The song that we now know as Jingle Bells was originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh". It was written in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont.
The chorus and the first verse are the most sung and best known part of the song.
Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
The song has also inspired many illustrators. You can find an illustrated version of Jingle Bells that calls to you and your child.
Related Activites:
Make Jingle Bells.....
These simple bells made of egg cartons, pipe cleaners and jingle bells were found at Fantastic Fun and Learning.com check here for full directions
For a fancy wearable Jingle Bell Bracelet, use almost the same materials minus the egg carton and add a few fancy pipe cleaners. Spoonful .com has directions for three versions including the one below:
I love a good circle game! Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush is a very old nursery rhyme/song.
According to Wikipedia:
The rhyme (Mulberry Bush) is first recorded as a children's game by James Orchard Halliwell in the mid-nineteenth century.He also noted that there was a similar game with the lyrics 'Here we go round the bramble bush'. Some commentators believe that the bramble bush was the earlier version, and perhaps changed because of the difficulty of articulating the alliteration, not least because mulberries do not grow on bushes.
Halliwell noted that subsequent verses included: 'This is the way we wash our clothes', 'This is the way we dry our clothes', 'This is the way we mend our shoes', 'This is the way the gentlemen walk' and 'This is the way the ladies walk'.
These are the traditional words and activities for Mulberry Bush. As a circle game the children hold hands and go around in a circle during the chorus. During the different verses they stop and act out the verse.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush
Here we go round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning
This is the way we wash our clothes
Wash our clothes, wash our clothes
This is the way we wash our clothes
So early Monday morning
This is the way we iron our clothes
Iron our clothes, iron our clothes
This is the way we iron our clothes
So early Tuesday morning
This is the way we mend our clothes
Mend our clothes, mend our clothes
This is the way we mend our clothes
So early Wednesday morning
This is the way we sweep the floor
Sweep the floor, sweep the floor
This is the way we sweep the floor
So early Thursday morning
This is the way we scrub the floor
Scrub the floor, scrub the floor
This is the way we scrub the floor
So early Friday morning
This is the way we bake our bread
Bake our bread, bake our bread
This is the way we bake our bread
So early Saturday morning
This is the way we go to church
Go to church, go to church
This is the way we go to church
So early Sunday morning
There are lots of variations to the song: Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.
For a school song you might use the verses: This is the way we go to school,
Go to school, go to school,
This is the way we go to school,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we come out of school,
Come out of school, come out of school,
This is the way we come out of school,
On a cold and frosty morning.
The Mulberry Bush song can be used to teach the days of the weeks, good hygiene habits or any other activities that can be explained simply and incorporated into the songs lyrics.
National Kazoo Day 2009 will be celebrated on Wed. Jan. 28th, because it is convenient to Your Chairperson. (Our rules designate the 4th Thursday in January or whenever convenient to the kazooist.)
May all of you have an eco-friendly and economically feasible HAPPY KAZOO YEAR! This year we commemorate the 159th birthday of the Kazoo!
For Your Information: The kazoo is a type of mirliton - a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane. On Playing the Kazoo:
Playing the kazoo is not actually "humming" it is more about "singing" in order for the kazoo to make any sound. If you speak "do, do, do..." into the kazoo mouthpiece, the 'hard' vocalization makes a more effective sound.
History of the Kazoo Such instruments have been used in Africa for hundreds of years, to disguise the sound of somebody's voice or to imitate animals, often for various ceremonial purposes. It was on such an instrument that the kazoo, invented by an African American named Alabama Vest in the 19th century in Macon, Georgia, is based. The first kazoo was manufactured to Vest's specifications by Thaddeus von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Macon. The kazoo was first publicized at the Georgia State Fair in 1852. The first metal kazoos were manufactured and patented in Eden, New York, where they are still made in the original factory.
The kazoo is played professionally in jug bands and comedy music, and by amateurs everywhere. It is one of the few acoustic instruments to be developed in the United States and one of the easiest melodic instruments to play well, requiring only the ability to vocalize in tune. In North East England and South Wales, kazoos play an important role in so-called juvenile jazz bands (really children's marching bands).
Leonard Bernstein included a segment for kazoo ensemble in the First Introit (Rondo) of his Mass_(theatre). The kazoos are played by the boy's choir.
One of the best known kazooists in recent times might be Barbara Stewart. She was a classically trained singer who has written a book on the kazoo, formed the "quartet" Kazoophony, and performed at Carnegie Hall. She appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Classical Kazoo Choir
Kazoos are not just for kids!!!
LET'S MAKE KAZOOS!!! Comb Kazoo You will need: comb waxed paper
How to: Fold the waxed paper in half over the comb with the teeth of the comb in the fold. Tah Dah!!! Play by placing your mouth over the toothed edge and humming (well more like singing). You can also try moving the comb from side to side.
