The Grand Old Duke of York
A traditional English nursery rhyme with a catchy melody. The rhyme tells the humorous story of the Duke of York, who led his soldiers up a hill and then promptly marched them back down again, emphasizing the futility of the action.
Lyrics
Oh, the grand old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men. He marched them up to the top of the hill, And he marched them down again. And when they were up, they were up. And when they were down, they were down. And when they were only halfway up, They were neither up nor down.
Actions
Simple, fun actions that can go along with this rhyme!
01.
While singing the first two lines ("Oh, the grand old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men"), children can march in place, lifting their knees high and swinging their arms like soldiers on the move.
02.
When singing "He marched them up to the top of the hill," children can continue marching in place but gradually slow down their marching movements.
03.
During the line "And when they were only halfway up," children can pause their marching and stand still, emphasizing the word "halfway."
Activities
Fun activities that can go along with this rhyme!
Opposites Exploration
After singing the rhyme, engage children in a discussion about opposites. Ask them to name other pairs of opposites (e.g., hot and cold, big and small) and find examples in their environment.
Craft Time
Provide art supplies like paper, markers, crayons, and stickers. Encourage children to create their own imaginative Duke of York characters, drawing soldiers, hills, and other elements from the rhyme.
Sequencing Game
Create picture cards or use simple drawings to represent the events in the rhyme. Have children arrange the cards in the correct order, reinforcing their understanding of sequencing and storytelling.
Learnings
Learnings from this rhyme!
The nursery rhyme teaches children about concepts like opposites, sequencing, and rhythm while incorporating playful actions and storytelling.
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The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York
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