Sail Away

A nice piece with a large range.  Two accessible descants for upper elementary.

Sources: Locke, E.Sail Away
Brumfield, Susan.

Old Dan Tucker

When I teach a unit about songs, games, and dances of the pioneers, this song gets the most requests.  It's funny and the dance can be complicated, or as simple as one dancer improvising in the middle of a circle of singers.
Sources: Ed. by Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 359
Lomax, John and Alan.  American Ballads and Folk Songs p. 258
Youtube has a great video of Fox and Branch playing their version of the song.

Old Brass Wagon

This song is great for teaching beginning square dance skills and can be done easily in a large circle.
Source: Trinka, Jill.  The Little Black Bull pp. 34-35

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

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