The original manuscript and notes – http://glostrad.com/wassail-song-hampton-fields/.  Go to this link to download the “See the song/tune as collected (PDF file)”

Audio of song:

Wassail song (Hampton Fields) Prep
Key stage 2 years 5/6

Resources needed:

• audio equipment to play music,
• whiteboard to project text and write text.
• Paper and pencils/pens.
• In advance need to find the audio file (first three verses) and words on the www.glostrad.com website
• Length of lesson 45-60mins

Learning Intentions
• To Learn a traditional folk song
• Understand calendar customs
• Invent a new calendar custom

Background
What is a folk song?
• Not sung by professional musicians
• Passed down through families/communities/friends
• some songs are very old (often dating back to seventeenth century or earlier.
• Were often sung without any instruments.

Wassailing:

• Peformed in December to January
• Always an aspect of wishing for a good harvest
• House to house custom in Gloucestershire, like carol singing
• Always a traditional song performed and always carried a decorated bowl

Wassail song (Hampton Fields) Lesson

• Ask children what they think a folk song is.
• Tell them what a folk song is
• Play them the recording without showing the words
• Ask what they can remember
• Show words and sing through the song with recording
• Get the children to suggest other Calendar customs e.g.:
• • Christmas
• • Easter
• • Bonfire Night
• • Halloween
• • Eid al-Fitr
• • Eid al-Adha
• • Hanukkah
• • Diwali

Main activity: get the children to design their own calendar festival. Suggested elements:
• Song
• Special clothes
• Procession
• Why must it happen at that time of year?
Share festivals back to the group
Optional extra activity: Make postcards with picture and description of the festival