SCIENCE SINGALONGS FOR KIDS

TIPS4TEACHERS

THE RELEVANT YOUTUBE VIDEOS FOR THESE LESSONS FOLLOW:

THE CONANT-STYLE MUSICALS ABOUT SCIENTISTS

CURIOSITY IN SCIENCE

PERSISTENCE IN SCIENCE

THE MISFITS OF SCIENCE

SERENDIPITY IN SCIENCE/

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THE ENDANGERED SPECIES SHOW

DON’T TAKE YOUR PLANET FOR GRANTED

OTHER SONGS BY DR. DOORIDDLE

The Tortoise and the Hare

Overview

A musical retelling of Aesop’s classic fable that teaches persistence, preparation, and the importance of never giving up.

Teaching Steps

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Watch again and sing along.
  3. Discuss the questions below.
  4. Optional: Have students draw the race or write about a time they kept trying.

Discussion Questions

  1. At the beginning, did you think the turtle could win? Why or why not?
  2. Did anyone tell the turtle he should give up?
  3. Did the turtle give up?
  4. What did the turtle do instead?
  5. What does “chugged along” mean?
  6. Was the hot weather a surprise?
  7. Which animal was better prepared for the heat?
  8. How did the turtle’s shell help him?
  9. Which animal depended on speed?
  10. Which animal depended on persistence?
  11. What lesson does the story teach?
  12. Can you think of a time when you succeeded by continuing to try?

Science Connections

  • Tortoises carry their own protective shell.
  • The shell provides shade and protection.
  • Rabbits are fast, but they do not carry their own shelter.
  • Animals have adaptations that help them survive.

Character Education

The story teaches that steady effort and good preparation can overcome natural advantages.

Moral

Slow and steady—and well prepared—wins the race.

Save the Whale

Overview

A song about endangered animals from around the world and the importance of protecting them and their habitats.

Teaching Steps

1. Watch the video.

2. Watch again and sing along.

3. Locate the animals and their habitats on a world map.

4. Discuss the questions below.

5. Optional: Have students create posters about endangered species.

Discussion Questions

1. What animals are mentioned in the song?

2. Which animal lives in the ocean?

3. Which animal lives in a redwood forest?

4. Which animal lives in Australia?

5. What does endangered mean?

6. Why are some animals in danger of disappearing?

7. Why is it important to protect habitats?

8. What can people do to help save endangered animals?

9. Which animal in the song would you most like to learn more about?

10. What is the main message of the song?

Animals Featured in the Song

– Owl

– Whale and calf

– California Condor

– Whooping crane

– Wolf

– Mountain gorilla

– Koala

Habitats Mentioned

– Redwood forest

– Ocean

– Australian outback

Science Connections

– Animals are adapted to different habitats.

– Some species become endangered when habitats are destroyed.

– Conservation programs can help species recover.

Geography Connections

Students can locate:

– California redwood forests

– The Pacific Ocean

– Australia

– Africa

– North America

Character Education

The song encourages respect for living things and responsibility for protecting the natural world.

Moral

We share the Earth with many remarkable animals, and it is our responsibility to help protect them.

City Dump Blues

Overview

A lively blues song about what happens to our garbage after it is thrown away. The song introduces students to landfills, recycling, and the importance of reducing waste to help protect the Earth.

Teaching Steps

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Watch again and sing along.
  3. Discuss the questions below.
  4. Optional: Have students draw a modern landfill or create posters showing ways to reduce waste.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is a city dump (or landfill)?
  2. Where does our garbage go after it is collected?
  3. Why does a landfill eventually become full?
  4. What kinds of things can be recycled?
  5. What happens if people throw away too much trash?
  6. How can we reduce the amount of garbage we produce?
  7. What is composting?
  8. Why is recycling important?
  9. What can families do to create less waste?
  10. What is the main message of the song?

Science Connections

  • Modern landfills are carefully designed to protect soil and groundwater.
  • Garbage can be reduced through recycling, composting, and reusing materials.
  • Some waste materials decompose naturally, while others last for many years.
  • Reducing waste helps conserve natural resources and energy.

Geography Connections

Students can locate:

  • Their own city or town
  • Local recycling centers
  • Nearby landfills
  • Areas where natural resources are protected

Character Education

The song encourages responsibility, conservation, and thoughtful decision-making. Students learn that small everyday choices can make a big difference for the environment.

Creative Thinking Extension

Ask students to think of five unusual uses for a common item such as:

  • An empty tin can
  • A cardboard box
  • A newspaper
  • A plastic bottle

This activity reinforces the idea that many objects can be reused rather than discarded.

The Maidu Song

Overview

A song introducing students to the Maidu people and their traditional respect for nature. The lesson emphasizes that Indigenous peoples throughout North America shared a deep understanding that humans are part of the natural world and have a responsibility to care for the Earth.

Teaching Steps

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Watch again and sing along.
  3. Ask students which Native American tribe originally lived in the area where your school is located.
  4. Explain that while this song focuses on the Maidu people of Northern California, similar beliefs about respecting the Earth were shared by many Indigenous cultures across North America.
  5. Discuss the questions below.
  6. Optional: Have students draw scenes showing people living in harmony with nature.

Discussion Questions

  1. Who are the Maidu people?
  2. What part of California did the Maidu traditionally live in?
  3. Which Native American tribe originally lived in our local area?
  4. What does the song suggest about the relationship between people and nature?
  5. Why were rivers, forests, and animals important to Indigenous peoples?
  6. What natural resources did Native peoples use for food, shelter, and clothing?
  7. How did Indigenous communities avoid wasting resources?
  8. What attitudes about the Earth were shared by many Native American tribes?
  9. What can we learn today from these traditional beliefs?
  10. What is the main message of the song?

Science Connections

  • People depend on ecosystems for food, water, shelter, and materials.
  • Sustainable living means using resources carefully and avoiding waste.
  • Healthy forests, rivers, and wildlife are essential to human survival.
  • Traditional ecological knowledge reflects careful observation of nature over many generations.

Geography Connections

Students can locate:

  • Northern California, homeland of the Maidu
  • Their own community
  • The traditional homeland of the Indigenous people of their region
  • Major rivers, mountains, and forests nearby

Social Studies Connections

  • Native American tribes developed unique cultures adapted to their environments.
  • Every region of North America was home to Indigenous peoples long before European settlement.
  • Many Native communities continue to preserve and share their traditions today.

Character Education

The song teaches gratitude, respect, stewardship, and humility. Students learn that the Earth is not merely something we use, but something we care for and protect.

Moral

The Earth provides everything we need, and people everywhere share a responsibility to live respectfully and care for the natural world.