Singing Games Activity Book - Pease Pudding Hot

The "Pease Pudding Hot" activity book presents a traditional singing game that offers a fun and interactive way for children to engage with music. The song itself is simple and repetitive, with lyrics that playfully describe pease pudding in various states—hot, cold, and nine days old. The melody is straightforward, consisting of short phrases punctuated by rests, which are cleverly incorporated into the game by assigning specific actions to each rest. For instance, during the first rest, children are encouraged to wipe their brow as if feeling hot, during the second they hug themselves as if cold, and during the third, they express disgust with a 'bleah!' sound.

The game is versatile, allowing for multiple ways to perform the song. Children can sing the tune while performing the actions, hum it, or even think it silently, all the while continuing the actions. This can be developed further by clapping during the rests. Additionally, "Pease Pudding Hot" can be sung as a canon, where groups start the song two beats apart, creating a round-like effect. The activity book also suggests rhythm tapping exercises, both individually and in a canon format, with or without the use of 'thinking voices'. For a more physical challenge, ball game versions are included, where children pass or bounce a ball in time with the music, aiming to maintain the rhythm without errors. These activities not only make learning music enjoyable but also help to develop timing, coordination, and listening skills.