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

Round and Round

My first and second grade students who love to walk in a crouch go crazy for this song that commands, "Down (Mr. or Miss) (So and So), you must go."
Source: Ed. by Locke, Eleanor G.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play.  p. 14

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

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

Grizzly Bear

This is a good song for teaching forte and piano.
Source: Macmillan Teaching Series

Doggie, Doggie

Although I teach this song to my kindergartners, even the second graders will ask for this game.  It is good for practicing la.
Source: Ed. by Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 312

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Ms. Brumfield describes this as a game played enthusiastically by the older boys at New Beacon school in Sevenoaks, England.  If played with older students, it is good for preparing and presenting the dotted eighth paired with a sixteenth note rhythm.
Source: Brumfield, Susan.  Over the Garden Wall: Children's Songs and Games from England

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

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