I am a singer/songwriter and for most of my adult life I have used my talents to work with children. Writing songs for children is a lot of fun for me. I have been providing music classes for day cares and pre-schools for many years and have learned a lot about what makes children laugh. I wrote this album specifically for Halloween. Here are some ideas for teachers and parents on how to use these songs: 1) Peek-a-BOO!! — I like to play Halloween Peekaboo with the day care classes...you hide your eyes and slowly, and with a crescendo, say Peeek Ahhhhh BOO!! With the emphasis on BOO!! Kathy Small, a pre-school teacher and Early Intervention Specialist, told me that her husband, Terry, made a cardboard tree about 4 feet tall for this song. Each child gets a turn to be the goblin, and hide behind the tree and peek out. As another child walks by, the “goblin” jumps out and says BOO!! 2) Old Mrs. Witch — I have a rattle that is a witch with scraggly hair and a mildly scary face. I used it in the recording of this song. It is an effective prop in the classroom. A paper witch on a string or a stick to make it appear to be flying, and a little jackolantern (see below) are good props for this song. 3) Skeletons — I thought it was a funny idea that skeletons couldn’t eat what they received in their trick or treat bags. If you have claves, rattles, or musical sticks in your classroom you can use them to play along with this song for the sound of bones. 4) A Bat Can’t Wear A Hat — I have a stuffed animal that’s a bat. I found a little plastic orange hat that I hold on the bat’s head as I hold him upside down. When I get to the part “it will fall right in the guano” I let the hat fall and make the “plop” noise. This never fails to get a laugh. 5) Pumpkin Patch — After hearing the song, you can play a game that the children are pumpkins sitting in a pumpkin patch. They all say “pick me”. You pick someone and then they make a funny face for the rest of the class. 6) Who Ate The Candy? You can sit in a circle and play this in the manner of “Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar” (Jenny stole the candy from my trick or treat bag. Who me? Yes you! Couldn’t be! Then who? Sean stole the candy...etc...) Do the rhythm with hands alternately clapping, then tapping knees. 7) Three Ghosts — I wanted to make another counting down song like my 5 Big Dump Trucks song from "3 and some other catchy little numbers..." You can make props with three pieces of white tulle. Make the tulle “float” across the room by tossing it slightly up in front of you then blowing hard. 8) Halloween Who Am I? — I wrote some of these riddles for another project and here are some for a Halloween theme. You can pause the music before the answer is given, giving the children more time to guess. 9) A Haunted House — Here is a song that could be turned into a miniature play for the classroom. The children can pantomime the lyrics. You could use a real mirror. 10) Who Will You Be? — I always like to hear what each child is planning to dress as for Halloween. There are opportunities for pretend play here: a witch, ghost, alien, astronaut, dinosaur...call out the new character and watch the children transform themselves...let them run, fly, stomp around the room... then become themselves again. 11) Jackolantern — This song can inspire the drawing of jackolanterns. Magic markers on miniature pumpkins make wonderful props, especially for the song Five Little Pumpkins Sitting On A Gate. 12) Vampire’s Ball — It’s not easy to produce a ghoulish laugh. Have everyone try it. 13) Halloween Hullaballoo! — This song mentions instruments and dancing. It is really about a having a fun time on Halloween. Tulle scarves, (think bridal veil netting), are fun to dance with all year long and make excellent ghosts. Tulle is inexpensive and fairly easy to find. One yard can produce three scarves. You cut and use...no hemming involved. They are washable and durable. Dancing with these scarves is really fun. Find some good dance music; try Disco, Irish, Brazilian, or Classical tracks. For Halloween, “Ghostbusters” is a good choice, as is Halloween Hullaballoo! Have the students throw the scarves up high and catch them, blow them across the room, scrunch them into a ball and throw them. You’ll be having a Halloween Hullabaloo!