Group 1:

Jolly Songs /s/

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
/a/
Tune: Skip to my Lou

The Jolly Songs have been developed to support learners The snake is in the grass. /a/-/a/! Ants on my arm (x3)
The snake is in the grass. /s/! /s/! They’re causing me alarm.
as they practice the 42 letter sounds of the English The snake is in the grass.
language. Learners enjoy rehearsing letter sounds by
Action: Move your hand in an s shape, Action: Use your hand to brush ants
singing along to these familiar tunes with the like a snake. Say ssssss. off your arm. Say a, a, a.
/t/ /i/
accompanying actions. Regular practice of these songs will Tune: The Muffin Man Tune: Hickory Dickory Dock
assist with memory retention and recall through a fun and
When I watch the tennis game, A mouse got into my house
engaging activity. /t/-/t/-/t/, /t/-/t/-/t/. A mouse got into my house.
When I watch the tennis game, /i/-/i/-/i/-/i/-/i/-/i/-/i/
• Songs support a multisensory approach to learning my head goes back and forth. A mouse got into my house

• Actions help students to recall the sound and the story it Action: Move your head from side to Action: Pretend your fingers are
teaches side as if you are watching a tennis whiskers. Wiggle them at the end of
• All the songs contain an opportunity to practice the sound game. Say t, t, t. your nose. Say i, i, i.
they are linked to /p/ /n/
Tune: The Wheels on the Bus Tune: Skip to my Lou
• Each song is based on tunes that are familiar to the teacher.
• The songs are simple and short to allow children to learn Puff out the candle and go to bed, Hear the aeroplane, /nnn/!
them quickly /p/-/p/-/p/, /p/-/p/-/p/, Hear the aeroplane, /nnn/!
• Beyond Ourselves have adjusted some lyrics to better fit a Puff out the candle and go to bed. Hear the aeroplane, /nnn/!
Puff! Puff! Puff! Making lots of noise.
Zambian Context
• You can hear the Jolly Songs (with the original lyrics) on the Action: Pretend your finger is a Action: Pretend you are a plane and
Jolly Lessons App (available through Play Store) candle. Hold it in front of your mouth hold your arms out at your sides. Say
then blow it out. Say p. nnnnnn.

Jolly Phonics Song Lyrics (Zambia) 1

Group 2: Group 3
/c/ /k/ /e/ /g/ /o/
Tune: She’ll be coming round the Tune: Skip to My Lou Tune: Jimmy Crack Corn Tune: Old MacDonald
Mountain
Eggs in the pan, /e/ - /e/ - /e/. The water gurgles out the jug. Now it’s dark, the lights go on.
The crab pinched Kabwe’s toes, /c/-/c/- Eggs in the pan, /e/ - /e/ - /e/. The water gurgles out the jug. /o/, /o/, /o/, /o/, /o/.
/c/ (x 2) Eggs in the pan, /e/ - /e/ - /e/. The water gurgles out the jug with a Time for bed, the lights go off!
Oh the crab pinched Kabwe’s toes… Crack the egg like this.../e/! /g/ /g/ /g/ /g/ /g/. /o/, /o/, /o/, /o/, /o/.
The crab pinched Kabwe’s toes…
The crab pinched Kabwe’s toes, /c/-/c- Action: Pretend to pour a bottle of Action: Pretend to turn a light
/c/. Action: Pretend to tap an egg on the water and make a glugging noise. Say switch on and off. Say o o o o.
side of a frying pan. Crack it into the g, g, g.
Action: Imagine that you are crab and pan saying e, e. /u/ /l/
click your claws above your head. Say ck, Tune: Skip to my Lou
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
ck, ck.
/h/ /r/ /u/, /u/, up go umbrellas.
We lick our lollipops.
Tune: Apples and Bananas Tune: The Muffin Man /u/, /u/, up go umbrellas.
We lick our lollipops. /l/, /l/, /l/,
/u/, /u/, up go umbrellas.
/l/.
I like to hop, hop, hop, up and down. See my puppy rip the rag. When it starts to rain!
I like to hop, hop, hop, all around. /rrr/! /rrr/! We lick our lollipops.
I like to hop, hop, hop, up and down. See my puppy rip the rag, Action: Keep one hand steady and
Action: Pretend to hold a Lollipop in
/h/-/h/-/h/-/h/-/h/! when he pulls so hard. raise the other, as if raising an
your hand. Say l, l, l, l. as you ‘lick’
umbrella. Say u, u, u, u.
Action: Hold your palm in front of Action: Pretend to be a puppy holding it.
mouth. Say h, h, h, as if you are out of a rag in your teeth. Shake your head /f/ /b/
breath from hopping. from side to side and say rrrrrrrr. Tune: Old MacDonald Tune: Camptown Races
/m/ /d/
Tune: The wheels on the bus Tune: This Old Man Playing football with my friends, Bounce your basketball like this.
the football hit a rock. /b/! /b/!
The mum and the dad make many See me play on the drum. It got a hole, the air came out. Bounce your basketball like this.
meals. /mmm/! /mmm/! Playing drums is lots of fun, /ffffffffff/. /b/ /b/ /b/ /b/ /b/!
The mum and the dad make many meals with a /d/-/d/-/d/-/d/-/d/-/d/-/d/-/d/-
for their hungry children. /d/. See me play upon the drum! Action: Move your palms gently Action: Imagine that you are
together as if you are holding a bouncing a ball up and down. Say b,
Action: Rub your tummy as if you are Action: Beat your hands up and down deflating ball. Say fffffff as the ‘air’ b, b.
hungry for some tasty food. Say as if playing a drum. Say d, d, d. comes out of the ball.
mmmmmmmm.

