Contributor:
Georgina Reynolds
This is an easy way for children not only to remember how to spell the word (and the teachers too!) but also helps them to remember what it is, as well as being an easy way to teach a difficult subject.
Basically, the idea is this, using the tune to Old Macdonald’s Farm (the one where it goes ee-i-ee-i-oh), sing the word onomatopoeia.
For example,
O-N-O-M-A-T-O-P-O-E-I-A
WITH A WHOOSH WHOOSH HERE
AND A WHOOSH WHOOSH THERE
HERE A WHOOSH
THERE A WHOOSH
EVERYWHERE A WHOOSH WHOOSH
O-N-O-M-A-T-O-P-O-E-I-A
This exercise helps children to remember what onomatopoeia words are as well as enjoy singing the song, and they can all join in as they all know the tune!!
I found that putting the words of the song up on the interactive whiteboard really helped, and leaving the onomatopoeia words blank so the children can suggest ideas and then sing them as a class.
But be warned, you will get pestered to sing the song for as long as you are studying onomatopoeia, and you will get sick of it after a while!!