More
action songs D-G
Dandelions
yellow
Do,
do pity my case
Do
your ears hang low?
Down
by the banks of the Hanky Panky
Down
is the earth
Everybody
do this
Everybody
knows I love my toes
Fairies’
marching song
Fire
down below
Fly,
fly, fly
Fly,
little birdie, fly
Fooba
Wooba John
Four
white horses
Gilly
gilly gilly good morning
Good
morning dear Earth
Grab
that spider tiger
Last updated: 7/13/2020
2:34 PM
The songs below are part of ‘Away we
go’ Round and about
compiled,
adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for
children’ home
To
listen to music from these songs click on 🔊
To watch the author sing a song click on
the title at:
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
You
are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the
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you must give the original author credit
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fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.
Dandelions
yellow 🔊 Provide real dandelions. I found this rhyme in: ‘Materials for
nursery school teachers’ edited by Virginia McCaig, there is no publishing date. Music
and actions by Dany Rosevear. 1. Make dandelions with open hands, place hands over head. 2. As
before then nod head. 3. As before. 4. As before, blow, wiggle fingers and float them away. |
Dandelions yellow, hiding in the grass. Dandelions pretty, nodding as I pass. Dandelions silver, dandelions grey, Dandelions pretty, I'll blow your hair away! |
Do,
do, pity my case 🔊 This dramatic play was found in
Ladybird Book’s ‘Action Rhymes’ published in 1976. One of the earlier
African-American sources was from Louisiana and published in ‘Games and Songs
of American Children’ 1883. Ask children to suggest new tasks.
The song could also be used to encourage solo sing; throw a ball at a child
who sings a task and then passes to another child to do the same. If the song
feels a little old-fashioned sing’ So much work to do’ instead of ‘In some
lady’s garden’. Walk round in a circle for first two lines then act out each task as
it is sung. |
Do, do, pity my case In some lady's garden; My clothes to wash when I get home, In some lady's garden. Do, do, pity my case, In some lady's garden; My clothes to iron when I get home, In some lady's garden. Do, do, pity my case, In some lady's garden; My floors to scrub when I get home, In some lady's garden. Do, do, pity my case, In some lady's garden; My bread to bake when I get home, In some lady's garden. |
Have fun with this action rhyme. First time sing with a normal voice
and move as below. Second time stand and sing with a loud voice making big
movements. Last time crouch down and while singing with a very quiet voice
make teeny tiny movements.
|
Down
by the banks of the Hanky Panky O There are very many versions of
this rhyme mostly rooted in the African American tradition see: http://www.cocojams.com/content/handclap-jump-rope-and-elastics-rhymes for more background information. This playground rhyme is mainly
familiar in hand clap routines but is also a skipping, ball bouncing
activity. Watch one of the clapping games at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zoMAvwKGfk For young children just clap from
side to side with a steady rhythm or jump like frogs from side to side with a
big leap and fall to finish. |
Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky, A bull frog jumped from bank to banky, With a hip, hop and a flippity flippity flop, Missed the banky and he went KERPLOP! |
Down
is the Earth 🔊 A meeting and greeting circle song. Develop an awareness that we are
all part of something big but need and welcome the company of our friends. Musicbny Dany Rosevear. 1. Touch ground. 2. Raise hands to sky. 3. Gesture outward. 4. Hands
crossed over chest. 5. Point to eyes then ears 6. Run on the spot. 7. Show hands, then
hold those in the circle. 8. Raise hands high. |
Down is the Earth, Up is the Sky, Here are my friends And here stands I. Two eyes to see, two ears to hear, Two feet to walk and run! Here are my hands, give yours to mine, Good morning everyone! |