Jolly Phonics Song Lyrics (Zambia) 2

Group 4 Group 5
/ai/ /j/ /z/ /w/
Tune: Camptown Races Tune: Jingle bells Tune: Did you ever see a Lassie Tune: He’s got the whole world in
his hands
My ear hurt. I was in pain. Jelly and jam. Jelly and jam, Did you ever hear a bee buzz,
/ai/! /ai/! Jiggling on the plate. a bee buzz, a bee buzz? I see the clouds moving, /w/,
My ear hurt. I was in pain. Oh, what will I eat with it? Did you ever hear a bee buzz /w/,/w/
What did you try to say? /j/, /j/, /j/, /j/, /j/. /zzz/, like this? I see the kites flying, /w/, /w/, /w/
I see the trees bending, /w/, /w/,
Action: Cup your hand behind your ear Action: Pretend to be jelly wobbling on Action: Put your arms by your sides. Move /w/
as if you can’t hear well. Say ai, ai, ai. a plate. Say j, j, j. your hands up and down like the wings of The wind is blowing strong!
/oa/ /ie/ a bee. Say zzzzz.
Tune: The Muffin Man Tune: The farmer in the Dell Action: Blow on your open hand,
as if you are the wind. Say w, w, w.
Oh, did you see the billy goat? The captain said, “/ie/ – /ie/!” /ng/ /v/
/Oa/-/oa/-/oa/, /oa/-/oa/-/oa/ The captain said, “/ie/ – /ie/!” Tune: If you’re happy and you know it Tune: Go In and Out the Windows
Oh, did you see the billy goat, “Stand up straight! Don’t be late!”
running down the road? The captain said, “/ie/ – /ie/!” If you’re strong and you know it say /ng/ Drive Vic’s van round the village.
If you’re strong and you know it say /ng/! Drive Vic’s van around the village.
Action: Bring your hand over your Action: Pretend you are a soldier. If you’re strong and you know it and you Drive Vic’s van around the village.
mouth as if something bad has Stand to attention and salute a friend. really want to show it, /v/-/v/-/v/-/v/-/v/
happened. Say oa. Say ie, ie, ie. if you’re strong and you know it, say /ng/!
/ee/ /or/ Action: Pretend to be driving along
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Action: Pretend to lift a very heavy weight in a van, saying vvvvvv.
above your head. Say nnnnggggg.
See the donkey walking around. /oo/ and /oo/
/Ee/ /or/! /Ee/ /or/! Is its sound. Tune: Go in and out the windows

Action: Put your hands up by your head as if they are the ears of a donkey. Open Who wants to be a cuckoo?
and close your hands and say ee-or. /oo/-/oo/-/oo/, /oo/-/oo/-/oo/
Who wants to be a cuckoo?
/oo/-/oo/, /oo/–/oo/–/oo/.

