Karuzela

The Polish collection

A resource for teachers from

Compiled, translated, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

© Dany Rosevear 2010 All rights reserved

Edited 2016

Last updated: 6/11/2016 2:30 PM

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Karuzela The Polish collection Off we go Jedzie pociąg YouT Karuzela Kółko graniaste Maszerują dzieci drogą Nie chcę cię Nitko nitko YouT In the forest Jadą jadą misie YouT Kasztanek YouT My jesteśmy krasnoludki YouT Orzeszki laskowe YouT Szła dzieweczka Food and farming Czarny baranie YouT Czerwone jabłuszko Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak Mało nas Miała baba YouT Rolnik sam w dolinie Trojak Wele wele wetka Creatures great and small Chodzi lisek koło drogi Jeżyk YouT Kot i mysz Pingwinek YouT Poszła żabka spacerować YouT Stonoga YouT Wlazł kotek na płotek Bodies Julijanka My są żabki Niedźwiadek YouT Pięć paluszków Tańczymy labada Tu paluszek YouT W murowanej piwnicy Feelings and family Baloniku Fari, fara, farum YouT Grozik YouT Kawaliry Kwiatek dla mamy YouT Mam chusteczkę haftowaną Ola chce wyjechać Stoi różyczka YouT Synkopa / The big dig YouT Music making Jestem muzykantem Jestem sobie przedszkolaczek Orkiestra YouT Playtime Dwa malutkie misie YouT Misia A Misia B Nazywają mnie poleczka Spacer po dywanie Tańcowały dwa Michały YouT Tańczą pajacyki Seasons Bałwankowa rodzina YouT Biały walcyzk Małe czerwone jabłuszko YouT Ola i Liście YouT Tak się zachmurzył YouT Sanna Zima zła YouT Number and time Dorotka Hej, żeglujże żeglarzu YouT Jawor jawor Krakowiaczek jeden Laurencjo Ojciec Wirgiliusz YouT Stary niedźwiedź YouT Taniec siedmiokroczek YouT You can find many more songs and singing games in Polish and other languages and vidoes to watch at: http://www.edumuz.pl/news.php

Contents

Introduction

Why teach Polish through singing games?

Accompanying the songs

Guitar chords

Dance variations

Teaching the songs

Singing games 1-64

Index of song titles

Topic index

Listen to Polish songs

Index of music resources

Acknowledgements

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page

Karuzela

The Polish collection

Singing games for 4-11 year olds

Introduction

‘Karuzela’ is a treasury of singing games. As The Polish collection they are a resource for all teachers of young children, including their parents and carers. These Polish songs can be taught with or without actions but are enhanced by teaching the children movements either in small or large groups.

Principles followed in making this collection were:

· resources are all in one place with a similar format for easy access

· expertise as a musician or language teacher is not needed to use these pages

· children learn a new language through participating in enjoyable activities

· to contribute to an active and creative curriculum and lifestyle for the 4-11 age group.

The songs in this collection are traditional singing games, songs, mimes or dances.

With my many years experience as an enthusiastic classroom teacher (Foundation Stage and Primary) I have:

· selected songs from published sources, mainly on the internet

· adapted or changed words, music and instructions for ease of teaching

· translated into English to support teachers with a limited understanding of Polish

· grouped songs to link with topics

· categorized suitability of games to specific age groups

· suggested how to teach and accompany these singing games

· provided a gateway to freely accessed supporting material on the internet.

This compilation has been produced to share my discoveries, for the pleasure they will surely give and to put a smile on the face of every child who participates.

You can find many more songs and singing games in Polish and other languages at: http://www.edumuz.pl/news.php It is a wonderful treasury of music and videos led by the wonderful Maria Tomaszewska who is herself a very accomplished musician.

Why Polish singing games?

This collection of Polish songs is not only for a limited audience of those who have emigrated from other countries and have settled in this area, it is also for those wishing their children to become familiar with the rich Polish heritage of games and dances while beginning to grasp some understanding of the language.

The other audience are those who wish to access the fine Polish musical tradition. The tunes and rhythyms of this area are often truly wonderful and have been determinately nurtured and preserved by a people with a strong sense of cultural and national identity.

It is the aim of this collection to introduce the fresh, unfamiliar and also sometimes unexpectedly familiar materials into the learning environment through accessible translations.

