Recycling Rhythms

Think back to the work we’ve done on four beat rhythms – rhythmic patterns that can fit neatly into a 4/4 time signature.

There are scores of rap backing tracks on youtube. 

Could you write some short sentences or phrases with a recycling slant which could be spoken over a four-beat pulse? Here are a few examples.

Put all your boxes in the big green bin.

Get those empties to the bottle bank.

Rinse those plastics before you recycle.

The recycling symbol looks like a triangle.

Landfill – it’s no solution.

Reuse things, don’t throw them away.

Trousers don’t fit? Take them to the clothes bank.

Do we want to live in a world filled with rubbish?

Practice chanting the lines aloud – you could repeat the same one as many times as you like, or do them in any order. You don’t need the backing track – you could use a home made percussion instrument to keep a steady pulse!

Think back to The Human Drum Kit – could you ask a brother, sister or mum to help you perform it in canon, where the second voice is always one line behind the one which starts?

This is John Foster’s Recycling Rap.

Use a backing track, like the one above and see if you can perform it!

Listen to me children. Hear what I say.

We've got to start recycling. It's the only way

To save this planet for future generations-

The name of the game is reclamation.

You've got to start recycling. You know it makes sense.

You've got to start recycling. Stop sitting on the fence.

No more pussyfooting. No more claptrap.

Get yourself doing the recycling rap.

VOICE 1:

Come on and start recycling. Start today.

By saving old newspapers, not throwing them away.

Don't just take them and dump them on the tip,

Tie them in a bundle and put them in the skip.

VOICE 2:

Get collecting, protecting the future's up to you.

Save all your old glass bottles and your jam jars too.

Take them to the bottle bank, then at the factory,

The glass can be recycled, saving energy.

VOICE 3:

Don't chuck away that empty drink can.

Remember what I said. Start recycling, man.

Wash it, squash it, squeeze it flat and thin.

Take it to the Save-A-Can and post it in.

ALL:

Listen to me children. Hear what I say.

We've got to start recycling. It's the only way

To save this planet for future generations-

The name of the game is reclamation.

You've got to start recycling. You know it makes sense.

You've got to start recycling. Stop sitting on the fence.

No more pussyfooting. No more claptrap.

Get yourself doing the recycling rap.

Back to the activities