If I Only Had a Brain

If I Only Had a Brain Lesson

IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN (The Scarecrow’s Song)
from the movie “THE WIZARD OF OZ”
lyrics by E.H. Harburg music by Harold Arlen

(Scarecrow)
I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers [I could be conferring . . .
Consultin' with the rain [I could be consulting . . .
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain

I'd unravel any riddle
For any individ'le [individual]
In trouble or in pain

(Dorothy)
With the thoughts you'd be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain

(Scarecrow)
Oh, I would tell you why
The ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I [‘d] never thunk before [had thought]
And then I'd sit and think some more

I would not be just a nuffin' [bad pronunciation of “nothing ”]
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry [a made-up word to rhyme with “merry “]
If I only had a brain









CONDITIONAL verbs start with an IF clause
IF I HAD A BRAIN . . . I WOULD/COULD . . .

1. How many verbs can you find that use conditional progressive
WOULD BE + ING telling what the scarecrow would be doing right now if he had a brain?
Write the subjects and the WOULD/COULD BE + ING verbs right now!
a. _______________ ________________________________________
b. _______________ ________________________________________
c. _______________ ________________________________________
d. _______________ ________________________________________
e. _______________ ________________________________________

Now, you write a sentence using an IF clause + PAST TENSE,
followed by a WOULD BE + ING verb telling me what you would be doing right now if YOU HAD something.

If I had ________________, I would/could be _____ing_____________________

2. How many verbs can you find that are conditional
WOULD/COULD + BASE VERB
Write the subjects and the WOULD/COULD + BASE VERB
a. _______________ ________________________________________
b. _______________ ________________________________________
c. _______________ ________________________________________
d. _______________ ________________________________________
e. _______________ ________________________________________
f. _______________ ________________________________________
g. _______________ ________________________________________
h. _______________ ________________________________________

Now, you write a sentence using an IF clause + past tense followed by WOULD + BASE VERB.

If I had ___________________, I would __________________________

3. Find one present tense verb __________________________

4. Find all the rhymes.
a. hours rhymes with ____________________
b. rain rhymes with ____________ and _____________ and _____________
c. scratchin’ rhymes with ____________________
d. riddle sort of rhymes with ____________________
e. thinkin’ rhymes with ____________________
f. why rhymes with ____________________
g. shore rhymes with ____________________ and ____________________
h. stuffin rhymes with ____________________
i. merry rhymes with ____________________

4. What phrase in the song means I could spend my time ?
___________________________________________________
5. What verb means to talk with someone ? _____________________________________
6. What verb means to talk with and get information from someone? _____________________________________
7. What word means a question that you must think about and the answer is like a joke? _____________________________

Here’s an example of a riddle:
What is black and white and red all over?
The answer is the NEWSPAPER. It is black and white and READ all over.
HA HA HA
Here’s another riddle:
What animal can travel at a moment’s notice?
The answer: an ELEPHANT because he always carries his TRUNK with him.
Do you know any riddles?

8. Who was Abraham Lincoln? _______________________________________

Callifornia Here I Come

California Here I Come Lesson

California Here I Come
Words & Music by Al Jolson, Bud De Sylva, and Joseph Meyer
Recorded by Al Jolson, 1946

When the wintry wind starts blowing
And the snow is starting in the fall,
Then my eyes went westward knowing
That's the place that I love best of all.
California, I’ve been blue
Since I’ve been away from you.
I can't wait 'till I get going.
Even now I'm starting in to call. . .


D D+ G
California, here I come.

A A7+5 D
Right back where I started from.

D Fdim Edim A7
Where bowers of flowers bloom in the spring.

D Fdim
Each morning at dawning,

Edim A7
Birdies sing an' everything.

D D+ G
A sun-kissed miss said, "Don't be late."

A A7+5 D
That's why I can hardly wait.

G Gm B7 E7
Open up that Golden Gate,

G A7 A7+5 D
California here I come.