Cardboard Tube Kazoo What you need: Cardboard tubes (from toilet rolls, plastic or foil wrap, paper towel) Waxed paper Scissors Elastics Ruler Pencil Markers or crayons
How to: 1. Decorate your tube with markers or pencil crayons. 2. Cut a 5 inch square out of waxed paper. 3. Place the square of waxed paper on one end of tube and secure with an elastic. 4. To play your kazoo gently hum into the open end of the kazoo.
Straw Kazoo What you need: drinking straws scissors
How to: First, flatten out one end of a straw. The easiest way to do this is to bite on it. With a pair of scissors, cut the flattened end of the straw in an upside-down "V" shape. This will act as a reed just like in a clarinet. Place the "V" end of the straw in your mouth so that the "V" end is just past the inside of you lips. Press on the "V" with your lips while blowing. This might take some practice. You may have to separate the "V" a bit.
You can also try cutting the straw and then blowing on it. Do you hear how the pitch of your "kazoo" is higher?
Here is the only picturebook I could find that featured kazoo playing:
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
Frosty aka Build a Snowperson
Supplies: A roll of toilet paper for each team Sheet of orange, black, red and yellow construction paper for each team Hat for each team A few Glue sticks for each team Scissors for each team
How To Play: Have several teams of four or five children. When you say, "GO" they should wrap one of the people on their team up in toilet paper (leaving an opening for nose and eyes). Once they've built their "Frosty" they can use the hat and construction paper to decorate him with. Put a time limit on decorating. Give a prize for the first completed Frosty, most unique Frosty, cutest Frosty, etc.
Snowshoe Relay Race
Supplies: Wrapped Tootsie Rolls or any other small treat(1 for each child) 2 Shoe boxes for each team Bell for each team 2 mittens for each team 2 bowls for each team
Place tootsie rolls, in a bowl, at the opposite end of the room. Hang a bell, from the ceiling, over the tootsie roll bowl.
How To Play: Divide the children into two or more relay teams. Explain that when you say, "GO" the first person on each team will put on the mittens, step into the shoe boxes and race to the other end of the room where they will ring the bell with their nose. They are then to pick up a tootsie roll out of the bowl and race back to their team still wearing their mittens and shoe boxes. Pass the mittens and shoe box to the next person in line, sit down, eat your tootsie roll. The first team to finish eating their tootsie rolls wins!
Snowball Over the Mountain
Supplies: Sheet White balloons blown up 2 adults to help
How To Play: Children are divided into two teams. A sheet (the mountain) is held above eye level between the two groups by the 2 adults (holding each end). Or you can find a way to pin it to the wall or hang across a cord. Each side throws snowballs (white balloons) over to the other side. It's alot like volley ball but you need not keep score.
Snowball Relay Race
Supplies: Styrofoam ball for each team Plastic Spoon (shovel) for each team
How To Play: Divide into teams. First child on each team will be given a styrofoam ball (snowball) and a spoon (shovel). On your mark they are to bend over, place the ball on the floor, and push the ball with the spoon across the room, around an obstacle, and back to next child on team. First team to finish wins.
Snowball Making
Supplies: Large sheets of tissue paper (one for every child) Bucket for each team
How To Play: Divide the children into two teams. The first person on each team gets a piece of tissue paper and crumples it into a ball using one hand (this keeps them soft). Then races to the end of the room to place the snowball in the bucket. The next child repeats the first child's actions and the process continues until the team has all their snowballs made. Follow this game with a Snowball Throw below.
Snowball Throw
Supplies: A line drawn or taped on the floor
How To Play: Set a time for 2-3 minutes. Yell, "GO"! Each team throws their tissue paper snowballs back and forth across the lines. When the timer goes off, the team with the least amount of snowballs on their side wins.
Old Mother Grey, may we go out to play? Mother Gray: 'No, it's raining'. Children: "No, it isn't, the sun is shining Mother Grey: "All right, you may go out to play'.
[The children rush off, and play around, perhaps moving out of sight.]
Old Mother Grey calls: "Children, it's dinner time!" Children: 'Coming mother.' Mother: 'Where have you been?' Children: 'We've been to London to see the Queen.' Mother: 'What did she give you?' Children: 'A loaf of bread as big our head, a piece if cheese as big as our knees, a lump of jelly as big as our belly, and a teeny weeny six pence." Mother: "Where's my share? Children: 'Up in the air.' Mother; 'How shall I get it?' Children; 'Stand on a chair. Mother; 'And if I fall?' Children all laugh and shout out: "We don't care."
