Singing and Clapping: Keeping the Rhythm
Primary 1 · Creative Arts
Singing and Clapping: Keeping the Rhythm
Lesson 8 of 8
12 min
Let's begin
Uwase can say the letters very fast. It comes out as one long sound, aeiou.
Her mama asks her which letter comes after i. Uwase starts the whole run again.
Today you will give each one its own clap, so you can pick any one out.
The vowels are a, e, i, o, u. In Kinyarwanda they are called inyajwi.
Sing them in that order, and clap once on each one.
Clap, say a. Clap, say e. Clap, say i. Clap, say o. Clap, say u.
Five claps, five letters. Count them on your fingers as you go.
Careful! If you sing them joined up, they turn into one sound and you cannot pull one out.
Say aaa, then stop. Say eee, then stop.
A little rest after each letter is what keeps them apart.
Worked example
Take the name Uwase.
Say it slowly: U-wa-se.
The vowels inside it are u, a and e. Three of the five are hiding in one name.
Worked example
Take Keza. The vowels are e and a.
Now write your own name and point at every vowel in it.
Stand tall. Look up. Take one breath.
Sing the five letters with five claps, right through, without stopping.
Then ask your listener which letter came third. The answer is i.
Inyajwi: the Kinyarwanda vowel song. Clap once on each letter.
Tip
One clap, one letter
A little rest after each vowel keeps it separate from the next one.
Count them on your fingers while you sing, and you will always know there are five.
Say each answer out loud, then tap Show answer to check.
Sing the vowels in order with one clap on each.
Answer: a, e, i, o, u. Five letters and five claps.
How many vowels are there?
Answer: five. Count them on one hand.
Which vowel comes after e?
Answer: i. The order is a, e, i, o, u.
Which vowels are in the name Mugisha?
Answer: u, i and a. Say it slowly: Mu-gi-sha.
Sing the vowel song to one person at home.
Answer: stand tall, look up, five claps, no stopping.
What you learned today
These three books are free to read on a phone. One is in Kinyarwanda and two are in English.
Amabara y'ibidukikije is in Kinyarwanda. An artist looks at the colours all around her outside. From Pratham Books, on the Global Digital Library.
Sing to me is in English. It is a picture book about singing to somebody you love. From Book Dash.
Why Birds Sing at Dawn is in English. It tells why the birds start singing early in the morning. From Book Dash.
Quick check
Put the vowels in order.
Tap the cards in the right order.
