Ourselves & Our Friends Level: Key Stage 1 - Songs & chants

Left, Left!

A chant for remembering left and right, and for practising walking in time. This chant was taught to me by a childhood friend, Ann and we used to chant it while walking to school! The children could first practise copying you as you walk in time saying the words and it's a good rhythmic chant to do outdoors as a playground game or PE warm-up. As you will see from the video, it's a bit of a challenge for some children (and teachers!). Try it in the playground, first on the spot with your back to the children, and then walking in a line, keeping the children spaced out so that the can see your feet.

• Left, left
• I had a good job and I left
• I left because I knew it was right
• Left, right, left

Today I'm going to Meet a Friend

This is sung to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. Even if the children are familiar with the tune, you'll to teach it using Firstme, Then You as in the Hello Everyone Song that I demonstrated in the Introductory Activities section. It's important to listen to whether the children copy the pitch correctly - if they don't, just ask them to really listen and match their voice to yours and they will soon improve. Many children have never been asked to sing in tune and the concept may be new to them.

• Today I’m going to meet a friend
• Meet a friend, meet a friend
• Today I’m going to meet a friend and
• We’ll be friends together.
• Today I’m going to play with my friend
• Play with my friend, play with my friend
• Today I’m going to play with my friend and
• We’ll be friends forever.

Extension - knee tapping

This is a good song for tapping on knees in time to the pulse, which can be done either sitting on the floor or sitting on a chair. Tap on the strong beats, like this:

• To-DAY I'm going to MEET a friend
• MEET a friend, MEET a friend
• To-DAY I'm going to MEET a friend
• And WE'LL be friends to-GETH-er

Find a Friend!

This song has the same tune as This Old Man. The words, They'll be good to you have next-door pitches, moving higher note by note (a scale) so they are a bit tricky to sing in tune. You'll probably need to teach this line slowly and ask the children to listen carefully to whether their voices are finding the right notes.

• Find a friend, say 'Hello!'
• Help to make your friendship grow
• Be good to friends, and they’ll be good to you
• Find new friends, keep old ones too!