More action songs I

I am a pine tree

I am the music man

I can hear my hands go clap, clap, clap

I had a little engine

I have a little bicycle

I have caught a big fat trout

I jump out of bed in the morning

I move my arms about

I saw a little leaf

I wake up my hands

I went to the garden

I wiggle my fingers

I wish I was a little bird

If I could have a windmill

If I were a little bird

If I were so very small

If you were a farmer

If you’re happy and you know it

I’m a jolly pirate

I’m a nut

I’m a shiny robot

I’m going to blow a bubble

I’m walking like a robot

Immediate despatch

In a cottage in a wood

In the barnyard

Last updated: 8/28/2023 9:40 AM

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:

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

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Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

I am a pine tree 🔊

For stillness and movement. An effective relaxation song.

Words and music by Louise B. Scott, from ‘Singing Fun’ published 1954.

The humble pine tree, forever green, at this time of year becomes the magical Christmas tree. There is a wonderful legend of how a Devon saint, St. Boniface, in the 8^th century, found his way to Germany where he discovered the fir tree and said that from then on it would be a sign of peace and everlasting life. It would point to heaven and remind people of the Christ child and this is why we now use fir trees as Christmas trees.

Make a pointed shape with hands above head. Sway gently frome side to side. Alternatively use green scarves as you blow about.

I am a pine tree standing on a hill.

I can stand so very, very still.

All at once the wind begins to blow.

I bend to and fro, to and fro, to and fro.

Mmm-mmh! Mmm-mmh! Mmm-mmh! Mmmh!

I am the music man O

Make a class band of imaginary instruments. Make up more verses about other instruments and the sounds they make.

One person takes the leader’s part. The others join in with ‘What can you play?’ and the chorus with actions.

I am the music man, I come from down your way

And I can play, What can you play?

I can play the piano, piano, piano,

I can play the piano, pia, piano,

I am the music man…

I can play the violin, violin, violin,

I can play the violin, vio, violin,

I am the music man…

I can play the big bass drum, big bass drum, big bass drum,

I can play the big bass drum, big bass, big bass drum.

I am the music man…

I can play the piccolo, piccolo, piccolo,

I can play the piccolo, picco, piccolo,

Pia, pia, piano, piano, piano,

Pia, pia, piano, pia, piano,

Vio, vio, violin, violin, violin,

Vio, vio, violin, vio, violin,

Big bass, big bass, big bass drum, big bass drum, big bass drum,

Big bass, big bass, big bass drum, big bass, big bass drum,

Picco, picco, piccolo, piccolo, piccolo,

Picco, picco, piccolo, picco, piccolo.

I can hear my hands go clap, clap, clap 🔊

Make sounds and no sound at all.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Use parts of the body to make sounds.

I can hear my hands go clap, clap, clap,

And I can hear my feet go stamp, stamp, stamp.

I can hear my legs go slap, slap, slap,

But I can’t hear my eyes go blink, blink, blink!

I can hear my knees go knock, knock, knock,

And I can hear my tongue go click, clack, clock.

I can hear my fingers go snap, snap, snap,

But I can’t hear my head go nod, nod, nod!

I had a little engine O

Learn to move on the spot with dramatic actions and then use the whole space to move in and out of each other.

1. Make arms move backwards and forwards from elbows; push hard.

2. Move wheel; pretend to wind handle.

3. Run round the room with arms out stretched.

I had a little engine,

But it wouldn't go;

I had to push and push and push,

But still it wouldn't go.

I had a little motor car,

But it wouldn't go;

I had to wind and wind and wind,

But still it wouldn't go.

I had a little aeroplane,

My aeroplane could fly;

I jumped right in, away I flew,

Right into the sky.

I have a little bicycle 🔊

Learn traffic light colours and what they mean. Follow instructions.

A song for outside traffic play. Alternately children pretend to ride a bike while teacher holds up signs for children to obey.

I have a little bicycle,

I bought it at the shop

And when I see the big red light,

I know it’s time to STOP!

