Songs for Beavers

Subject: Songs for Beavers
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:23 AM

Hey Kids,

My oldest son just started into Beavers (Scouts for 5 to 7-year-olds, for the uninitiated), and I've become a leader. The other leaders are uncomfortable singing, so I volunteered to do it.

I'm wondering what the average song length is that I can expect these kids to learn. My son is very good at remembering lyrics, and has no problem with songs with three or four verses and a chorus, but I think he may be the exception to the rule.

What do you think these kids are capable of? Maybe some two verse songs? There is a Beaver songbook, but all the songs are really lame. I'd like to teach them a few folk songs that they might not have learned otherwise.

If you'd like to suggest any songs, that'd be great too.

Thanks,
Paul

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:25 AM

Howabout Going Down the Road Feeling Bad?
They can make up their own lines.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 09:39 AM

Been out of Scouts for decades so I don't know what sort of resources they have for sale, but I know the many and various Girl Guide songbooks are loaded with songs which are either appropriate for your age group or could easily be adapted. In Canada at least, there are Guide shops which cater to just this kind of need. My wife has lots for her Brownie group, and I have great contacts within the organization at the national and provincial levels.

Feel free to contact me by PM and I will be happy to send you some samples.

In the meantime I will look up some titles for you.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 10:04 AM

There are LOTS of Scout song sites on the Internet. Ask Google.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 10:07 AM

There is also the British one about the lady all skin and bones or somesuch. I dunno, I've never been in the Scouts, the Israeli version is a sort of Young Yuppies organization that are helpless outdoors.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 10:24 AM

Campfire Sing-Along, Scouting Songbook, Songs To Sing & Sing Again, Jubilee Songbook, Songs For Canadian Girl Guides...Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 10:29 AM

Scout Songs

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 10:57 AM

Sorcha...Good link.

I just spent a few minutes looking through general Scouting books (20+ from my own collection) and there are precious few mentions of music or song and no printed music except in specific songbooks. Scouts Own has hymns without music. Mind you, there's nothing recent on my shelves. I bet there has been more focus on music in the girls programs. There should have been more music integrated into the program and resource books as well as the specific music/song books. Has that changed in recent years?

Btw, I found a copy of Scouting With The Bible by The Rev. F.C. Glover, and it's pretty interesting...forgot I had it.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 11:09 AM

Suggest you also PM Joe Offer....he has a HUGE collection of Scout song books...some time ago I sent him what he said was 'the most comprehensive he'd ever seen'.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 11:27 AM

And old dear friend of mine wrote a song years ago called, "If You're a Canadian, Show Me Your Beaver"

Teach them that... get 'em off to a good start

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 11:41 AM

Some 7 year-olds probably know words that would make you blush and stop your ears.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 11:42 AM

Me??? I doubt it.... I'm the guy your 7 year old learned those words from!

LoL

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 11:48 AM

In a similar vain there is Tom Lehrer's "Be Prepared!"

However, they might really enjoy some tongue twisters such as:

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck,
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Or the Pogo variant:

How much ground round could a hound dog hog,
If a groundhog was ground round?

Happy hunting!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:09 PM

Thanks for all the links everyone.

My other question that nobody answered is song length. Are there any kindegarten teachers in the house?

How long a song can these kids handle? ...and how many songs a night, if I'd like them to retain anything?

Thanks again,
Paul

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:14 PM

I didn't know they could read never mind sing.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Janie
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:40 PM

I'm not a kindergarten teacher, but when my own son was that age, he could remember more verses when songs also had motions that went with them. (ex. "This Old Man). Call & answer songs are also a good choice--as the leader, you may need to know a lot of verses, but the kids themselves just need to know the repetitive response and the chorus. (ex. "'Dem Bones Gonna Rise Again").

I'd would suggest limiting it to one or two songs a night. Most boys that age will not be able to stay engaged with you in song any longer than that.

