Here’s an old song from a hundred years ago. Like most Recycle Songs it’s really short, so you can just play it a couple of times and ask students to listen close and write down the words.

Oh Where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his tail cut short
and his ears cut long,
or where or where can he be?

Afterwards they can make there own question song, following this pattern.

Oh Where, oh where is ______ ______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

I find that the blanks help students recreate songs. The number of words and syllables don’t need to be exact. Students may manipulate the phrasing as they see fit.

You’ll find an example of a Recycle Song below. It’s called “Oh Where Oh Where is Jean Claude Van Damme.”

Oh where, oh where is Jean-Claude Van Damme
Oh where is he when you need him.
When the enemy’s near, Jean-Claude isn’t here
He’s probably just at the gym.

Students may do their own Where Song. Or instead of a “Where” song, they might do a “When” song, or a “Why” song, or a “Who” song… “Oh who, oh who is that sitting on the roof…?”

Below is a version of “O Where O Where” sung by 11-year-old Chelsea Venuti, then Kevin’s Van Damme song, and then several karaoke versions to use for Recycle Songs.

 

 O Where O Where Has My Little Dog Gone [0:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (429)

 

 O Where O Where is Jean-Claude Van Damme [0:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (163)

 

 O Where Has My Little Dog Gone, Karaoke 1 [0:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (50)

 

 O Where Has My Little Dog Gone, Karaoke 2 [0:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (89)