Page 54 - First Note Instructors Manual

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“Mos Mos” (from Hopi Tribe)

Cultural Background Information:
The Hopi are a group of indigenous Native American people who live on the Hopi

Reservation in Northeastern Arizona. They speak an Aztecan language.

• MF sings song:
“Mos mos natila (repeat)

Kanel perkye natila (repeat)
Mos-sah (repeat)
Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah nyah.”

• “Mos” means cat in Hopi, and the song is about a bobcat that comes down from the
mountain to steal a sheepskin from the ranch below. The cat sneaks down, takes the
sheepskin, races back up the mountain, peers down, and calls out the teasing, “nyah,

nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah.”
• MM, and all S repeat the song, including hand motions at the end
• “Did you notice that each line is sung twice?”
• Sing again with S singing the repeated line
• Repeat whole song together
• MM teaches a game to go with the song (may be played in a circle or at the desks):
One S selected to go in the middle with eyes closed/blindfolded, everyone

sings, but one secret S finishes “nyah, nyah, nyah…” The S in the middle gets
3 guesses to figure out whose voice they heard.

Teacher Led Activity
Pause for Practice (You may use the music to accompany)

S sing the song, first repeating the T
S & T sing song together
S play game

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