Mandarin Tones Song
New words:
| New words | Pinyin | Tone and pitch | Translation |
| 妈 | mā | T1 high and flat | mother |
| 嘛 | má | T2 rising | yes? |
| 马 | mǎ | T3 falling and rising | horse |
| 骂 | mà | falling | scold |
Notes for teaching:
The above form provides a basic concept of Chinese tones. There are four tones in Mandarin, first tone, second tone, third tone and fourth tone, with a neutral tone which has no pitch. With singing the Tones Song, the actions were suggested in putting together with singing the music.
Hands up ready to sing: put all hands up
Hmm-ma-hmm-ma-, first tone, hand up to head and Draw a horizontal line
Yes? Ma? Yes? Ma? hand start from a lower position of the body, diagonally above draw a line to a higher position.
mm-hmm ma, mm-hmm ma, draw a “tick” in front of the body.
hmm! Ma! Hmm! Ma! Hand start from a higher position of the body, diagonally below draw a line a lower position.
