Steps in teaching a jazz chant:

1. Be sure students know all the key vocabulary.

2. Write the chant on the board.
3. Read the entire chant to the class.
4. Read one line at a time and have students repeat the line until they can say most of
the words.
5. Add the rhythm (clapping, marching, pounding the table or a drum).
Let the class do the rhythm and say it at the same time.
6. Let "soloists" say it while everyone else claps.

Chant #1
Here is a jazz chant I wrote after my trip to Costa Rica. You can insert any country or place
instead of "Costa Rica" or "California." You model the first line and the students repeat it.
Just snap your fingers or clap your hands to 4/4 time and chant away:

I went to Costa Rica one fine day.

I went to Costa Rica one fine day.
And what did I find?
What did I find?

Warm, loving people with hearts so kind,

Warm, loving people with hearts so kind.

I have a class in California yes I do.

I have a class in California yes I do.
And what do I find?
What do I find?

Warm, loving people with hearts so kind,

Warm, loving people with hearts so kind.

I do, I do, I do, do, do.

I do, I do, I do, do, do.

After the chant has been learned, divide into two groups.
Group 1 chants the poem: "I went to Costa Rica one fine day..."
Group 2 chants: "Warm people, Loving people, Hearts so kind."
Chant #2

The Good Samaritan

Lesson 5, Book 1
Chorus:
Walkin', walkin', walkin' down the road.
Walkin', walkin', walkin' down the road.
1. I'm going to Jerusalem, walkin' down the road.
Peace in my heart, not a care in the world.

Chorus
2. Along came some robbers, beat me on the head.
Took all my money, left me for dead.

Chorus
3. Along came a rich man, dressed so fine.
Stuck his nose in the air, he didn't have the time.

Chorus
4. Along came a poor man with a heart so kind.
He took one look at me and changed his mind.

Chorus
5. He put me on his donkey, took me into town.
True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down.

Fade out: True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down.

True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down.

True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down.
True friend, true friend, couldn't let me down.
Jazz Chant

I'm learning to find my way around

I'm learning to find my way around
Around the town
Around the town
I'm learning to find my way around
Around my town

Go one block, turn right at the light

Turn right at the next light?
That's right, turn right at the next light
I'll turn right at the next light

Repeat chorus: I'm learning ...

If you are working on grammar and verbs, you can substitute:
She's learning...He's learning...We're learning...

On a Diet
First she gave up smoking.
Then she gave up gin.
Then she gave up chocolate cake.
she wanted to be thin.

Then she gave up breakfast.

Then she gave up lunch.
On lazy Sunday mornings
she even gave up brunch.

No matter what she gave up,

her skirts were very tight.

'Cause she ate twelve cans of tuna fish

for dinner every night.

Giraffe are tall, with necks so long. (Stand on tip toes; raise arms high up
into air.)
Elephants' trunks are big and strong. (Make trunk with hand and arm.)
Zebras have stripes and can gallop away, (Gallop around in a circle.)
While monkeys in the trees do sway. (Sway back and forth.)
Old crocodile swims in a pool so deep, (Pretend to swim.)
Or lies in the sun and goes to sleep. (Lay head on hands and close eyes.)

This popular children's chant is a great way to teach basic prepositions!

Let's go on a bear hunt. (Slap hands together.)

I see a wheat field.

Can't go over it. Let's go through it. (Move hands as if to part wheat.)

I see a bridge.
Can't go around it. Let's go over it. (Stack hands on top of one another.)

I see a lake.
Can't go over it, can't go under it, let's swim. (Make swimming motions with
arms.)

I see a tree.
Can't go over it, can't go under it, let's go up it. (Climb with arms.)

I don't see any bears. (Look around)

Let's go down. (Pretend to climb down.)

I see a swamp.
Can't go over it, can't go under it, let's go through it. (Move hands as if to
wade through swamp.)

I see a cave.
Can't go over it, can't go under it, let's go in. (Lean over as if to crawl
through a small hole; slowly slap knees.)

I see two eyes. I see two ears. (Point to eyes; point to ears.)
I see a nose. I see a mouth. (Point to nose; point to mouth.)
Yikes! It's a bear! (Place palms on cheeks in show of surprise.)
Let's get out of here. (Quickly run backward.)

Five little firefighters (Show five fingers)

Sleeping in a row. (Rest cheeks on hands and close eyes.)
RING goes the bell--
Down the pole they go. (Pretend to slide down pole.)
They jump on the engine (Jump.)
And put out the fire. (Pretend to squirt with a hose.)
Now they're back home--
My, but they're tired! (Stretch and yawn.)

Another classic children's chant, this is a fun game for teaching the quesion
"who?".
Class: Who took the cookies from the cookie jar?
Teacher: [Student's name] took the cookies from the cookie jar!
[Student]: Who, me?
Class: Yes, you.
[Student]: Couldn't be.
Class: Then who?
[Student]: [Next student's name] took the cookies from the cookie jar!
[Next student]: Who, me?

Continue in pattern

Major Decisions
How do you like your coffee?
Black! Black!
How do you like your tea?
With lemon, please.
How do you like your steak?
Medium rare.
How do you like your eggs?
I don’t care!
Sunny-side up?
I don’t care!
Poached on toast?
I don’t care!
Scrambled, with bacon?
I don’t care!
Over-easy?
I don’t care!
Soft-boiled? Hard-boiled?
I don’t care!
How about an omelet?
I don’t care!
Come on, tell me!

This isn’t fair.

I told you the truth.

I really don’t care!