Zudio

An African-American Play Party for two lines of partners. Download dance steps or alternate improvisational dance.

Sources: Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Tradition. pp. 137-138
Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy. p. 410

Punchinella

A song that gets kids very active with endless possibilities for movement improvisation.
Sources: SPU Kodaly Summer Institute, Level 1 Addendum
See also: Punchinello as written by Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax. Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage. p. 104-106

Little Sally Walker (Variation)

My upper-elementary students frequently request this engaging movement improvisation game.
Source: Brown, Nyssa.  January 2010 Northwest Kodály Educators Workshop Notes
collected by Roemer, Kristen. Indiana University

Little Johnny Brown

Use a handkerchief or scarf for one or all the players in this game.  The first half of the song can be used to practice the half note as well as low la
Source: Ed. by Locke, Eleanor.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 154

Just From the Kitchen

Students can add vocal improvisation to this song by singing other foods they might like to eat.
Source: Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax.  Step it Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage pp. 51-52

Draw Me A Bucket of Water

Though this is a fun and challenging cooperative game to play with older children, I also like to sing this as a parachute game with younger students.  When four students have gone under, they get to hop like frogs "in the bucket."
Source: Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax.  Step it Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage pp. 78 - 80

Charlie Over the Ocean

When young students are learning this game, I have them hold an animal bean bag to sing about when they sing, "I caught a..."  Older students can also play this as an active chase game.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 14