Yankee Doodle

An English song that became a popular square dance in America.
Sources:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p.409
Additional Lyrics from Pioneer Girl, Fact and Fiction of Laura Ingalls Wilder, A to Z

Skating Away

This 6/8-meter song is great for practicing the right hand star and elbow swing square dance moves.
Sources: Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy. p. 384.
Kraus, Richard.  Square Dances of Today. p. 87

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

Old Dan Tucker (Variation)

I like to teach my students lots of versions of this song so they can see how it changes over time and place.  These verses are a lot of fun to sing, too.
Sources: Garson, Eugenia.  The Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook p. 66
Words and Music Composed by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Additional Information at the website Pioneer Girl, fact and fiction of Laura Ingalls Wilder, A to Z

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

Alabama Gal

This is a fun, though challenging double-line dance to do with older students.  It's also great for preparing and presenting the eighth-quarter-eighth (or "syncopa") rhythm.
Sources:  Seeger, Pete. American Play Parties, Folkway Records #87604. 1959
McDowell, LL. Handy Play Party Book, copyright 1938.