A circle-time song for every lesson of the Pink Phase — 49 songs, one per sound.
A short circle-time song for every lesson of the Pink Phase — UFLI lessons 5 to 53, forty-nine songs. Each one is built around that lesson's target sound, and each one sings a handful of that lesson's words.
A sound lands in the ear and the body before it ever lands on paper. Sing the song at the very start of the lesson: the children hear the target sound, say it, and move it — then they go to the sandpaper letter and the word work already primed. Two or three minutes at the circle. Do the movement every time. Sing the same song all week.
These are heard, not decoded. The children sing a song; they do not read it. So — unlike the Pink Readers — the connecting lyrics use simple, natural, ESL-friendly English. What is drilled is the lesson's target sound and a handful of its words. Every song's header lists the lesson words it sings.
They are Suno-ready. Every song shares one base music style (below); each song then adds a short accent line. Paste base + accent into Suno to generate the track. Keep the whole set in one musical family so it feels like one songbook.
Bright, warm children's singalong for a kindergarten circle. Gentle acoustic ukulele or soft nylon-string guitar, light hand percussion — claps, shaker, a woodblock. One clear, friendly, unhurried voice. Nursery-rhyme simple: a short, easy melody a four-year-old can sing back after one listen. Very repetitive. Slow enough that every word is crisp. No competing backing vocals, no busy production.
Then add each song's own Suno accent line.
Every song's movement is tied to how the sound is made — the snake's hiss for /s/, the tissue-flutter pop for /p/, the hand on the throat for the voiced sounds. For Mandarin-L1 children this matters most on the hard sounds: the final stops, /r/, /th/, /v/, /z/. The movement is not decoration — it is the articulation lesson, set to music.
The single letters, one sound at a time, then three review songs to close the phase.
s — /s/ — "The Snake Says Ssss"Sound: /s/ · Keyword: the snake · voice off, long Words sung: the song features the /s/ keyword words — snake · sun · sock
Suno accent — a touch slower and softer; hold every ssss long and breathy, like a hush.
Lyrics
Ssss, ssss, ssss,
that is what the snake says.
Ssss, ssss, ssss —
soft and long, like this.
A snake in the sun, ssss.
A snake on a sock, ssss.
What does the snake say?
Ssss, ssss, ssss,
can you say it too?
Ssss, ssss, ssss —
s, s, s!
Movement — one hand becomes a snake, wiggling slowly through the air the whole time the /s/ is held. Long, smooth, hissing. The /s/ never gets a vowel after it — no "suh," just ssss.
a — /ă/ — "A Is for Apple"Sound: short /ă/ · Keyword: apple · mouth wide, short Words sung: apple · ant
Suno accent — bright and bouncy; the /ă/ is short and snappy, never held.
Lyrics
A, a, a — open up wide!
A, a, a — apple inside.
A is for apple, red and round.
A is for ant on the ground.
A, a, a — what a happy sound!
A, a, a — open up wide!
A, a, a — say it with pride.
A, a, a, a!
Movement — both hands open wide beside an open mouth on each /ă/ — jaw dropped, mouth as wide as it goes. Short and quick: a little snap of /ă/, not a long Mandarin "ah."
t — /t/ — "Tick-Tock, T!"Sound: /t/ · Keyword: the ticking clock · voice off, sharp, short Words sung: top · tap · at · sat
Suno accent — crisp march tempo; every /t/ clipped and clean, like a tiny drum tap.
Lyrics
T, t, t — tick-tock, t!
A clock goes t, and so do we.
T for the top that spins around.
T for the tap, tap, tapping sound.
Sat on a mat — hear the t at the end!
T, t, t — tick-tock, t!
Tap your hands and say it with me:
t, t, t!
Movement — one finger taps the air sharply on each /t/. On sat, mat, tap once more at the very end of the word — the final /t/ is the part Mandarin-L1 children drop. Hold a tissue up: a real /t/ makes it flutter.
p — /p/ — "Pop, Pop, P!"Sound: /p/ · Keyword: the popping bubble · voice off, a puff Words sung: pat · tap · pup · sap
Suno accent — playful and poppy; a tiny "pop" feel on every /p/.
Lyrics
P, p, p — lips go pop!
Press them shut, then let them pop.
P for the pat — pat, pat, pat.
P for the pup on the mat.
A little tap, a sticky sap — p!
P, p, p — lips go pop!
Pop your hands and never stop:
p, p, p!
Movement — press both lips tight shut, then "pop" both hands open on each /p/. A real puff of air — the tissue flutters. Catch the final /p/ in tap, pup.
i — /ĭ/ — "I, I, Itsy I"Sound: short /ĭ/ · Keyword: the itsy insect · small smile, short Words sung: sit · tip · sip
Suno accent — light and tickly; the /ĭ/ quick and small, a relaxed little smile — never the long "ee."
