Dance around North America 2

Boa constrictor

Der glumph!

Elephants have wrinkle

Fire in the mountain

Monkey see, monkey do

Skinamarinky dinky dink

Some folk do

Last updated: 25/04/2017 17:35

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ Round and about

compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on title at 🔊

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

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Boa constrictor O

Watch out, here comes the boa constrictor and he’s hungry; a little boy or girl on the menu would be perfect. It is written by America’s best loved poet, writer and humorist Shel Silverstein who has penned many wonderfully zany rhymes that have thrilled children all over the world. Discover more of his wicked humour in his book ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’.

Listen to a version by Johnny Cash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0cX1dogtk&feature=related

The adapted version below grew longer and longer, just like the boa constrictor, as each class year group invented new lines.

Have fun thinking of other alternatives. Instil confidence during swimming lessons by immersing a little more of the body in water each time a verse is sung.

I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor, a boa constrictor, a boa constrictor, I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor, and I don’t like it, one bit! What do you know, it’s nibbling my toe, Oh gee, it’s up to my knee, Oh my, it’s up to my thigh, Oh fiddle it’s up to my middle, What a pest it’s up to my chest, It’s getting bolder, it’s up to my shoulder, Oh heck, it’s up to my neck, Oh dread, it’s up to my .... GULP! More lines: It isn’t funny; it’s up to my tummy... Oh darn, it’s up to my arms...

Stand looking fearful, fingers to mouth and pointing with the other hand to the ground. Wave finger from side to side. Touch each part of the body as it is mentioned. On the last line crouch down and cover head with hands.

Der glumph went the little green frog O

There are many variations on this song and a few with gruesome endings can be found on Brownie and Cub websites. Try the more innocent one like these: Splish splash went the little blue fish/ but we all know fish go 'kissy kissy kiss'; Brumm brumm went the little red car one day / but we all know cars go 'BEEP! honky tonky tonk', sss sss went the little green snake one day/ but we all know snakes go shoobidoobidoo shoobidoobidoo.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPCBuWNb4qU&feature=related

Older children might like this version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNVI8iFXIIE&feature=related

Der glumph, went the little green frog one day, Der glumph, went the little green frog, Der glumph, went the little green frog one day, And the frog went: Glumph, glumph, glumph! But we all know frogs go: La di da di da! La di da di da! La di da di da! But we all know frogs go: La di da di da! They dont go: Glumph, glumph, glumph!

Crouch down and hop about like frogs. Clap hands and stretch arms diagonally Al Johnson style. Move to ‘La did a di da’ Repeat. Jump about.

Elephants have wrinkles O

Sing to the tune of the Scottish favourite, ‘Charlie is my darling’.

Children dance individually. Demonstrate how to form a trunk: hold the nose with the finger and thumb of the left hand, then thread the right arm through.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da5mKxrOKzY

If you’re not too squeamish also watch the one below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMJVMVsEWc&feature=related

}x2 Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles, Elephants have wrinkles, Wrinkles everywhere! Leader : On their toes, Group : On their toes, Leader : No-one knows, Group : No-one knows, Why-y-y-y… Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles, Elephants have wrinkles, Wrinkles everywhere! Leader : On their knees, Group : On their knees, Leader : On their toes, Group : On their toes, Leader : No-one knows, Group : No-one knows, Why-y-y-y… Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles, Elephants have wrinkles, Wrinkles everywhere!

Plod around the room waving the trunk. Wriggle the whole body Point to the named part of the body each time it is sung. As above As above. Move up the body in a cumulative fashion naming a new part of the body for each verse: hips, ears, trunk, Encouraging children to contribute a different body part name. Leader : On their teeth, SPOKEN: On their teeth, that’s ridiculous! Group : On their trunks, etc,

Fire in the mountain O

This song has its roots in Britain according to the Opie’s research. The version below is adapted from those sung in Nova Scotia and the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The game is also played in the India.

Children stand in two circles one inside the other. The outside circle has an extra child.

