It is my intent to have students learn popular Mexican songs which are short and easy to memorize. The resource I will be using the most for this task is a book called
Arroz con Leche Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin American
selected and illustrated by Lulu Delacre. This collection includes words in English and Spanish and music accompaniment for piano or guitar. The following is an example of one of the short songs:
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Alla en la fuente
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The Fountain
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Alla en la fuente
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There in the fountain
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habia un chorrito;
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A little streamlet
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se hacia grandote,
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Would smell so grandly
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se hacia chiquito;
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Then wither sadly.
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estaba de mal humor,
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It could not but shed a tear
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pobre chorrito
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It felt too hot,
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tenia calor
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The poor little dear.
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Upon completion of learning these songs, we will visit other classes and perform a song for them. This may seem challenging for second graders, however, I have heard first graders memorize songs in other languages and I feel that given enough time, it is possible. If you play any musical instruments or are musically inclined, you will have no problem teaching these songs. They lend themselves best to the guitar since that is such an important instrument used in much Mexican music. If you do not have a musical background, I suggest collaborating with your music teacher.
