Author: Marie Mills

Nellie the Elephant

This song is rather long, so it may be better to use the chorus on its own. Or the leader can sing the verses, with everyone else joining in with the chorus. But the chorus is itself quite long, and may need some work first, to make sure everyone can join in.

Verse 1:
To Bombay, a travelling circus came.
They brought an intelligent elephant, and Nellie was her name.
One dark night, she slipped her iron chains,
And off she ran to Hindustan and was never seen again…

Chorus:
Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus.
Off she went with a trumpety trump, trump, trump, trump.
Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and trundled back to the jungle.
Off she went with a trumpety trump, trump, trump, trump.
The head of the herd was calling, far, far away.
They met one night in the silver light on the road to Mandaly.
Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus.
Off she went with a trumpety trump, trump, trump, trump.

Verse 2:
Night by night, she danced to the circus band.
When Nellie was leading the big parade she looked so proud and grand.
No more tricks, for Nellie to perform.
They taught her how to take a bow and she took the crowd by storm…

Chorus

What Shall We Do When the Snow Falls Thickly?

Using the tune and structure of “What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor” and used in much the same way as “Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush”. Each verse can be given an action and other verses could easily be made.

What shall we do when the snow falls thickly, X3
When it snows in Winter?

Put our hats and coats and boots on X3,
When it snows in Winter.

Rush outside and build a snowman. X3
When it snows in Winter.

Stomp in the snow and leave big boot prints. X3
When it snows in Winter.

Lie in the snow and make snow angels. X3
When it snows in Winter.

What shall we do when the snow falls thickly? X3

Run outside and play!

Fledgelings Sing in Eynsham

In Brief…
A new music group for under-fives started up in Eynsham on September 14th 2016.

It runs from 10:30 – 11:30 on Wednesdays during term time at the Scout Hall in Back Lane (OX29 4QW) and costs £2 per family per session.

We start with 35/40 minutes of songs and singing activities and then there’s the chance for a natter over a cup of tea or coffee while the children enjoy free play with the toy musical instruments.

Fledgelings Sing is a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

The next session takes place on Wednesday April 26th, after the Easter holiday.

The Session…
Many of the songs are well-known, but I like to include some that are less familiar, or completely new, to keep things fresh. But all the songs are simple and very easy to pick up. In September, I introduced: “See All the Little Ducklings”, so we have sung that one quite a lot. In October I turned “Five currant Buns in a Baker’s Shop into “Lots of Conkers” and we made little shakers by popping conkers into yogurt pots. Last week I  introduced “Little Snowflake”, which is in the library under the new category: “Winter”, along with some adaptations of more familiar songs.

There are lots of actions, a guitar and some colourful props. Most of the singing is unaccompanied, but we add rhythms ourselves by clapping, stamping or using maraccas. And it is all live.

The Venue…
The Scout Hall enjoys a central location, next to the Village Hall and opposite the car park serving the Medical Centre. There is space inside for pushchairs and prams. There is also a small car park for people coming from further afield.

Big Ted, Little Ted

This is a good peekaboo song to use with scarves and little ones. Each child has a scarf. Place it over their heads so they are hidden, but can still see through the scarf. Sing the song, knocking as directed by the words, and pull off the scarf on “you”.

 

Big Ted, Little Ted, hiding in the garden shed.
Knock, knock, peekaboo,
I’ve found you.

Little Ted, Little Ted, hiding underneath the bed.
You-hoo, peekaboo,
I’ve found you.

Jemima, Jemima, whose going to find her?
You-hoo, peekaboo,
I’ve found you.

For children under two you really only need to use the first verse. It is very short, so one way of extending it is to use each child’s name in turn instead of “Big Ted”. Alternatively, you might be able to rhyme a child’s name.

Edward and Little Ted, hiding in the garden shed,
Knock, knock, peekaboo,
I’ve found you.

Scarlett, Scarlett, in among the violets.
You-hoo, peekaboo,
I’ve found you.

Lucy, Lucy, hiding in the apple tree,
You-hoo, peekaboo,
I’ve found you.

Sheet music (PDF)