Today at Sheng-Kung's Girls High School had a Jazz Chant competition. This competition is based on Junior One students. All of them did a great job. They worked so hard to have today's performance. I am very proud of all of my students.
What is a Jazz Chant?
Jazz Chants are Carolyn Graham's snappy, upbeat chants and poems that use jazz rhythms to illustrate the natural stress and intonation patterns of conversational American English. The first book, Jazz Chants, was published in 1978, followed by Jazz Chants for Children one year later. For twenty five years, classes all over the world have enjoyed jazz chanting as a unique way for students to improve their speaking and listening comprehension skills while reinforcing the language structures of everyday situations.
How to use Jazz Chants in the classroom?
You can use these jazz chants in a variety of fun ways. You can practice stress and rhythm with your class, to help your students sound more natural when they speak English. Also, because each jazz chant focuses on different vocabulary and grammar, you can also use them to review important words and structures! Here are some ideas on how to use these jazz chants with your class.
Practice stress and rhythm
Choose a jazz chant you want to use and make one copy of the chant for every pair of students in your class.
1. Play the recording for the first time just for fun.
2. Give each student a copy of the recording script, and play the recording again as theylisten and read at the same time.
3. Put students into pairs and have them put a small circle above each word that is stressed.
4. Check their answers, then play the recording again as they listen and check.
5. Play the recording one more time and have students sing along.
Review vocabulary
Check the vocabulary focus for each jazz chant and choose one you want to review. Make one copy of the Recording script for every two students in your class.
Write the vocabulary focus on the board and put students into pairs to make a list of as many associated words as they can.
Play the recording and have students note all the words they hear that are associated with the vocabulary focus.
Give each student a copy of the Recording script, and play the recording again as they listen and read at the same time. Tell them to underline all the target words.
Finally, play the recording one more time and have students sing along.
Review grammar
Check the grammar focus for each jazz chant and choose one you want to review. Make one copy of the Recording script for every two students in your class.
Write the grammar focus on the board and put students into pairs to make a few example sentences using the grammar.
Play the recording and have students note how many times they hear the target grammar.
Give each student a copy of the Recording script, and play the recording again as they listen and read at the same time. Tell them to underline each example of the target grammar.
Finally, play the recording one more time and have students sing along.
Tip! For the final sing-a-long stage, why not divide the class into two groups, and have each group sing a different section!
Tip! To help students identify the stress and rhythm, clap your hands in time to the beat. Encourage them to do the same.
Tip! Remember, these are supposed to be fun! Keep the pace of the class quick and lively, and try to always make sure students join in the singing.
Examples of Jazz Chants:
By LaVon Bridges
Chant: Musk Ox Oomingmak
Musk ox,
Bearded One,
standing in a circle
guarding cows
and little calves
from a wolf attack.
Musk ox,
Bearded One,
standing in a circle.
By LaVon Bridges
Chant: Sikuliqiruq (The ice is breaking up)
Sikuliqiruq,
The ice is breaking up.
Sikuliqiruq,
The ice is breaking up.
Moving, moving.
Sikuliqiruq,
Moving, moving.
Sikuliqiruq.
Caribou
By Alice Wright
Chant: Caribou, caribou
Oh, you caribou,
so many in a herd,
dropping calves in rolling hills,
need to be alert.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come the grizzlies,
don’t you think they’ll hurt?
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come the wolves;
they’ll eat you with a smirk.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come mosquitoes.
You’d better roll in dirt.
Oh, you caribou, so many in a herd,
Here come ice and snow.
For lichens you’ll search.
We are the Rogers Park Wolves
By Alice Wright
We stay in the pack, Jack.
We eat good food, Dude.
We help each other, brother.
We work together, Heather.
We like to howl,
Pal.OOOOoooo.
We are very smart, Bart.
Each one is unique, Zeke.
We obey our leader, Peter.
Together we are strong, Wong.
We like to howl,
Pal.OOOOoooo.
We’re always alert, Bert.
We keep peace in the clan, Stan.
We like to communicate, Mate.
We run faster than Moose, Duce.
We like to howl,
Pal.OOOOoooo.
