The “Apples and Bananas” song is a classic and catchy tune that’s been delighting children and parents for generations. This simple yet engaging song isn’t just fun to sing; it’s also a fantastic tool for early literacy, specifically for teaching phonics and vowel sounds. Let’s dive into what makes this song so special and how you can use it to spark a love of language in your little ones.
This playful song revolves around the simple act of eating apples and bananas, but with a twist! The lyrics are repeated with each of the five main vowel sounds – a, e, i, o, and u (both short and long sounds are often explored). This repetitive structure and focus on vowel sounds make it incredibly effective for helping children distinguish and pronounce different vowel sounds in words.
Here’s how the song typically goes, transforming with each vowel:
Original Vowel Sound (Short ‘a’ as in “apple”)
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.
Long ‘a’ Sound (as in “ape”)
I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays.
I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays.
Long ‘e’ Sound (as in “eat”)
I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and ba-nee-nees.
I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and ba-nee-nees.
Long ‘i’ Sound (as in “ice”)
I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and ba-nigh-nighs.
I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and ba-nigh-nighs.
Long ‘o’ Sound (as in “oat”)
I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and ba-no-nos.
I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and ba-no-nos.
Long ‘oo’ Sound (as in “moon”)
I like to oot, oot, oot, oo-pples and ba-noo-noos.
I like to oot, oot, oot, oo-pples and ba-noo-noos.
Why is the Apples And Bananas Song so Effective for Learning?
- Repetition: The repetitive nature of the lyrics helps children memorize the song easily and reinforces the vowel sounds.
- Phonological Awareness: By changing the vowel sounds while keeping the consonants the same, the song highlights how vowels shape words and sounds, boosting phonological awareness.
- Fun and Engaging: The silly sounds and actions that often accompany the song make learning fun and memorable for young children.
- Simplicity: The simple vocabulary and concept (eating fruit) are easily grasped by even very young children.
Tips for Using the Apples and Bananas Song:
- Sing it Together: Make it interactive! Sing along with your children, encouraging them to repeat the vowel sounds and words.
- Use Actions: Add actions for “eating,” “apples,” and “bananas,” and gestures for each vowel sound to make it even more engaging.
- Get Creative with Vowels: Explore both short and long vowel sounds, or even try different accents and silly voices.
- Incorporate into Learning Activities: Use the song as a warm-up for phonics lessons or as a fun break during learning time.
The “Apples and Bananas” song is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a valuable educational tool that makes learning vowel sounds enjoyable for children. So, put on your singing voice and get ready for a phonics adventure with apples and bananas!
