This activity, called Walking Dictation or Messenger and Scribe, is a variation on the classic dictation. Students do the dictation independently, so it is best if the phrases they dictate are a little less challenging than ones you might dictate yourself.

Create a Walking Lyrics-Dictation in 5 Easy Steps:

Step 1: Prepare a song-lyrics worksheet by deleting 8-10 phrases from a song and replacing them with blanks for writing (a cloze exercise).
Step 2: Write the phrases on individual pieces of paper and number the papers in random order (that is, not in the order in which they appear in the song). Post the papers on the walls around the room. (Alternately, you could list all the phrases on one sheet and post multiple copies so that the students acting as messengers don’t have to crowd around one copy.)
 Step 3: Divide students into small groups or pairs, and distribute the worksheet. Play the song once; students follow along on their worksheets.
Step 4: One student from each group (the messenger) gets up, finds a phrase on the wall, memorizes it, and recites it to the group members, who write the phrase down on their own paper (not in the blanks on the worksheet). The messenger continues going to the wall, memorizing phrases one at a time, and reciting them to the group until all the phrases are dictated. (Students can take turns being messenger.) When the dictation activity is complete, write the phrases on the board or project them on a screen so that students can check their writing.
 Step 5: Play the song a few times while students fill in the blanks with the missing phrases.

Thanks to: Taylor, a teacher in Japan, who posted the sequence of steps for this activity at Pacificloons.com.

Examples of Phrases Deleted from “The Sound of Sunshine”

The song “The Sound of Sunshine” by Michael Franti is an upbeat song with a compelling story behind it. Below are phases you could delete from “The Sound of Sunshine” to make a lyrics worksheet. (Please see the Lesson Plan for a reproducible student worksheet, as well as a printout of the phrases below to post around the room.)

1. • it’s 6 o’clock
   • but the sun is hot
   • where I learned to swim
   • this storm to pass me by
   • but not my friends
   • where the summer never ends
   • like suntan lotion
   • relax your feet
   • the sun goes down