Saturday, August 16, 2014

Our FAV Vintage Back to School Songs





Welcome to our Back to School Song & FREEBIE Page. We always start our Back to School this year with these timeless "Apple for the Teacher" & "School Days" songs written by the great songwriter and vaudeville producer, Gus Edwards sung by the children of yesteryear  featuring the master crooner himself, Bing Crosby. The is part 2 of Songs From the Movie STAR MAKER as after tying over & over again, I have been unable to link directly to part 3. The link below it is part 3 which contain the 2 songs we are referring to. You will NOT want to miss it!!!










Back to School with Bing 



An Apple For The Teacher

An apple for the teacher
That seems the thing to do
Because I want to learn
About romance from you.
An apple for the teacher
To show I'm meek and mild,
If you insist on saying
That I'm just a problem child.
You'll get all my attention,
Your wish will be my rule;
And maybe you'll be good to me
And keep me after school
An apple for the teacher
That's how I'd better start,
The after while you may give in
And let me bring my heart

An apple for the teacher
Will always do the trick,
When you don't know
Your lesson in arithmetic
An apple for the teacher
Will meet with great success
If you forgot to memorize
The Gettysburg Address
A little bit of glamour
A charm that's cute and quaint;
And he'll excuse your grammar
And believe you're what you ain't.
You may be just a lemon
But he'll think you're a peach
Just bring an apple for the teacher
When he starts to teach




School Days

 by: Gus Edwards

School days, school days;
Dear old golden rule days;
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick!
You were my queen in calico;
I was your bashful barefoot beau.
You wrote on my slate,
"I love you so,"
When we were a couple of kids. 





Bet you wish those days were back again in your classroom…well, they can be when you sign up for our A Kinders Graten Vintage Homeschool newsletter. Our newsletter will do just that for your classroom bringing you our best vintage (and a few new here and there) printables, games, crafts and ideas right into your inbox…sign up TODAY so your class will NOT miss out on the educational value of yesteryear!! 




School is back in session…are your students still wishing it were the carefree days of Summer Vacations like this boy of yesterday?





If you have any teens this year that just cannot seem to get into the swing of another year Bing gives some excellent uplifting advice to the teens from the post war days of yesteryear:

 


The following Back to School Songs are fun and useful resources for:

Introducing Poetry to Children

Practicing Fine Motor Skills

Following Directions

Introducing Concepts

Rhythm and Beat Introduction

Here are some ways to choose your songs for the day:
Roll the dice the child with the highest or lowest number gets first pick, then subsequent. If you are in a large classroom, have each child roll the dice, highest or lowest number gets first pick by their alphabetical order first names. 
Make a chart of the back to school fingerplays and poems the children know along with ones you introduce. Use thematic cut outs to write the poems on. Move your pointer slowly down the list. Tell the children they are to choose the song to be sung by clapping the loudest when the pointer is opposite their favorite.



For some of the following back to school songs, you may want to  incorporate some of our FREE Back to School Patterns. So come back and visit our blog again to get the links.

We get our homeschooled babes excited about the new school year the on the first day with the following songs:


ABCDE

A-B-C-D-E,
 School is where I want to be!
F-G-H-I-J,
Learning to read and write each day.
K-L-M-N-O,
The ABC’s I want to know.
P-Q-R-S-T,
Reading books to you and me.
U-V-W-X-Y,
Learning is the reason why,
Z –
School is where I want to be!



Here we are and we’ re ready to start,
Singing do-wah-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy do;
Eyes and ears are doing their part,
Singing do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do;
We look good! (We look good!)
We look fine! (We look fine!)
We look good! We look fine!
All our brains are gonna shine! SH!



Sing to: Mary had a Little Lamb

Everybody wave hello, wave hello, wave hello,
Everybody wave hello,
Let us have some fun.
Everybody wave hello, wave hello, wave hello,
Everybody wave hello,
Now our song is done.