I have a little bicycle,

I ride it to the gate

And when I see the amber light,

I know it’s time to WAIT!

(or Get ready!)

I have a little bicycle,

I ride it to and fro

And when I see the big green light,

I know it’s time to GO!

I have caught a big, fat trout O

The hunt for this song on the internet has not yielded any results, I learnt it at Teacher Training College in the 1960s. The tune sounds a very familiar one – is it yet another German children’s song??? I would be delighted to know.

Verse 1: Indicate with hands the growing size of the trout.

Other verses: Dramatize taking home, cooking and eating fish but also size hand movements.

I have caught a big, fat trout,

I have caught a big,

I have caught a fat,

I have caught a big, fat trout!

I took home my big, fat trout,

I took home my a big, fat trout,

I took home my big,

I took home my fat,

I took home my big, fat trout!

I have cooked my…

Then I ate my…

I have caught a big, fat trout,

That is what my song’s about,

I have caught a big,

I have caught a fat,

I have caught a big, fat trout!

I jump out of bed in the morning O

A cumulative community song that requires stamina!

Begin to grasp the concept of time while dramatizing morning routines.

I jump out of bed in the morning,

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself in the morning,

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself and wash my face in the morning…

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself and wash my face and clean my teeth in the morning…

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself and wash my face and clean my teeth and put on my clothes in the morning…

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself and wash my face and clean my teeth and put on my clothes and go down the stairs in the morning…

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself and wash my face and clean my teeth and put on my clothes and I go down the stairs and I eat my toast in the morning…

I hope it's a very nice day.

I jump out of bed and stretch myself and wash my face and clean my teeth and put on my clothes and go down the stairs and eat my toast and wave goodbye in the morning…

I hope it's a very nice day.

I move my arms about 🔊

Ready to identify and move different parts of the body.

Move in different directions.

Been sitting too long / ready for a new start? It’s time for a big stretch.

Get ready for the next activity; a brief transition action song.

Arrangement and set to music by Dany Rosevear.

The words tell you what to do!

I move my arms about,

I move them in and out,

I move them up, I move them down,

Then turn myself about.

I move my elbows about,

I move them in and out,

I move them up, I move them down,

Then turn myself about.

I move my hips about,

I move them in and out,

I move them up, I move them down,

Then turn myself about.

I saw a little leaf 🔊

Children love to spin so make sure there is a soft surface like grass on which to fall!

Song by Martha, Thomas Metcalf School, Normal, Illinois.

Arrangement and last two verses by Dany Rosevear.

Play these verses together or just the one when the weather/ season turns.

Will also work as a hand play.

The words and video will suggest movements!

I saw a little leaf,

It was going round and round.

It whirled and whirled and whirled and whirled;

It fell to the ground.

I saw a little raindrop,

It was falling down, down down.

The wind it blew, then up it flew;

Then splashed on the ground.

I saw a little snowflake,

It floated softly round.

It danced up high, it danced down low;

Then melted on the ground.

I wake up my hands 🔊

What a way to wake up! Add verses as the mood takes you. The last line could be ‘And now I’m ready to sit, stop, listen, run’ you choose.

Last line of each verse adapted by Dany Rosevear.

The words inform the movements!

I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,

A clap, clap, clap, a clap, clap, clap,

I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,

And now I’m ready to… blink!

I wake up my eyes with a blink, blink, blink…

I wake up my nose with a beep, beep, beep…

I wake up my hips wiggle, wiggle, wiggle…

I wake up my knees with a knock, knock, knock …

I wake up my toes with a tap, tap, tap…

I wake up my whole body with a bounce, bounce, bounce…

And now I’m ready to go!

I went to the garden 🔊

A gardening job for every day of the week. An action song with some jobs more pleasant and fun than others! These are surely quick growing seeds!.

Encourage children to choose a flower or vegetable to shoot. Discuss how long it will take before a shoot is seen.

Pretend to dig then rake. Scatter seeds then water. Pretend to shoo off the birds and the cats. Hunt for and pick up slugs. Stand with hands on hips in admiration.

