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One of my favorite songs for younger elementary students is the Mexican nursery rhyme Los Pollitos. This adorable song is all about little chickens, and it is so cute. We use it in the Fall for Hispanic Heritage Month and in the Spring for Spring time lessons.
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Los Pollitos Nursery Rhyme
Here is the translation:
- Los pollitos dicen “pio, pio, pio” – The little chicks say “pio, pio, pio”
- Cuando tienen hambre – When they are hungry
- Cuando tienen frio – When they are cold
- La gallina busca el maiz y el trigo – The hen looks for corn and wheat
- Les de la comida y las presta abrigo – She gives them food and shelter
- Bajo de sus alas, arruchaditos – Underneath her wings
- Duermen los pollitos, hasta otra dia – Sleep the little chicks until the next day
How I teach Los Pollitos in Elementary Music
To teach this song, I like to start with actions. I sing the song and do simple actions that act out the words.
- Los pollitos dicen “pio, pio, pio” – Open and shut hands like the symbol for talking
- Cuando tienen hambre – rub belly
- Cuando tienen frio – rub arms
- La gallina busca el maiz y el trigo – look around with hand on head
- Les de la comida y las presta abrigo – Hands to mouth like being fed
- Bajo de sus alas, arruchaditos – Wave hands like wings
- Duermen los pollitos, hasta orta dia – Close eyes and put hands to head like sleeping
After that, we go through the song again and I have the student guess the meaning of the words based on the movements that I do. Then, I teach them the actions as well.
Next, I show them this super cute picture book that has hidden flaps and pull outs. We sing along with the book.
Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
I like to pair this song with the piece Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks by Modest Mussorgsky.
We use this to work on form. The form of the piece is AABA.
First, we start by using our hands. I tell them that each hand is a baby chick. We pull one hand out for A, it goes all around, then goes to sleep. Then it comes back out. Then the other one, and so on.
Then we add actions– we tiptoe around the room like little baby chicks on A and stand still and lean side to side on the B section. Don’t forget to let them go to sleep between each section!
I have a whole lesson pack, which makes teaching this lesson really easy! It includes all of the visuals that you need as well as some printable activities.
Have you used this song in your classroom? I’d love to hear what you’ve done with it! Send me a message over on Instagram @beccasmusicroom and let me know what you did. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Happy teaching!
Becca
