Music can be a great memorization aid for children. Through catchy jingles, rhymes, signs or movements that coordinate with concepts in the song and other memory boosters, music and music-related games can provide children (and even adults) with an easy way to have fun while learning new and useful concepts.
Skeletal System Songs
The "Dry Bones" song is a great way to teach the different bones of the body to young children. The bones are generalized, not named scientifically, but the song will allow children to start naming bones in their bodies and how they connect to each other. There is also a "Skeletal System Song" that deals with how different bones connect, which would be useful once students have learned the first song and understand it. When singing these songs, have children point to the different bones about which they are singing. This will create an interactive aspect that will be a fun game and a means for children to learn while playing.
The Alphabet Song
There are several variations of songs that help children learn the alphabet in a variety of languages. The standard alphabet song runs through the 26 letters of the English alphabet and is accompanied by a variation of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "Baa Baa Black Sheep." While singing this song, have students create shapes of letters with their bodies, such as by raising their arms and touching the tips of their fingers together above their heads to form an "A." Creating the shapes of the letters, while singing, will help children to learn in a fun way.
The Hokey Pokey
While the song may be more often sung in play groups or as a family fun tune at weddings or ice rinks, the "Hokey Pokey" is a good way to teach children the difference between left and right directions. Singing and acting out the song one-on-one or in a group can be an effective method of promoting directional awareness in children of all ages.
The Pledge of Allegiance
If you want to bring a piece of history into the classroom, have students dress up and sing at the same time. Tell students to dress up in clothing representative of the colonial period when the Declaration of Independence was created. While dressed in period clothing, have the children sing the "Pledge of Allegiance." This activity will help them remember the Pledge of Allegiance and the meanings of the phrases within it. The song not only teaches children a valuable piece of modern-day American lifestyle, but also helps them understand the history and importance of the Pledge. A dress-up game and song will be a memorable moment in a child's education.