I went to the garden and dug up the ground

Dug up the ground, dug up the ground

I went to the garden and dug up the ground

On Sunday in the morning.

I went to the garden and raked the soil fine

Raked the soil fine, raked the soil fine

I went to the garden and raked the soil fine

On Monday in the morning.

I went to the garden and sowed all my seeds

Sowed all my seeds, sowed all my seeds

I went to the garden and sowed all my seeds

On Tuesday in the morning.

I went to the garden and watered the ground

Watered the ground, watered the ground

I went to the garden and watered the ground

On Wednesday in the morning.

I went to the garden and scared off the birds

Scared off the birds, scared off the birds

I went to the garden and scared off the birds

On Thursday in the morning.

I went to the garden and chased off the cats

Chased off the cats, chased off the cats

I went to garden and chased off the cats

On Friday in the morning.

I went to the garden and picked up the slugs

Picked up the slugs, picked up the slugs

I went to the garden and picked up the slugs

On Saturday in the morning.

I went to the garden and saw some green shoots

Saw some green shoots, saw some green shoots

I went to the garden and saw some green shoots

Some day in the morning.

I wiggle my fingers O

A great calming down song after vigorous activity.

I wiggle my fingers, I wiggle my toes,

I wiggle my shoulders, I wiggle my nose.

Now, no more wiggles are left in me;

And I’m still, as still, as still as can be.

I wish I were a little bird 🔊

This song from the USA encourages an individual response, an early versionwas recorded in 1909 and this one comes from ‘Songs to grow on’ by Beatrice Landeck published 1950.

Speak the last line wistfully. Each child can dramatize their wish as the others hum or whistle the tune.

I wish I were a little bird,

I'd fly way up in a tree,

I'd sit and sing my sad little song,

But I can't sing it all by myself!

I wish I were a little fish,

I'd swim way down in the sea,

I'd sit and sing my sad little song,

But I can't sing it all by myself!

I wish I were a little pig,

Who'd wallow in the mud,

I'd sit and sing my sad little song,

But I can't sing it all by myself!

If I could have a windmill O

A song for a farmyard visit.

This game can also be played with a partner:

1. place palms together and move from side to side

2. Holding hands alternately bob up and down.

3. Skip round in a circle.

4. Flap arms like wings.

5. Geese as below.

If I could have a windmill, a windmill, a windmill,

If I could have a windmill, I know what I would do. Stretch out arms and circle them round.

I'd have it pump some water, some water, some water,

I'd have it pump some water up from the river below. Pump arms up and down with clenched fists.

And then I’d have a duckpond, a duckpond, a duckpond,

And then I’d have a duckpond, for ducks and geese to swim.

Make quacking movements with hands.

The ducks would make their wings flap, their wings flap, their wings flap,

The ducks would make their wings flap, then they would say "Quack! Quack!"

Flap elbows up and down.

The geese would stretch their long necks, their long necks, their long necks,

The geese would stretch their long necks, then they would say "S-S-S-S-S!"

With forearm up point hands downwards like a gooses head.

If I were a little bird O

Mime the actions suggested by the words.

Written by Miss Catherine Willis of Atherstone Warwickshire.

If I were a little bird, high up in the sky,

This is how I'd flap my wings and fly, fly, fly.

If I were a friendly dog, going for a run,

This is how I'd wag my tail when I was having fun.

If I were a cat I’d sit by the fireplace,

This is how I'd use my paws to wash my face.

If I were an elephant, very big and strong,

This is how I'd wave my trunk and walk along.

If I were a kangaroo, I would leap and bound,

This is how I'd jump about and hop around.

If I were a camel tall, slowly I would stride,

This is how I'd rock and sway from side to side.

If I were a tall giraffe, living in the zoo,

This is how I'd bend my neck and look at you.

If I were so very tall 🔊

A gentle calming action song.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Walk tall and stately in and out of each othe, stretch up high and touch another child’s forefinger. 2. Crouch down and cover self with arms, sit and put hands to cheek.