Janie

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:48 PM

One Scouter (my Dad, actually) was sadistic enough to make us sing as we played British Bulldog, and we had to keep singing as we trampled one another. There was some penalty for not singing that I've forgotten now, but I do remember it was everyone's favourite game. That's what we got for having the choirmaster as Scouter...that and off-colour lyrics for songs when we went camping.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:50 PM

I'd also say pretty short....2 verses, or reptetive stuff like BINGO, Farmer in the Dell, etc.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Peace
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 01:17 PM

This thread is NOT what I thought.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 01:21 PM

LOL! Git outta the gutter!

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 01:28 PM

Good one, Peace!

June says, "Now Ward, aren't you being a little hard on the Beaver?".

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 02:19 PM

I wrote you one

Song for a Beaver

love me!
love my beaver!
cos a beaver is a man's best friend
You can stroke
put please don't poke my beaver
its very small, but easy to offend

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 12:45 PM

I guess it's too late for me to say, "Thanks for avoiding the obvious jokes"

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 12:46 PM

Oops -- that was from me.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Peace
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 02:38 PM

good link for you, Paul S

PS Sorcha took my remark comPLETEly out of context.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 03:15 PM

While a few short and simple songs may be in order to stimulate the interest of the kids, I've always assumed that a principal purpose of kid songs was so that they could learn a few very long, repetitive, and boring songs with which to annoy their parents. The kids will enjoy it, and the parents will know that they're learning something.

At that age, "99 bottles of beer on the wall" was a favorite - although I must admit my older sister usually started it. "I knew an old lady who swallowed a fly" also produced satisfying indications of annoyance from my own parents.

Parental involvement is almost impossible to get, but parental annoyance of appropriate kinds will at least keep them aware...

John

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 03:16 PM

Or you could teach them all to play spoons....

John

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 06:27 PM

Or gargle....

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 08:00 PM

Keep beavering away guys...

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Peace
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 08:04 PM

Paul S: Forgive Foolestroupe. He's Australian.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 10:39 AM

That's a great site, Peace -- thanks.

Scaramouche, I'm definitely doing Going Down the Road Feeling Bad. Making up their own verses will be a great activity. I'd like to teach them more old folky songs like that.

Sorcha, it hadn't even occurred to me to google it; I just came running here. I have a wackload of songs now.

Thanks, everyone.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 01:32 PM

Updated version of British Scout song:

'Ging gang google, google, google, wotcher, ging, gang ...' No? Sorry! ...

I'll get me coat ...

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Peace
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 09:47 PM

Lucky bunch of kids to have someone like you as their leader, Paul.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 01:55 AM

A couple of years ago I taught music to K-2nd grade. Long songs are fine, if there's some trick to remembering what's next. Cumulative songs are great (Green Grass Grew All Around, Herring's Head, etc.). Songs that have movements or a story to act out are good. (They loved hauling on the ropes and grunting to go with the Noah's Ark chantey. Songs where they can add something in -- like thinking up guests or rhymes for the guests at the froggy's wedding. Or find something where they might take turns. Any of those things will help a song last.

Don't expect them all to sing along all the time (today's kids have learned that music is a passive experience), but if there's some way for them to contribute, they will.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 09:22 AM

Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers, for John kelly the boy from Killane.
G.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 05:00 PM

Songs the kids will like that won't offend the parents too much... A tricky balancing act. Using an official scout song book might help there - if it's in the book they can't blame you.

Of course if you manage to turn on the folk process, so the kids start singing their own words, you could find yourself in hot water...

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 06:13 PM

I cannot resist posting this joke in this thread---it comes from a book of quotations and jokes on various subjects. This, of course, has to do with the different terminology used in various areas/nations---so---to the quote from the book:

Under the Topic--- Television (and you have to remember some old U S Sitcoms now)

What are the most obscene words uttered on television?

Gee, Ward, you really were hard on the Beaver last night.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 07:34 AM

Bill...Yeah I thought that was pretty funny too. That's a long echo. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 09:55 AM

MIDI File Arranged and Sequenced by Michael Petruzzi
(Need assistance with music?)
Written By: Unknown Copyright Unknown (Also, you can substitute the name Sally for Alice)
Alice the camel has five humps.
Alice the camel has five humps.
Alice the camel has five humps.
So ride, Alice, ride.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has four humps.
Alice the camel has four humps.
Alice the camel has four humps.
So ride, Alice, ride.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!


