Submitted by Stephanie Hunter, Minnesota

Idea posted June 13, 2011

My 4th graders learned "Chumbara." Then I gave them sheets with the music on it and had them make up their own funny word(s) and perform it for the class in groups of 4. Everyone had to write the text on the music (6 points), and everyone had to perform (4 points). It was a half-hour hoot! Here were my favorites:

The word "chumbara" became...

  • Penguin man, penguin man... pen pen pen pen...
  • I love you, I love you... love love love love...
  • I eat bugs, I eat bugs... yum yum yum yum...
  • Spaghetti, spaghetti... yum yum yum yum... (on the descending scale)... and at the end, octave jump, "MEAT-BALL!"