Make up funny actions for others to
imitate in this very easy game. A song by Mary Miller to the tune ‘Hey, Betty
Martin’. Make a circle; one child makes a funny action which those in the
circle copy. |
Everybody do this, Do this, do this, Everybody do this, Just like me. Everybody do this, Do this, do this, Everybody do this, Just like me. |
Everybody
knows that I love my toes 🔊 A lively song for toddler play and
learning parts of the body. Written by Barbara Allyn © SOCAN. Touch each part of baby / toddler or young child’s own body part as it
is mentioned. |
Everybody knows I love my toes, Everybody knows I love my toes, I love my knees, my elbows, my shoulders, and my nose, But everybody knows I love my toes. Everybody knows I love my hips, Everybody knows I love my hips, I love my knees, my elbows, my shoulders, and my lips, But everybody knows I love my hips. Everybody knows I love my shins, Everybody knows I love my shins, I love my knees, my elbows, my shoulders, and my chin, But everybody knows I love my shins. Everybody knows I love my thighs, Everybody knows I love my thighs, I love my knees, my elbows, my shoulders and my eyes, But everybody knows I love my thighs. |
Fairies’ marching song 🔊 A poem by Rose Fyleman from
‘Movement and songs for the littlest ones’ published 1959. It was originally
published in ‘Child Education’ Music by Ruth Dyson, arranged by Dany
Rosevear. March around in pairs. Put hands to ears on ‘Ding dong’ |
One, two, one, two, March along together, Wear a daisy in your hat, And a robin’s feather. Chorus: Ding, dong, far away, Fairy bells are calling, We shall get to fairy land When the dew is falling. One, two, one, two, All the bees are humming, All the birds begin to sing When they see us coming. |
An old sea shanty song used to keep
in rhythm when pumping up water on deck. Make movements to the beat of the music: haul in ropes, pass buckets,
tip water onto fire. Escape the fire by rowing to the shore! |
Fire in the galley, fire down below; It's fetch a bucket of water boys, There's fire down below. Chorus Fire, fire, fire down below, Fetch a bucket of water boys, There's fire down below. Fire in the fore-top, fire in the main; It's fetch a bucket of water girls, And put it out again. Fire round the capstan, fire up the mast, Fire on the main deck, burning fast. |
Fly, fly, fly 🔊 A lovely song about flight for
movements of birds and other animals with wings. Make up verses of other
flying creatures. Move around the room flying in different ways and then move or stop in
an appropriate manner. |
Fly, fly, fly, Flap your wings and fly, See how the eagle goes, Soaring through the sky. Fly, fly, fly,Flap your wings and fly, See how the owl goes, Swooping to the ground. Fly, fly, fly, Flap your wings and fly, See how butterfly goes, Dancng through the sky. Fly, fly, fly, Flap your wings and fly, See how robin goes, Hopping down the path. Fly, fly, fly, Flap your wings and fly, See how flamino goes, Standing on one leg. Bzzzz, bzzzz, bzzzz, Flap your wings and fly, See how bumble bee goes, Sitting on a flower. Oh, so quiet! |
Fly, little birdie, fly O Originally translated from a
Chinese song by Paul Knight it was written with teaching English to young
children in mind. Find out more at: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=861062883975646&story_fbid=865587596856508
I have
expanded on the theme for a wider young audience and to draw children
together towards the end of the song after moving round the room
individually. Encourage children to think of
other animals and how they might move to make new verses. Move around the room flying, running and jumping. On the last verse
come together in a circle and skip round. |
Fly little birdie, fly, Fly little birdie, fly, Fly up in the sky, La la la la la la, La la la la la la, Spread your wings and fly! Spread your wings and fly! Run little puppy, run, Run little puppy, run, Play out in the sun, La la la la la la, La la la la la la, Run and run for fun! Run and run for fun! Jump, little froggie, jump, Jump, little froggie, jump, Jump up and down, La la la la la la, La la la la la la, Jumping off to town! Jumping off to town! Sing, little children, sing, Sing, little children, sing, Dance, play and sing, La la la la la la, La la la la la la, All around the ring! All around the ring! |