[Old Mother Grey runs after them, and whoever she catches becomes the next 'Mother'.]
Source: Source: Iona and Peter Opie: Children's Games in Street and Playground; [Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1969; pp. 307-308
Here's a variant from the Caribbean:
WE DON'T CARE
Children, children Yes, Mama. Where yo' been to? Granmama. What she give yo'? Two apples. Where yo' put them? On the shelf. How will yo' get them? Stand on a chair.
[As the "children" answer "Mama" they creep closer and closer to her until finally "Mama" turns and chases them"].
Source: Grace Hallworth: "Down By The River: Afro-Caribbean Rhymes, Games and Songs for Children" [New York Scholastic Inc, 1996]
I looooove these songs! Let's face it....I love most of ...okay all of the songs I sing.
This evening I decided I "needed" a cookie. Fortunately, I keep cookie dough around for just such an emergency. So I got out the pan and "made" a few chocolate chip cookies. Yummmmm! Which is what got me thinking about cookie songs.
The first three songs I thought of were these..."C is for Cookie" (a classic)..."I'm A Little Cookie" (a sleeper song but a good one) and , well, the last song is more like a chant and it's a game...the ever popular "Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar". At the end of this blog are some good cookie recipes for kids.
I'm a Little Cookie is a great song about differences and tolerance. A version of this song can be heard on John McCutcheon's Mail Myself to You CD. This is where I first heard it.
I'M A LITTLE COOKIE
I'm a little cookie, yes I am And I was made by the cookie man And on my way from the cookie pan A little piece broke off of me A little piece broke off of me, uh-huh A little piece broke off of me, uh-huh But I can taste just as good, uh-huh As a regular cookie can
I'm a little chocolate bar, I am And I was made by the chocolate bar man And on my way to the chocolate stand I got a little bend in me I got a little bend in me, uh-huh I got a little bend in me, uh-huh But I can taste just as good, uh-huh As a regular chocolate bar can
I'm a little tootsie roll, yes I am And I was made by the tootsie roll man And on my way from the tootsie roll land I got a little twist in me I got a little twist in me, uh-huh I got a little twist in me, uh-huh But I can taste just as good, uh-huh As a regular tootsie roll can
I'm a little gum drop, yes I am And I was made by the gum drop man On my way from the sugar can I got a little dent in me I got a little dent in me, uh-huh I got a little dent in me, uh-huh But I can taste just as good, uh-huh As a regular gum drop can
Oh, I'm a little cookie, yes I am And I was made by the cookie man And on my way from the cookie pan A little piece broke off of me Now I ain't as round as I might be But I taste good just wait and see And I can love back twice as hard As a regular cookie can
Words and Music by Larry Penn (c) Larry Penn
And here is everyone's favorite cookie loving monster....
Who Stole the Cookies is a fun game and a marvelous song for helping kids learn to keep a steady beat. Children pat a steady rhythm on their thighs while chanting the song. Older child can do a pat...clap...pat...clap rhythm. Have kids sit in a circle. Begin the game by going in order around the circle. Once the kids understand how the game works you can move into choosing students at random.
Accuser/Group: Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? (name of a child in the circle) stole the cookie from the cookie jar. Accused: Who me? Accuser/Group: Yes, you! Accused: Not Me, Couldn't be! Accuser/Group: Then who?
This can go on and on until the last person or a designated person (usually the teacher in the beginning) says Who me?...Kids: Yes You!....Teacher/Thief: Possibly! and then you bring out the cookie.
I could explain every step of teaching and playing the game but I found this lovely vid at my favorite place (YOUTUBE!!!) that does an excellent job of teaching the game. The words are a little different but it is basically the same game. YOu will note that the kids are older and that the use a pat/clap instead of a steady patting of the legs which works best with younger children.
Here are a few simple cookie recipes for kids. I found these at Easy Kids Recipies But there are lots more on the net. Go explore!
Chocolate Cornflake Clusters
2 cups cornflakes, crushed 3/4 cups craisins 3/4 cups flaked almonds 3/4 cup shredded coconut 3/4 cup sweetened, condensed milk 2 cups melted milk chocolate chips, white chocolate, or peanut butter chips
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Mix together all ingredients except chocolate chips. Line a cookie sheet with foil and grease. Spoon onto cookie sheet about 1 tablespoon per cluster.
Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then spread the bottom of the clusters with the melted chocolate. Let the chocolate harden, then turn clusters over and drizzle more chocolate over the top.
Cream together butter,sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and add to mixture. For oatmeal, put small amounts into blender until it turns to powder. Measure first, then blend. Add final ingredients and mix together.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheets. Make golf-ball sized cookies and place them oncookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake at 375F degrees for 6 minutes.
