Goin’ on a Monster Hunt!

I have recently returned from my vacation to the Pacific Northwest.  I spent the majority of my time in Portland, Oregon.  I absolutely love this city, I spent two years there completing my undergraduate degree at Portland State University before moving on to receive my masters degree.  I enjoy the people, the food, and most importantly Powell’s Books.  Of the four days we were in Portland we went to Powell’s three times.  And as any good therapist/teacher does I purchased some books/items to use with my clients.  One of the books that were purchased was Papertoy Monsters.  I have many plans for this book and as I formulate the plans I will post them here on my blog. 

I was a girl scout for many years and when you are a girl scout you become very knowledgeable with campfire/children’s songs.  One of the songs I remember that I thought could best be utilized with the above-mentioned book was the ever popular “Goin’ on a Squeege Hunt!”  Below I have adapted “Goin’ on a Squeege Hunt!” and “Goin’ on a Bear Hunt!” from the following sites www.substituteteacher.com and www.timmyabell.com.  This activity will work on prepositions, recall, following directions, and many others. 

Before I begin the song with my clients we will place the names of a few of the monsters that are in the Papertoy Monsters book in a basket.  One of the clients will draw the name from the basket and hand it to me.  The monster will be revealed at the end of the song so don’t peak.  If you don’t have the book that is fine, this would be a great opportunity to ask your clients/students to come up with their own monster creations or name some monsters/things/animals they find scary.

Stand up with students and march in place.  Use a singsong voice.  If some of your clients are lower and/or have some attention difficulties you can shorten the song and/or use pictures with Velcro to help keep them on task and aide in documenting the travel.

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  A door!

Can’t go over it.

Can’t go around it.

Got to go through it.

Swish (mime opening a door)

Swish (mime closing a door)

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  A fence!

Can’t go over it.

Can’t go under it.

Got to go through it.

Creak (mime opening a gate)

Creak (mime closing a gate)

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  A tree!

Can’t go through it.

Can’t go under it.

Got to go up it.

Up Up Up Up Up!

Down Down Down Down Down!

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  A hole!

Can’t go under it.

Can’t go over it.

Got to go around it.

Run Run Run Run Run.

Phew! (wipe sweat from brow)

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  A lake!

Can’t go around it.

Can’t go over it.

Got to go through it.

Splash Splash Splash Splash Splash

Kick Kick Kick Kick Kick.

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  Some mud!

Can’t go under it.

Can’t go around it.

Got to go through it

Squish Squish Squish Squish Squish.

Squelch Squelch Squelch Squelch Squelch.

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  Some thorns!

Can’t go over them.

Can’t go through them.

Got to go under them.

Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch.

(Mime pulling thorns out and ask the students what you are doing)

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms wide) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.

I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me!  Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  A cave!

Can’t go around it.

Can’t go under it.

Got to go in it.

Tip toe  Tip toe Tip toe Tip toe Tip toe.

(Tiptoe and whisper using a scared/nervous voice)

Goin’ on a Monster Hunt. (Students repeat) Goin’ on a Monster Hunt.

Gonna catch a BIG (hold arms not as wide as before) one. (Students repeat) Gonna catch a BIG one.  I’m not afraid (Point to self and shake head). (Students repeat) I’m not afraid.  Are you (Point to the students)? (Students repeat) Are you? Not me (Shake head and finger)! (Students repeat) Not me! Look! What’s that ahead?! (point straight ahead)  Some EYES! And there getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER! RUN!!!! 

Out the cave (running quickly in place), through the thorns Ouch Ouch Ouch, through the mud squish squelch squish squelch, through the lake splash kick splash kick splash kick, around the hole run run run, up the tree up up up, down the tree down down down, through the gate (mime opening gate) creak (mime closing gate) creak, in the cabin swish  (mime opening door) crash (mime slamming a door shut).  (Sit in chairs and pretend to wipe sweat from brow) Phew!  We still didn’t catch a monster!  (It is now time to reveal the monster that chased you back to the cabin)

After the song is over have your clients/students look at the monster they were hunting.  Here are some of the activities:

1: Attributes- have them look at the monster and describe the monster.

2: Recall- have them name in order their path of travel to the cave.

3: Questions- ask them “yes/no” and “Wh-“questions about their travel.

I hope that this blog entry is useful and please feel free to leave comments/ideas about what you would like to do or have done with this song.  Thanks

Sam