Vocabulary Words
- Teach children the word “friend” in different languages. If you teach English-language learners, include the word “friend” in their home language.
French – ami
Spanish – amigo
Italian – amica
German – freund
Discussion Questions
- What do you like to do with your friends? How do you know that someone is your friend? What can you do to show someone that you are their friend?
Social and emotional
- Friendship is so important in one’s life and talking and singing about it will help young children become aware of how to make friends. Read children this poem about friendship before singing the song.
A circle is round it has no end,
That’s how long I want to be your friend
- Sit the children in a circle holding hands. As you sing the song, the teacher starts the chain of "hand hugs" by gently squeezing the hand of the child next to him. The child then passes on the hand hug to the next child until the hugs have been passed around the whole circle.
Physical/Cognitive
- Put a sticker on each child’s palm. There should be a matching sticker for another child so that each child has a partner. Play the song and invite children to dance around the room looking for their partner who has a matching sticker. Invite children to hold hands and sway back and forth with their partners while singing the letters “F-R-I-E-N-D.”
Musical Listening
- This song has a harp and trombone solo. Show children a picture of both instruments, and demonstrate to them how they are played. (A harp is a played by plucking the strings, a trombone is played by blowing air into the mouthpiece and moving the slide.) During the solos, invite children to listen and to pretend to play the instruments.
