Children who have mastered traditional songs often change the words to meet their needs. The tunes form the framework for creativity. Composing new verses to the traditional tunes are called "piggyback" songs. Once children learn a melody, several songs can be created and used to express thoughts and symbolism.
Halloween is a holiday full of impressive characters which helps to create fun piggyback songs for this celebration. Read on to sing some traditional favorites and encourage children to make new ones.
One Little Goblin (Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb")
One little goblin hopping up and down,
Hopping up and down, hopping up and down.
One little goblin hopping up and down,
For this is Halloween.
Second verse: Two little skeletons walking down the street...
Third verse: Three little witches flying through the air...
Fourth verse: Four ballerinas dancing to and fro...
New verses can be sung to this song; think about bats, ghosts, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, and costume characters. Children's great imaginations make them eager to create impromptu lyrics.
The Great Pumpkin (Tune: "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")
I am the Great Pumpkin, Great Pumpkin, Great Pumpkin,
I am the Great Pumpkin, come dance with me.
For your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends.
I am the Great Pumpkin, come dance with me.
Pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns are notorious with Halloween. This song encourages dramatic movement as children dance and promote friendship while singing.
The Witch on Halloween (Tune: "Farmer in the Dell")
"Farmer in the Dell" originated in Germany around 1826 and was brought to the United States by immigrants. The tune is the same as another popular song for children known as "A Hunting We Will Go." Tweaking the lyrics creates a fun Halloween song and game for children.
The witch on Halloween, the witch on Halloween,
Heigh ho, let's trick or treat, the witch on Halloween.
Second verse: The witch chooses a goblin...
Third verse: The goblin chooses a bat...
Fourth verse: The bat chooses a cat...
Fifth verse: The cat chooses a ghost...
Sixth verse: The ghost says, "Boo!"...
Seventh verse: They all screech and scream...
To play this game, children stand in a circle, holding hands, and move clockwise while singing the first verse. A witch is chosen to stand in the center of the circle. At the end of the second verse, the witch picks a goblin to join her in the center of the circle. The game and song continues until all characters have been chosen.
Halloween Safety Song (Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")
Safety is an important factor on Halloween night. Since most activities are in the evening, children should be reminded of street safety. This piggyback song reinforces important safety rules.
I am a "trick or treater" set to go,
Here is my flashlight, I'll walk slow.
I always say thank you for my treats,
And I never run across the street!"
Halloween Character Song (Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")
Children can become creative with this song as they pick symbolic characters of Halloween to be matched with an action for each verse.
If you're a ghost and you know it, just say BOO,
If you're a ghost and you know it, just say BOO,
If you're a ghost and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're a ghost and you know it , just say BOO!
If you're a skeleton and you know it, shake your bones,
If you're a skeleton and you know it, shake your bones,
If you're a skeleton and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're a skeleton and you know it, shake your bones!
Other verses:
If you're a black cat and you know it, just say "meow"...
If you're an owl and you know it, shout a "hoot"...
If you're a monster and you know it, give a scream...
Continue making new verses with the children.
Halloween is a favorite holiday for children and singing songs adds to the excitement. Creating new songs from old ones helps children to build vocabulary and stimulates creativity.
Source:
Music: A Way of Life for the Young Child by Kathleen M. Bayless & Marjorie E. Ramsey [Macmillan, 1991]
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