Alice the camel has three humps.
Alice the camel has three humps.
Alice the camel has three humps.
So ride, Alice, ride.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has two humps.
Alice the camel has two humps.
Alice the camel has two humps.
So ride, Alice, ride.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has one hump.
Alice the camel has one hump.
Alice the camel has one hump.
So ride, Alice, ride.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has no humps.
Alice the camel has no humps.
Alice the camel has no humps.
'Cause Alice is a horse, of course.
Actions:
This classic children's song works well to reinforce counting. When done in a group, everyone should get in as close to a circle as possible and put their arms over the shoulders of the people next to them. Then during the saying of each number of humps everyone bends at the knees. During the lines Boom, Boom, Boom then everyone bangs hips against each other. Nothing dangerous of course. Or to do individually, show five fingers when you sing "5 humps", then four, three, etc. Sway your hips from side to side on the "boom, boom, boom".

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/sally.htm
Midi file there too.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Peace
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 07:10 PM

I'm a little teapot short and stout,
Here is my handle here is my (put up other arm like a handle)
Why, good heavens, I'm a sugar bowl.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:14 PM

Peace: My apologies---now I know what the "echo" meant.    Did not see that prior posting---thought I was being original.   I have that there is not much that is original---always something out there just like what you thought up. Now---if I can think up something really new I could get the bic bucks---but not on Mudcat.

Well---be easy on the Beaver.   That Ward is a piece of work.   Nice suit and all.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:15 PM

By the way Peace---happy to hear you have graduated from Teapot to Sugarbowl---what is next---can you do an entire dinner service. We could take it on the road.

Bill H

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Peace
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:18 PM

Bill,

The 'long echo' thing was from Mooh. He often signs his posts

Peace, Mooh.

Not to worry either way. He's a great guy.

Moo, Peace.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 09:27 AM

There is a Mooh, there is a moo, tooh, and there is a Peace. What shall we dooh?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Seiri Omaar
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 03:40 PM

I'm always amazed at what the kids will pick up. I sang all the time to the kids I babysat. For example, some of the more appropriate verses to "Roll the Old Chariots Along"... (cautious editing always required). I had one kid singing the chorus of "Lord of the Dance", which was hysterical coming out of a 4 year old. Never underestimate the wee ones.

Cheers, Seiri.

PS. Mooh: O a Mooh beneath the dining table wouldn't do us any harm...

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 10:04 PM

Seiri...Shouldn't you be in class?

Love, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: open mike
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:27 AM

if you search here i am sure we have had a thread or two on scout or camp songs...

in brownies -- the young group in the girl scouts
we sang
I have something in my pocket that
belongs across my face i keep it
very close at hand in a most
convenient place
i bet you couldn't guess it
if you gessed a long long while
so i'll take it out and
put it on it's a great big brownie
SMILE..


and make new friends but keep the old
one is silver and the other's gold

see also:

http://www.angelfire.com/mi2/campsongs/

and my favorite is this----esp. the plying pig!!

http://www.flyingpigs.org.uk/index.shtml

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Seiri Omaar
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:41 AM

Mooh: Not at that hour.

Cheers, Seiri.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Marje
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:47 AM

You asked about song length - don't underestimate kids of that age. They'e quite capable of learning several verses, especially if the song tells a story, or has lots of repetition, or rude bits, or a chorus,or an obvious sequence like numbers. Most of the songs you're being directed to will have one or more of these features. In fact, if you stick to two verses, the song's over almost before they've got the hang of it - it's got to have a respectable length to be learnable.

In any case, they don't need to know all the words, they just need a confident leader who does, and then they'll join in with the bits they know or like.

I still know huge chunks of songs I learned at a very young age, and I don't remember ever making an effort to learn them.

Subject: RE: Songs for Beavers
From: Sue Wilcock
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 04:35 PM

Not sure about songs- must consider for my colony, but just wanted to say thanks for becoming a leader, we need as many as possible or scouting will disappear. Thanks again.