Sing to: Zip-a-dee-do-dah

I am excited, it's my first day!
I'm going to learn and I'm going to play!
Zip-a-dee-do-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

It is time for us to go, now.
We're gonna ride the school bus,
Our new teacher is waiting for us!

Zip-a-dee-do-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay-
Wonderful feeling, on my first day!




Sing to: Brownie Smile - If you are unfamiliar with the tune, click here:


I awoke this morning, ate my breakfast early.
I dressed by myself and off to school I hurry.
School, school, here I am today.
Now I am ready to read, I get to sing and play. 




Choose a child either at random or by lots.

Sing to: Frere Jacques 

Hello, (child's name), hello, (child's name)
How are you? How are you?
We're so glad to have you,
We're so glad to have you,
Here at school, here at school. 




Sing to: Did you Ever See a Lassie

Here we are together,
Together, together,
Here we are together,
Back at school again
There's ____ , and ____, and _______,
(etc, until every child has said their name)
Here we are together,
Back at school again.

Another Version for sitting:

Here we sit together, together, together
Here we sit together, all here on the floor.
There's ________ and ________ and ________
(etc, until every child has said their name)
Here we sit together, all here on the floor.



Have the children draw lots to choose who will be first. When the child is done singing, have them choose another child.

Sing to: Frere Jacques

I am (name),
I am (name),
That's my name,
That's my name,
I am glad to be here,
I am glad to be here,
At school today,
At school today.



Sing to: The Farmer in the Dell

I like to go to school, I like to go to school.
Heigh-ho-the-derry-oh, I like to go to school.
I like to sing new songs, I like to sing new songs.
Heigh-ho-the-derry-oh, I like to sing new songs.
I like to play with friends, I like to play with friends.
Heigh-ho-the-derry-oh, I like to play with friends. 

 

Sing to: It's a Small World 

We will study hard,
And we'll make new friends.
There's so much to do 'til the school year ends.
We will read, write and spell,
And do math very well,
In (teacher's name 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc) Grade class.
In (teacher's name 1st, 2nd, 34r, etc) Grade class.
In (teacher's name 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc) Grade class. 
In (teacher's name 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc)
There's so much for us to do!
We raise our hands to speak,
We work quietly at our seats.
We use voices soft and sweet,
We keep our places tidy and neat.
We are helpful, friendly, and fair,
We take turns and willingly share.


If you have a child who will be in Kindergarten this year or teach Kindergarteners, this song is a first day build up.


Sing toTwinkle, Twinkle

Kindergarten (1st Grade, 2nd Grade, etc.) here we come!
We know we'll have lots of fun.
Lots of things to make and do.
Reading, writing, counting, too.
Kindergarten, here we come!
We know we'll have lots of fun. 



This song is an excellent supplement to the book The Kissing Hand 


Sing to: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Here's a special thing to do,
When I am scared of leaving you.
Hold my hand, then kiss it here,
The kiss will help to keep you near.
It will help me through my day,
So I can work and learn and play.




Sing to: A-hunting We Will Go 

Off to school we go,
Oh, it's off to school we go,
We'll take our lunch and ride the bus,
With everyone we know.
Off to school we go,
Oh, it's off to school we go,
We'll learn our ABC's and more,
With everyone we know. 



Oh, what a beautiful Mornin',
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I've got a beautiful feelin',
We'll do some learning today!

I have eyes that are looking for learning,
I have ears that are ready to listen,
and a teacher who loves me for just being me.
My head and my heart are quite open, you see.

Oh, what a beautiful Mornin',
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I've got a beautiful feelin',
We'll do some learning today!

 

First start marching in place and call out
"left, right, left, right left."  After calling out a few times, begin...
1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.  grade, first grade, what you say?
(Students echo)
We're gonna have some fun today!
(Students echo)
We're gonna read and write and spell!
(Students echo)
We do these things very well!
(Students echo)
Sound off!
(Students sing out 1,2)
Sound off!
(Students sing out 3,4)
Bring it on down now!
(Students sing out 1,2,3,4...1,2....3,4!) 



