Jelly on a Plate
As children we sang "Jelly on a Plate" when we were skipping (or jumping rope.) The two children turning the rope sang the song. The child skipping performed the song’s actions, i.e. wiggling and wobbling like jelly on a plate, blowing out candles, flipping from back to front, gobbling up sweets and tipping the ground as if picking up money. If there was a group of children playing then the skipping privilege would pass from child to child; each would only skip for one verse. Then all the children in the group would jump in to skip together at the end.
The Speks recreate this idea of a group of children skipping by having a different singer sing each verse. We also introduce the sounds of four melody instruments individually: timber flute, fiddle, banjo and accordion. An instrument plays the melody of the song’s verse on its own after each singer. To represent the group of children skipping in unison, all instruments play together for the finale. Throughout the song, the rhythm of the guitar is the same as the jumping rhythm of the skipper.
Click on the "play" arrow above to listen to our version of "Jelly on a Plate" set to Irish music. Click on the "Share" link above if you would like to tell your friends about it. Click on the "Download" link above to get "Jelly on a Plate" as a free MP3 download!
Lyrics for Jelly on a Plate
Jelly on a plate jelly on a plate
With a wibbley wobbley wibbley wobbley
Jelly on a plate
Candles on a cake candles on a cake
Blow them out puff, puff, puff
Candles on a cake
Sausages in the pan sausages in the pan
Flip them over flip them over
Sausages in the pan
Sweeties in the jar sweeties in the jar
Gobble them up gobble them up
Sweeties in the jar
Money on the ground money on the ground
Pick it up pick it up
Money on the ground
Video Clip of Jelly on a Plate
Click on the arrow below to watch our youtube video clip of "Jelly on a Plate"
Classroom Ideas for Jelly on a Plate
Physical Education: Bring your class skipping. All that is required is a rope. It’s fun and great exercise! Encourage your pupils to compose other verses and help them with the actions.
Art: Illustrate subject items in each verse, e.g. jelly on a plate, sausages in a pan, etc. If your pupils have composed other verses then get them to also illustrate the subject items.
