Introduction

These songs are written for children. My idea is that the children enjoy the songs and rewrite the verses so that they become their very own. As a teacher you are just a channel for the children's suggestions to rewrite the songs, and make them into your group's personal environmental songs, to sing together around the campfire or in front of parents or..whatever! Most of the songs have a theme, a basic idea or environmental concept, so they can be used as a springboard for environmental group work with kids. Either as an introduction to a class activity or as a rounding off after an hour exploring a topic. At the same time they often incorporate a basic grammar or conversational skill e.g. "Where do you live?", counting 1-10 etc. which you can then focus on for an English Language game. I have a lot of fun singing these songs with Japanese children from age three through eleven, which is the age group I wrote them for. I know they work for me and my kids, and I hope they will for you and your kids. In the back of the book I include teacher's notes as a suggestion on how they can be used in the classroom.

Enjoy!

Renata Suzuki - 1996