Dr. Emily AronoffJewish songs, story-based movement, and spiritual reflection for songleaders
Friends, yasher koach (all the respect) on making it through the holiday season!
We sang about shofars and sorrys, sukkahs and simchas, and now we get to sing songs from the Torah.
One of my earliest memories as a child is learning the story of Noah and the ark while gleefully singing Rise and Shine during Sunday School at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, GA.It was in the early 90’s, before the congregation had a building. I can’t help but smile when I remember the joy of crouching on the floor during the verses in order to be ready to leap straight into the air jubilantly when the chorus of the song invited us to ‘Rise and Shine and give God my glory, glory’ with my first and incredibly influential songleader, Blake Singer.
That feeling of joyful anticipation is exactly what I try to recreate when I teach Parshat Noach to young children today.
Why Noah’s Story Captivates Little Learners
Noah’s Ark is one of my favorite Torah stories to share because it’s full of sensory, emotional, and theological layers that can resonate with learners of every age and stage.
It’s a story about sound (the rain, the thunder), movement (the animals, the ark), and emotion (courage, patience, hope).
I’m a nerd and a love debunking misinformation, so when I lead, I often slip a few carefully curated facts for adults into my songs and stories like this one:
While the text in Bereisheet 6:20 does say, “two of every sort,” the very next verses (7:2–3) clarify that Noah brought seven pairs of clean animals. So the popular line “they came by twosies twosies” isn’t technically accurate (but it’s delightfully catchy).
That kind of nuance helps adults re-engage their own curiosity about Torah, even as the children are immersed in sound, story, and play.
Setting the Scene: Sound, Anticipation, and Storytelling
Before singing, I like to build anticipation through environment and sound. I’ll often play soft rain and thunder sound effects as families enter the room or use a rainstick to create the sense that a storm is coming.
This sensory cue primes everyone’s brains for what’s next—it’s novel, it’s immersive, and it helps children settle into a story they already partly know.
Then, I bring out my Noah puppet. “Shalom! My name is Noah!” he says. I ask the children what they know about him, or about any Torah story we’ve learned recently. These small exchanges act as an ‘anticipatory set’ and lets me as their teacher understand their current capabilities and background knowledge.
I love the drama Noah’s story in Parshat Noach and I like to present it briefly through interactive storytelling at the beginning of the experience I’m facilitating. Many kids are familiar with elements of this story, so I try to prompt recollection by displaying a Noah’s Ark toy prominently so that the children notice it while they walk into the room. I’m hoping to introduce elements of this complex story that the children can process while we sing and play.
Songs to Teach Noah’s Ark (Parshat Noach)
1. Calling All Animals
This original song (to be recorded and released early 20206) is the staple of my Noah unit. It gives children a chance to move their bodies through the story; jumping, crawling, flying, and slithering toward the ark as they build their understanding of the narrative.
Each verse invites imagination and agency: children decide which animal they’ll become and how they’ll move. That’s where learning happens, through the act of deciding and embodying.
It also keeps group energy balanced. The rhythmic alternation between verses and pauses gives leaders a natural way to maintain flow without chaos.
2) Old MacNoah Had An Ark book
by Sally Lloyd-Jones illustrated by Jill Newton
This illustrates the story of Noah’s ark in rhyming language that can be song To The Tune of (TTTo) Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Rhythm and rhyme help young learners anticipate language, predict sound patterns, and engage through repetition.
3) Rise And Shine AKA “Arky Arky”
This song is sure to spark memories in a portion of your adult participants- something I like to highlight. If the song is clearly familiar to adults in the room, I might ask them to tell us when they first learned the song.
I like to share the verses of the song in a seated position and encourage the kids to jump up on the chorus, taking action on the word “rise”
4) Over The Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World
by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The story ends with a rainbow, so we make one with out scarves in the air, and every time I play this recording, someone in the room remarks“I love this song!!.”
I pass out rainbow scarves or streamers, review our movement safety rules, and then we dance, tossing our colors in the sky when we hear the word “rainbow”
I use recorded music intentionally: it lets me catch my breath, model participation, and introduce musical diversity that connects children to sounds they already love.
The promise of the rainbow and the joy of that familiar melody creates a closing moment that’s deeply emotional and shared.
Bring More Torah Stories to Life Through Song and Storytelling
Jewish music has the power to make ancient stories feel alive in the bodies and voices of our youngest learners. When you build experiences around songs like Calling All Animals, Rise and Shine, or Old MacNoah Had an Ark, you’re not ‘just’ teaching, you’re helping children move, imagine, and connect.
If you’d love more structure and inspiration for crafting meaningful musical moments like these, you’ll find them inside the Songleading for Kiddos Support Squad my membership for Jewish educators, songleaders, and clergy nurturing the next generation through song.
It’s a space designed to help you grow your repertoire, deepen your confidence, and bring Torah stories to life with joy