Lyrics
I, i, i — a little i,
small as an insect going by.
I when we sit, sit, sit on the mat.
I for the tip of a tiny hat.
Take a sip — i, i, i!
I, i, i — a little i,
say it small and say it spry:
i, i, i!
Movement — pinch finger and thumb almost shut to show how small the sound is, a relaxed little smile. Quick — /ĭ/, not a stretched "ee." Daily this is the sit / seat contrast for Mandarin-L1 ears.
n — /n/ — "N for the Nose"Sound: /n/ · Keyword: the humming nose · voiced, long, through the nose Words sung: nap · pin · pan · ant
Suno accent — gentle and humming; let the /n/ ring out long and warm.
Lyrics
N, n, n — touch your nose!
That is where the n-sound goes.
N for a nap — nnn, off to sleep.
N for the pin and the pan you keep.
An ant goes by — n, n, n!
N, n, n — touch your nose,
humming soft from your head to your toes:
n, n, n!
Movement — one finger on the nose, humming a long nnn — pinch the nose and the sound stops, which proves it goes through the nose. Tongue tip up on the ridge.
m — /m/ — "Mmm, That's Good!"Sound: /m/ · Keyword: yummy food · voiced, long, lips closed Words sung: map · mat · man · mom
Suno accent — warm and cosy; the /m/ long and contented, like tasting something delicious.
Lyrics
M, m, m — lips together,
mmm, like yummy food forever.
M for the map and the mat on the floor.
M for the man at the door.
M for mom — we love her more!
M, m, m — lips together,
hum it soft and hum it whether
rain or sun: m, m, m!
Movement — lips gently closed, one hand rubbing the tummy, humming a long happy mmm — the sound of enjoying food. Easy and warm; no transfer trouble here, a confidence song.
d — /d/ — "D for the Dog"Sound: /d/ · Keyword: the dog · voiced — throat buzz, short Words sung: dog · dad · dip
Suno accent — friendly and warm; each /d/ a soft little drum-thud with a buzz, not a sharp /t/.
Lyrics
D, d, d — hand on your throat,
feel it buzz on every note.
D for the dog — woof! — wagging its tail.
D for dad and the dip on the trail.
D, d, d — feel it buzz!
D, d, d — say it with me,
buzzing soft so the throat goes free:
d, d, d!
Movement — one hand flat on the throat, feeling the buzz on each /d/. Tongue taps the ridge — same place as /t/, but the voice is ON. For Mandarin-L1 children, the buzz is the whole lesson: no buzz, and /d/ slips into /t/.
g — /g/ — "G for the Goat"Sound: /g/ · Keyword: the goat · voiced — throat buzz Words sung: goat · pig · dig · tag
Suno accent — bouncy and cheerful; a buzzy little /g/ on every line.
Lyrics
G, g, g — hand on your throat,
feel the buzz of the gobbling goat.
G for the goat going up the hill.
G for the pig that will not be still.
Dig, dig, dig — tag — g, g, g!
G, g, g — hand on your throat,
buzz it deep like a goat in a coat:
g, g, g!
Movement — hand on the throat for the buzz; the other hand makes little goat horns that "butt" forward on each /g/. Back of the tongue lifts. Voice ON — without the buzz, /g/ becomes /k/.
o — /ŏ/ — "O for the Octopus"Sound: short /ŏ/ · Keyword: the octopus · mouth open, round, short Words sung: pot · top · dog · mop · on
Suno accent — wobbly and fun; the /ŏ/ open and round but short, like a quick surprise.
Lyrics
O, o, o — round like a ring,
o, o, o — let your arms swing!
O for the octopus deep in the sea.
O for the pot and the top — count three!
A dog, a mop, sat on — o, o, o!
O, o, o — round like a ring,
open your mouth and let it sing:
o, o, o!
Movement — both arms make a big round O above the head; eight wiggly octopus-arm fingers on each o. Mouth open and round — short, a quick /ŏ/, not a long rounded Mandarin "o."
c — /k/ — "C for the Cat"Sound: /k/ · Keyword: the cookie, the cat · voice off Words sung: cat · can · cap · cot · cookie
Suno accent — crisp and clicky; a clean little /k/ at the front of every word — no buzz.
Lyrics
C, c, c — a clicking sound,
crunchy as a cookie, round.
C for the cat with a cap on its head.
C for the cot — a little cat bed.
A can, a cookie — c, c, c!
