Irresistible Ideas for play based learning

At the end of the year we have a mini concert for our parents. We like it to be a reflection of our year – no big deal!!! We sit down with the children and discuss with them what songs they would like to perform for their families. When we come up with a list, we go over them a couple of times over a few weeks and do one run through in our positions. We do tend to teach them a couple of new songs - Australian Christmas songs to finish off the grand finale.

All the children know “Jingle Bells” so “Aussie Jingle Bells” is easy to teach, particularly with our faithful song cards to help us.

Dashing through the bush

In a rusty Holden ute, kicking up the dust, Esky in the boot.

Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,

It’s Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.

Christmas in Australia on a scorching Summer’s day, hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells Christmas time is beaut,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute, hey!

And of course we can’t forget another favourite Christmas song – We wish you a merry Christmas, only once again we like to put an Aussie spin on it by singing,

We wish you a ripper Christmas,

We wish you a ripper Christmas,

We wish you a ripper Christmas,

and a snappy New Year.

May the kids have a hoot.

May the pressies be beaut.

We wish you a ripper Christmas…….and a snappy New Year!

A song which the children enjoy doing in a large group is the old favourite, “Bingo” – you know the one -

There was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o,

B-I-N-G-O,    B-I-N-G-O,    B-I-N-G-O,

and Bingo was his name-o!

Five children hold prop cards which Sherry made with the letters on them and gradually turn them around …

… as the sounds are replaced by claps (adding an extra clap into each verse).

clap - I – N – G – O,    clap – I – N – G – O,    clap – I – N – G – O

and B – I – N – G – O was his name-o!

clap – clap - N – G – O

clap – clap – clap - G – O

clap – clap – clap – clap - O

clap – clap – clap – clap – clap

The children picked up the idea of turning the cards around very, very quickly!

At this time of year, with the children being a little older we can give them the letters in the wrong order.

Either the children with the cards sort themselves out, or other members of the group soon call out the correct order.

Not only good for literacy, but also great group cooperation!