Head Shoulder Knees and Toes Song

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Head Shoulder Knees and Toes Song

So, it's been sooo long since I have heard that song that I had to look it up. 

Great mnemonic device!

Just one little suggestion: 

Change the word "Shoulders" to "Pebbles" and you have all seven words which use an "x" to form the plural.

Jewels, Pebbles 

Knees and Toys (repeat)

Ca-a-bba-age 

Lice and owls

Jewels, pebbles

Knees and toys!!

Or: You could try it in French:

Bijoux, Cailloux

Genoux, Joujoux (repetez)

Chou-ou-ou-oux

Poux et hiboux

Bijoux, Cailloux

Genoux Joujoux


Merci et Bonne Continuation !

Asked 2 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Shamrockhill, ( and Elizabeth) 

Your suggestion was so good that Aurélie decided to add it to the lesson as well as Elizabeth's input from Robert Desnos.

Donc Merci à vous toutes ainsi qu'à Ruth bien entendu ! 

 

 

 

Elizabeth C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

C'est super, Shamrockhill! When I was learning these plurals years ago, our teacher taught us the following verses:

Ce sont les mères des hiboux
Qui désiraient chercher les poux
De leurs enfants, leurs petits choux,
En les tenant sur les genoux.
Leurs yeux d’or valent des bijoux
Leur bec est dur comme cailloux,
Ils sont doux comme des joujoux,
Mais aux hiboux point de genoux !

I've just discovered that they came from a poem by Robert Desnos:  https://belgentier.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/770/2020/03/POESIES-SUR-LES-ANIMAUX.pdf

Bonne continuation!

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Merci Elizabeth,

Wonderful suggestion! It sounds like you had a great French teacher. I looked up the link for the poem by Robert Desnos. Apparently he has written a series of fun poems about animals.

One question: I am not sure exactly how you would translate the last line: "Mais aux hiboux point de genoux !" Would it be something like, "But as for owls (they have) no knees"?

Bonne Continuation !

N. Hilary

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Merci Cecile et Aurelie. C'est fantastique ! 

What an honor to have been able to make a small contribution to the lesson. 

Et, surtout, merci a Elizabeth pour la bonne suggestion !

Bonne continuation !

Head Shoulder Knees and Toes Song

So, it's been sooo long since I have heard that song that I had to look it up. 

Great mnemonic device!

Just one little suggestion: 

Change the word "Shoulders" to "Pebbles" and you have all seven words which use an "x" to form the plural.

Jewels, Pebbles 

Knees and Toys (repeat)

Ca-a-bba-age 

Lice and owls

Jewels, pebbles

Knees and toys!!

Or: You could try it in French:

Bijoux, Cailloux

Genoux, Joujoux (repetez)

Chou-ou-ou-oux

Poux et hiboux

Bijoux, Cailloux

Genoux Joujoux


Merci et Bonne Continuation !

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