Allo, Monsieur

This is a French-language chant to accompany a ball-bouncing game.

Source: Recording of “Allo, Monsieur:  Le Jeu de la Balle” (The Game of the Ball) from Smithsonian Folkways recording, “Children's Game Songs of French Canada." #110                                                                   

Wallflowers

This circle game from the British Isles has Irish and Scottish variations and seems to refer to a deadly measles outbreak, of which there were many recorded in the 1700s and 1800s.
Source: Locke, Eleanor G.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play.  p. 16
Information about measles outbreaks from the Keighley and District Family History Society website which cites statistics from the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Source: Ed. by Kerby, E. C. Folk Songs North America Sings p. 165

There Came A Girl From France

This Scottish children's game is perfect for students to create and sing about ways to move.  I like to sing it as a cumulative song, where we sing and move to each verse that preceded the new verse.  It's a great workout for the body and mind!
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Hot Peas and Barley-O: Children's Songs and Games from Scotland

Suo Gan

This beautiful Welsh lullaby has only three notes but offers many possible verses and potential arrangements.
Source: SPU Kodaly Summer Institute, Level 1 Materials

Starlight, Star Bright

This is a simple three-note song from England that is beautiful when sung or played and lends itself easily to vocal improvisation with a coda, "I wish for..."
Source: Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy.  p. 387

Snail, Snail

This is an English children's game in which a leader slowly leads a line into and out of a spiral shape. 
Source: Locke, Eleanor G.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play. p. 4

Rosy, Apple, Lemon, and a Pear

This English folk song about a wedding has various ways for a "bride" or "bridal couple" to move in and out of the circle, often through arches created by the players.
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Hot Peas and Barley-O: Children's Songs and Games from England

Plainsies Clapsies

This simple three-note English ball-bouncing song gets complicated and fun when you try to sing it while doing all the tricks.
Sources: Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy. p. 374
Chosky, Lois.  The Kodaly Method.  Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. 1988. page 170.

North Winds Blow

This is a translation of a Hungarian folk melody used by Zoltan Kodaly.  It has a beautiful minor tonality that fits with the melancholy feel of our Pacific Northwest winters.
Source: Silver-Burdett Music Text
Translated by Ivy Rawlins

Naughty Kitty Cat

This is the English-language version of a Hungarian folk song.  It's very funny to hear all the ways students can meow as the naughty cat in the song.  Great with a cat puppet or stuffed animal!
Source: Trinka, Jill.  The Little Black Bull pp. 30-31

Lucy Locket

This three-pitch English nursery rhyme song is excellent for preparing and presenting la.
Source: Locke, Eleanor G. Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 5

Little Sally Walker

This English children's song is great for prepping and presenting the quarter rest, as well as practicing la.
Source: Feierabend, John.  Beginning Circle Games p. 11

Hot Peas and Barley-O

This is a rousing circle dance in 6/8.  I especially like the simulated kilt flip at the end!
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Hot Peas and Barley-O: Children's Songs and Games from Scotland

Hot Cross Buns

This well-known English street vendor song is perfect for preparing and presenting re, and a great beginning recorder song.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 1

Hi! Ho! The Rattlin' Bog

It's fun to see how fast students can tear through this cumulative Irish song.  Visuals will help you keep track of where you are in the song as it grows longer and longer.
Sources: Ed. by Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 331
Langstaff, John.  Hi! Ho! The Rattlin' Bog and other Songs for Group Singing

Here Comes Mrs. Macaroni

In this game, a leader calls to a friend, then all the players sing the beginning letter of the friend's name while the pair link arms and skip around.
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Over the Garden Wall: Children's Songs and Games From England p.37

Dusty Bluebells

This English game is played with one child going in and out of a circle of players holding their hands up to form arches.
Source: SPU Summer Kodaly Institute Level II Materials Packet

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Ms. Brumfield describes this as a game played enthusiastically by the older boys at New Beacon school in Sevenoaks, England.  If played with older students, it is good for preparing and presenting the dotted eighth paired with a sixteenth note rhythm.
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Over the Garden Wall: Children's Songs and Games from England

Dic-Dictation

This Scottish counting-out chant is great for preparing and presenting ti ticka.
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Hot Peas and Barley-O: Children's Songs and Games from Scotland