Chris Chivers (Thinks)

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Head shoulders knees and toes

12/9/2019

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Point to each body part as mentioned
 
(G) Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and (D) toes, knees and toes.
And (G) eyes
and ears
and (D) mouth
and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and (G) toes, knees and toes.
 
Successive verses, “hum” each word that is “removed”,
So the next verse would be…
“Mmh”, shoulders knees and toes;
“Mmh”, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
and eyes
and ears
and mouth
and nose
“Mmh”, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
 
Next verse; “Mmh” Mmh” knees and toes…
 
And so on through the song, omitting to say a body part each time, but pointing to it.

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Football crazy

11/9/2019

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I (D) have a favourite brother and his Christian name is (A7) Paul.
He’s lately joined a football club, cause he's (D) mad (A7) about foot(D)ball.
He’s two black eyes already and teeth lost from his (A7 or G) gob.
Since (D) Paul became a (G) member of that (D) terrible (A7) football (D) club.
​
Chorus
(D) ’Cause he's football crazy, he’s football (A7) mad.
The football, it is taken away the (D) little bit of (A7) sense he (D) had
And it would take a dozen servants to wash his clothes and (A7 or G) scrub,
Since (D) Paul became a (G) member of that (D) terrible (A7) football (D) club.


In the middle of the field one afternoon, the captain said, “Now Paul,
Would you kindly take this place kick, ‘cause you're mad about football?”
He took forty paces backwards, shot off from the mark.
The ball went sailing over the bar and landed in New York.
Chorus


His wife, she says she'll leave him if Paulie doesn't keep
Away from football kicking at night-time in his sleep.
He calls out “Pass McGinty” and other things so droll.
Last night he kicked her out of bed and swore it was a goal
Chorus
​
football_crazy.m4a
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There's a hole in my bucket

11/9/2019

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Simple strum; two chords, slow and steady.

There's a (D) hole in my (G) bucket, dear Liza dear Liza. There's a (D) hole in my bucket, dear Lisa (A7) a (D) hole.

Well mend it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. Well mend it, dear Henry, dear Henry mend it.

With what shall I mend it dear Lisa, dear Lisa? With what shall I mend it, dear Lisa, with what?

With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry with a straw.

But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza. But the straw is too long, dear Lisa, too long.

Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. Then cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it.

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza? With what shall I cut it, dear Lisa, with what?

With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, with an axe.

But the axe is too blunt, dear Liza, dear Liza. But the axe is too blunt, dear Lisa, too blunt.

Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it.

With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza? With what shall I sharpen in it, dear Lisa, with what?

With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a stone.

But the stone is too dry, dear Lisa, dear Lisa. But the stone is too dry, dear Lisa, too dry.

Then wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.

With what shall I wet it, dear Lisa, dear Lisa? With what shall I wet it, dear Lisa, with what?

With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. With water, dear Henry, dear Henry. with water.

With what shall I fetch it, dear Lisa, dear Lisa? With what shall I fetch it, dear Lisa, with what?

With a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. With a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a bucket.

But there's a hole in my bucket, dear Lisa, dear Lisa. There's a hole in my bucket, dear Lisa, a hole. 
 
A note in my songbook shows that somewhere near 1988, this was adapted to a Viking theme, with Freya and Olaf replacing Lisa and Henry and longship for bucket; the last verse has to be bucket or it doesn’t then make sense.


​
theres_a_hole_in_my_bucket.m4a
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On a Monday Morning

11/9/2019

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To the tune of “Drunken sailor”

​
(Am) What shall we do with a naughty schoolboy?
(G) What shall we do with a naughty schoolboy?
(Am) What shall we do with a naughty schoolboy, (Em) on a Monday (Am) morning?
Throw him in the bin with the mouldy rubbish.
Throw him in the bin with the mouldy rubbish.
Throw him in the bin with the mouldy rubbish, on a Monday morning
Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting! Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting! Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting on a Monday morning!


What shall we do with a naughty schoolgirl? What shall we do with a naughty schoolgirl?
What shall we do with a naughty schoolgirl, on a Monday morning?
hanging from the ceiling and tickle her tootsies
hanging from the ceiling and tickle her tootsies
hanging from the ceiling and tickle her tootsies On Monday morning
Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting! Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting! Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting on a Monday morning


What shall we do with the angry teacher?
What shall we do with the angry teacher?
What shall we do with the angry teacher,on a Monday morning
Lock her in the cupboard with a hungry tiger. Lock her in the cupboard with a hungry tiger.
Lock her in the cupboard with a hungry tiger, on a Monday morning.
Oh, dear, the smell’s disgusting!
Open up the door, the smell’s disgusting!
Here comes the tiger and the tiger’s smiling, on a Monday morning.


