Learning “Head and Shoulders” with Ella Jenkins
From Mister Rogers' Neighborhood · 1985
4 minPre-KK1stMusic
Summary
Children's-music legend Ella Jenkins teaches Mister Rogers and Chuck Aber “One Potato, Two Potato,” “Hambone” and “Head and Shoulders” — words, beat and motions together. Four minutes; a ready-made call-and-response warm-up.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
A short lesson from Ella Jenkins, one of the great children's music teachers.
- Can you clap the beat along with the song?
- What does “call and response” mean? Where did you hear it?
- Which song was fastest? Which was slowest?
- What motions go with “Head and Shoulders”?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: beat, rhythm, call and response, pattern.
Try it: Do the whole song with the motions, then try it twice as slow.
Try it: Make up one new verse with a different body part.