If I were so very tall

I’d walk among the trees

And stretch to reach the topmost leaf

As easily as you please.

If I were so very small

I’d hide myself away

And creep into a buttercup,

To spend the summer’s day.

If you were a farmer O

A song by Lucille B. Scott from the wonderful ‘Singing Fun’ 1962 where you can find other classic nursery favourites. The tune is the traditional ‘Did you ever see a Lassie’

Verse 1. Mime putting eggs into a basket 2. Mime riding a horse 3. Mime milking a cow 4. Mime throwing seeds on the ground from a pail 5. Mime steering a tractor

Chorus

Oh, if you were a farmer, a farmer, a farmer,

Oh, if you were a farmer, what would you do?

I would gather eggs for breakfast, for breakfast, for breakfast,

I would gather eggs for breakfast, that’s what I’d do.

Then I’d ride a horse to market, to market, to market,

Then I’d ride a horse to market, that’s what I’d do.

I would milk the cow each morning, each morning, each morning,

I would milk the cow each morning, that’s what I’d do.

Then I’d feed the baby chickens, the chickens, the chickens,

Then I’d feed the baby chickens, that’s what I’d do.

I’d go ploughing in my tractor, my tractor, my tractor,

I’d go ploughing in my tractor, that’s what I’d do.

If you’re happy and you know it O

There are a zillion versions of this song; the one below is a simple one. My favourite is the Barefoot books video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71hqRT9U0wg it can’t fail to make you happy!

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

(clap clap)

If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

If you're happy and you know it, stamp your feet (stamp stamp)

If you're happy and you know it, shout "Hurray!" (hoo-ray!)

If you're happy and you know it, do all three,

(clap clap, stamp stamp, hoo-ray!)

If you're happy and you know it, do all three,

(clap clap, stamp stamp, hoo-ray!)

If you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it,

If you're happy and you know it, do all three.

(clap clap, stamp stamp, hoo-ray!)

I’m a jolly pirate 🔊

Make up more rhyming crew members with names, actions and adjectives.

Words adapted from a much simpler song by Dany Rosevear.

I. Turn the wheel. 2. Hoist the flag. 3. Mime climbing upwards. 4. Mime digging and wiping brow. 5. Cross hands at wrists and swoop downwards.

I’m a jolly pirate, I’m a jolly pirate,

Captain Crow! Captain Crow!

I can sail the oceans,

Yo, ho, ho! Yo, ho, ho!

I’m a fearsome pirate, I’m a fearsome pirate,

Blackbeard Hank! Blackbeard Hank!

Hoist the Jolly Roger,

Walk the plank! Walk the plank!

I’m a daring pirate, I’m a daring pirate,

Jim the boy! Jim the boy!

Watch me climb the riggings,

Land ahoy! Land ahoy!

I’m a bold pirate, I’m a bold pirate,

Peg leg Jake! Peg leg Jake!

Watch me dig for treasure,

I can’t wait! I can’t wait!

I’m the pirate’s parrot,

A feathery mate! A feathery mate!

I swoop to steal the treasure,

Swoop to steal the treasure,

Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!

I’m a nut 🔊

A silly song.

I. Put first finger and thumb together to show ‘small’. 2. Cross arms, hold arms and shiver. 3. Lift foot slowly and stamp on the word ‘me’. 4. Open arms slowly and clap sharply on the word ‘cracked’.

‘I’m a nut’ click with tongue and tap head.

I’m an acorn, small and round,

Lying on the cold cold ground.

Everyone walks over me,

That is why I’m cracked, you see.

I’m a nut, Click click! I’m a nut, Click click!

I’m a nut, I’m a nut, I’m a nut, Click click!

I'm so nutty, I don't know

Why the squirrels love me so.

I'm descended from an oak.

Nuts to you, and that's no joke.

I can be a friend to you,

Squirrels love me, you will too.

Come and be a friend of mine,

We’ll be crazy all the time.

When you see me on a tree,

Come and say hello to me;

We’ll act nutty while we play,

Then both of us will have to say -

I’m a shiny robot 🔊

Play this in pairs; one child is the robot the other a human partner.