​
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What shall we do with the drunken sailor?

11/9/2019

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(Am) What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
(Em) What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
(Am) What shall we do with the drunken sailor, (Em) early in the (Am) morning?
Chorus
Hooray and up she rises. Hooray and up she rises. Hooray and up she rises.
Early in the morning.


2) Put him in the longboat, ‘til he’s sober. (*3) Chorus
3) Pull out the plug and wet him all over. (*3) Chorus
4)Put him in the bilge and make him drink it. (*3) Chorus
5)Put him in a leaky boat and make him bail her. (*3) Chorus
6) Shave his belly with a rusty razor. (*3) Chorus
7) Make up your own to fit?
8) That’s what we do with the drunken sailor. (*3) Chorus
​
drunken_sailor.m4a
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Michael Finnegan

11/9/2019

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There (D) was an old man called Michael Finnegan,
(A7) He grew whiskers on his chinigin.
The (D) wind came out and blew them in inigin,
(A7) Poor old Michael (D) Finnegan, beginigin.
 
There was an old man called Michael Finnegan,
He kicked up an awful dinigin.
Because they said he must not singigin,
Poor old Michael Finnegan, beginigin.
 
There was an old man called Michael Finnegan,
He went fishing with a pinigin.
Caught a fish, but dropped it inigin,
Poor old Michael Finnegan, beginigin
 
There was an old man called Michael Finnegan,
Climbed a tree and barked his shinigin.
Took off several yards of skinigin,
Poor old Michael Finnegan beginigin.
 
There was an old man called Michael Finnegan,
He grew fat and then grew thinigin.
Then he died and had to beginigin.
Poor old Michael Finnegan. Stop!
michael_finnegan.m4a
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Today’s Monday

11/9/2019

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​(C) Today’s Monday. Today’s Monday.
Monday is washing day.
Chorus…
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.

Today’s Tuesday. Today’s Tuesday. Tuesday’s sou-oup. Monday is washing day.
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.

Today’s Wednesday. Today’s Wednesday. Wednesday is bubble and squeak. Tuesday’s sou-oup. Monday is washing day.
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.

Today’s Thursday. Today’s Thursday. Thursday is payday. Wednesday is bubble and squeak. Tuesday’s sou-oup. Monday is washing day.
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.

Today’s Friday. Today’s Friday. Friday is fish. Thursday is payday. Wednesday is bubble and squeak. Tuesday’s sou-oup. Monday is washing day.
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.

Today’s Saturday. Today’s Saturday. Saturday is roast -er beef. Friday is fish. Thursday is payday. Wednesday is bubble and squeak. Tuesday’s sou-oup. Monday is washing day.
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.
​
Today’s Sunday. Today’s Sunday. Sunday is chu-urch-----(quiet)
(loud and faster) Saturday is roast -er beef. Friday is fish. Thursday is payday. Wednesday is bubble and squeak. Tuesday’s sou-oup. Monday is washing day.
Is everybody happy? You bet your (G7) life we (C) are.



todays_monday.m4a
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Old MacDonald had a Farm

10/9/2019

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(G)
Old MacDonald (C) had a (G) farm EI (D7) EI (G) O.
And on that farm he (C) had some chicks EI (D7) EI (G) O.
With a cheep cheep here and a cheep cheep there.
Here a cheep, there a cheep, everywhere a cheep cheep.
(G) Old MacDonald (C) had a farm EI (D7) EI (G) O
 
2) And on that farm he had some ducks…   with a quack quack here and quack quack there

3) And on that farm he had some turkeys… with a gobble gobble here…

4) And on that farm he had some pigs…  with an oink oink here…

5) And on that farm he had some cows…  with a moo moo here…

6) And on that farm he had a dog…   with a woof woof here…

7) And on that farm he had some sheep…   with a baa baa here…

8) And on that farm he had some mice… with a nibble nibble here…
​
9+) Make up your own…
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I know an old lady

10/9/2019

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(D) I know an old lady who swallowed a fly.
(A7) I don't know why she swallowed a fly, perhaps she'll (D) die.
 
(D) I know an old lady who swallowed a spider that (A7) wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside (D) her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. (A7) I don't know why she swallowed a fly perhaps she'll (A7) die.
 
I know an old lady who swallowed a bird. Well how absurd, to swallow bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly perhaps she'll die.
 
I know an old lady who swallowed a cat. Well fancy that, to swallow a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed a spider to catch the fly I don't know why she swallowed a fly perhaps she'll die.
 
