Category Archives: songs

1.en.7 The song of a compulsive traveller: I’ve been everywhere

Octubre 5, 2014 7:41 am / Deixa un comentari

“I’ve Been Everywhere” is a song which was written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, and made popular by Lucky Starr in 1962. Johnny Cash recorded the song in the USA in 1996 but adapted the toponyms to make them known to American people. Listen to Johnny Cash song and follow the text while he sings. Take note of 3 new places you did not know of. Look for their location in a map. Share your findings with your classmates. Wednesday the 29th of October, our language assistant, Elia, will be with us. He is from Colorado. Does Cash mention Colorado in his song? You will have the opportunity to ask Elia about his home. It might be a good idea to find out if he is a compulsive traveller who’s been everywhere in the States. Listen to the son a couple of times and focus on pronunciation.

Different bands and singers wrote versions of the song adapted to their countries. There is even one in Catalan “He estat a tot arreu”

(més…)

3.en.27 “A twistable, turnable man” by Shel Silverstein

Març 18, 2014 12:21 am / Deixa un comentari

Spanish people usually pronounce the word comfortable wrongly

This is a very funny poem by Shel Silverstein, an American writer, called twistable turnable man. After reading it and singing it, I’m sure you’ll always pronounce COMFORTABLE correctly.

The you tube video will help you understand the poem. It is like tongue twister. You know what a tongue twister is, don’t you?

Let’s see if we can read it together. The words ending in “able” are highlighted in green

Here follows a version by Andrew Bird, a good musician who, on top of playing lots of musical instruments, is also a great whistler. Can you whistle? We’ll make a contest some other day.

You might want to visit Shel site. It is full of surprises! Look for some of his short animation videos.

3.en.25 Michael Rosen rap

Març 17, 2014 12:51 pm / Deixa un comentari

You did such a great job with Martin Luther King rap that we would like to test your skills as rappers

This is an example of a fun rap. Michael Rosen is a well known poet. He writes lots of poems for kids. On top of that he is fun and really good at reciting.

He made an autobiographical rap. We would like you to give it a try. Can you write your own autobiographical rap using Michael Rosen´s model?

In this site you will find some activities to help you understand the rap

You can also visit his site, watch him reciting some other poems and find out more about this author.

3.en.24 MLK rap

Març 17, 2014 12:41 pm / Deixa un comentari

Next week we shall go on an outing to La Caixa, to take part in a poetry workshop. we have already worked with acrostics. Now it is about time to get some rhythm. MLK rap helped us to get started. Also, we learnt a lot about Civil Rights, segregation, racism and the 60’s. Did you enjoy the song?

1.en.03 Pedestrian crossings and music

Setembre 17, 2013 11:17 pm / Deixa un comentari

Thanks to the Beatles, Abbey Road pedestrian crossing is world famous. Why? Can you investigate and find out ? Where is Abbey Road? When was this picture taken? Does it look the same nowadays? Check it using Google maps.

A small street, Penny lane, also became well known all over the world thanks to a song.

The Beatles were from Liverpool and they wrote many songs about their life as young people in their hometown. This term we are working with cities, that is one of the reasons why we are interested in cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings.

Let’s listen to the music and follow the Beatles into a small street in Liverpool, Penny Lane,

Lane : a narrow passage between houses

Here follows the lyrics. Some words are missing. Look at the images, they might help you find the correct words to fill the gaps. Some words are repeated:

ears, laugh, barber, fireman, poppies, hello, queen, pouring rain, skies, pies

Enjoy the music!

In Penny Lane there is a ________ (1)showing photographs
Of every head he’s had the pleasure to know
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say____________ (2)

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
The little children ______(3) at him behind his back
And the banker never wears a mack
In the_________ ____(4), very strange

Penny Lane is in my___________(5) and in my ___________(6)
There beneath the blue suburban ___________(7)
I sit, and meanwhile back

In Penny Lane there is a ___________(8) with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the ___________(9)
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
It’s a clean machine

Penny Lane is in my ___________(10)and in my ___________(11)
A four of fish and finger___________ (12)
In summer, meanwhile back

Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout
The pretty nurse is selling ___________(13)from a tray
And though she feels as if she’s in a play
She is anyway

In Penny Lane the ___________(14)shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
And then the fireman rushes in
From the _________ ____(15), very strange

Penny Lane is in my ___________(16)and in my ___________(17)
There beneath the blue suburban___________ (18)
I sit, and meanwhile back

Penny Lane is in my ___________(19)and in my ___________(20)
There beneath the blue suburban ___________(21)

Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon