Singing: Short Songs You Can Sing to Anyone
Primary 1 · Creative Arts
Singing: Short Songs You Can Sing to Anyone
Lesson 7 of 9
12 min
Let's begin
Umutoni lays ten beans in a row on the mat.
She touches the first one and sings a number.
Then the next bean, and the next number.
Today you will count all the way to ten inside a song.
Put ten beans or ten small stones in a row.
Touch one bean for each number you sing. One touch, one word.
Here are the counting words in Kinyarwanda:
rimwe, kabiri, gatatu, kane, gatanu, gatandatu, karindwi, umunani, icyenda, icumi
Say them slowly. Then sing them. Then sing them without looking.
Ten words, ten beans. Not one bean left over, and not one word left out.
Worked example
Umutoni learns the first five first.
Rimwe, kabiri, gatatu, kane, gatanu. Five beans, five words.
When that half is easy, she adds the next five.
Gatandatu, karindwi, umunani, icyenda, icumi.
Then she joins the halves and sings all ten in one breath.
Careful! When you count things, the ending of the number word changes to fit the thing you are counting. That is normal, and both ways are right. Keep the plain counting words for counting.
You count the eggs your mama sends you for.
You count the change the seller gives you back.
You count how many people are waiting at the tap.
You count the goats before you shut them in at night.
Numbers are not only for school. They are for every day.
Rimwe, kabiri, gatatu, a counting song from UNICEF Rwanda. It is sung in Kinyarwanda.
Tip
One touch, one word
Let your finger walk along the beans while you sing.
If your finger and your voice go apart, stop and start the row again.
Do each one, then tap Show answer to check.
Which number comes after gatatu?
Answer: kane. The order is rimwe, kabiri, gatatu, kane.
Sing the first five counting words without stopping.
Answer: rimwe, kabiri, gatatu, kane, gatanu.
Which is the last of the ten words?
Answer: icumi.
Lay out seven stones. Touch and sing until you reach the last one. Which word did you land on?
Answer: karindwi. Seven touches, seven words.
Say one real reason you need to know the numbers.
Answer: for example, to count your change at the shop, or to count the eggs.
What you learned today
Quick check