I know an old lady who swallowed a dog. She went the whole hog and swallowed a dog.
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat. She swallowed the cat to catch the bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly, perhaps she'll die.
 
I know an old lady who swallowed a cow. I don't know how she swallowed a cow.
She swallowed the cow to catch the dog. She swallowed the dog to catch the cat. She swallowed the cat to catch the bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly perhaps she'll die
 
I know an old lady who swallowed a horse. She's dead of course.
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She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes

10/9/2019

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(G) She'll be coming round the mountain when she (D) comes.
(G) She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes.
She'll be coming round the mountain, (C) coming round the (Am) mountain
(G) Coming round the (D) mountain when she (G) comes.


Chorus;
(G) Singing I yi yippee, yippee (D) I,
(G) Singing I yi yippee, yippee I,
Singing I yi yippee,(C) I yi (Am) yippee,
(G) I yi (D) yippi yippi (G) I.


2) She’ll be driving six white horses when she comes…
3) She’ll be bringing us some presents when she comes…
4) She’ll bring all the family with her when she comes…
5/6) She’ll be wearing silk pyjamas (frilly knickers) when she comes…
7) We’ll all go out to meet her when she comes…
8) Make up your own?
​
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Thank you for my friends

10/9/2019

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(C) When we’re playing (F) in the (C) park, thank you (G7) for my (C) friends. (clap, clap)
(C) When it’s cold and (F) wet and (C) dark, thank you (G7) for my (C) friends. (clap clap)
Chorus
(F) When we’re going (C) to the fair, (G7) when we all have (C) sweets to (G7) share,
(C) Even when they’re (G7) cross and they (C) pull my (F) hair,
Thank you (G7) for my (C) friends.


When I’m feeling very sad, thank you for my friends.
When I’m feeling cross and bad, thank you for my friends.
Chorus


When I have a birthday tea, thank you for my friends.
When I fall and cut my knee, thank you for my friends.
Chorus


When we play our special games, thank you for my friends.
When they scowl and call me names, thank you for my friends.
Chorus


​
thank_you_for_my_friends.m4a
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Put your finger in the air; Woody Guthrie

10/9/2019

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(D) Put your finger in the air, in the (A7) air. Put your finger in the air, in the (D) air.
Put your (G) finger in the air and (D) twiddle it around your hair.
Put your (G) finger in the (A) air in the (D) air


Put your finger on your head, on your head. Put your finger on your head, on your head.
Put your finger on your head, tell me is it green or red? Put your finger on your head on your head.


Put your finger on your nose, on your nose. Put your finger on your nose, on your nose.
Put your finger on your nose. Can you feel the cold wind blows? Put your finger on your nose, on your nose.


Put your finger on your cheek, on your cheek. Put your finger on your cheek, on your cheek.
Put your finger on your cheek and leave it for a week. Put your finger on your cheek on your cheek.


Put your finger on your ear, on your ear. Put your finger on your ear, on your ear.
Put your finger on your ear and leave it for a year. Put your finger on your ear, on your ear.


Put your finger on your belly, on your belly. Put your finger on your belly on your belly.
Put your finger on your belly. Does it feel like strawberry jelly? Put your finger on your belly, on your belly.


Put your finger on your knees, on your knees. Put your finger on your knees on your knees.
Put your finger on your knees but be careful not to sneeze. (atchoo). Put your finger on your knees, on your knees.


Put your finger on your toes, on your toes. Put your finger on your toes on your toes.
Put your finger on your toes. It's a long way from your nose. Put your finger on your toes on your toes.


Put your finger on your finger, on your finger. Put your finger on your finger on your finger.
Put your finger on your finger and your finger on your finger. Put your finger on your finger on your finger.
​
put_your_finger_in_the_air.m4a
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Old Joe Clarke

10/9/2019

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Capo 3


(A) Old Joe Clarke, he had a house, fifty storeys (E) high,
And (A) every storey in that house was filled with (G) chicken (A) pie.


Chorus
(A) Fare you well, Old Joe Clarke. Farewell, Lucy (E) Brown.
(A) Fare you well Old Joe Clarke, for I am (G) leaving (A) town.


I went down to Old Joe's house to have a bite of supper.
I stubbed my toe on the leg of a chair and stuck my nose in the butter.
Chorus


Old Joe Clarke he had a wife. Her name was Cindy Lou.
Had two brown eyes at the back of her head. The other two were blue.
Chorus.


Old Joe Clarke, he had a mule. His name was Charlie Brown
And every tooth in that mule’s head was sixteen inches round.
Chorus
​
old_joe_clark.m4a
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The Death of Mr Fly

9/9/2019

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​(C) Mr. Fly climbed (G7) up a tree,
(G7) Climbed as high as (C) high can be.
(C) Lost his grip came (G7) crashing down,
(G7) Smashed to pieces (C) on the ground.