1. What times of year make the singer think of California. (Make a check √.)
___summer ___fall ___winter ____spring

2. When the singer leaves California, what lines in the song tells us he misses California? _____________________________________________________________________

3. What does “blue” mean in the line “I’ve been blue.”


4. What season of the year is the singer’s favorite in California? (Make a check √.)
___summer ___fall ___winter ____spring

5. What is a sun-kissed miss? ___________________________________________________________________

6. What are the rhymes in the song?

a. blowing rhymes with ____________ and ________________

b. fall rhymes with ____________ and ________________

c. blue rhymes with ___________

d. come rhymes with ___________

e. bowers rhymes with ___________

f. spring rhymes with ___________ and _______________

g. late rhymes with ___________ and ________________

h. sun-kissed rhymes with ________________

i. morning sort of rhymes with ______________


7. Tell me something you can hardly wait to do. Write your own sentence.
example: I am so hungry I can hardly wait to eat lunch.
It’s been a long time, so she can hardly wait to see her boyfriend.

________________________________________________________________

Stand By Me

Stand By Me Lesson

STAND BY ME by Ben E. King

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see.
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.

And darlin', darlin', stand by me,
oh now now stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me.

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea,
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah.

Whenever you're in trouble, won't you stand by me?
oh now now stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me.

Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me.
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me.


1. What is a synonym for “tumble” ? __________________

2. What word means “to break up into little pieces”? _______________

3. What does “to shed a tear” mean? ______________________

4. What phrase means “ Be my friend when I am in trouble and need someone.” _________________________________________





5. Find all the verbs and their subjects.
Then make a check next to the future tense verbs.
a. ______________ _______________
b. ______________ _______________
c. ______________ _______________
d. ______________ _______________
e. ______________ _______________
f. ______________ _______________
g. ______________ _______________
h. ______________ _______________
i. ______________ _______________
j. ______________ _______________
k. ______________ _______________
l. ______________ _______________

6. Now, can you use WILL + BE in a sentence?
a.
Write your own sentence using WILL + base form of any verb.
b. ___________________________________________________________________

7. Can you use WON’T + BE in a sentence?
a._____________________________________________________________________

Can you use WON’T + base form of any verb in a sentence.
b.

8. If in the present tense (dependent clause), WILL in the main clause.

examples:
If I study hard, I will learn English.
If my friend studies hard and gets good grades, she will go to the university.
a. What is the IF clause in the song?
_____________________________________________________________

b. Can you write a sentence using IF + present tense, and WILL + base form in the main clause.



Gati©2008

An Irish Lullaby

http://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/anirishlullaby.shtml

An Irish Lullaby Lesson

Patrick was born in Roman Britain. When he was about sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. He entered the church, as his father and grandfather had before him, becoming a deacon and a bishop. He later returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary, working in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he actually worked.

Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa 385–461 AD), one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17. The day is the national holiday of Ireland.

1. AN IRISH LULLABY
Over in Killarney
Many years ago,
Me mither sang a song to me [My mother]
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good ould Irish way, [old]
And l'd give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day.

Chorus: "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
hush now, don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
that's an Irish lullaby."


2
Oft in dreams I wander
To that cot again,
I feel her arms a-huggin' me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a -hummin'
To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door. Chorus
You can hear the music if you put this in the address bar on your computer:

http://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/anirishlullaby.shtml

1. What’s a LULLABY? ______________________________________________
2. Where is Killarney? (Write a complete sentence.)


3. What idiom in the song means “I would pay everything that I have. . .”

a._____________________________________________________________

4. What idiom means A LONG TIME AGO?

a. _________________________________________________________

5. What’s a COT?
a.______________________________________

6. OFT is short for what word? __________________________

7. Look at the song and write all the past tenses
a. ________________________________________
b. ________________________________________
c. ________________________________________

The past tense can be used with AGO. Can you write a sentence in the past tense with AGO?

d. ______________________________________________________________

8. What present tense verbs are in the song?
a. ________________________________________
b. ________________________________________
c. ________________________________________

9. Please find the conditional verbs (would/could + base form)
a. ________________________________________
b. ________________________________________

10. USED TO + infinitive means something that you don’t do any more

examples: She used to smoke, but she doesn’t do it any more.
I used to listen to records, but now I listen to CDs.
SHE USED TO ROCK ME FAST ASLEEP. means
She put me to sleep by rocking me in a rocking chair when I was a baby.

Can you write a sentence using USED TO?

a. _________________________________________________________


example: She didn’t use to do homework, but now she does.

Can you write a sentence using the negative: DIDN’T USE TO _______


a. ______________________________________________________________

My Valentine

My Valentine Lesson

My Valentine lyrics by Martina McBride
1. If there were no words
No way to speak,
I would still hear you.

