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.

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

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

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

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

Paw Paw Patch, The

I enjoy turning this into an October movement improvisation song for young children by replacing "Paw Paw" with "Pumpkin." It's also a great Appalachian double line dance where students can learn to cast off, or, as I like to call it, "peel the banana."
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 102

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

Miss White

I had so much fun making ghost icons for this song, and look forward to using them to teach quarter note and paired eighth note (Ta and ti ti) rhythms with my young students each October. 
Source: SPU Kodaly Summer Institute, Level 1

Mary Wore Her Red Dress

There is a great book by Merle Peek that goes with this song.  It's also a fun one to sing at Halloween time, when children can sing about the costume they wore, or would wish to wear.
Source: R. C. Seeger.  American Folk Songs for Children

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

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

Ida Red, Ida Blue

Young children enjoy singing this song, especially if you provide visuals of the different colors Ida might wear.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 20