When the insects heard the sound,
Echoing for miles around,
They began to buzz and cry
“Quick! First aid for Mr. Fly”.


“Where's a bandage, where’s a splint?
Get some liniment and lint?
Someone give him aspirin.
Should we call the doctor in?”


Then a wise old flea spoke out,
“You don't know what you're about.
He's beyond the reach of aid,
Get a pick and get a spade.”


Then at last those insects knew,
What they really had to do.
Now his tombstone bears the scrawl,
“He who climbs too high must fall.”

​

the_death_of_mr_fly.m4a
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The Ants went Marching

9/9/2019

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A variation on the tune of "The Animals Went in Two by Two"; see below for those words

The (Em) ants went marching one by one,
(G) Hoorah, hoorah.
The (Em) ants went marching one by one,
(G) Hoorah, hurrah.
(Em) The ants went marching (Am) one by one,
(Em) The little one stopped to (Am) suck his thumb.
And they (Em) all (Am) went (Em) marching round and round and down the drain
And round the corner and back again.


Two by two… to do up his shoe
Three by three…’cos he bumped his knee
Four by four… to shut the door
Five by five… to visit a hive
Six by six… to eat a Twix
Seven by seven… to go to Devon
Eight by eight… to close a gate
Nine by nine… to sip some wine
Ten by ten… to start again


the_ants_went_marching.m4a
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​The animals came in…

The (Em) animals came in two by two,
(G) Hoorah, hoorah.
The (Em) animals came in two by two,
(G) Hoorah, hurrah.
(Em) The animals came in (Am) two by two,
(Em) The elephant and the kangaroo.
And they (Em) all (Am) went (Em) into the ark, for to get out of the rain.


Three by three… the wasp, the ant and the bumblebee
Four by four… the elephant nearly got stuck in the door
Eight by eight… the monkey and fox they were nearly late
Nine by nine… the hippo ad stork, they were last in the line
Ten by ten… with Noah, his wife and a snake and a hen
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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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Saleem; The (first) artist who came to school

12/6/2019

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I had been a headteacher for 18 months, when our local arts centre sent out a flyer advertising a forthcoming exhibition by an artist then unknown to me, Saleem Arif. Saleem was born in Hyderabad, studied at Birmingham College of Art and the Royal College of Art before his first solo exhibition in 1982.
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In addition to the exhibition, the arts centre offered to local schools the opportunity to work with Saleem, who would provide workshops for all Primary age groups, at a modest cost. I very quickly showed an interest, but no-one else apparently did; we were offered Saleem for ten days at very modest cost, if we could also offer some accommodation. One of my staff was prepared to do that, which was very generous.
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The exhibition, in the September of 1991, was based on a most recent series of work, deriving from earlier works, but with a very much more muted palette. Year six went on a visit on the first day of the exhibition, showed around by Saleem, who explained something of his techniques, together with ideas that he would be using in school. The children therefore approached the coming experience with insights.

Sharing a broad range of techniques as a starter, older children explored the creation of textures in paint, using sand, sawdust and earth. They used scrapers, spatulas, other broad bladed objects as well as paint brushes to apply the paint to different prepared surfaces.
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Year six decided that they would like to recreate one of Saleem’s recent pictures, so working large, approximately 5m by 3m, they drew the shapes, then started using the learned techniques to fill them in, sometimes working through their lunchtimes to complete the task while Saleem was in the school.
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Other year groups did a variety of experiences based on textures, with the Reception class creating a huge printed necklace, which led to some storytelling from Saleem, bringing cultural background and imagery together.
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Saleem came to dinner with my family, entrancing the children, in part because he simply integrated with the family, rather than being an aloof guest. Leaving a signed catalogue of his 1986-1991 works inspired our eldest, then aged eleven to explore for herself. It was this piece of paper dropping from the catalogue that brought back the memories.
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The experience of bringing specific expertise into the school as an inspiration for learning was sufficiently significant that it became a feature of school life. Especially where the expert was able to engage with processes of thinking and learning, they left the school enhanced by their presence; children met and could aspire to become real life artists, sportspeople or musicians. That on the whole bringing these experiences into school was often much more reasonable cost than an external trip, meant that they could be accommodated in the budget.

It was then a case of finding the right people… Many thanks to Saleem for making our first experiences so positive.

Saleem's website adds much greater biographical detail and an extended gallery.
   
http://www.saleem-arif-quadri.co.uk/

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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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