Fire in the mountain run, run, run You with the red coat follow with your drum, The drum shall beat and you shall run, Fire in the mountain run, run, run Rats in the garden, catch 'em Towser Cat's in the cream pie, stop her, now, sir Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough Granny does your dog bite; “No, child no!” Fire in the mountain, fun, fun, fun, Cat's in the cream jug, run, run, run. Hogs in the 'tater patch, that I know, Cows in the cornfield told me so.

The two circles move in opposite directions. At the end of the verse the circles stop and each child holds hands with the nearest child. The one left without a partner claps as the pairs swing round in the in the second verse first one way then the other, finishing in their original circle position. The odd one out then skips, weaving in and out of the inner circle, whose hands are held high. At the end of the verse they stop next to a child who then joins the outer circle. .The first child takes their place in the inner circle ready for the next game.

Monkey see, monkey do O

Monkey wearing a tail or mask, is partnered opposite a child. At the end of the chorus each monkey hands over their mask / tail to another child swapping roles. Youngest children only sing the first two lines of each refrain.

Alternatively play this game in a circle with one monkey in the middle imitating the actions of those in the ring. At the end of each chorus that monkey then points to another child who takes his place in the centre. Monkey can decide subsequent actions.

Oh, when you stomp, stomp, stomp your feet, Monkey stomps, stomps, stomps his feet, Chorus Monkey see, monkey do, Monkey does the same as you! Off we go with a toodle-oo, toodle-oo, oh toodle-oo! Pleased to meet you, how-de-doo? x2 Oh, when you hop, hop up and down, Monkey hops all-round the town. Chorus Oh, when you clap, clap, clap your hands, Monkey claps, claps, claps his hands. Chorus Oh, when you jump, jump up high, Monkey jumps, jumps, jumps up high. Chorus Oh, when you pull a funny face, Monkey pulls a funny face. Chorus Oh, when turn yourself around, Monkey turns himself around. Chorus

Child stamps feet three times. Monkey stamps feet three times. Both point to their eyes, then each other. Swing each other around. Skip off waving to find a new partner. Shake hands with new partner. Continue as above using the motions indicated by the words.

Skinamarinky dinky dink 🔊

As ‘Skiddy-merink-adink-aboomp’ this song originated in the 1910 Broadway musical, ‘The Echo. Popularized by Jimmy Durante in the 1950s, the song endured and became well known as ‘Skinnamarink-a-dinky- dink’ on Canadian TV’s Elephant Show in the 1980s hosted by Sharon, Lois and Bram.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY7Lb2Ial7Q&feature=related

Roll arms one way and then the other. Point to self, cross arms over chest and then point to the audience as illustrated below. Wave joined hands above head. Hands to cheek. Wave joined hands below lap. Sprinkle stars with waving hands over head.

Skinamarinky dinky dink,

Skinamarinky doo,

I love you!

Skinamarinky dinky dink,

Skinamarinky doo,

I love you!

I love you in the morning,

I love you late at night,

I love you in the evening

When the stars are shining bright.

Skinamarinky dinky dink,

Skinamarinky doo,

I love you!

Skinamarinky dinky dink,

Skinamarinky doo,

I love you!

Skinamarinky dinky dink,

Skinamarinky doo,

I love you!

I love you in the morning

And in the afternoon,

I love you in the evening

And underneath the moon.

Skinamarinky dinky dink,

Skinamarinky doo,

I love you!

Some folks do O

This song by Stephen C. Foster has been adapted here to give a positive message about the benefits of vigorous exercise and a cheerful outlook.

Ask children to select their favourite action for inclusion, the possibilities are endless!

A musical interlude between verses will allow children to organize themselves into pairs and groups.

Some folks like to jump, (hop, skip etc.) Some folks do, some folks do, Some folks like to jump, Just like me and you. Round we go, to the merry music so, We’ll dance by night and day, With a hop, skip, jump, It’s fun to laugh and play.

With a partner jump up and down. Point to self and partner. Team up with a second pair and skip round in a small circle. Make two new pairings from the foursome. One pair hold hands high to allow the second pair to skip under the arch. Repeat sequence with this second pair holding up hands. Continue the game with these new partners.

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