C, c, c — a clicking sound,
back of the tongue, way at the back it's found:
c, c, c!
Movement — a "crunch the cookie" bite gesture, or a soft cat-paw tap, on each /k/. Back of the tongue lifts and clicks. Voice OFF — no throat buzz; pair this with the goat song to feel the difference.
k — /k/ — "K Says It Too"Sound: /k/ · Keyword: the kite, the king · same sound as c
Words sung: kid · kit · kite · king
Suno accent — light and breezy, a kite-in-the-wind lilt; the /k/ stays crisp.
Lyrics
K, k, k — the very same sound!
C and k — look what we found.
K for the kid with a kit and a kite.
K for the king — his crown is bright.
Two letters, one sound — k, k, k!
K, k, k — say it with c,
they make one sound, just wait and see:
k, k, k!
Movement — fly a hand like a kite up high on each /k/. Teach the little secret here: c and k make the same sound — two letters, one job.
ck — /k/ — "Two Letters, One Kick"Sound: /k/ · Keyword: the end-of-word k · ck says one sound
Words sung: kick · sock · pick · stick · pack · dock
Suno accent — punchy, with a strong beat to land the /k/ hard at the end of each word.
Lyrics
C-k, c-k — at the end!
Two little letters, the very best friends.
Give it a kick — kick, kick, kick!
Pull on a sock and pick up a stick.
Pack on the dock — c-k, click!
C-k, c-k — they hold hands tight,
one little sound, and they say it right:
ck, ck, ck!
Movement — one big finger-sweep under "ck" on each ck word — one sweep, one sound, never "kuh-kuh." Land it hard at the end of kick, sock, pick — that final /k/ is the Mandarin-L1 watch point. Tissue test.
e — /ĕ/ — "Crack the Egg, E!"Sound: short /ĕ/ · Keyword: the egg · jaw dropped a little, short Words sung: pen · ten · get · pet · hen
Suno accent — light and quick; the /ĕ/ short and clear, halfway between /ĭ/ and /ă/.
Lyrics
E, e, e — crack the egg,
e, e, e — short and quick!
E for the pen and the ten in a row.
E for the hen — peck-peck, here we go.
Get a pet — e, e, e!
E, e, e — crack the egg,
say it small and never beg:
e, e, e!
Movement — hand under the chin, jaw drops a small step on each /ĕ/ — not as wide as /ă/, not as tight as /ĭ/. For Mandarin-L1 children, run the pet / pit contrast — /ĕ/ slides to /ĭ/ if the jaw stays up.
u — /ŭ/ — "Up Goes the Umbrella"Sound: short /ŭ/ · Keyword: the umbrella · relaxed, short Words sung: up · cup · pup · sun · mud
Suno accent — sunny and light; the /ŭ/ short and relaxed, jaw just dropped.
Lyrics
U, u, u — up, up, up,
u, u, u — fill the cup!
U for the umbrella up in the rain.
U for the pup in the mud again.
Sun is up — u, u, u!
U, u, u — up, up, up,
say it soft and fill the cup:
u, u, u!
Movement — both hands push an umbrella up on each /ŭ/. Jaw just drops, lips relaxed, no rounding — a short, easy /ŭ/, not a long Mandarin "ah."
r — /r/ — "Rrr Goes the Engine"Sound: /r/ · Keyword: the running engine · lips round, tongue curls Words sung: run · red · rat · rug · rock
Suno accent — slow and steady, with a low rolling engine hum; give the /r/ plenty of room.
Lyrics
R, r, r — start the engine,
r, r, r — round and rumbling.
R for run — run, run, run!
R for the red rug in the sun.
A rat on a rock — r, r, r!
R, r, r — start the engine,
curl your tongue and keep it going:
r, r, r!
Movement — both hands "drive" a wheel, low engine rumble rrr. Lips round, tongue tip curls back and does not touch the roof. This is the hardest English sound for Mandarin-L1 children — pair it daily with the l song and run red / led, rip / lip. Slow progress is normal; keep it warm.
h — /h/ — "H, the Panting Pup"Sound: /h/ · Keyword: the panting dog · just breath, voice off Words sung: hat · hop · hot · hen · ham
Suno accent — gentle and breezy; each /h/ a soft breath, never forced.
Lyrics
H, h, h — like a happy pup,
h, h, h — panting up.
H for the hat and the hop, hop, hop.
H for the hot ham — mmm, don't stop!
A hen says hello — h, h, h!
H, h, h — like a happy pup,
breathe it soft and breathe it up:
h, h, h!
