Teaching the days of the week is a foundational skill. Children need to understand the rhythm of their lives. School days, weekend days, today, tomorrow, yesterday. A good days of week song organizes this information into a catchy melody. It turns a list of seven words into a tune they cannot forget. As teachers, we can use these songs to build calendar skills, establish routines, and develop a sense of time. Let's explore how to bring the weekly rhythm into our classroom.
What Is a Days of Week Song? A days of week song is a learning song that teaches the seven days in order. There are many versions. Some are set to familiar tunes like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "The Addams Family" theme. Others have original melodies. The common goal is to help children memorize the sequence from Sunday to Saturday or Monday to Sunday.
These songs use melody and rhythm as memory aids. When we sing the days, we are not just reciting a list. We are creating a musical pattern in the brain. This pattern helps children recall the order later. A good days of week song turns abstract time concepts into something we can sing and clap along with.
The Lyrics of a Typical Days of Week Song Let's look at a common version sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday too, Wednesday, Thursday, just for you. Friday, Saturday, that's the end. Now let's say those days again! Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday!
Another popular version uses a call and response pattern.
(Leader) There's Sunday and there's Monday, (Group) There's Sunday and there's Monday, (Leader) There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday, (Group) There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday, (Leader) There's Thursday and there's Friday, (Group) There's Thursday and there's Friday, (Leader) And Saturday is the day to play! (Group) And Saturday is the day to play!
Some versions help children understand today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
Today is Monday, Monday, Monday, Today is Monday, what day is today? Yesterday was Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Yesterday was Sunday, now let's go play! Tomorrow is Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday, Tomorrow is Tuesday, hip hip hooray!
These different approaches give us options. We can choose a simple days of week song for beginners or a more detailed one for advanced learners.
Vocabulary Learning: Words from the Song A days of week song introduces essential time vocabulary.
Sunday: Often considered the first day of the week in many calendars.
Monday: The first day of the school or work week for many.
Tuesday: The second weekday.
Wednesday: The middle of the week. Sometimes called "hump day."
Thursday: The fourth weekday.
Friday: The last day of the school or work week.
Saturday: The weekend day, often for fun and play.
Beyond the day names, we also teach related concepts.
Today: This very day, right now.
Yesterday: The day before today.
Tomorrow: The day after today.
Week: A period of seven days.
Weekend: Saturday and Sunday, days for rest and play.
Weekday: Monday through Friday, days for school and work.
These words form the foundation of calendar understanding. A good days of week song introduces them in a memorable way.
Phonics Points: Sounds in the Song A days of week song offers many phonics opportunities.
The "S" Sound: Sunday and Saturday start with the /s/ sound. We practice this sound. We feel the air hiss out between our teeth.
The "M" Sound: Monday starts with the /m/ sound. We feel our lips press together.
The "T" Sound: Tuesday and Thursday start with the /t/ sound. We feel the tip of our tongue touch the roof of our mouth. Thursday also has the unvoiced "th" sound, which can be tricky.
The "W" Sound: Wednesday starts with the /w/ sound. We feel our lips make a round shape. Wednesday also has a silent "d" which is interesting to point out.
The "F" Sound: Friday starts with the /f/ sound. We feel our top teeth on our bottom lip.
Rhyming: Some songs use rhymes to help memory. "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday too" has a soft rhyme feel. "Friday, Saturday, that's the end" uses "end" to signal completion.
The repetition in a days of week song gives us many chances to hear and practice these sounds.
Grammar Patterns: Language in the Song A days of week song introduces several grammar concepts.
Proper Nouns: The names of the days are proper nouns. In English, we always capitalize them. As we write the lyrics on the board, we point out the capital letters. "Look, Sunday starts with a big S. Monday starts with a big M."
Prepositions of Time: We use specific words with days. We say "on Monday" and "on Friday." We do not say "in Monday." We can practice this pattern. "We have music class on Tuesday." "We go to the park on Saturday."
Present Tense: We use the present tense to talk about regular activities. "On Mondays, we have art class." This shows habits and routines.
Questions: We can ask and answer questions about days. "What day is today?" "Today is Wednesday." "What day comes after Thursday?" "Friday comes after Thursday."
Sequence Words: Words like "first," "next," "then," and "last" help us talk about the order of days. "First comes Sunday. Next comes Monday. Then comes Tuesday. Last comes Saturday."
The simple structure of a days of week song makes it perfect for introducing these grammar concepts in a natural context.
Learning Activities: Bringing the Week to Life Here are some activities to deepen the learning experience.
Activity 1: Daily Calendar Routine Each morning, we gather for calendar time. We sing our days of week song together. Then we identify today, yesterday, and tomorrow. We add this information to our calendar. This daily repetition builds understanding.
Activity 2: Days of Week Line-Up We create seven large cards, one for each day. We give the cards to seven students. They arrange themselves in the correct order. The rest of the class sings the song to help them. This kinesthetic activity makes the sequence physical.
Activity 3: Special Day Chart We create a chart showing what special things happen each day. Music class on Monday. Library on Tuesday. Art on Wednesday. Gym on Thursday. Show and tell on Friday. We refer to this chart throughout the week. It connects the days to real events.
Activity 4: Yesterday and Today Journal Each day, students draw or write about something they did yesterday and something they will do today. This builds understanding of past and present. It also creates a personal connection to the days.
Printable Materials: Visuals for the Classroom Printables support the lesson and provide independent practice.
Day Cards: We create a set of seven cards, one for each day. Each card has the day name and a simple picture representing that day. Monday might have a school picture. Saturday might have a play picture.
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Chart: We create a three-part chart. Each day, we move cards to show yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This visual representation helps children understand these time concepts.
Weekly Planner Template: We provide a simple weekly planner page. Students can draw or write something they do each day. This connects the days of week song to their own lives.
Coloring Page: We provide a coloring page showing the seven days in order with simple icons. Students can color each day's icon. They can practice writing the day names.
Educational Games: Making Learning Playful Games turn the days of week song into an interactive experience.
Game 1: Day Name Race We divide the class into two teams. We say something about a day. "This day comes after Tuesday." Teams race to say the correct day (Wednesday). This builds quick recall.
Game 2: What Day Is Missing? We place the seven day cards in order on the board. Students close their eyes. We remove one card. They open their eyes and sing the song quietly to figure out which day is missing. This builds sequencing skills.
Game 3: Day Freeze Dance We play music. Students dance. When the music stops, we call out a day. Students freeze and must say one thing they might do on that day. "Saturday! I play soccer." This connects days to activities.
Game 4: Partner Interview Students work in pairs. They ask each other questions about days. "What is your favorite day?" "Why?" "What do you do on Fridays?" This builds conversation skills while reinforcing day vocabulary.
Game 5: Create a New Verse We challenge students to create a new verse for our days of week song. What happens on each day in our classroom? "On Monday we have music class, music class, music class. On Monday we have music class, hip hip hooray!" This extends creativity and language skills.
By using these strategies, we transform a simple learning song into a rich educational experience. We explore vocabulary, phonics, grammar, and the rhythm of the week. The days of week song becomes the soundtrack to our daily routine. It helps us mark the passage of time together, one day at a time.