This is a traditional American song
made popular by Burl Ives in particular. Mike Seeger also made a great
version ‘Old blind drunk John’ using a jaw harp. Make up new rhymes for this song –
it could go on ad infinitum. This song can just be sung for its
silliness but BethNotes at http://bethsmusicnotes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/fooba-wooba-lesson-view-more-documents.html
suggests making hand motions to accompany the words. My tune and words are slightly
different though. |
Saw a flea kick a tree, Fooba Wooba, Fooba Wooba, Saw a flea kick a tree, Fooba Wooba John. Saw a flea kick a tree In the middle of the sea, Hey John, ho John, Fooba Wooba John. Saw a snail chase a whale, Fooba Wooba, Fooba Wooba, Saw a snail chase a whale, Fooba Wooba John. Saw a snail chase a whale, All around the water pail, Hey John, ho John, Fooba Wooba John. Saw a frog chase a dog, Fooba Wooba, Fooba Wooba, Saw a frog chase a dog, Fooba Wooba John. Saw a frog chase a dog, In and out a hollow log, Hey John, ho John, Fooba Wooba John. Heard a cow say meow, Fooba Wooba, Fooba Wooba, Heard a cow say meow, Fooba Wooba John. Heard a cow say meow, Then I heard her say bow wow, Hey John, ho John, Fooba Wooba John. Hey John, ho John, Fooba Wooba John. |
Four
white horses O This is an old Caribbean folk song
played in Barbados and the Virgin Islands. Find more info and versions at: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9634
Four children stand facing each other - two across from two. Each
child has partner opposite and a neighbour to the side. Keeping a steady
beat, the motions go like this: Clap twice, pat partner's hands, clap twice, pat neighbour’s hands. |
Four white horses, on the river, Hey, hey, hey, up tomorrow, Up tomorrow is a rainy day, Come on up to the shallow bay. Shallow bay is a ripe banana, Up tomorrow is a rainy day. |
Gilly gilly gilly good
morning 🔊 A cheerful meet and greet clapping and slapping song. Once children
are confident with the basic game below they can then slap knees and clap
hands in turn. Then find a partner and slap knees and clap partner’s hands.
Older children could make up there own clapping, slapping, snapping finger
patterns with a partner. 1. Walk around the room
looking and waving at others when passing by. 2. Pat knees in time to the
minnie macs. |
Gilly gilly gilly good
morning, Good morning, good morning! Gilly gilly gilly good
morning, Good morning to you! Minnie mac, minnie mac,
minnie minnie minnie mac, Minnie mac, minnie mac,
minnie mo-o! Minnie mac, minnie mac,
minnie minnie minnie mac, Minnie mac, minnie mac,
minnie mo-o! |
Good morning dear Earth 🔊 A greeting song to help children
understand how we are all interconnected and part of a wider entity. Make up
verses to include parts of the natural world around your own setting. 1. Touch ground. 2. Make circle above head with arms. 3. Place one
hand curled on the other. 4. Open hands round face. 5. Cross forefingers and
fly. 6. Cross hands at wrists and fly. 7. Open arms out then cross arms to
chest. |
Good morning dear Earth, Good morning dear Sun, Good morning, dear stones And the flowers every one. Good morning, dear bees, And the birds in the trees, Good morning to you And good morning to me! |
Grab
that spider, tiger 🔊 I wrote this one for a young child
who was having difficulties with the ‘g’ and ‘c’ speech sounds. It could be
chanted for a child that finds singing difficult. 1. Look fierce and make claws move. 2. Prowl. 3. Shake forefinger put
to mouth, wipe away a tear. 4. Prowl, hand makes a spider. 5. Place hands on
hips and give a big growl. |
“Grrr, grrr, grrr, grrr, grab
that spider!”
Growls the great big prowling
tiger,
“Please don’t giggle and please
don’t cry,
If you see me going by,
In your garden chasing spiders,
For I’d be a grumpy tiger,
Grrr!”
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