Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
Putting on a Show
Many young children like to put on a show for an audience. This can be simply singing a song
to a parent, or putting on a puppet show with friends. Audiences can be family, friends or
even toys.
This week’s activities, songs, stories and films have been selected to encourage confidence
and creativity in our young viewers. We also aim to extend their knowledge of the basic
processes of putting on a show.
Each day, we have two surprise guest presenters who help put on a special performance.
On Wednesday, we are visited by a donkey called Matthew.
Monday
SONGS
Peek-a-Boo
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
A Little Bit of This
Composer: Gordon Sneddon
PRESENTERS
Abi Tucker - Andrew McFarlane
GUEST PRESENTRS
Karen Pang - Teo Gebert
PIANIST
Peter Dasent
STORY
A Rat in a Stripy Sock
Author: Frances Watt
Illustrator: David Francis
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
FILM
Children Putting on a Show
(Play School, ABC)
IDEAS FOR LATER
Help to pair all the socks in the clean
washing basket at home. Odd socks can
be used to make puppets!
Put on a puppet show.
Do You Put Your Hat On...? (Do You Put Your
Sock On…?)
Composers: Val Donlon & Claire Henderson
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
If You Want to Know How
Composers: Peter Dasent & Sophie Emtage
Publisher: Origin/Control
Shake My Sillies Out
Composers: Raffi Cavoukian, Bert Simpson &
Bonnie Simpson
Publisher: Homeland Publishing (SOCAN)
Hallo! Hallo!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Hey Diddle Diddle
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Bye! Bye!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Claire Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Page 1 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
MAKE AND DO
How to Make Sock Ears
You will need:
Coloured A3 cardboard
Stapler or tape
Socks
Cut a strip of cardboard about 15cm in width
and long enough to fit around your head with
a little bit of overlap.
Fit the strip of cardboard around your head,
just above your ears and eyebrows, and tape
or staple it together for a snug fit.
How to Put on a Show
Make a stage curtain by hanging a sheet
between two chairs, or two trees. You can
decorate your curtain with paint or by
taping on bits and pieces.
Make tickets for your show by tearing up
bits of paper.
Put out cushions or chairs for your
audience, who could be family, friends or
toys.
What is your show about?
Who is going to be in your show?
Do you need to make props for your show?
Staple a sock to either side of the cardboard
headband. You could use long socks for a dog
or small baby socks for a cow.
Page 2 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
Tuesday
SONGS
Peek-a-Boo
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Hallo! Hallo!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
PRESENTERS
Karen Pang – Teo Gebert
GUEST PRESENTERS
Abi Tucker – Andrew McFarlane
PIANIST
Peter Dasent
TOLD STORY
The Royal Feast
(A story told by the Play School team))
FILM
Making Ballet Shoes
(Play School, ABC)
ANIMATION
Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat
(Play School, ABC)
IDEAS FOR LATER
Dress up as Miss Muffet and put on a Miss
Muffet show!
Find a large magnet and go on a walk
around your house. What things does the
magnet stick to?
Little Miss Muffet
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Bye! Bye!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Claire Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Bananas in Pyjamas
Composer: Carey Blyton
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Jelly on a Plate
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Hey, Hey, Hey
Composers: Judith Keyzer & Peter Dasent
Publisher: Control/Origin/ABC Music Publishing
I Like to Sing
Composers: Peter Dasent & Garth Frost
Publisher: Origin/Control
Page 3 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
MAKE AND DO
How to Make King and Queen Magnet Puppets
You will need:
2 cardboard rolls
Pink paper
Safety scissors
Tape
Marker
Wool
4 scraps of colourful, sparkly material for
royal gowns and robes
Sparkly cardboard for crowns
Paste
Glitter
Craft glue
Thick cardboard, such as cardboard
from a recycled fruit or vegetable box
3 small magnets
A wooden spoon
Cut two strips of pink paper, the same width as the cardboard rolls and long enough to wrap
around them with a little bit of overlap. Wrap each cardboard roll in pink paper and tape to
secure.
Draw a face on each roll with a marker.
Tape on some wool for hair.
Wrap a scrap of material around each roll for a royal gown and secure with tape. Tie a scrap
of material on top of each gown for a royal robe. Alternatively, you could make robes from
coloured cardboard - decorate cardboard with glitter and use ribbon to attach to
cardboard rolls.
Cut two strips of sparkly cardboard, about 4cm in width and long enough to fit around each
puppet’s head. Cut triangles along one side of each cardboard strip to create a crown
shape. Fit around the King and Queen’s head, securing with tape at the right length and
cutting off any excess cardboard. Cover the crowns in paste and sprinkle on glitter for
decoration.
Trace around the base of each cardboard roll on a piece of thick cardboard and cut out.
Use craft glue to attach the cardboard circles to the bottom of each cardboard roll, so the
bottom of each is puppet is closed. When the glue is dry, drop a magnet into the bottom of
each puppet.
Stick a magnet to a wooden spoon with craft glue and set aside to dry.
A stage can be made by elevating a piece of thick cardboard on four plastic cups. Put the
magnetic puppets on the stage and move the wooden spoon underneath the stage to
make the puppets move.
Page 4 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
How to Make an Apple and Berry Pie
You will need:
3 large green apples (Granny Smith are good)
¼ cup caster sugar
Pinch of cinnamon
60ml water
500g of frozen mixed berries
2 sheets frozen shortcrust pastry
A greased, 22cm pie dish
Milk
Baking tray
Preheat oven to 180ºC.
Peel, core and slice apples into thin, even wedges.
Place apples, caster sugar, cinnamon and water in a saucepan and cook over medium
heat for 15 minutes, or until apples are soft. Set aside to cool.
Drain apples in a sieve.
Use one sheet of shortcrust pastry to line a greased pie dish.
