Apples and Bananas

Name and Purpose

• Apples and Bananas is a classic call-and-response song that warms up voices and loosens a group up fast.
• Players practise listening, sound-making, and playful risk-taking in a low-pressure setting.

a.k.a.

• Vowel Song, Silly Sounds Song

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 5-40 players | 5-10 minutes | Any space, indoors or outdoors

Materials

• No materials required
• Optional: printed lyric cards for first-timers or participants who benefit from visual support

Quick-Run Card

1. Gather players in a circle or rows.
2. Teach the original verse together once.
3. Move through each vowel round (A, E, I, O, U, Y), swapping every vowel sound.
4. Pick up speed each round.
5. Celebrate the silliest sounds at the end.

Setup and Boundaries

• No physical setup needed
• Signal: raise one hand to pause the group; two claps to restart
• Check that the space allows everyone to hear the leader clearly

How to Play

1. Teach the original verse as a group: “I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.”
2. Explain that each round replaces every vowel sound with a new one: A, E, I, O, U, Y.
3. Lead the group through each round, one vowel at a time.
4. Encourage players to be as silly as possible with the sounds.
5. Speed up gradually. Celebrate when the group stays together.

I-OPt Options

• Start
  • A (Active): Sing loudly and lead their section of the circle
  • S (Support): Help neighbours find the right verse by holding up a lyric card
  • Q (Quiet): Mouth the words or hum along
  • O (Observer): Watch and join in whenever they feel ready
• Mid
  • A (Active): Challenge themselves to hit every vowel substitution perfectly
  • S (Support): Cue the group with a nod or gesture on each new round
  • Q (Quiet): Tap the beat softly instead of singing full volume
  • O (Observer): Count how many players stay perfectly in sync
• Late
  • A (Active): Try the fastest round as a solo lead
  • S (Support): Encourage neighbours who lose their place
  • Q (Quiet): Whisper-sing the hardest round
  • O (Observer): Signal which round was the funniest
• End
  • A (Active): Suggest a bonus silly sound to add
  • S (Support): Lead a quick group cheer for finishing
  • Q (Quiet): Give a thumbs-up rating for each round
  • O (Observer): Share one moment that made them smile

Inclusion Adaptations

• Lyric cards (large print optional) for players who benefit from visual support
• Humming or tapping the rhythm is a full and equal way to participate

Stewardship Moment

• No materials means no waste and no cleanup.
• Reflection: “This game needs nothing but your voice. What else at camp can you enjoy with zero stuff?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This is a silly singing game. For those not comfortable singing out loud, humming or tapping along is a great option.”
• Mid-game check: After the first two rounds, pause. “Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How are we doing?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Players can step back to observer any time. Call “In!” to rejoin the next round.

Risks and Mitigation

• Players feeling embarrassed by silly sounds: normalise it by having the leader go first and be the silliest
• Players with speech differences feeling singled out: frame all sounds as equally valid; no “correct” performance

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Shake out your hands, feet, and voice with 5 seconds of noise
• Say the word “banana” five times as fast as possible with a partner

Debrief Questions

• What? “Which vowel round was the hardest to get right?”
• So What? “What happened when you stopped worrying about being perfect?”
• Now What? “Where else in your day could you try something just to enjoy it, not to get it right?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect any printed lyric cards if used
• No other cleanup needed