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Here in the
United States, it has become more and more difficult to stay within the
“politically correct” bounds during school “holiday” concerts. Christmas is
personally my favorite time of year, and I’m always looking for ways to
celebrate the season without stepping outside those bounds. One way I have
found, is to sing songs about all the wonderful animals we seem to hear
about only at this time of year. Camels, donkeys, doves, partridges, lions
and lambs, horses with bells, of course, reindeer! So this month’s song may
be sung strictly from a non-religious or religious point of view, depending
on your situation. I like to check out one of the easy non-fiction books on
camels at the library, and read to children before singing the song. There
are more ideas below for information to share. This is a calm and quiet song
that should spark children's imagination on what it must be like to ride a
camel across the desert on a warm star-filled night.
This song is also available on the CD
"A Season for Singing".
Ideas for Discussion with Children
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Camels are called ships of the desert because they are used to carry things
and people.
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Camels stand seven feet high (show children how high that is, and therefore
how high they would sit on top of a camel)
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Riding through the desert at night, there are no roads and no lights, and
one must steer by the stars.
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Camels, unlike horses, do not lift one foot at a time when walking. They
lift both left, then both right feet. So they rock back and forth. When
singing the song, have children pat one leg, then the other as they rock
back and forth like a camel. This should be very soothing and restful.
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I Am A Camel
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I am
a camel, a ship of the desert
Carrying packages, carrying kings
I rock as I walk back and forth cross the desert
I’ll carry you if a song you will sing
Seven feet high in the air you can ride
On a hump on my back as we move cross the sand
We follow the stars and we know where we are
In the cool of the night we will cross this land
I am a camel, a ship of the desert
Carrying packages, carrying kings
I rock as I walk back and forth cross the desert
I’ll carry you if a song you will sing
I’ll carry you if a song you will bring
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December
2008 Song of the Month