Song of the Month

Every month the song/dance/activity will change. Many of the songs will be from my Recordings. Please print the page and do the activity with your child. Teachers may print the page to use with their classes. If you have questions, Contact Me.

July 2011

Going to Kentucky

Listen to the whole song on Baloney!, or hear it here:

This wonderful old chestnut will get ANY child shaking. Using a variable tempo, slow – fast, keeps everyone alert for changes and smiles abound! I've used all kinds of shakers – maracas, egg shakers, bottle shakers, even old film cans with popcorn can work.

WARNING: Please be careful if you want to make shakers – be sure they are securely sealed. DO NOT use plastic Easter eggs taped or glued together – if they break, they produce very sharp shards which can hurt a child quickly. I make bottle shakers from empty plastic beverage bottles – see instructions below.

NOW GET SHAKING!

Lyrics:

We're going to Kentucky, we're going to the fair To see a senorita, with roses in her hair, OH Shake it baby, shake it! Shake it if you dare! Shake it like a milkshake, Oh shake it here to there! SOOO, rumble to the bottom, rumble to the top Then turn around and turn around Until it's time to STOP! (repeat, going faster each time!) Spoken rhyme for putting away shakers: Shake your shaker slowly, as slowly as can be Now shake your shaker quickly, do it just like me. Shake your shaker high Shake your shaker low One last shake … and away it goes!

Movements:

Start by shaking your shaker on the beat, evenly. You can start shaking faster as it gets to "Shake it, baby". Lift your shaker above your head on "SOOO", then shake it all the way to the floor and back up again as you "rumble to the bottom, rumble to the top!" Then turn around while shaking, and STOP!

Age Range: If you're old enough to shake, you can do this song. I generally start with my older 1's, and enjoy this song with all the way to 7 and 8 year olds.

Purpose: Gross-motor movement skills, keeping a steady beat, working with tempo changes, following directions and listening.

BOTTLE SHAKERS: To make a bottle shaker you need:

1. a clean, dry sturdy plastic bottle, 8 - 16 oz size, cap and plastic ring removed. Use goo-gone to remove residue from label if necessary.
2. 1/4 - 1/2 cup of filling (buttons, beads, popcorn, sand - a variety of sounds is good)
3. Duck tape - comes in many colors - get the 2" size roll
4. Newspaper

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Put the filling in the bottle.
• Cut the newspaper into long strips, about 4" wide - you'll need 12 - 16 strips stacked together, depending on the mouth of your bottle. Roll the stack into a tight handle.
• Place about 1" into the neck of your bottle Place a 3" strip of tape over the top of the newspaper. Crush around the sides. Start winding a tape from top of handle all the way to the neck of the bottle, then back to the top! Ta dah! You have a shaker!

More Songs of the Month