Movement — pant like a friendly dog, hand fanning at an open mouth — just warm breath flowing out, no voice. A gentle, easy song; a rest after the hard work of /r/.
b — /b/ — "B for the Bobbing Boat"Sound: /b/ · Keyword: the boat · voiced — lips pop with a buzz Words sung: boat · big · bed · bus · bag
Suno accent — rocking, gentle sway like a boat on water; a buzzy /b/.
Lyrics
B, b, b — hand on your throat,
b, b, b — like a bobbing boat.
B for the boat and the big yellow bus.
B for the bed — it's bedtime for us.
Bag on your back — b, b, b!
B, b, b — hand on your throat,
buzz it gently, row your boat:
b, b, b!
Movement — sway side to side like a boat; hand on the throat to feel the buzz on each /b/. Lips pop, but the voice is ON — without the buzz, /b/ turns into /p/. Run bat / pat to hear it.
f — /f/ — "Ffff Like a Fan"Sound: /f/ · Keyword: the angry cat, the fan · teeth on lip, voice off, long Words sung: fan · fun · fig · fog
Suno accent — breezy with a soft airy hiss; hold each fff long.
Lyrics
F, f, f — teeth on your lip,
f, f, f — let the air slip.
F for the fan that goes round and round.
F for the fog low on the ground.
A fig, some fun — f, f, f!
F, f, f — teeth on your lip,
blow it long, don't let it skip:
f, f, f!
Movement — top teeth rest on the bottom lip, air hisses out long — ffff, like an angry cat or a soft fan. Voice OFF. Pairs with the v song — same mouth, voice added.
l — /l/ — "La-La-La Goes L"Sound: /l/ · Keyword: the singing "lah" · tongue tip touches, voiced, long Words sung: lap · leg · log · lid · lick
Suno accent — sing-song and lilting; let the /l/ ring out, almost a tune in itself.
Lyrics
L, l, l — la-la-la,
l, l, l — sing it, hurrah!
L for the lap where we sit and rest.
L for the leg and the log — the best!
Lid on, lick — l, l, l!
L, l, l — la-la-la,
tongue goes up — la-la-la-la!
l, l, l!
Movement — sing la-la-la with the tongue tip clearly touching the ridge — that touch is the key. Hold up the l song against the r song: for /l/ the tongue touches, for /r/ it curls and does not. Daily for Mandarin-L1 ears.
j — /j/ — "Jump for J"Sound: /j/ · Keyword: jumping · voiced, a quick friction Words sung: jump · jam · jar · jet · jog
Suno accent — bouncy and energetic; a real "jump" lift in the melody.
Lyrics
J, j, j — jump up high,
j, j, j — touch the sky!
J for the jam in the jar so sweet.
J for the jet — zoom! — fast and neat.
Jog and jump — j, j, j!
J, j, j — jump up high,
say it as you leap and fly:
j, j, j!
Movement — a little jump up off the ground on each /j/. Lips push forward slightly. For Mandarin-L1 children there is no exact /j/ — mirror the lips and keep it voiced.
v — /v/ — "Vvvv Goes the Van"Sound: /v/ · Keyword: the vacuum, the van · teeth on lip, voiced — buzz Words sung: van · vet · vacuum
Suno accent — a steady low buzz, like a vacuum humming; hold each vvv.
Lyrics
V, v, v — teeth on your lip,
v, v, v — feel it buzz and zip.
V for the van going down the road.
V for the vet with a careful load.
A vacuum hums — v, v, v!
V, v, v — teeth on your lip,
buzz it long, don't let it slip:
v, v, v!
Movement — top teeth on the bottom lip — the same mouth as /f/ — but a hand on the throat feels the buzz. Mandarin has no /v/; children slide it to /w/ or /b/. Mirror the teeth-on-lip every time. Run van / wan.
w — /w/ — "W for the Windy Day"Sound: /w/ · Keyword: the wind · lips round tight, then relax Words sung: wind · wet · web · win
Suno accent — flowing and breezy, a soft whooshing lilt.
Lyrics
W, w, w — like the wind,
w, w, w — round lips, then spin.
W for the wind that blows the trees.
W for the wet web in the breeze.
Win the race — w, w, w!
W, w, w — like the wind,
round your lips and let it spin:
w, w, w!
Movement — round the lips tight as if to blow out a candle, then let them spring open — both hands sweep like a gust of wind. Pair with /v/ — for /w/ the lips round, for /v/ the teeth touch the lip.
x — /ks/ — "X Marks the Box"Sound: /ks/ · Keyword: the box · two sounds — /k/ then /s/ Words sung: box · fox · six · mix · fix
Suno accent — playful, with a tiny double-tap feel on each /ks/.
Lyrics
X, x, x — at the end,
two little sounds — k and s, friends!
