Today’s theme is harvest for Playful Preschool. Playful Preschool is a resource that consists of a group of preschool bloggers creating FREE content for a particular theme. Each theme addresses different subjects such as literacy and math. So far we have done an apple theme as well as family/heritage. Let’s walk.
Harvest Time Songs
1) Mango Time
Mangoes are one of the fruits of choice for most Jamaicans, even though I cannot stand the sight of it. (Chalk it up to cleaning rotting mangoes fallen from the mango tree in our backyard.) As a result, when it is harvest time, clearly there will be a song that speaks to a love for mangoes.
Lyrics
Me no drink cawfee tea, mango time (I do not drink coffee when it is mango time)
Care how nice it maybe, mango time (It doesn’t matter how nice it is when it is mango time)
At de height of de mango crop (In the heights of the mango crop)
When de fruit dem a ripe an drop (When the fruits are ripe and falling)
Wash yu pot, tun dem down, mango time (Wash your pots, turn them down, Its mango time)
Application
Encourage your preschooler to create actions for the lyrics. For example: washing the pot could be done by imitating how we wash the dishes. You can even give them a light pot to use and then instruct them to turn the pot upside down to dry.
2) When We Roast De Yellow Yam
Yams are also quite plentiful at harvest time in Jamaica. Yams are a staple that can be found in most meals especially in our traditional Saturday soup that most Jamaicans make weekly. Roast yam on the other hand is absolutely delicious especially when it is eaten with salt fish, which is also known as salt cod. Click here is a link to the song being sung by the Carifolk Singers.
Lyrics
When wi roas di yellow yam (When we roast the yellow yam)
An wi slice it eena two (And we slice it in two)
How nice it will be
Wid di ackee an di saltfish (With the ackee and the saltfish)
An di sweet flour dumpling -stick eena mi ribs ( And the sweet flour dumpling)
An di coconut ile (And the coconut oil)
What a glorious day
When wi roas di yellow yam (When we roast the yellow yam)
Plan your PRESCHOOL Harvest Theme Learning Week with Activities from the Playful Preschool Education Team:
Learning with Gourds: Comparing, Sorting, and Labeling for Fall by Still Playing School
Corny Science: Will it sink or float? by Capri + 3
Plants We Eat {which are roots, stems, leaves, fruit} by Raising Lifelong Learners
Harvesting in the Carrot Patch by Powerful Mothering
Preschool Math: Measuring Pumpkins by Mom Inspired Life
Making Bread by Rainy Day Mum
#PlayfulPreschool Harvest Time Math by Tiny Tots Adventures
Alphabet Activities: Letter Harvest by Growing Book by Book
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves Sequencing Cards & Power Point by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
Go Global: Harvests Around the World by The Educators’ Spin On It
Harvest Time: Jamaican Style Music by Learning 2 Walk
Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin: Practicing Matching with Preschoolers by Life Over C’s
Little Red Hen Activity – Retelling through Sensory Play by Fun-A-Day
Connecting songs and movement with learning is such a wonderful way to improve vocabulary and retention. Will be singing this with my preschooler (and letting him help me with the dishes!) Win-win!
I love the Mango Time song. I will share it with our children who love to dance. I imagine this song will inspire them to move. I roasted a pumpkin yesterday to make soup. I will have to try roasting yams.
Lots of learning to be had while singing and dancing!
oh oh! we have mango season coming in like now! Smoothies like mad for me! 😀
I am so not a fan of mangoes. But do enjoy Nicolette
What fun resources. My little one loves to sing and dance so this will be very appealing to him!
Mango time or not, I still need my coffee! 😉
That made me laugh.
Love teaching through music and dance! It is powerful for children as they will remember. Nice post to accompany the harvest theme! TY!
Love roasted yams not with cod though. I enjoy how you teach through music. It will help them to remember action s and so much more.
lol so funny to c J “tun down” her pot lol. Love it Alecia
She loved it Debbie! She didn’t understand half the words though. I wish I did have a little bandana dress though for her.
Love the image! And this is very unique!!
My son loves music! We played it several times. Love a different world perspective on harvest time! Pinned!
Thank you for pinning
I’m really enjoying learning about your Jamaican heritage! Love the songs and a different perspective about harvesting. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your heritage! It’s so fun to learn about other cultures!