Why teach Polish through singing games?

There are many good reasons for using singing games when teaching a foreign language.

· play is a natural way for the child to communicate

· singing games help develop social interaction with a partner or larger groups

· rhyme and rhythm are effective ways to absorb language

· singing games use children’s natural response to music

· learning linked to action encourages participation

· listening skills are sharpened with simple and then more complex instructions

· language is in context and the traditions of other countries are introduced

· a creative approach increases vocabulary as children are encouraged to make up new refrains, words and verses

· pronunciation and intonation are absorbed naturally

· foreign language is used for a real purpose, fostering a positive approach to language learning

· above all, it allows lots of tremendous fun while learning, motivating even the most reluctant child.

Cross-curricula dimensions

The National Curriculum recognises the benefit of a cross-curricula approach. Teaching singing games in Polish presents exciting opportunities to cover a range of subjects and themes other than the more obvious ones of language, physical education, PSHE & citizenship and music. Among these pages you will discover strands that cover geography, history, maths, science, religious education, cooking, healthy eating, teamwork, creative thinking and conservation.

Keep active

Children need to be active more than ever. Lifestyles and life at school can be sedentary but children learn best if periods of concentration are interspersed with relaxation. Whenever children are restless take a break, if only for five minutes, that’s plenty of time to enjoy a singing game and learn some French at the same time. Show how to re-arrange tables quickly and quietly to make space or, even better if the weather is fine, slip outside to enjoy the fresh air. A dedicated slot of 20 - 30 minutes each week is needed to learn these games.

An inspector calls

When an OFSTED inspector visited my mixed Foundation Stage and Year One class the first lesson she saw was of children enjoying singing games. She was delighted by their chuckles, smiles and obvious enjoyment with masses of energy being expended and lots being learnt. This initial impression favourably coloured the judgements made by OFSTED of my other lessons. No doubt the children were more alert and concentrated better in these lessons because of regular opportunities for movement.

Accompanying the songs

“For the best movement response children should move to their own voices” is excellent advice from Lois Choksy and David Brummit in their book 120 Singing Games and Dances for Elementary Schools. This approach leaves the teacher free to help children master sequences.

However, if you do not find it easy to hold a tune, accompany the song with a guitar as this can easily be put down when the need arises. A guitar is also invaluable to familiarise children with a song before attempting to introduce the movements.

The chord sequences below will help you accompany the songs. Remember your young audience will be tremendously impressed by even the most basic guitar playing!

Guitar chords

E B7 A A7 D Dm

X X

C G7 F G D7 C7

X X

Em E7 Gm B Bb Am

X = a string not to be played.

� or � denotes the fingers on the left hand that hold down the string behind the fret shown. : pointing finger, �: middle, : ring finger, �: little finger.

For more chords and to check the look and sound of your chords visit websites such as http://www.emediamusic.com/freetools/chord.html or http://www.hotfrets.com/chords/arpeggiator_free.asp .

All these songs can be played with a simple strong rhythmic strum using the right hand but do explore some simple plucks. Google “guitar lessons” to find a number of free sites to help you learn how to do this.

Songs can also be accompanied using some of the delightful midis / mp3 / video files that can be found on the internet. Most games here are referenced to one or more of these; however links often become invalid as internet sites come and go with unnerving frequency. Every attempt is made to keep source materials updated but I would be very grateful if my attention is called to any redundant links at: darosevear1@aol.com so I can rectify the matter.

Other useful sources include dedicated educational sites such as ‘edukacja muzyczna dzieci’ at http://www.edumuz.pl/articles.php?cat_id=25&rowstart=15 / http://wn.com/edumuz1 where you can listen and watch enthusiastic youngsters singing.

Your whiteboard is an excellent tool where you can demonstrate dances using YouTube videos of children and townfolk dancing in traditional costumes at festivals and school festivities.

Dance variations

The chart below indicates suitability of games for a specific age group. Do remember that older children will often enjoy the fun of a simpler game and some younger groups will rise to the challenge of more complex routines, especially in the summer term.

When choosing a song the level of language competence of the class is also critical. However, if these songs are introduced with confidence, children will invariably rise to the challenge and respond with enthusiasm.

Vary the type of dance you use, but ‘moving in place, then space’ often suit younger children and line formations are generally more suitable for the older ones.