X for the box where the toys all hide.
X for the fox — six pups inside.
Mix it, fix it — x, x, x!
X, x, x — at the end,
k then s — say it again:
x, x, x!
Movement — two quick claps for the two sounds in /ks/ — clap-clap, "k-s," on every x word. Mandarin-L1 children simplify /ks/ to /s/; the double clap keeps both sounds alive.
y — /y/ — "Yes! Yum! Y!"Sound: /y/ · Keyword: yellow, the yo-yo · tongue front-high, glides Words sung: yes · yum · yam · yellow
Suno accent — cheerful and sunny; a bright lift on each /y/.
Lyrics
Y, y, y — yellow and bright,
y, y, y — yes, that's right!
Y for the yam — yum, yum, yum!
Y for yellow — here it comes.
Yes, oh yes — y, y, y!
Y, y, y — yellow and bright,
spin a yo-yo, hold it tight:
y, y, y!
Movement — a thumbs-up "yes!" on each /y/, or a hand spinning a yo-yo. The tongue glides up-and-off into the next sound — quick and bright.
z — /z/ — "Zzz Like a Buzzing Bee"Sound: /z/ · Keyword: the buzzing bee · like /s/ but voiced — buzz Words sung: zip · zap · zoo
Suno accent — a warm humming buzz running under the melody; hold each zzz.
Lyrics
Z, z, z — hand on your throat,
z, z, z — a buzzing note.
Z for the zip — zzzip up your coat.
Z for the zap and the bees that float.
Off to the zoo — z, z, z!
Z, z, z — hand on your throat,
buzz like a bee, a humming note:
z, z, z!
Movement — fly a hand like a bee, buzzing zzz, the other hand on the throat for the buzz. Same mouth as /s/ — but voice ON. Mandarin-L1 children slide /z/ to /s/; the buzz hand is the fix. Run zip / sip.
qu — /kw/ — "The Queen Says Qu"Sound: /kw/ · Keyword: the queen · q and u always together
Words sung: queen · quick · quiz · quack
Suno accent — a little royal fanfare lilt; crisp and quick.
Lyrics
Qu, qu, qu — q needs u,
they stick together, through and through.
Qu for the queen with a crown so tall.
Qu for quick — quick, don't fall!
A quiz, a quack — qu, qu, qu!
Qu, qu, qu — q needs u,
say it royal, say it true:
qu, qu, qu!
Movement — a royal wave of the hand for the queen on each qu. Teach the rule plainly: q and u are best friends — q never goes anywhere without u.
Sound: all the consonants · Keyword: a happy mix · CVC blending review Words sung: cat · pig · dog · sun · hat · bus
Suno accent — upbeat, celebratory, a rolling singalong that gathers speed.
Lyrics
We know our sounds — let's sing them all!
Big and small, we know them all.
A cat, a pig, a dog in the sun,
a hat, a bus — oh, this is fun!
Blend them up — one, two, three!
We know our sounds — let's sing them all!
Stand up tall, we know them all —
every sound, you and me!
Movement — clap a steady beat. As each word is sung, "blend" it with three finger-counts — one finger per sound (c-a-t). A review song: the children show off everything Phase 1 has taught.
Sound: /ă/ /ĕ/ /ĭ/ /ŏ/ /ŭ/ · Keyword: the five vowels · vowel review Words sung: cat · pet · pig · pot · cup
Suno accent — clear and steady, a five-step melody that climbs through the vowels.
Lyrics
A says /ă/ — a cat, a cat!
E says /ĕ/ — a pet, like that.
I says /ĭ/ — a pig in a pen,
O says /ŏ/ — a pot, and then —
U says /ŭ/ — a cup, oh yum!
Five little vowels, here they come:
/ă/, /ĕ/, /ĭ/, /ŏ/, /ŭ/ —
five little vowels, me and you!
Movement — hold up one finger for each vowel as it is sung — five fingers by the end. This is the vowel-discrimination song; for Mandarin-L1 children linger on /ă/ and /ĕ/, the two hardest, with the mirror.
Sound: every letter · Keyword: Phase 1 complete · the closing song Words sung: cat · dog · sun · big · fun
Suno accent — proud and joyful, a real little celebration anthem; let it build to a happy finish.
Lyrics
We learned the letters, every one!
A to z — look what we've done.
We can read a cat, a dog, a sun,
a big, big word — oh, this is fun!
Sound by sound, we've just begun.
We know the alphabet — hurray!
We learned it all, the Pink Phase way.
We are readers — starting today!
Movement — a big, proud march on the spot; arms up on "hurray!" A celebration song for the close of Phase 1 — sing it the day a child finishes the alphabet, and again whenever the class needs a lift.
