Pease Porridge Hot

Selection: Pease Porridge Hot
Recorded: Senatobia, MS, on September 26, 1959.
Performers: Bobby Jean Hemphill, Ruby Hemphill, and Lucille Rice

Activity 1: Play a Hand Clapping Game 

1. Listen to recording, with this question: 

Q: What words are the children saying?

(Play recording twice. After the first time, tell students to "check their answer" while the sound recording is played again.)

A: Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, 
Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old; 
Some like it hot, some like it cold, 
Some like it in the pot, nine days old."

Explain that pease porridge is similar to oatmeal, but made with peas. Children provide opinions: 

Q: Does this sound tasty to you or not? Why?

2. Listen again, with this question in mind: 

Q: What do you eat that's nine days old?

3. Play recording, while children chant the poem along with the recording.

4. Children chant poem without the recording.

5. Listen again, with this question: 

Q: What else are you hearing, besides the words? 
A: Claps

6. Tell the students that a clapping game often goes along with this chant. Teach the game.

Directions:
Children stand in pairs, facing their partner. 
While chanting the poem, perform the following clapping pattern: 
"Pease porridge hot:" Pat own hands on thighs, clap own hands together, clap both hands with partner, clap own hands together
"Pease porridge cold:" Repeat above
"Pease porridge in the pot:" Pat own hands on thighs, clap own hands together, clap right hand with partner, clap own hands, 
"Nine days old" Clap left hand with partner, clap own hands, clap both hands with partner, clap own hands

Activity 2: Write New Song Lyrics

1. Listen to recording, with this question: 

Q: What words are the children saying? 

(Play recording twice. After the first time, tell students to "check their answer" while the sound recording is played again.)

A: Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, 
Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old; 
Some like it hot, some like it cold, 
Some like it in the pot, nine days old."

Explain that pease porridge is similar to oatmeal, but made with peas. Children provide opinions: 

Q: Does this sound tasty to you or not? Why?

2. Listen again, with this question in mind:

Q: What do you eat that's nine days old?

3. Play recording, while children chant the poem along with the recording.

4. Children chant poem without the recording.

5. Children brainstorm: 

Q: What food tastes good when it is nine years old?

Speak poem substituting children's ideas for food that tastes good.
Repeat three times, with three different answers.

6. Children brainstorm: 

Q: What food tastes bad when it is nine years old?

Speak poem substituting children's ideas for food that tastes bad.
Repeat three times, with three different answers.

Lesson plan by Christopher Roberts