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Triantiwontigongolope

9/9/2019

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From the poem by C J Dennis

​There's a (C) very funny insect that you (G7) do not often (C) spy,
And it (C) isn't quite a spider, and it (G7) isn't quite a (C) fly;
It is (F) something like a (C) beetle, and a (G7) little like a (C) bee,
But (C) nothing like a woolly grub that (G7) climbs upon a (C) tree.
Its (F) name is quite a hard one, but you'll (C) learn it soon, I hope.
So (G7) try:
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         (C) Trianti (G7) wontigongo (C) lope.
 
 
It lives on weeds and wattle-gum, and has a funny face;
Its appetite is hearty, and its manners a disgrace.
When first you come upon it, it will give you quite a scare,
But when you look for it again, you find it isn't there.
And unless you call it softly it will stay away and mope.
So try:
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope.
 
 
It trembles if you tickle it or tread upon its toes;
It is not an early riser, but it has a snubbish nose.
If you snear at it, or scold it, it will scuttle off in shame,
But it purrs and purrs quite proudly if you call it by its name,
And offer it some sandwiches of sealing-wax and soap.
So try:
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope .
 
 
But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess
That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.
For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been
If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.
It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.
Oh, try!
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope.

​
triantiwontigongolope.m4a
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Teaching ideas

During the summer term, in classrooms across the country, mini-beasts will be a subject of learning. That was no different when I was an active classroom teacher, but my classes went in search of the Triantiwontigongolope. This came about after I discovered a poem, written by C.J. Dennis (1876 - 1938). With the help of a very talented musical colleague, we turned this into a song based on an Irish Jig, so it was at once catchy and engaging. It was able to serve a multitude of needs.
We did a range of searches around the grounds.
  • Using upturned light coloured umbrellas underneath low bushes to shake and catch the falling insects.
  • Putting sheets under bigger trees and shaking branches.
  • We put out jam jars and tins from the kitchens as traps.
  • We dug through the composting heap of leaves and grass clippings.
  • We looked and looked regularly and just spotted things, in flight, as well as static.
  • We got out pooters and magnifiers and classification guides.
  • We drew and labelled and classified and described in detail.
  • We drew and painted.
  • We measured and created fair tests; eg how fast does a snail/mealworm move over different surfaces?
  • We imagineered the Triantiwontigongolope, as pictures and personal writings and poetry, as well as making 3D models. One poem became the start point for a great deal of complementary learning.
In the end, we never found the Triantiwontigongolope, but the children learned a lot.
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Daddy's Taking Us To the Zoo Tomorrow

9/9/2019

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Original Peter, Paul and Mary
​
Could also be sung with Mummy, or sung through twice and go on two days…
 
(D) Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, (A) zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow.
(D) Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, (A7) we can stay all (D) day.
​
Chorus
(D) We're going to zoo, zoo, zoo. How about you, you, you?
(D) You can come (A) too, too, too. We're going to the (D) zoo, zoo, zoo.


See the elephant with a long trunk swinging. Great big ears and a long trunk swinging.
Sniffing up peanuts with the long trunk swinging. We can stay all day.
Chorus


See all the monkeys, scritch, scritch, scratching. Jumping all around and scritch, scritch, scratching.
Hanging by their long tails, scritch, scritch scratching. We can stay all day.
Chorus


Big black bear all huff, huff puffing. Coat’s too heavy, he's huff, huff puffing.
Don't get near that huff, huff puffing, or you won't stay all day.
Chorus


The seals in the pool all honk-honk-honking. Catching all the fish and honk-honk-honking
Little tiny seals all honk-honk-honking and we can stay all day!
Chorus


Well we stayed all day and I'm getting sleepy. Sitting in the car getting sleep, sleep, sleepy.
Home already getting sleep, sleep, sleepy. 'Cause we have stayed all day.
Chorus


​
daddys_taking_us_to_the_zoo.m4a
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Cockles and Mussels

9/9/2019

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(D7) In (G) Dublin's fair city, where the (C) girls are so (D7) pretty,
I (G) first set my eyes on sweet (A7) Molly Mal- (D7) -one,
As she (G) wheeled her wheelbarrow, through (C) streets broad and (D) narrow
Crying (G) “Cockles (D7) and(G) mussels, (C) alive, (D7) alive, oh”.
 
Chorus; (D7) Alive, alive, (G) oh. A (C) live, alive, (D7) oh. Crying (G) “Cockles (D7) and (G) mussels,
(C-G) alive, (D7) alive, (G) oh”.
 
She was a fishmonger, but sure ‘twas no wonder,
For so were her mother and father before,
And they each wheeled their barrows, through streets broad and narrow,
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh.
 
Chorus
 
She died of a fever and no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow, through streets broad and narrow,
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”.
 
Chorus
 
cockles_and_mussels.m4a
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I’m taking home a baby bumble bee

9/9/2019

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With actions…

I'm (C) taking home a baby bumble bee, won’t my mummy be (G7) surprised at me?
I'm (C) taking home a baby bumble bee. (G7) Oh, it (C) stung me.
 
I'm squashing up a baby bumble bee, won’t my mummy be surprised at me?
I'm squashing up a baby bumble bee. Oh, there's blood on me.
 
I'm licking up a baby bumble bee, won't my mummy be surprised at me?
I'm licking up a baby bumble bee. Oh, I feel sick.
 
I'm icking up a baby bumble bee, won’t my mummy be surprised at me?
 I'm icking up a baby bumble bee. Oh, what a mess.
 
I'm mopping up a baby bumble bee, won’t my mummy be surprised at me?
I'm mopping up a baby bumble bee. What shall I do now?
 
I'm looking for a baby bumble bee, won’t my mummy be surprised at me?
I'm looking for a baby bumble bee. Oh, there's one over there.
Repeat ad nauseam? 
bumble_bee.m4a
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File Type: m4a
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    Chris Chivers

    Long career in education, classroom and leadership; always a learner.
    University tutor and education consultant; Teaching and Learning, Inclusion and parent partnership.
    Francophile, gardener, sometime bodhran player.

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