Spoon the apple mixture and frozen berries into the pie dish.
Lay the second sheet of shortcrust pastry over the filled pie and trim the edges, removing any
excess pastry. Use a fork or your fingers to pinch the sides together.
Use the excess pastry to make two eyes, a nose and a smiling mouth. Arrange them on top
of your pie.
Brush the top of the pie with milk.
Place the pie on a baking tray and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Page 5 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
Wednesday
SONGS
There was a Little Donkey
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
In My Little Bed
Composers: June Tillman, B. Ireson & C. Rowe
Fa La Nana
Composer: Traditional Italian
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
PRESENTERS
Leah Vandenberg – Teo Gebert
GUEST PRESENTERS
Sofya Gollan – Andrew McFarlane
PIANIST
Peter Dasent
STORY
My Uncle’s Donkey
Author & illustrator: Tohby Riddle
Publisher: Penguin Group
FILM
Guitar Making
(Play School, ABC)
IDEAS FOR LATER
Play “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
Make kitchen instruments from pots and
spoons.
Make a cushion bed for your toys.
Big Bass Drum
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Hallo! Hallo!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
The Owl and the Pussycat
Composer: Edward Lear
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Let’s Play Together
Composers: Peter Dasent & Arthur Baysting
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Bye! Bye!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Page 6 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
MAKE AND DO
How to Make a Guitar
You will need:
A cardboard roll
Safety scissors
Tape
An empty tissue box
Rubber bands
Cut 1cm slits around one end of the cardboard roll.
Fan out the slits and tape them to one end of the tissue box with masking tape.
Stretch rubber bands around the tissue box for guitar strings.
Page 7 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
Thursday
SONGS
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Composers: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Head and Shoulders
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
PRESENTERS
Leah Vandenberg – Andrew McFarlane
GUEST PRESENTERS
Teo Gebert – Karen Pang
PIANIST
Peter Dasent
TOLD STORY
The Show Must Go On
(A story told by the Play School team)
FILM
Backstage at the Opera
(Play School, ABC)
IDEAS FOR LATER
Make porridge for breakfast.
Have a teddy bear’s picnic with your
friends.
Make a collage.
Teddy Bear Twist
Composers: D. Watkins & Chris Harriott
Publisher: Mushroom/Control
Hallo! Hallo!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
The Three Bears Rap
Composers: John Fox & Max Lambert
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Humpty Dumpty
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Der Glumph
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Bye! Bye!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Page 8 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
MAKE AND DO
How to Make Face Paintings
How to Make Teddy Bear Ears
You will need:
A5 photocopies of a photograph of
your face
Different coloured paint
Paste
A3 cardboard
You will need:
Safety scissors
Brown A3 cardboard
Stapler or tape
Paste four photocopies of a photograph of
your face onto a piece of cardboard.
Paint each face a different colour.
Cut a strip of cardboard about 10cm in width
and long enough to fit around your head with
a little bit of overlap.
Fit the strip of cardboard around your head,
just above your ears and eyebrows, and tape
or staple it together for a snug fit.
Cut two short, semi-circle ears from brown
cardboard. Staple or tape them to the
cardboard headband for teddy bear ears.
Page 9 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
Friday
SONGS
Driving in My Car
Composers: Sophie Emtage & Peter Dasent
Publisher: Origin/ Control
I Like to Sing
Composers: Peter Dasent & Garth Frost
Publisher: Origin/Control
Making a Hat
Composers: Peter Dasent & Sophie Emtage
Publisher: Origin/Control
PRESENTERS
Karen Pang – Teo Gebert
GUEST PRESENTERS
Sofya Gollan – Andrew McFarlane
PIANIST
Peter Dasent
STORY
When No One’s Looking on the Farm
Author: Zana Fraillon
Illustrator: Lucia Masciullo
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Hallo! Hallo!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
Little Peter Rabbit
Composer: Traditional
Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing
Bye! Bye!
Composers: Simon Hopkinson & Chris Harriott
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
FILM
Aboriginal Dancing
(Play School, ABC)
IDEAS FOR LATER
Have your own Farmyard Derby! Make
some racing cars from old shoe boxes. Set
up a farmyard race track with a blue
material pond, a cushion hill and a green
towel field. Put your toys in the shoe box
cars and race them around the track!
Put on your own Abracadabra Show! Dress
up in a cape. Make your own magic hat
and wand. Ask a friend or family member
to hide behind something, such as a large
box, then say “abracadabra” and have
them pop out! They could pretend to be a
rabbit, dinosaur, or anything you wish. Take
turns!
Page 10 of 11
Theme Notes
Series 272: Putting on a Show
MAKE AND DO
How to Make a Rabbit Hat
How to Make an Abracadabra Hat
You will need:
Pink A3 cardboard
Safety scissors
Stapler or tape
Pencil
You will need:
Black A3 cardboard
Safety scissors
Sparkly cardboard (alternatively, we
used sparkly cardboard with sticky
backing)
Paste
Stapler or tape
Cut a strip of pink cardboard about 10cm in
width and long enough to fit around your head
with a little bit of overlap.
Fit the strip of cardboard around your head,
just above your ears and eyebrows, and tape
or staple it together for a snug fit.
Draw two long rabbit ears on pink cardboard
and cut out. Staple or tape the rabbit ears to
the pink cardboard headband.
You might like to paste cotton wool balls onto
the rabbit ears to make them white and fluffy!
Cut a strip of black cardboard about 30cm in
width and long enough to fit around your head
with a little bit of overlap
Cut moon and star shapes from sparkly
cardboard and paste them onto the black
cardboard for decoration.
Fit the strip of cardboard around your head,
just above your ears and eyebrows, and tape
or staple it together for a snug fit.
Page 11 of 11