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

Rocky Mountain

This song seems to call out for students to create new verses describing places they are learning about.  It also can be sung with a partner hand-clapping game.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 19

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

Long-Legged Sailor

My students especially like to sing this song either as a chance to act out all the types of legs the sailors have or as a partner hand-clapping game.
Source: Ed. by Bacon, Denise; Erdei, Ida; and Knowles, Faith.  My Singing Bird: 150 Folk Songs

Let Us Chase the Squirrel

Students will willingly sing this song from North Carolina over and over again to get to play the game.  When they know it well, it is especially good for the practice of re.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 6

Hot Cross Buns

This well-known English street vendor song is perfect for preparing and presenting re, and a great beginning recorder song.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 1

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

Grandma Grunts

I like to use this song to teach high d on the recorder.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play.  p. 7

Dinah

When students are learning this song, I have them sing their names in place of "Dinah."  Once it is well-known, it is great for preparing and presenting four sounds to a beat.
Source: Ed. by Bacon, Denise; Erdei, Ida; and Knowles, Faith.  My Singing Bird: 150 Folk Songs

Bye Bye Baby

Denise Bacon has written a lovely partner song to perform with this Appalachian lullaby.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 6
Two-Part Version: Bacon, Denise.  46 Two-Part American Songs

Bow Wow Wow

I like to teach this song as a partner hand-clapping game.  It can become a mixer when partners switch places and jump to face a new partner on the rest.  It is good for preparing and presenting re.
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 18

Bought Me A Cat

This is a great song to add visuals for each animal, and is also fun to sing as an action song.  Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 8

Bluebird

I play this game with young children in the spring.  
Source: Ed. Erdei, Peter. 150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p.18