Al Haetz

This is a simple Israeli children's song about the singing of the birds in the trees.  A great K-1 level song for singing the "tzif, tzif, tzif" of the birds on so and mi.

Sources: Einstein, J. and Prensky, F. (1955) Songs of Childhood
Ben-Ezra M. (1958) Israeli Children's Songs Sound Recording New York Folkways Album 7226

Bee, Bee

I use this chant as a counting-out game with young children until they have learned it well.  Then, I use bee icons to teach the concept of one and two sounds to a beat (Ta ti ti).
Source: SPU Summer Kodály Institute, Level 1 Notes.

Witch, Witch

A tag game that's great for Halloween
Source: Locke, Eleanor G. Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 1

Who's That Tapping at the Window?

A guessing-game song that's great for vocal or instrumental improvisation.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play. p. 7

We Are Dancing in the Forest (Wolf Game)

This game is very popular with my students and can either be a chase or freeze game.
Source:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 402

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.

Up, Down

This game is great for the primary grades, especially at Halloween.
Source: Trinka, Jill.  The Little Black Bull and Other Folk Songs, Singing Games, and Play Parties. Folk Music Works. 1996. pp. 50-51

Uncle Jessie

This song from the Georgia Sea Islands can be used with all ages with either movement exploration or a partner ring play.
Source: Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax.  Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage. pp. 112-114

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

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

Thorn Rosa (There Was a Lovely Princess)

This song, which tells the familiar tale of Sleeping Beauty, has many opportunities for dramatic play and sound effects, and can expand to include any number of students as well as unending variations in the story.
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Over the Garden Wall: Children's Songs and Games from England

Teddy Bear

This song can be sung as an action or bean bag song with young children and is a great challenge to sing as a rope-turning game.
Source: Trinka, Jill.  The Little Black Bull and Other Folk Songs, Singing Games, and Play Parties. Folk Music Works. 1996. pp. 46-47

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

See Saw

This two-note song is perfect for teaching the concept of high and low, as well as so and mi.
Source: SPU Kodaly Summer Institute, Level 1 Materials

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

Round and Round

My first and second grade students who love to walk in a crouch go crazy for this song that commands, "Down (Mr. or Miss) (So and So), you must go."
Source: Ed. by Locke, Eleanor G.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play.  p. 14

Ring Around the Rosie

I like to sing this song with young children as a parachute game.  They seem to "fall down" more carefully when they are holding the edge.  
Source: Feierabend, John.  The Book of Beginning Circle Games. p. 65
Wikipedia cites reasons for discounting the traditional connection of the song with the black plague.  I like the idea that the "fall down" portion was done as a curtsy.  This could be a good song for older children to practice a bow and curtsy.

Pumpkin, Pumpkin

I sing this song with primary students in October.  They enjoy making different kinds of faces as they turn themselves into jack-o-lanterns.
Source:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 378

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.

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