February 2nd! What a day! It’s Groundhog Day, and World Wetlands Day, and World Ukulele Day!
A song is a nice way to celebrate ukin‘ — playing the uke or ukulele, isn’t it? See the audio below.
Give your students the lyrics below, and ask them to fill in the three missing lines.
It’s ukulele time, it’s ukulele time.
Ukin,’ ukin,’ ukin,’ all the time
It’s ukulele time, it’s ukulele time.
(1) Are ______________________?
It’s ukulele time, it’s ukulele time.
(2) __________________________
It’s ukulele time, it’s ukulele time.
(3) __________________________?
The answer key is below.
About the Ukulele
The ukulele is a Hawaiian instrument, based on an instrument that came to the islands from Portugal in the late 1800s. It’s like a guitar, but smaller and with only four strings. It’s sometimes called a “uke” for short.
The word ukulele means “jumping flea” in Hawaiian, because your fingers jump about on the instrument.
Famous ukulele players include
- Israel “Iz” Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole from Hawaii, who did a version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow“
- the amazing banjo-uke player George Formby
- Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam who has an album called Ukulele Songs
- and Regional English Language Officer Rick Rosenberg.
Answer key (the three missing lines)
(1) Are you as crazy as I am? (Sounds like I’m)
(2) Playin’ the uke is not a crime. Not yet.
(3) Are you as happy as I am (I’m)?
Happy uking! ?