Cooperation, coordination, rhythm, CA Social Studies Curriculum 4th, CA History, 5th Westward Movement

Children should have learned some square dancing steps beforehand. Partners are placed in a circle formation.

With a partner children have the length of the song to make up moves that are simple enough to be learned by their peers, but complex enough to be fun and interesting. Children have the whole song to try things out and make a combination that lasts 8 or 16 beats (maybe start with 8 one time through and change to 16 another day).

The second time the song is played pairs teach their movement combination to the group during the refrain. The first time all children just watch the demonstration, then try it and they all practice it through the chorus of the song. This goes on through all verses of the song.

Afterward everyone can sit and talk about what combinations worked and why they worked or didn't. This could easily turn into a performance piece. Children could also learn the words and sing with the song.

Chorus:

Hoodle dang fol dee di do

Hoodle dang fol dee day

They soon reached the desert where Betsy give out,

And down on the sand she lay rolling about,

And Ike he gazed at her with sobs and with sighs,

Quoth he "Get up Betsy, you'll get sand in your eyes."

Chorus:

The Shanghai ran off and the oxen all died,

And the last piece of bacon that morning was fried,

And Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad,

And the dog wagged his tail and looked wonderful sad.

Chorus:

Long Ike and Sweet Betsy attended a dance,

And Ike wore a pair of his Pike COunty pants,

And Betsy come dressed up in ribbons and rings,

Quoth Ike "You're an angel, but where are your wings?"

Chorus:

A miner stepped up said "Will you dance with me?"

"I will you old hoss, if you don't make too free,

I'll tell you the reason, do you want to know why,

Doggone you I'm chuck full of strong alkali."

Chorus:

Long Ike and Sweet Betsy got married of course,

But Ike getting jealous obtained a divorce.

Betsy well satisfied said with a shout,

"Good bye you big lummox I'm glad you backed out."

Chorus: