I have been using an old favorite in a new way. Dave Pilky’s book, ‘Twas the night Before Thnaksgiving is one of my favorite books to read to student in the Fall. This year I have added some “skill songs” to it.
The story begins with the students on a field trip riding through the “new fallen leaves.” I insert the song, “All the Leaves are falling down…” We do that one a couple of times until we meet ,”Farmer Mack Nugget” and his turkeys. Here I add “Shoo Turkey.” When the children stuff the turkeys in their shirts to hide them away I insert, “Five Fat Turkeys” even though there are 8 turkeys in the story.
The students seem to love acting like a turkey and sing about what is hapening in the book. It also gives me many changes for formal and informal assessment.