Ambos A Do

A game song from Puerto Rico that is a variant of a song that probably came to Spain in the eighteenth century from France, known as Un Beau Chateau (A Beautiful Castle) that gradually lost its meaning over time, becoming the nonsense words Ambos A Do.  This version could be used to practice re.

Source: Folkways Recording of Deisy Parilla (age 10) with other children (1977).

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

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.

Vamos A Jugar

This is a fun Spanish-language playground game collected from San Antonio, Texas.
Source: SPU Kodaly Summer Institute, Level 2 Materials

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

Tommy Tinker

I remember singing this song when I went to outdoor camp and acting out the part where Tommy sits on a red-hot clinker (a hot coal)!  It makes for a rousing round when four groups are standing with alarm and crying, "Ma! Ma!"
Sources: Zanzig, Augustus D.  101 Rounds for Singing. Published by World Around Songs Inc. p.19
Stephanie Trinneer from song sung in childhood.

Ti Ya Ya

This circle folk dance from the Ukraine is in 3/4 and requires some balance as dancers sway side to side, forward, and back while holding hands basket-weave style behind their backs.
Source: Ed. by Davis, Andy and Amidon, Peter and Mary Alice.  Down in the Valley pp. 40-41

Tideo

This rousing Texas play-party song can be played as a hand-clapping game with double circle of partners or a partner-swinging dance and is great for teaching sixteenth notes.
Sources:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 393
Owens, William. Texas Folk Songs p. 160

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

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

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

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

Skin and Bones

My students love to sing this at Halloween and act out the part of the old woman, the bones, and the BOO!
Source: Locke, Eleanor G.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play. p. 52
As sung by Jean Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky

Sea Shell

This song could be used to imbed science concepts if performed as a rondo with sung, chanted, played, or spoken sections in-between about marine life.
Source: Zyzga, Helen.  Simple Gifts. p. 16

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