Action: Move your head back and forth as if you are a cuckoo bird.
Say oooo, oooo.

Jolly Phonics Song Lyrics (Zambia) 3

Group 6 Group 7
/y/ /x/ /qu/ /ou/
Tune: Apples and Bananas Tune: Skip to My Lou Tune: The Wheels on the Bus Tune: The Mulberry Bush

I like to eat, eat, eat, yogurt & bananas. /x/, /x/, take an x-ray The duck in the water quacks /qu/ – I pricked my thumb with a needle.
I like to eat, eat, eat, yogurt & bananas. /x/, /x/, take an x-ray /qu/ – /qu/, /qu/ – /qu/ – /qu/, /qu/ – /ou/ – /ou/ – /ou/! /ou/ – /ou/ –
I like to eat, eat, eat, yogurt & bananas /x/, /x/, take an x-ray /qu/ – /qu/ /ou/!
/y/–/y/–/y/–/y/–/y/. An x-ray of my hand! The duck in the water quacks, /qu/ – I pricked my thumb with a needle.
/qu/ – /qu/. /ou/ – /ou/ - OUCH!
Action: Pretend to hold a spoon and eat Action: Pretend to take an x-ray photo All day long.
a yoghurt. Say y, y, y. with an x-ray camera. Say x, x, x. Action: Pretend you are holding a
/ch/ /sh/ needle in one hand and ‘prick’ your
Tune: Merrily we roll along Tune: Where, oh where, has my little Action: Make a duck’s beak with your thumb. Say ou, ou.
dog gone? hands and say qu, qu.
Trains are chugging on the track. /oi/ /ue/
/ch/ – /ch/ – /ch/ – /ch/ – /ch/ – /ch/. Hush! Hush! Hush! Don’t make a sound Tune: Old MacDonald Tune: The Muffin Man
Trains are chugging on the track. Be as quiet as you can be.
/ch/ – /ch/ – /ch/, choo, choo The baby’s asleep and I’m tired out. The friends call each other loud Stand still like a statue,
/sh/–/sh/–/sh/–/sh/–/sh/ /oi/ – /oi/ – /oi/ – /oi/ – /oi/ /ue/ – /ue/ – /ue/! /ue/ – /ue/ –
Action: Move your arms in a circular Lets go to the shops right now. /ue/!
motion like the pistons on a train. Say Action: Place your index finger on your /oi/ – /oi/ – /oi/ – /oi/ – /oi/ Stand still like a statue, but I see you
ch, ch, ch. lips. Say sh, sh, sh. and you!
/th/ and /th/
Tune: Did you ever see a Lassie? Action: Cup your hands around your Action: Point at your friend. Say ue,
mouth and shout to a friend; oi, oi. ue, ue.
Did you ever hear a rude child, /er/ /ar/
make this sound and that sound? Tune: The Wheels on the Bus Tune: Campdown Races
Did you ever hear a rude child say
/th/ – /th/ – /th/ – /th/? The fan in the shop goes /er/–/er/–/er/. ‘Open wide,’ the doctor said. Ar! Ar!
/Er/–/er/–/er/, /er/–/er/–/er/. ‘Let me look at your sore throat.
Action: Pretend to be a naughty child and stick your tongue out a little. Say th. The fan in the shop goes /er/–/er/–/er/. Please say ‘Ar’
Stick your tongue out even further. Say th Cooling all the people.

Action: Roll your hands over each other Action: Open your mouth wide as if a
like the blades on a fan. Say errrrr. doctor wants to see inside your
mouth. Say arrr.

Jolly Phonics Song Lyrics (Zambia) 4