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).

Amambrocha To

This is a question-answer Cuban-American Game Variant of an old Spanish song in which the players name jobs they would like in Spanish.

Source: Ziamora Andux (Age 13) and Evelia Andux (Age 11) (1939) from the Library of Congress Recording

Arirang

This haunting Korean folk tune has been sung for over six hundred years.  Dr. Campbell suggests pairing it with a traditional changgo drum pattern.

Source: Campbell, Patricia Shehan. Tunes and Grooves for Music Education. p. 25

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

Ye Toop Doram

Farsi Ball Game from Iran and West Afghanistan
Source: Brown, Nyssa.  January 2010 Northwest Kodály Educators Workshop Notes.
Transcribed from Joan Litman

Yankee Doodle

An English song that became a popular square dance in America.
Sources:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p.409
Additional Lyrics from Pioneer Girl, Fact and Fiction of Laura Ingalls Wilder, A to Z

Vamos A Jugar

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

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

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

Sweet Potatoes

This Creole folk song from the Louisiana Bayou makes for a beautiful partner song when paired with Mango Walk.
Sources: Seeger, Pete.  Fireside Book of Fun and Game Songs.
Silver-Burdett Music Text

Slahal

This is a traditional bone game from the Salish tribe in British Columbia, Canada.  
Sources: Locke, Eleanor G. Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play.  p. 3
Stuart, Wendy B. The Canadian Journal for Traditional Music  Coast Salish Gambling Music
The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Website

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

Skating Away

This 6/8-meter song is great for practicing the right hand star and elbow swing square dance moves.
Sources: Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy. p. 384.
Kraus, Richard.  Square Dances of Today. p. 87

Simama Kaa

Kedmon Mapana says this song in the Swahili language is taught in schools in Tanzania.  It teaches the words simama (stand), kaa (sit), and ruka (jump).
Source: Mapana, Kedmon.  March 2012 Northwest Kodaly Educator Workshop Notes

Shalom Chaverim

This Hebrew-language round is a lovely minor tune, and works well as a farewell song.
Source: Zanzig, Augustus D.  101 Rounds for Singing. Published by World Around Songs, Inc. p. 42

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.

Pizza Pizza

Upper elementary students giggle and cringe when they have to choose who their "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" is when they play this very active game, but still request it frequently.  I sometimes only ask them to name a favorite pizza topping.  This way is less controversial, but not as hilarious.
Source: Locke, Eleanor G. Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 6
See Also: Pizza, Pizza Mighty Moe as written by Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax.  Step it Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage. p. 63

Phoebe

I love this song paired with a partner song composed by Denise Bacon.  The soaring octave jump in the partner song would be great for those vocalists who love to sing high and show off a beautiful voice.  It would also sound great played on instruments.
Source: Bacon, Denise.  46 Two-Part American Folk Songs