This Summer, we’ve had a brilliant time singing about picnics at Bangers & Smash!
‘If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise...’
Kitty ran picnic-themed music sessions at regular Bangers & Smash nurseries, Mother Goose Greendale, Crystal Nurseries, Under the Willow and School Outdoors Dulwich.
She also presented a family singing and junk-instrument-making event, Music in the Wildlife Garden, with Bangers & Smash co-founder, Sarah Allen, in the Mother Goose Wildlife Garden in Camberwell.
Regular Bangers & Smash nurseries
Children and staff enjoyed:
looking at pictures of picnic food and singing their own version of Do You Like?
pretending to bake biscuits while singing Biscuits in the Oven by Canadian children’s songwriter, Raffi
singing and patting their knees to Raffi’s Going On A Picnic
stamping their feet to Feet, Feet, Feet, Feet
singing and making up actions to Let’s All Go Walking (big thanks to Shirley Stump for introducing me to this song!)
passing different fruits around the circle and thinking about different ways to describe them:
crunchy pineapple
juicy watermelon
performing a rhyme with actions, Banana, Banana
listening and singing along to Fruit Salad by The Wiggles
playing along on bamboo claves to a poem about making a fruit salad, Chop, Chop, Choppity Chop
looking at pictures of fruits & nuts and playing along on claves to Bangers & Smash original, The Fruit & Nut Train
dancing to Oh, Banana and Peanut Vendor by the Kew Park Mento Band
keeping a steady pulse on claves while singing Do You Know The Muffin Man?
performing the nursery rhyme, Round And Round The Garden
singing songs about teddy bears, including:
I Know A Teddy Bear
Ha, Ha, Thisaway
Teddy Bear Hug by Raffi
taking two teddy bears for a walk in the woods while listening to The Teddy Bears’ Picnic
singing and playing bells to You Are My Sunshine
Celebrating the end of term
Mother Goose Greendale and Crystal Nurseries celebrated the end of term with special sessions featuring their favourite songs and activities and Kitty was even invited to join in with snack time afterwards!
Meanwhile, Under the Willow and School Outdoors Dulwich brought their termly projects to a close with Project Celebrations for parents and carers on Wednesday 12 July.
Staff and children sat round picnic blankets to present picnic-themed songs and activities. School Outdoors Dulwich performed together with their families as one big group while Under the Willow split into three smaller groups – babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
Check out School Outdoors Dulwich’s amazing clay picnic food!
Kitty Pidduck presents…
Music in the Wildlife Garden
Kitty and Sarah presented their annual Music in the Wildlife Garden event on Saturday 29 April.
As well as singing and junk-instrument-making, guests enjoyed pond-dipping and watery art activities courtesy of artist and Mother Goose Wildlife Garden host, Hannah Littlejones.
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
And finally, Kitty will be presenting two sessions at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses on Wednesday 30 August.
With snacks foraged from BPCG’s very own Edible Garden and lots of picnic-themed songs and activities, these family music and craft sessions will celebrate picnics, teddies and outdoor fun!
It would be great if you could come along so please do check out BPCG’s event listings at:
Have a fantastic Summer and see you in September!