Karuzela The Polish collection
Age group	Moving in space or place	Pair+ more games (incl. in circles)	Simple circle games	Circle games with one + in the middle	Line games
4-6	Wlazł kotek na płotek Tu paluszek		Kółko graniaste Baloniku	Kot i mysz Julijanka Stoi różyczka Dwa malutkie misie
5-7	My jesteśmy krasnoludki	Nie chcę cię Czarny baranie Jeżyk Fari, fara, farum Grozik	Tańczymy labada	Rolnik sam w dolinie Mało nas Stary niedźwiedź Mam chusteczkę haftowaną Ojciec Wirgiliusz	Nitko nitko Jedzie pociag Jawor jawor
6-9		Maszerują dzieci drogą Miała baba Wele wele wetka	Karuzela	Jadą jadą misie Chodzi lisek koło drogi	Pingwinek Stonoga
8-11		Trojak Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak Czerwone jabłuszko Hej, żeglujże żeglarzu	Szła dzieweczka

Teaching the songs

Gather the children close to you. When singing a song for the first time use its natural speed so children can appreciate the spirit of the song. Allow the children to learn the words and music of these songs thoroughly before attempting to teach the movements of each game, it is not easy for children to concentrate on both initially, especially when singing in an unfamiliar language. Indeed, you will often find that the less confident will be willing to follow the movements but will take some time before joining in with the words. Often, however, you will find these very same children are singing and impressing their parents in their new language at home!

The younger the children the more practice they will need. These children will also appreciate singing familiar songs regularly rather than learning a new one too often. Begin and end a session with old favourites.

As children become familiar with a song allow them to change words, make up new ones and suggest different actions or ways to improve performance.

Translations

It is hoped that if possible these songs will be sung in their home language. An English version is provided so children can enjoy the tunes before they have mastered Polish. Literal translations do not always make sense to the English ear so these have been translated freely to complement the music and capture the spirit of the song.

Index of song titles

Song title	Song title
Baloniku	My jesteśmy krasnoludki
Bałwankowa rodzina	My są żabki
Biały walcyzk	Nazywają mnie poleczka
Chodzi lisek koło drogi	Nie chcę cię
Czarny baranie	Niedźwiadek
Czerwone jabłuszko	Nitko nitko
Dorotka	Ojciec Wirgiliusz
Dwa malutkie misie	Ola chce wyjechać
Fari, fara, farum	Ola i Liście
Grozik	Oreszki laskowe
Hej, żeglujże żeglarzu	Orkiestra
Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak	Pięć paluszków
Jadą jadą misie	Pingwinek
Jawor jawor	Poszła żabka spacerować
Jedzie pociag	Rolnik sam w dolinie
Jestem muzykantem	Sanna
Jestem sobie przedszkolaczek	Spacer po dywanie
Jeżyk	Stary niedźwiedź
Julijanka	Stoi różyczka
Karuzela	Stonoga
Kasztanek	Szła dzieweczka
Kawaliry	Tak się zachmurzyło
Kółko graniaste	Taniec siedmiokroczek
Kot i mysz	Tańcowały dwa Michały
Krakowiaczek jeden	Tańczą pajacyki
Laurencjo	Tańczymy labada
Małe czerwone jabłuszko	Trojak
Mało nas	Tu paluszek
Mam chusteczkę haftowaną	W murowanej piwnicy
Maszerują dzieci drogą	Wele wele wetka
Miała baba	Wlazł kotek na płotek
Misia A Misia B	Zima zła

Topic index

The songs

The topics

At the farm

At work

In the woods

Creatures great and small

Colours and clothing

Counting and numbers

Food, fruit and vegs

Homes and gardens

Dance, hop and jump

Days and nights

Family and others

Musical instruments

My body

Friends and feelings

On the water

Position left and right

The seasons and time

Off we go!

Weather hot and cold

Baloniku

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Bałwankowa rodzina

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Biały walcyzk

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Chodzi lisek koło drogi

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Czarny baranie

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Czerwone jabłuszko

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Dorotka

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Dwa malutkie misie

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Fari, fara, farum

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Grozik

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Hej, żeglujże żeglarzu

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Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak

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Jadą jadą misie

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Jawor jawor

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Jedzie pociag

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Jestem muzykantem

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