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

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

Old Mister Rabbit

This song could be used for vocal improvisation in thinking up other foods that Old Mister Rabbit could eat.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 11

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

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

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

Johnny Get Your Hair Cut

This song is good for practicing four sound to a beat when sung as-is, or for vocal or movement improvisation if singers get to make up actions for other players to do.
Source: Seeger, R. C. American Folk Songs For Children

Great Big House in New Orleans

I like to introduce this song as a vocal improvisation and have students sing other foods the rooms could be filled with.  I use it to teach the concept of 2/4 meter and rest, and older students can learn the longer version with the dance.
Sources: Locke, Eleanor G. Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play. p. 17
Seeger, Pete.  American Play Parties Folkways Records #FC7604

Ding Dong Diggidiggi Dong

While students are learning this song, I ask for individuals to think of different animals who could go missing.  When it is well-learned, I use it for preparing and presenting four sounds to a beat.
Source: Orff, Carl and Keetman, Gunild.  Music For Children: Pentatonic Book 1

Chicken in the Fence Post (Dance Josey)

Children can either sing this song as a vocal improvisation with new reasons why they can't dance or as a circle game in which two players try to be the first to "rescue" a chicken or other animal trapped in the fence.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p.51

Charlie Over the Ocean

When young students are learning this game, I have them hold an animal bean bag to sing about when they sing, "I caught a..."  Older students can also play this as an active chase game.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 14