Nancy Stewart

The beginning of a new school year means learning lots of names! It's also a great opportunity to sneak in some manners! Names are such an interesting part of who we are. Almost all of us in the United States have come from another country at some point in time, and often our names carry interesting stories, traditions, and meanings. So while you're singing this song and learning names, take some time to explore those traditions within your classroom. Have your children's parents tell you where their name comes from. It might have been chosen from a baby book, or a favorite hero, or an important part of that family's culture. It's fun to look up names and see what they mean in different cultures. Bring out a map and locate countries from which the names originate. Just for fun, I've noted the origins and meanings of names in this song below the lyrics. You can sing this song different ways, depending on the ages and abilities of your children. Below are some ideas.