2. If there were no tears
No way to feel inside,
I'd still feel for you.

CHORUS
And even if the sun refused to shine,
Even if romance ran out of rhyme,
You would still have my heart
Until the end of time.
You're all I need,
My love, my valentine

3. All of my life I have been waiting for
all you give to me.
You've opened my eyes and shown me how
to love unselfishly

4. I've dreamed of this a thousand times before
In my dreams I couldn’t love you more.
I will give you my heart until the end of time.
You're all I need,
My love, my valentine.

La da da
Da da da da

CHORUS
And even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme,
You would still have my heart
until the end of time.
‘cause all I need
is you, my valentine.

You're all I need
My love, my valentine.

1. Use THERE IS THERE WAS
THERE ARE THERE WERE

2. Tell how many of something or how many people (or not)
a pencil
one pencil
no rice no pencils
ten balls
many books
some water some books
a lot of rice a lot of books
too much noise

3. use a prepositional phrase Write a few more prep phrases.
on the table
in class
over there
right here
____________________________________________________________________
4. How many white balls are on the table?
Please answer the question using there. Write a complete sentence.
____________________________________________________________________
5. How many balls are on the table?
Please answer the question using there. Write a complete sentence.
____________________________________________________________________
6.Write your own sentences using
a. There’s a _______________________________________________________

b. There are _______________________________________________________






7.***The noun closest to THERE determines the verb (singular or plural).
There’s one teacher and 20 students in this class.
There are 20 students and one teacher in this class. You write two sentences like the above examples:
a. ____________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________

8. IF clause unreal conditional + past tense,

main clause WOULD/COULD

a. If I were rich, [and I’m not rich] I would buy a big house.
(be in the past.)
b. If he were . . .
c. If she were . . .
d. If I had two cars, I could give one to you. (have in the past)
e. If there were more students in this class, the office would be happier.

f. If there was an earthquake [and there hasn’t been one],
everyone would be scared.
everyone would go home.
(be in the past) the ground would be shaking.

9. Finish these sentences:

a. If I were rich, __________________________________________

b. If he _________________________________________________

c. If she _________________________________________________

d. If I had _________________________________________________

e. If there _________________________________________________

f. If there _________________________________________________

10. How long has he/she been waiting for the lover?

S/He_______________________________________________________

11. Which phrase in the song means,” You have made me understand how to love you and not think only of myself.”
_______________________________________________________

12. How many time has he/she dreamed about

13. What phrase in the song means, ”forever”?


14. What phrase means “you have no more”?

a._________________________________________
What does, “I ran out of rice” mean?
[Write a complete English sentence.]
b. ______________________________________________

15. Find all the verbs. First underline them in the song. Then write them here:
present
a.
b.

past
a.
b.
c.

present perfect
a.

present perfect continuous (progressive)
a.

conditional
a.
b.
c.
d.

future
a. Gati©2008

God Bless America

God Bless America Lesson

GOD BLESS AMERICA
words and music by Irving Berlin (1918)
This is a patriotic song in the form of a prayer.

God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam,
God bless America, my home sweet home.

1. Underline and write all the verbs in the song with their subjects.
a. ___________ _______________
b. ___________ _______________
c. ___________ _______________
d. ___________ _______________

2. What is a command (an imperative) in English?
It’s an order for someone to do something.
Examples: Turn on the light. Get up. Eat your breakfast. Don’t go.

Can you find three commands (an imperative) in the song?
a. __________________________________
b. __________________________________
c. ___________________________________

Now, you write two commands. Tell me to do something.
d. _____________________________________________
e. ___________________________________________

3. What rhymes are in this song?
a. ____________rhymes with _______________
b. ____________rhymes with _______________
c. ____________rhymes with _______________
d. ____________rhymes with _______________ and _______________

4. Now, from your head, can you add another rhyme to a, b, c, & d?

a._______________________________
b._______________________________
c._______________________________
d._______________________________




5. What are the prepositional phrases in the song?
a. beside her
b. ________________________________
c. ________________________________
d. ________________________________
e. ________________________________
f. ________________________________
g. ________________________________
h. ________________________________

6. Write five more prepositions. (Work with a partner.)
a. ___________________________
b. ___________________________
c. ___________________________
d. ___________________________
e. ___________________________


7. Choose three prepositions and write your own sentences with them.
a.
b.__________________________________________________________
c.__________________________________________________________

This Land is Your Land Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger

This Land was made for You and Me

This Land was made for You and Me lesson

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND (by Woody Guthrie)

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway.
I saw below me that golden valley.
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun came shining as I was strolling,
The wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling.
The fog was lifting and a voice came chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

1. What are the rhymes? Write the rhyming words:
a.
b.
c.
d.

2. Write the present-tense verbs from the song.
a.
b.

3. Write the past tense verbs from the song.
a.
b.
c.

4. Write the past progressive verbs from the song.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

5. Write the present perfect verbs from the song.
a.
b.
c.

What do you think is that “ribbon of highway”?
__________________________________________________

What does “diamond deserts” mean?