Phase 2 drills the five short vowels to automaticity, one at a time, then closes with the FLSZ doubling rule. These songs are faster — the children already know the sounds; now they sing them quick and sure.
Sound: short /ă/ · Keyword: apple · deep-dive — automaticity Words sung: cat · hat · man · bag · jam
Suno accent — quicker and snappier than the Lesson 6 song; a brisk, confident clip.
Lyrics
A, a, a — say it fast!
A, a, a — short a, at last!
Cat! Hat! A man with a bag!
Jam! Tap! Wag the dog's tag!
A, a, a — quick, quick, quick!
A, a, a — say it fast,
short a words go zooming past:
a, a, a!
Movement — clap a quick, steady beat — one clap per /ă/ word — and speed up each verse. The mouth still opens wide for every /ă/; fast does not mean sloppy. The hardest vowel for Mandarin-L1 ears — mirror it.
Sound: short /ĭ/ · Keyword: the itsy insect · deep-dive — automaticity Words sung: pig · big · sit · win · six
Suno accent — light, quick and tickly; a fast little patter.
Lyrics
I, i, i — quick and small!
I, i, i — the fastest of all.
A big pig! Sit in the pit!
Six! Win! A tiny bit!
I, i, i — quick, quick, quick!
I, i, i — quick and small,
short i words, we know them all:
i, i, i!
Movement — tiny quick claps — the sound is small, so the claps are small and fast. A relaxed little smile for every /ĭ/. Keep the sit / seat contrast alive for Mandarin-L1 children.
Sound: short /ŏ/ · Keyword: the octopus · deep-dive — automaticity Words sung: dog · hot · box · hop · log
Suno accent — bouncy and round; a quick rolling beat.
Lyrics
O, o, o — round and fast!
O, o, o — short o, hold on tight!
A hot dog! A fox in a box!
Hop on a log! A pot! A rock!
O, o, o — quick, quick, quick!
O, o, o — round and fast,
short o words go rolling past:
o, o, o!
Movement — make a round O with the hands on each /ŏ/, fast — open, round, short. Quick claps in between. The mouth stays round but the sound stays short — not a long Mandarin "o."
Sound: short /ĕ/ · Keyword: the egg · deep-dive — automaticity Words sung: bed · ten · pet · get
Suno accent — clear and even; a touch slower than the others — /ĕ/ is often the last vowel to settle.
Lyrics
E, e, e — steady and true!
E, e, e — short e, just for you.
Ten red hens! A pet in a bed!
Get the net! E, e — well said!
E, e, e — clear, clear, clear!
E, e, e — steady and true,
short e words, we know them too:
e, e, e!
Movement — hand under the chin, the jaw drops its small step on every /ĕ/. This is the most stubborn vowel for Mandarin-L1 children — go a beat slower, and run pet / pit beside it.
Sound: short /ŭ/ · Keyword: the umbrella · deep-dive — automaticity Words sung: sun · fun · bug · cup · hug
Suno accent — sunny, warm and quick; a happy bounce.
Lyrics
U, u, u — quick and snug!
U, u, u — short u, give a hug!
Fun in the sun! A bug in a cup!
Run! Jump! A pup — get up!
U, u, u — quick, quick, quick!
U, u, u — quick and snug,
short u words, all warm and snug:
u, u, u!
Movement — a quick self-hug on each hug / snug; clap the rest. Jaw just drops, lips relaxed, the /ŭ/ short — never a long open "ah."
Sound: all five short vowels · Keyword: listen close! · the Mandarin lesson Words sung: cat · cot · cut · pin · pen · pan
Suno accent — slow, clear, almost a riddle; leave a tiny gap before each vowel so the ear can catch it.
Lyrics
Listen close — which one is it?
Cat? Cot? Cut? — get it, get it!
Cat has /ă/ and cot has /ŏ/,
cut has /ŭ/ — now you know!
Pin? Pen? Pan? — listen well,
the little vowel is what you tell.
Listen close — which one is it?
One small sound — you've got it, got it!
Movement — cup a hand to the ear for "listen close." For each trio, hold up one finger per word and point to the one the teacher says. This is the vowel-discrimination game — the most important Phase 2 song for Mandarin-L1 children. Slow, careful, playful.
Sound: the doubling rule · Keyword: f, l, s, z double up · Phase 2 close Words sung: bell · hill · doll · off · buzz
Suno accent — playful, with a little "double-tap" on the ending of each word.
Lyrics
F, l, s, z — at the end,
after a short vowel, they double, friend!
A bell on a hill — two l's, you see!
A doll, a buzz from a bumble-bee.
