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Octopus and Clam Song: Fun with Short Vowels

octopus and clam

Octopus and Clam Song

Ms. Christina demonstrates her original “Octopus and Clam” song for short vowel sounds on ukulele.

Lyrics and chords: 

[D] [A] [D] [A] [D] [A] 

There was an [D] octopus, 

forgot its [A] name, name, name, 

Instead of [D] “o” “o” “o,” it wrote an [A] “a” “a” “a.” 

And the little clam said, “Whaaaaat?”


You’re not an [D] actopus, 

you’re not an [A] actopus, 

Instead of [D] “a” “a” “a,” 

let’s try an [A] “e” “e” “e.” 

And the octopus said, “Whaaaaat?”


I’m not an [D] ectopus, 

I’m not an [A] ectopus, 

Instead of [D] “e” “e” “e,” 

let’s try an [A] “i” “i” “i.” 

And the little clam said, “Whaaaaat?”


You’re not an [D] ictopus, 

you’re not an [A] ictopus, 

Instead of [D] “i” “i” “i,” 

let’s try a [A] “u” “u” “u.” 

And the octopus said, “Whaaaaat?”


I’m not an [D] uctopus, 

I’m not an [A] uctopus, 

Instead of [D] “u””u” “u,” 

let’s try an [A] “o” “o” “o.” 

And the little clam said, “Oh, that’s right!”


You are an [D] octopus, 

you are an [A] octopus, 

You know your [D] name, name, name, 

begins with [A] “o” “o” “o.”


I am an [D] octopus, 

I am an [A] octopus, 

I know my [D] name, name, name, 

begins with [A] “o” “o” “o.”

Skills and benefits:

Vocabulary, phonological awareness, letter identification, phonics, short vowels, movement, animal identification: octopus, clam.

Origins:

Lyrics and tune by Ms. Christina.

Copyright: Ms. Christina — permission given for educational use.

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