Submitted by Pam Hall, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Idea posted September 18, 2006
This is a hit with 3-5 grades:
If I am in a new school, I always start off with "The Car Song":I've gotta a car; it's made of tin.
Nobody knows what shape it's in.
It's got two wheels and a running board.
It's a four door, it's a Ford.
Honk, honk, rattle, toot, crash, beep, beep! - Sing 3 times then end with "honk, honk."
The motions are:
"Honk, honk" - place hand like beeping a horn
"rattle" - shake body
"toot" - touch nose with one finger
"crash" - place whole hand on nose
"beep, beep" - pull ear
Alternate lyrics to "I've gotta a car / it's made of tin" can be "I'm a little piece of tin."
This is a great song. At first, I like to teach it slowly. First we do "the old lady" version (very, very slow) and then gradually we get faster and faster. The kids love it.
For the final version, let them do the motions with their eyes closed. It is very funny!! While they are being silly, they are learning TEMPO.