Off we go — two letters strong!
F, l, s, z — that's the song,
double them up, you can't go wrong:
two at the end!
Movement — hold up two fingers at the end of each doubled word — bell, hill, doll, off, buzz. Teach the rule with the mnemonic: after a short vowel, the "floss letters" — f, l, s, z — double up.
Phase 3 brings letters together: digraphs — two letters, one new sound — and blends — two or three letters, each keeping its own sound, slid together. These are the hardest songs to sing cleanly, and the most important for a Mandarin-L1 ear, which has no consonant clusters at all. Sing them slow first, then quick.
sh — /sh/ — "Sh! Be Still"Sound: /sh/ · Keyword: finger on lips, "sh!" · two letters, one sound Words sung: ship · fish · dish · shop · wish
Suno accent — soft and hushed; a quiet, gentle lull, almost a lullaby.
Lyrics
Sh, sh, sh — finger on your lips,
sh, sh, sh — a quiet little hiss.
A fish in a dish, sh, sh, sh.
A ship to the shop — make a wish!
S and h — they hold hands tight.
Sh, sh, sh — finger on your lips,
two little letters, one soft hiss:
sh, sh, sh!
Movement — one finger held to the lips for "sh!" on every /sh/ — the quiet-time sign. Run one finger under "sh" — two letters, one sound, never "s-h."
ch — /ch/ — "Ch-Ch Goes the Train"Sound: /ch/ · Keyword: the chugging train · two letters, one sound Words sung: chick · chip · chop · chat
Suno accent — a bright chugging rhythm, like a little train picking up speed.
Lyrics
Ch, ch, ch — like a chugging train,
ch, ch, ch — down the lane!
A chick on a chip — chat, chat, chat!
Chop, chop, chop — how about that?
C and h — they hold hands tight.
Ch, ch, ch — like a chugging train,
two little letters, say it again:
ch, ch, ch!
Movement — bend the arms and chug like a train engine on each /ch/. One finger-sweep under "ch" — two letters, one sound.
th (voiceless) — /θ/ — "Th — Tongue Peeks Out"Sound: /θ/ voiceless · Keyword: the tongue peeking out · voice off Words sung: thin · thick · bath · moth · path
Suno accent — slow and careful; leave space around each /th/ so the mouth can get it right.
Lyrics
Th, th, th — tongue peeks out,
th, th, th — that's what it's about!
A thin, thin path — a thick, thick wall.
A moth in the bath — that's all!
Tongue between the teeth — th, th, th!
Th, th, th — tongue peeks out,
gently blow, with no shout:
th, th, th!
Movement — stick the tongue tip out a little, between the teeth, and blow gently — th. No voice. This is the single hardest English sound for Mandarin-L1 children; the mirror is essential, every time. Months of patience.
wh — /wh/ — "Wh — the Asking Sound"Sound: /wh/ · Keyword: the question words · rounded lips Words sung: when · whiz · wheel
Suno accent — curious and lilting, every line a little question rising at the end.
Lyrics
Wh, wh, wh — the asking sound,
wh, wh, wh — look around!
When? What? Where? Why? Who?
Wh words ask a thing of you.
A wheel goes whiz — wh, wh, wh!
Wh, wh, wh — the asking sound,
round your lips and spin around:
wh, wh, wh!
Movement — shrug the shoulders and open the hands in a "?" gesture on each question word. Teach the secret: most words that ask a question start with wh — when, what, where, why, who.
th (voiced) — /ð/ — "Th — Now It Buzzes"Sound: /ð/ voiced · Keyword: the buzzing tongue · voice on Words sung: this · that · them · then · they
Suno accent — warm and low; a soft buzz running under each /th/.
Lyrics
Th, th, th — now it buzzes,
th, th, th — hand on the throat, it does!
This and that — they hold them tight.
Then they go — it feels just right.
Tongue peeks out, and now — it buzzes!
Th, th, th — now it buzzes,
voiced and warm, that's what it does:
th, th, th!
Movement — tongue between the teeth, same as Lesson 44 — but now a hand
on the throat to feel the buzz. Sing the two th songs back to back:
thin (no buzz) then this (buzz). Voiced th usually settles a few months
after the voiceless one — that is fine.
Sound: st nd mp · Keyword: two sounds at the end · each keeps its sound
Words sung: fast · hand · sand · jump · lamp
Suno accent — punchy, with a strong double-beat landing on the end of each word.
Lyrics
Two at the end — don't let them go!
Say each sound — now, nice and slow.
Fa-st — fast! Ha-nd — hand!
Ju-mp — jump in the sand!
A lamp, the end — two sounds, snap!
