FAWM: "The Walking Cheeseburger (Collab w/2nd Grade)"

The Walking Cheeseburger (Collab w/2nd Grade)

3 days ago by @carleybaer

The Walking Cheeseburger (Collab w/2nd Grade)

carleybaer

00:00

Liner Notes

#ukulele #classroom

Songwriting is something I do with my classes on our so-called "Wacky Wednesdays." Older grades write their own songs and perform them open mic style, but with 2nd grade, I have them break off into pairs or small groups and contribute a line that I then arrange on the board.

For the chorus, they submitted a bunch of ideas into the prompt box, and we picked The Walking Cheeseburger. I then had 6 kids roll colored dice to determine the chorus melody on a xylophone. The colors they rolled corresponded to "so mi do, fa fa so" which fit very nicely with the chorus idea. We then looked for rhymes with "around" which informed the narrative arc of the story.

I told them I would share this with my songwriter friends, and then show them the comments when I see them again on Friday, which they're very excited about. (Special thanks to @ductapeguy for reminding me how to use FAWM in a classroom.)

Lyrics

He is wearing sunglasses He is fat and cheesy He's the best clown in sea town See that cheeseburger walk in the pool and drown

See that cheeseburger walking around He's the coolest in the town (x2)

He's the biggest fattest clown In the town and he drowned He is jumping up and down You see him walking with his band

Chorus

And he loves God, he loves God so much, more than all the other foods Even a chicken wing, that's right Even a chicken wing!

Comments

@nadine 14h

I wish I could sit in this class room. My music lessons were never so fun! Never discussed about songwriting, or sang along compositions of teachers. You hear that the kids are having fun,

@edwinb 2d

It sounds like everyone is having so much fun here! Yay for the cool cheeseburger. I had to resist singing along too loud or my colleagues might think I'm a bit stranger than they already do. It was hard to resist.

@sadpenguin 3d

I love this! Kids absolutely rule, and what I great idea to do this with your class.

@beacon 3d

I want to see all the 2nd graders each be an instrument in the walking cheeseburger's matching band. I bet everyone loves to see that cheeseburger!

@troubadette 3d

For the kids: The BIGGEST round of applause to these awesome young songwriters who absolutely crushed it! How cool is it to write songs with your friends? Well done finding all those rhymes, and it was great to hear all your lovely singing voices. What a catchy chorus - I think it will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day!

For Carley: OBSESSED with the approach to this - so simple, but so brilliant! As someone who can often be described as a fat cheesy clown, this might be my new anthem. Making things with kids is one of the true delights of my life personally and I absolutely love this so, so much.

@ductapeguyMod 3d

Hello Grade 2s. This is Mr. McGaughey. I am a retired music teacher from Ontario Canada. I used to write songs with my students too. This song made me hungry. A few years ago my grade 3s and I wrote a song about a really cool dog who ate cheeseburgers. Here it is. https://sean.mcgaughey.ca/2024/2024FAWM/SeanMcGaughey-40-FAWM24-BestDog.mp3

@stephenwordsmith 3d

I think we should all aspire to the cheeseburger's levels of confidence and self-image. Be proud to be a fat, cheesy clown who might occasionally fall (fatally) into a pool.

There's room for a sequel, for sure, because there are some unanswered questions. He has a band? Are they made of fries? Does one of them play the tuber (oh dear)?

And where is God in all this? I think a praise and worship song where the love for God is compared to the love for various fried foods might resonate with modern young audiences. There are certainly more strained analogies out there in contemporary Christian music.

@negasi 3d

Who doesn't love a big fat cheesy sunglasses wearing burger. A pool in sea town?! I guess that's for when the sea is too dangerous! Very nice song!

@nancyrostMod 3d

God is a delicious food! I love the chorus. Who is in the cheeseburger's band?

@carleybaer 1d

To answer the question "who is in the cheeseburger's band" the 2nd graders have decided that it is more cheeseburgers, and the milkshake and the fries. And the ketchup squirter.

@sapient 3d

I LOVE that chorus! I reckon I'm going to have it stuck in my head all night... gosh. Hope I can sleep through it! I want to know more about the Cheeseburger band. Who else is in it? Mr Pickle on the piccolo? Tommy and Tammy Tomato on the tuba? Betty Bun on the bassoon? Who else...? Also, what a fantastic way to write a song. Kinda surprised you've not got the Slack crew doing this yet... ;)

@wynia 3d

Catchy cool cheeseburger! 😎YOU are the coolest teacher 🤩 and these kids sing so well! Way to go second grade

@betoMod 3d

OMG, who's the coolest teacher in the town? I'm sure it's Ms. Bear! You all did a great job with those rhymes, and most importantly, I'm sure you all had a lot of fun writing this song!