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Bookbug Session Plan: Scots
Discover our special Bookbug Session plan, perfect for Session Leaders keen to share Scots with families around Burns Night. We have carefully selected songs, rhymes and a picture book that focus on speech and language development, rare words and having fun with language.
Session Leaders might also be interested in watching our Scots webinar, which was recorded live in January 2022.
Every first Monday of the month on our Instagram(this will open in a new window), one of our trainers shares a song or rhyme using Makaton signs. This month's Makaton Monday is 1, 2, 3, My Mammy Caught a Flea from this session plan.
Introduction song
Benefits
Familiar start – lets everyone know a Bookbug session has started.
Tips
Smile and if you know your group, why not use the names of the wee ones? Clap or tap along to the beat and use signs if you know them. You can also use Makaton to support The Hello Song.
Familiar rhymes
Benefits
This familiar short rhyme is great for positive touch and building trust between wee ones and their grown-ups.
Tips
Build up anticipation and pause before the moose goes into his wee hoose. Make use of the opportunity to exaggerate your facial expressions and eye contact with Bookbug when you model this rhyme. This short rhyme can also be repeated many times over, and on lots of different body parts – hands, feet, knees and even cheeks.
Benefits
Another tactile rhyme, there are lots of opportunities for face-to-face play. It's also a great way to play with sounds and Scots language.
Tips
Babies love looking at faces, so let them see your expressions as you laugh, or raise your eyebrows, etc. Have the wee ones 'catch a flea, catch a flea. . .' in the air, or under the covers at bedtime or wake-up time. If there's more than one child, then one could say the rhyme to the other while touching the other child's face, then swap around.
Song with actions
Benefits
This popular Scots song has lots of opportunities for joining in with the chains of three.
Tips
Babies will enjoy being cradled in your arms or on your lap, with lots of eye contact and facial expression. Highlight the counting aspect of the song, holding up three fingers from the start and curling two down to leave one raised as you sing 'The first craw. . .', raising a second for 'The second craw. . .', etc. Encourage families with older children to take part in the actions, showing what has happened to each of the three craws.
Active rhymes
1, 2, 3, My Mammy Caught a Flea
Benefits
This rhyme has a strong beat and encourages counting and storytelling. It's great for repetition, and it's funny too!
Tips
Bounce your baby along to the strong beat in this rhyme and mouth the words slowly and clearly for them to follow. This is great for encouraging speech development. With older children, share the actions in this rhyme together such as shaking the salt and pepper, then roasting and eating the flea.
Transition song
I wonder what's in my bag today?
Benefits
Builds anticipation and keeps the children's attention.
Tips
Sign the key words if you know them. Sing to the tune of 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush'. 'I wonder what's in my bag today, bag today, bag today. I wonder what's in my bag today, come and take a look. . . at Bookbug's favourite book!'
Book
Ally Bally Bee by Kathryn Selbert
Benefits
This traditional Scots song – and Bookbug Session favourite – has been reimagined in book format for little ones.
Tips
Why not invite children to lift the flaps as you sing along, revealing what the little teddy is getting up to on each page? If possible, prepare for your session by having multiple copies to hand. There's so much to discover in the illustrations, and it's a perfect one to suggest to families for bedtime, too, if you sing along in a calm, soothing voice. Why not keep singing the song after you have finished sharing the story? 'Sitting on your daddy's / granny's / grown-up's knee'?
Lullaby/calming song
Benefits
Calming song to help wind down the session. Focus on bedtime routines and use of Scots words.
Tips
Try stroking your wee one while you sing this gentle lullaby. Older children might enjoy a cuddle, or even using simple actions – 'running' upstairs, downstairs, 'rapping' at the lock or tapping their imaginary watch – 'it's past eight o'clock'!
Last song
Benefits
Tells everyone the session is coming to an end.
Tips
Smile, wave and use the children's names again.