Two at the end — now say it quick,
fast and hand and jump — that's the trick:
snap it at the end!
Movement — for each blend word, hold up two fingers and "snap" them together — say each ending sound, then snap them into one. Mandarin-L1 children drop a final consonant or split it with a vowel — the snap keeps both sounds joined, no vowel between.
Sound: nk nt lt · Keyword: more endings · each keeps its sound
Words sung: pink · sink · tent · went · belt
Suno accent — bright and crisp; the same punchy double-beat ending.
Lyrics
More at the end — here we go!
Two little sounds, now you know.
Pi-nk — pink! A sink, a wink!
We-nt — went to a tent, quick as a blink!
A belt, the end — two sounds, snap!
More at the end — now say it quick,
pink and tent and belt — that's the trick:
snap it at the end!
Movement — the same two-finger snap as Lesson 47. The nk ending lets the
n soften into the nose — let the children feel that. Slow first, then quick.
Sound: sl sm sn sp st sw · Keyword: s at the start · two sounds, slid together
Words sung: slip · sled · snap · spin · stop · swim
Suno accent — flowing and slidey; stretch the /s/ a moment, then slide on.
Lyrics
S at the start — slide it along!
Ssss — then go — that's the song.
Slip on a sled! Snap! Spin around!
Stop! Swim! Listen to the sound.
S blends off — here we go!
S at the start — slide it along,
ssss-then-go, you can't go wrong:
s blends — off we go!
Movement — stretch the /s/ with a long sliding hand, then let the hand shoot forward into the rest of the word — ssss-lip, slip! No vowel sneaks in between the s and the next letter.
Sound: bl cl fl gl pl · Keyword: l at the start · two sounds, slid together
Words sung: clap · clock · flag · flip · glad
Suno accent — bright and brisk; a clean, happy clip.
Lyrics
L at the start — hold on tight!
Two little sounds, and you'll get it right.
Clap by the clock — a flag flies free!
Flip! Plus a plan — oh, glad are we!
L blends hold — here we go!
L at the start — hold on tight,
clap and flag and flip — that's right:
l blends — hold on tight!
Movement — clap on clap, wave a flag-hand on flag, flip the hand on flip. Say the first consonant, then slide straight into the /l/ — for Mandarin-L1 children watch that bl/cl/fl/gl/pl does not turn into br/cr… (the l/r mix-up).
Sound: br cr dr fr gr pr tr · Keyword: r at the start · two sounds, slid together
Words sung: frog · crab · drum · grab · trip
Suno accent — slow and deliberate, a low rolling groove; give the /r/ room.
Lyrics
R at the start — strong and true!
A consonant, then r — that's what to do.
A frog and a crab! A drum goes drip!
Grab your bag — we're off on a trip!
R blends roll — here we go!
R at the start — strong and true,
frog and crab and drum — that's you!
r blends — strong and true!
Movement — say the first consonant, then the /r/, then the vowel — slow, one slide. The hardest blends for Mandarin-L1 children — the /r/ is already the hardest sound, and a blend doubles it. Keep the R/L drill running alongside. Slow progress is normal.
tw / dw blends — "Twist and Twirl"Sound: tw dw · Keyword: the twirling twins · two sounds, slid together
Words sung: twin · twist · twig
Suno accent — playful and spinning, a little waltzing twirl.
Lyrics
Tw, tw, tw — twist and twirl!
Tw, tw, tw — give it a whirl!
A twin, a twig, on the twisting tree,
twist them around — one, two, three!
Tw, tw — round we go!
Tw, tw, tw — twist and twirl,
say it as you spin and whirl:
tw, tw, tw!
Movement — twist and twirl on the spot on each tw word. Lips round for the /w/ right after the /t/ — t then w, slid together.
Sound: str scr spl spr thr shr · Keyword: three letters together · the Pink finale
Words sung: splash · sprint · strap · scrub · split
Suno accent — big and triumphant, building to a strong finish — the last Pink Phase song.
Lyrics
Three sounds strong — here they come!
Three little letters, beat the drum!
Splash in the water! Sprint down the lane!
A strap, a scrub — say it again!
Split it up — three sounds, one go!
Three sounds strong — you've come so far,
you can read — look how strong you are!
Three sounds strong — hurray!
Movement — three quick claps for the three sounds, then say the whole blend in one slide — s-p-l, splash! Triple blends are the boss-level for a Mandarin-L1 ear; a child who sings these confidently is ready for the Blue Phase. End the song — and the Pink Phase — with arms up: hurray!
Forty-nine songs, one for every lesson — sing the Pink Phase from the first soft hiss of the snake to the triumphant hurray of the triple blends.