

Preparation: Have someone ready to help you demonstrate it to the children first.

Each clapping rhyme on this website uses the same set of easily learned actions.

1. Teach the actions

First say this together: 'Sides, clap, right, left, sides, clap, both.'

Next, the children sit or stand in pairs, facing each other and do the actions while saying those words together. Repeat them until everyone has learned them.

Sides They slap both hands on their thighs

Clap own hands together once,

Right, Left Slap their partners right hand, then left hand for the third and fourth words.

Sides Slap thighs again,

Clap own hands together,

Both hands slap their partner's, for the last word of each line.

2. Teach the poem (without clapping)

Ask questions about the meaning of the poem.

Thanks for coffee, thanks for tea,

Thanks for being a help to me.

Thanks for being an awesome friend,

Say it; mean it! Don't pretend.

Say the rhyme through together at least 6 times, keeping a strong rhythm for each syllable, until the children can say it without the words.

3. Put the actions to the poem (one set of actions fits each line)

'Thanks for cof-fee, thanks for tea,

Sides clap right-left sides clap both

Thanks for being a help to me.

Sides clap right left sides clap both

Thanks for being an awe-some friend,'

Sides clap right left sides-clap both

Say it; mean it! Don't pre-tend.

Sides clap right left sides clap-both

Demonstrate first with the partner you have practised with.

Have the children sit or stand sideways to the words so that they can refer to them if they forget.

Students have 3-5 minutes to practise together, memorising the poem.

Ask for volunteers to demonstrate to the class, without looking at the words, for a small prize.

4. Extension Make up a new verse listing more things you could thank people for.

Thoroughly Thankful Clapping Rhyme: Print one out for the students to read:

'Thanks for coffee,

thanks for tea,

Thanks for being a

help to me.

Thanks for being an

awesome friend,'

Say it; mean it!

Don't pretend.