Words by Dany Rosevear to a traditional tune.

Verse 1. Robot moves stiffly in front of partner who presses button, robot answers with a bleep. They both then shake hands, high five, stamp feet and move off together. 2. Robot moves stiffly in front of partner who pulls lever, robot then answers in a robotic voice and each pair moves as suggested.

I’m a shiny robot, I don’t sleep;

Press my button to hear me ‘Bleep!’

Shake my metal hand and say “Hello!”

High fives, stamp feet, off we go.

I’m a happy robot, straight and stiff,

Watch me move my arms like this;

If you pull my lever, hear me say,

“Forwards, backwards, round this way!”

I’m going to blow a bubble 🔊

Outdoors play means water play, water play needs bubbles!

Children cup hands around their mouths, then open them wider as they blow. Clap

hands together to pop the bubble.

I’m going to blow a bubble.

Just watch me while I blow.

You’ll see it getting bigger

Now watch it grow and grow.

Do you think it’s big enough?

Maybe I should stop?

For if I give another blow

My bubble it may POP!

Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble,

Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, POP!

I’m walking like a robot O

Words by Sue Nicholls to a traditional tune.

Identify and move parts of the body stiffly like a robot.

I'm walking like a robot,

A robot, a robot,

I'm walking like a robot,

All metal and wires.

My arms move very stiffly,

Very stiffly, very stiffly,

My arms move very stiffly,

When I brush my teeth.

My head can turn quite quickly,

Quite quickly, quite quickly,

My head can turn quite quickly,

With a hum and a click.

My chest is full of buttons,

Full of buttons, full of buttons,

My chest is full of buttons,

They go blip, blop, bleep. X4

STOP!

Immediate despatch 🔊

There was so much excitement for young children around the time of the Appllo moon landing and this was the historic context in which the song below was published in 1971, it comes from ‘Space songs for infants’ written by Elizabeth Horscroft and arranged by Denise Narcisse-Mair; the second later verse is by Jean Gilbert.

Mime the actions of this song.

Polish up the spaceship,

Shine, shine, shine,

Fill up the fuel tanks

In time, time, time.

Switch on the motor

And close down the hatch,

Moonship Apollo

Immediate despatch.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,

Blast off!

Shooting into outer space,

Zoom, zoom, zoom,

Circling round and round the earth

There’s room, room, room,

Watch every lever

And check every clock.

Moonship Apollo

Is ready to dock.

In a cottage in a wood O

An action rhyme for the nursery. In the U.S.A. it is known as ‘In a cabin in the woods’ You can also find it as a French song ‘Le grand cerf’ and translated into English at http://singinggamesforchildren.com/A%20Cluster%202.3%20Hopla/34-38%20Chez%20nous.htm

It can also be sung for the 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.

In a cottage in a wood,

A little old man at the window stood,

Saw a rabbit running by,

Knocking at the door.

'Help me, help me, help me,' he said,

'Before the hunter shoots me dead!'

'Come little rabbit, come with me,

Happy we will be.'

Make hands like a roof above head. Shape a window with fore fingers and thumb.

Hold rabbit ear fingers at side of head. Knock on the door.

Shout with hands to mouth.

Shoot with fingers.

Rabbit ears + come to me gesture.

Stroke rabbit in arm.

In the barnyard 🔊

Move in three different ways like the farmyard poultry.

A movement song by Dorothy Aldis and Milton Kaye from ‘Make music your own 1’. First part adapted by Dany Rosevear who had great difficulty with the original version!

Divide children into three groups: chickens, ducklings and geese. Take turns making movements particular to each bird and the music: chickens pecking, ducklings making little steps, geese moving proudly with stretched necks. Make sure each group experience moving in all three ways.

In the barnyard, yard,

Chickens walk, walk, walk,

Jerk their heads as they peck,

Peck and talk, talk, talk.

Yellow ducklings run around,

Like butterballs upon the ground.

And some geese tremendous proud,

Point their noses at a cloud.

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