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Basic 3 · Ghanaian Language · Songs

Songs, Rhythm and Morals

In this topic you will sing songs in your Ghanaian language with correct rhythm and talk about their meanings and moral lessons.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Sing songs with correct rhythm
  • Explain the meaning of a song
  • State the moral lesson of a song

What you already know

  • Work songs and play songs (Basic 2)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Oral Language
Sub-strand
Songs
Indicator
B3.1.1.1.1 – Sing songs with the correct rhythms and discuss the meaning and moral values of the song

Introduction

Many Ghanaian songs teach lessons. Some tell children to obey their parents. Others praise hard work or unity.

1. Singing with Rhythm

  • Listen to the song first.
  • Clap or tap the beat.
  • Sing each line in time with the beat.
  • Breathe at the end of lines.

2. Meaning and Moral

Questions about a song
QuestionWhy it helps
What is the song about?tells the meaning
Who is the song about?names the characters
What does it teach?gives the moral lesson

Example moral lessons: obey your parents, work hard, love one another, respect elders.

Children singing in a circle while an elder explains the song's lesson
Figure 1: Songs teach lessons Draw a picture that shows the lesson of a song you know.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

rhythm
The pattern of beats in a song.
moral
The lesson a song or story teaches.
meaning
What something is about.
value
A good way of behaving.

Summary

  • Sing songs with the correct rhythm.
  • Songs have meanings and moral lessons.
  • Moral lessons teach good values like obedience and hard work.

Class activity: Song Lessons

  1. Sing a song in your Ghanaian language with the drum and shaker.
  2. Discuss what the song means.
  3. State its moral lesson.

You need: Locally made song or poem cards, Local drum, Gourd shaker

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. The lesson a song teaches is its…

    • A. Moral
    • B. Title
    • C. Drum
    • D. Line
    Show answer
    Answer: MoralThat is the moral.

  2. 2. What helps us keep the rhythm?

    • A. Clapping
    • B. Sleeping
    • C. Whispering
    • D. Running
    Show answer
    Answer: ClappingClapping keeps the beat.

  3. 3. Songs can teach us to obey our parents.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueMany songs teach obedience.

  4. 4. Rhythm is the colour of a song.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseRhythm is the beat pattern.

  5. 5. A good way of behaving is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: valueThat is a value.

  6. 6. Name one song in your Ghanaian language and its moral.

    Show answer
    Answer: Answers will differ.Learners name a song and its lesson.

Homework

  1. Ask an elder to teach you a song with a moral lesson.