__________________________________________________

Sittin on the Dock of the Bay

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay lesson

SITTIN' ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY lyrics by Otis Redding 1967

Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come [ comes ]
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah.

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time.

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I've had nothing to live for
look like nothin's gonna come my way. [It looks like/ going to come]

So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time.

Look like nothing's gonna change. [It looks like/going to change]
Everything still remains the same.
I can't do what ten people tell me to do,
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes.

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone.
It's two thousand miles I’ve roamed
Just to make this dock my home.

Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay [going to sit]
Watching the tide roll away
Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay.
Wastin' time. (whistle)

1. Present progressive tense tells what someone IS DOING RIGHT NOW.
verb BE (am, is, are) + ING

Right now, I am sitting in the morning sun.

Can you find any other present progressive tense verb in the song?
a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________

Now you write a sentence using the present progressive tense.
e. ______________________________________________________________

2. Future progressive tense tells what someone WILL BE DOING in the
verb WILL BE + ING FUTURE

I’ll be sitting here when the sun sets.
I will be sitting here when the evening comes.

Now you write a sentence using the future progressive tense.
a. ______________________________________________________________

3. verb BE GOING TO + infinitive (base form of the verb) = FUTURE

I’m going to eat at 5:00.

Can you find any other FUTURE BE GOING TO verbs in the song?
a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________

Now you write a sentence using a FUTURE BE GOING TO verbs.
d. ______________________________________________________________

4. future tense = WILL + base for of the verb

I will eat at 5:00.

Can you find any other FUTURE verbs in the song?

a. _________________________________
Now you write a sentence using a FUTURE verb.
b. ______________________________________________________________

5. HAVE + past participle = present perfect tense (is a PAST tense)

I have eaten already.
She has not seen that movie yet.

Can you find any other present perfect verbs in the song?

a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________

Now you write a sentence using a verb in the present perfect tense.

c. ______________________________________________________________


6. The PAST TENSE tells about something that happened in a past time.

I ate a hamburger for lunch yesterday.

Can you find any other PAST TENSE verbs in the song?

a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________

Now you write a sentence using a PAST TENSE verb.

c. ______________________________________________________________

Find 6 present tense verbs.
a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________
e. ______________________________________________________________
f. ______________________________________________________________

What words rhyme (or almost rhyme)?

a. ________ rhymes with __________
b. ________ rhymes with __________
c, ________ rhymes with __________
d. ________ rhymes with __________
e. ________ rhymes with __________
f. ________ rhymes with __________
g. ________ rhymes with __________

Wishin' and Hopin'

Wishin and Hopin' Lesson

WISHIN’ and HOPIN’ by Bert Bacharach sung by Petula Clark

1. Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms.

So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is [All you have to do is. . .]
Hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care.

CHORUS
[You gotta] Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and a-hopin'.

Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart.

So if you're thinkin' of havin' great true lovin'
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his.
You will be his.
You will be his.

CHORUS
So if you're thinkin' of havin' great true lovin'
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
You will be his.

No more wishin' and hopin'
No more wishin' and hopin'


1. Find all the gerunds (ING NOUNS) from the song:
example: Swimming is fun. I like swimming.

a. Wishing won’t get you into his arms.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

2. What words rhyme?
a.___________________ rhymes with ________________
b.___________________ rhymes with ________________
c.___________________ rhymes with ________________
d.___________________ rhymes with ________________


3. OBJECT PRONOUNS: (objects of verbs and objects of prepositions)
ME
YOU
HIM HER IT WHOM
US
YOU
THEM

4. Do you see any object pronouns in this song?

Write the examples from the song.
1. hold him
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.


5. POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES (used with a noun - example: my boyfriend )
MY
YOUR
HIS HER ITS WHOSE
OUR
YOUR
THEIR

1. his charms
2.
3.

6. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS (used in place of a noun) - example: mine
MINE
YOURS
HIS HERS ITS WHOSE
OURS
YOURS
THEIRS

1.