While the cold weather is here we’ll be warming ourselves up by singing songs about animals we find in the jungle. We’ll be squawking and flying with parrots, rolling around with the hippopotami in their muddy pool and stomping with the elephants. We’ll be using our new shakers to slither with the rattlesnakes and we’ll be searching for that naughty monkey who keeps hiding. Children learn such a lot through the medium of song especially when those songs are accompanied by actions. They will name familiar objects around the room, name body parts and also incorporate names of actions: we move “faster” and “slower”, stretch “higher” and “lower” and respond to instructions such as “stop” and “go”. Some of the songs will be traditional favorites such as “Walking through the Jungle” and “Wind your Bobbin Up” which some of the children will already be familiar with. Other songs should be new to you with a jungle theme and using lots more colourful props, instruments and puppets.   We shall also be experiencing traditional music from Africa and music such as David Fanshawe’s “African Sanctus”, a 20^th century piece based on traditional African chants.