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I have been
using this little song in workshops and classrooms for over twenty
years, and I am still amazed at its magic!
Although it has only four lines, this song...
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Gets children singing! Even those
reluctant singers will join in! (This is the magic part!)
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Teaches cooperation and problem-solving,
as children negotiate for and trade “treasures”
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Builds simple math skills as items
are counted at the end of the song.
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Builds listening skills (I help
children repeat the entire sentence of the response, not simply
respond, “I do!”)
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Provides an opportunity to discuss
the difference between a sentence and a question, often a difficult
concept for young children!
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Who Has A Penny?
Traditional rhyme
and melody
Have enough
pennies, buttons, and keys so that each child can have one item. I
like to keep them in a pretty little “treasure” bag; it adds to the
excitement! Instruct each child to open his or her hand, and place an
item in it. Instruct them to keep their treasures hidden until the end
of the song.
TEACHER sings: “Who has a penny?”
CHILDREN with pennies answer, “I have a penny”
TEACHER sings : “Who has a key?”
CHILDREN with keys answer “I have a key”
TEACHER sings: “Who has a button?”
CHILDREN with buttons echo
“I have a button”
TEACHER sings: “Now let us see.”
ALL CHILDREN open their hands together.
(Variation
for Coin Counting)
Who Has A
Penny?
Using the alternate
lyrics below, you can use this as a teaching tool for counting and
understanding coins.
TEACHER sings: “Who has a
penny?”
CHILDREN with pennies answer, “I have a penny”
TEACHER
sings : “Who has a dime?”
CHILDREN with keys answer “I have a dime”
TEACHER
sings: “Who has a nickel?”
CHILDREN with buttons echo “I have a nickel”
TEACHER
sings: “Show me this time.”
ALL CHILDREN open their hands together.
After the song you can collect, lay out, and count the
coins. Discuss how many pennies in a nickel, how many nickels in a
dime, etc.
Additional Ideas
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I have a librarian friend
who uses this song as a pre-story time
activity. As children arrive, each is given a “treasure,”
and the song is sung. As more children arrive, treasures are added and
traded and the song goes on until it’s time for
the story time to begin.
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Have the children trade
items, and sing two more times, so that
every child gets to have all three items. (Warning- everyone will want
a key!) Then collect the treasures. Lay them out on the floor on
columns, and count the number of each item. Are there more or less of
each, or the same?
This is a great, easy math lesson!
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April
2009 Song of the Month