Fill the Basket Sample Song.pdf

Fill the Basket

Music and Lyrics by Anne Meeker Watson

Targeted signs:
ALL-DONE, APPLE, BANANA,
EAT/FOOD, LOVE/HUG/SNUGGLE, ORANGE,
PLAY/TOY, PLEASE, SHARE,

S TO P, WA N T

Bonus signs:
CARROT, GRAPES, PEACH,

My son Kevin was the inspiration for this tune because he never met a fruit or vegetable he didn’t like. He loved for me to tell him a bedtime story that consisted of us naming all the goodies we could put in a basket and take on a picnic to our imaginary “Fruit Island.”

I wrote this sweet song to give young children the opportunity to learn and practice words associated with eating, including food choices and manners. I recommend singing and signing the food vocabulary for the first verse and singing food words without signing for the following verses. You can teach and practice all of the food signs included on our bonus sign list as you enjoy them during snacks and meals. The tempo of the song is quick, and I do not want children to be overwhelmed by the demands of signing every food. Our goal is for them to enjoy the song! Add gestures and signed words as they are willing and able.

With repeated opportunities to sing “Fill the Basket,” your children will “fill” the song

Fill the basket to the top.
Fill the basket to the top.
Time to eat.
So please don’t stop!

Fill the basket to the top.

VERSE 1.

Do you want banana?
Yes, please! Yes, please!
Do you want an orange?
Yes, please! Yes, please!
Do you want an apple?
Yes, please! Yes, please!
All done. All done.
Time to play. Time to play.

Dance
Dance
Sign EAT
Sign STOP

Do you want a pear?
Yes, please! Yes, please!
All done. All done.
Time to play. Time to play.

Then it’s time to...

VERSE 2.

Sign WANT or BANANA
Sign PLEASE
Sign WANT or ORANGE
Sign PLEASE
Sign WANT or APPLE
Sign PLEASE
Sign ALL-DONE
Sign PLAY

Do you want some grapes?
Yes, please! Yes, please!

Do you want a peach?
Yes, please! Yes, please!

Sign WANT
(Optional: sign PEACH)
Sign PLEASE
Do you want some grapes? Sign WANT
(Optional: sign GRAPES)
Sign PLEASE
Sign WANT
(Optional: sign PEAR)
Sign PLEASE
Sign ALL-DONE
Sign PLAY

VERSE 3.

Do you want tomatoes?
Yes, please! Yes, please!

Do you want some carrots?
Yes, please! Yes, please!

Do you want some peas?
Yes, please! Yes, please!

All done. All done.
Time to play. Time to play.

Bonus Signs

Tips for Introducing "Fill the Basket"

• Your children will certainly be motivated to sing this fun song about their favorite subject: yummy food! Introduce the song by showing your children how to gently pat their legs for the duration of each chorus and sign some of the key vocabulary during the verses. With time and lots of opportunities to practice, you can add the words EAT and STOP to the chorus. They will enjoy performing the chopping motion required to sign STOP exactly on the beat as you enthusiastically sing the word “stop!”
• Language requires reciprocity. We take turns with our partners as we converse. We look at each other’s faces and make interesting expressions as we listen and talk. The verses are written in a song form called call and response. As the caller, you can ask your children the questions that include the food choices, and your children can answer with “Yes, PLEASE!”
• A variety of foods are included in your target and bonus signs for this song. You are the best person to decide what vocabulary you would like to focus on as you sing. Are you most interested in teaching words such as WANT, PLEASE, MORE, and ALL-DONE to give children tools to communicate during your mealtime routines? Or would you like to teach signs for food choices so that your children can label and request their preferred menu? It is important that the sign language instruction not overwhelm your children or take away from the fun of the song. In all things, including sign instruction, less is more. Start with a few signed words and add more each week as your children are willing.