Sing to: Sing a Song of Sixpence 
Sing a song of gladness;
Another year's begun!
We'll be busy learning
Till the year is done.
Sing a song of good times,
For all my friends and me!
Brand new discoveries every day.
Yes, school is the place to be! 


September is Here
Sing to: The Farmer in the Dell
September is here.
September is here.
School has begun, we will all have fun,
September is here.


 

Sing to: Mary Had A Little Lamb
Our teacher comes to school each day,
School each day, school each day.
Our teacher comes to school each day,
To help us learn and grow.
She smiles and helps us learn all day,
Learn all day, learn all day.
She smiles and helps us learn all day,
We're glad we come to school



The First Twelve Days of School
Sing to: The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of school  (Hold up 1 finger.)
My teacher gave to me
A book of the ABC’s.
2nd – two new pencils   (Hold up 2 fingers.)
3rd – three color crayons   (Hold up 3 fingers.)
4th – four glue sticks   (Hold up 4 fingers.)
5th – five gold stars   (Hold up 5 fingers.)
6th – six pairs of scissors  (Hold up 6 fingers.)
7th – seven school boxes  (Hold up 7 fingers.)
8th – eight spiral notebooks  (Hold up 8 fingers.)
9th – nine wooden rulers  (Hold up 9 fingers.)
10th – ten magic markers  (Hold up 10 fingers.)
11th – eleven pink erasers (Hold up 10 fingers, close, and then hold up 1.)
12th – twelve library books   (Hold up 10 fingers, close, and then hold up 2.)

                
Sing to: The Farmer in the Dell
The school bus comes for me.
The school bus comes for me.
Hey ho, it’s time to go.
The school bus comes for me.
First we pick up John,
Next we pick up Susie,
Then we pick up ?
Last we pick up ?
Now we are at school.
Now we are at school.
Clap and cheer we’re finally here.
Now we are at school.



Sing to: You Are My Sunshine
The summer's over, no more vacation,
But I have had lots of fun!
Now I am happy & I'm excited,
Now at last the school year's begun!


Sing to: B-I-N-G-O 
There was a class that had a girl/boy,
And ____ was her/his name-o,
Jump, jump ____ (Child's name),
Jump, jump, ____ (Child's name),
Jump, jump, ____ (Child's name),
We're glad you're here today.

Sing to: Frere Jacques
Teacher:  Where is __________?  Where is _______?
Child:       Here I am, Here I am.
Teacher:  How are you this morning:
Child:       Very well, I thank you.
Teacher:   Hop away. Hop away.
                (Child hops away)
Repeat using other children.  You may want to vary the final action to walk, skip, or jump away, etc.
Another Version:
Where is (name),
Where is (name),
Here I am, here I am,
How are you today (name)?
Very well thank-you.
Yes indeed, yes indeed.

Sing to: If You're Happy & You Know It
\
The first thing on your paper is your name, (and the date)
The first thing on your paper is your name. (and the date)
The teacher ought to know who did this work, and so,
The first thing on your paper is your name. (and the date)

Another Version:

Put your name on your paper, Write it down, (clap, clap)
Put your name on your paper,  Write it down! (stomp, stomp)
Put your name on your paper,  
Put the date on your paper,
Put your number on your paper, Write it down! (clap, stomp)

Does your homeschool or class have any Back to School song FAVS not listed? If so, post them in the comments or email us at akindersgarten@earthlink.net. We sure would like to sing them in our homeschool, others may enjoy them  as well. 

Now here is your FREEBIE Back to School Song Sheet from our Teachers Notebook Store:




Be sure to come back & visit us again soon for MORE vintage Back to School activities & FREEBIES!!! See you then!!

C.S. Calkins

© 2014 C.S. Calkins All Rights Reserved
© 2020 C.S. Calkins All Rights Reserved


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