How to Teach Vowel Sounds Using the Apples and Bananas Song

The "Apples and Bananas" song is a classic. Ask any preschool or Kindergarten teacher about it and they'll probably break right into song. Not only is the tune catchy and the words simple for children to follow, but with a few props and a little prompting, the song can be a great way to teach long vowel sounds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 3 by 5 index cards
• black marker

Learn and Prepare the Song

1. Learn the tune to the "Apples and Bananas" song. Read the sheet music for the basic melody or, if you can't read music, ask a teacher to sing it for you. When all else fails, visit a local music store to listen to the song on one of the many children's CDs it graces.
2. Learn the basic verse of the song, to which it always reverts after you've played with the sounds. The words are as follows:
   "I like to eat, eat, eat, eat
   I like to eat, apples and bananas
   I like to eat, eat, eat, eat
   I like to eat, apples and bananas"
3. Make simple vowel flash cards to teach the letters to your students. Using 3 by 5 index cards, write the letters "A," "E," "I," "O," and "U" on separate cards with a black marker.
4. Review with your students the long sound that each vowel makes. Mix it up a little by showing them a card and asking them to make the sound, making sure to show them out of the typically known order.

Sing

5. Teach the basic melody and verse of the song to your students. Don't be afraid to be silly or pantomime the actions--it will make the song more memorable to the kids and they'll love to join in.
6. Sing the first verse and then hold up the "A" flashcard. Ask the students to make the long "A" sound and then substitute that song for all the vowel sounds in the song. It will sound like this:
   "I like to ate, ate, ate, ate
   I like to ate, ay-ples and bay-nay-nays
   I like to ate, ate, ate, ate
   I like to ate, ay-ples and bay-nay-nays"
7. Hold up the "E" flashcard and sing:
   "I like to eat, eat, eat, eat
   I like to eat, eep-ples and bee-nee-nees
   I like to eat, eat, eat, eat
   I like to eat, eep-ples and bee-nee-nees"
8. Show your students the "I" card and continue with:
   "I like to ite, ite, ite, ite
   I like to ite, i-pels and bi-ni-nis
   I like to ite, ite, ite, ite
   I like to ite, i-pels and bi-ni-nis"
9. Quell the urge to giggle, show off the "O" card and sing:
   "I like to oat, oat, oat, oat
   I like to oat, o-pals and bo-no-nose
   I like to oat, oat, oat, oat
   I like to oat, o-pals and bo-no-nose"
10. Wait until the children's laughter has subsided, show them the "U" flashcard and finish off with:
    "I like to oot, oot, oot, oot
    I like to oot, oop-ples and boo-noo-noos
    I like to oot, oot, oot, oot
    I like to oot, oop-ples and boo-noo-noos"

Tips & Warnings

• Once your students get the hang of how to replace the vowel sounds in the song, hold up the cards out of order and see if they can sing the right verse.
• Consider providing each student with a set of vowel cards that they can hold up to identify the sound you are singing.