Choosing Rhymes

1. En Den Dino
2. Two children
3. Israel/ Hebrew Culture
4. The following video is of a choosing rhyme from the Hebrew culture. In the past, I have used the rhyme as a jumping off point for arranging where students can change the tone of their voice, dynamics, add ostinato patterns, and unpitched percussion. I have not really taught the song with much cultural background or used the song in ways that felt culturally appropriate, but students did interact with the music and rhymes work well for arranging because they lack specific pitch. I also didn't want to use an American rhyme like "eeny, meeny" because the students might have a harder time considering arranging possibilities with a song they already knew.

In it's context, this choosing rhyme helps children socialize within their culture much like "one potato, two" does for American children; it helps them learn turn taking, competition and rules (Lew & Campbell, 2005). Through play, children can learn to interact with others in culturally appropriate ways. En Den Dino can help children learn how to behave socially in the ways already described, but it can also help them learn cultural norms. A child that might need to make a choice or decide between who gets the last cookie (or other thing) can use utilize the choosing rhyme and thereby demonstrate their understanding that a choice needs to be made. In the video, the children are seemingly choosing between two beverages. In this case and in this cultural setting it is most appropriate to not have one person make a decision. Instead, they can use chance to keep things equitable. In another setting or culture, the response might be different  and children can learn appropriate responses through play.