http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_HeLofy7IE
Here's a video of a song called "Fifty Nifty United States. It's a song that goes through all 50 states. There are many lessons you can do with this theme.. The kids really like it! You can get the lyrics online and towards the end of the song, you add your own state. It's like a fill in the blank spot that goes, "In our calm objective opinion, _______ is the best of the 50 Nifty United States from ...................". I hope you enjoy it. I think it's a great way to learn the US states.
4 comments:
I can't believe you found this song! I had to learn it for fourth grade chorus and to this day it comes in handy - I can list all fifty states in alphabetical order! One thing I think today's students do not get enough of is memorization. When I was in school we memorized many things, from times tables to the Gettysburg Address. Now it seems that teachers believe memorization is a waste. Many of the fifth graders I have in Sunday School do not know their times tables (something I knew by heart in third grade) and they think it is impossible and crazy when I ask them to memorize prayers. They tell me "why would I need to memorize the "Our Father" when it is in the book in church?" While I feel memorizing things like poems and speeches is unnecessary, I feel that there are certain things students should know by heart without the use of a book, computer, or caculator. This song is a great way to make sure students can name all fifty states (alphabetical order is just a bonus!). It is fun to learn and fun to sing, so memorizing the state names becomes a game instead of a chore. Thank you for the post!
I have always heard about students having the ability to name all fifty states in order from beginning to end, and now I finally found the song thanks to your link. I am always impressed by some of my students that can name the fifty states in order or the six parts to the Preamble of the United States Constitution.
The one aspect of education that annoys me, in some ways, is that the students can name the 50 states in order or the six parts to the preamble of the Constitution, but may not be able to point out Oklahoma on a map, or interpret what, "providing a common defense" means in their own words.
Do not get me wrong, there is a time and a place for memorization, but I do not believe that having the ability to name the fifty states in order is high on a person's list of lifetime achievements. I remember when I was in 10th grade Language Arts class and we spent more time memorizing poems like, "If" and pieces of literature like, "the Gettysburg Address" rather than interpreting these important pieces or work. Again, there are positives and negatives to memorization, but I do not believe from an educational point of view that it is very necessary.
This song can be incorporated into lessons as a supplemental activity in learning about various states. I use it in my music classes to assist classroom teachers in their lessons about NJ in relation to the rest of the states. It gives students the whole picture. It brings an awareness to the US as a united country and outlines the 13 original colonies. As I mentioned, many lessons can be activated by using this song. You can compare states, identify them on a map, learn about the symbols of the states, and possibly create pamphlets about them. By stating that New Jersey is the best of the Fifty Nifty United States, it instills pride in their own state, which can be provided by research and let's students rationalize their thoughts and conclusions. Once you have learned the song, it does stay with you. I find students automatically memorizing them in alphabetical order, which is a plus. I hope you enjoyed the song. It has a catchy tune and emphasizes rhythmic syllables, spelling and pronunciation.
Yeah, listening to that song, I remember having had to sing it for music class back in grammar school in third or fourth grade. It obviously stuck, because I found myself singing along to the lyrics.
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