Table Hakas and Traditional Rhymes

What’s a “table haka” traditional rhyme?

Well, it’s an opportunity to make links with literacy, to consider rhythm and beat and performance of target language traditional rhymes and link these to a rugby-style “haka” performance.

Non-network members can download for FREE these two traditional rhymes, sound files and transcripts: our Welsh rhyme and our Arabic rhyme.

If you already use our Primary Languages Network Scheme of Work then there are traditional rhymes with sound files, target language and transcripts, ready for you to use in lessons 1, 2 and 3 in the “Learn a New Language” section in. 9 possible languages.

Activity Guide

1. Select for the class two target language rhymes (e.g. the Welsh and the Arabic rhymes above). Network members have a choice as well of Italian, Flemish, Welsh, Russian, Mandarin etcetera.

2. Set the scene. Make the literacy links between traditional rhymes in different languages. Talk briefly with the class about traditional rhymes in English and perhaps rhymes in other home languages of pupils in your class. Say a favourite English rhyme and listen out for the beat and the rhythm. Discuss the possible meaning of what appears a nonsensical rhyme.

3. Ask the class to listen to the two traditional rhymes from potentially unfamiliar languages that you have selected. Play each one all the way through.

4. Now ask the children to listen again and this time clap out the rhythm of each line.

5. Listen, reveal the target language and transcript slides, clap out the beat and investigate the meaning of the sentences.

6. Add actions to help other people to understand the meaning of each line

7. Practise both rhymes as a whole class and attempt to learn both rhymes.

8. Add the rhythm and the beat. Sitting at their tables, you can decide if children tap gently on desks or clap hands or drum out the rhythm on the desk using their hands, pencils and /or feet.

9. Time for the “table haka”. Divide your class in two. One half of the class (with or without the support of the native speaker sound file) performs one of the traditional rhymes and the other half of the class responds with the second traditional rhyme.

10. You could take this into the hall and use this as a dance activity, where children make the rhythm with their feet and add the actions you practised in class - either as small group performances or as one half of the class performing to the other half of the class.