More action songs J-L

Jack-in-the-box

Jackie the sailor

Jingle clap

Johnny, Johnny Jingles

Juba

Jump, jump, jump

Jump over the moon

Jumping up and down

Just look how high I’m jumping

Kuma san / Mister Bear

La la la la la la / Tap your nose

Let everyone clap hands like me

Let’s clap, clap, clap our hands today

Little birds, little birds

Little hands, little hands

Little jumping Joan

Little seed, deep in the ground

Long-legged sailor

Looking for a dinosaur

Love grows one by one

Love grows under the wild oak tree

 

Last updated: 4/4/2022 11:47 AM

The songs below are part ofAway 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 following conditions:

·       you must give the original author credit

·       you may not use this work for commercial purposes

·       for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

·       any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

 

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

 

 

 

Jack-in-the-box 🔊

 

 


A simple suspense action game or hand play as children wait for that magic moment when Jack is released from his box. You will notice how the notes descend until the last ones.

This is from one of my favourite song books for young children, ‘Singing Fun’ by Lucille F. Wood and Louise B’ Scott, published in 1962. I came across it when first teaching.

 

Game: Squat down with hands over head, put finger to lips. Jump up high!

Hand play: Place hands over head, put finger to lips. Wrap forefinger with opposite hand. Lid thumb springs open and ‘Jack’ forefinger jumps out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jack in the box,

Quiet as a mouse,

Deep down inside

Your dark little house.

Jack in the box

Resting so still,

Will you come out?

Yes, I will!


 

 

 

Jackie the sailorO

 

Avast, me hearties! Get ready for a life at sea.

Words by Mabel F. Wilson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Oh, Jackie is a sailor bold,

On a great big ship and a very fine ship,

Oh, Jackie is a sailor bold,

And he spends his life at sea.

 

Chorus

Oh, Jackie is a sailor bold,

And he spends his life at sea.

 

He scrubs the deck to make it clean,

On a great big ship and a very fine ship,

He scrubs the deck to make it clean,

And he spends his life at sea.

 

He turns the wheel to keep the course,

On a great big ship and a very fine ship,

He turns the wheel to keep the course,

And he spends his life at sea.

 

He pumps out water when it leaks,

On a great big ship and a very fine ship,

He pumps out water when it leaks,

And he spends his life at sea.

 

He rows to the shore when the ships in port,

On a great big ship and a very fine ship,

He rows to the shore when the ships in port,

And he spends his life at sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pull the ropes to heave and haul the sails.

 

Each time a verse is sung mime the movements vigorously.


 

 

Jingle clap 🔊

 

 


This lively community song would work well at Christmas as a partner to ‘Jingle bells’ as it is the same tune!.

 

Follow the instructions – the actions are spelt out clearly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Clap your hands, stamp your feet,

Let's all stand up, please.

Face to the left, face to the right,

Now hands upon your knees.

All sit down, now stand up,

Clap your hands, two beats.

Before you’re down, turn once around,

Then sit down on your seat


 

 

Johnny, Johnny Jingles 🔊

 

 


Dramatize the morning getting up routine; discuss what else children do before setting off for school. Substitute ‘Jenny’ or a child’s name to make the song more personal.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Mime sequence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Johnny, Johnny Jingles,

Jumped out of bed;

Brushed his teeth and washed his face

And combed his tousled head.

He put his clothes on carefully,

His shoes he neatly tied;

Then he went to breakfast

And sat by his mother’s side.


 

 

Juba O

 

This clapping game has its origins in an African-American plantation dance brought over from West Africa by slaves who performed it without instruments.

 

I have adapted one below to be played in three ways depending on the age and abilities of the children:

1. With one player as a simple hand clapping game (clap, slap knees)

2. In pairs (clap own hands, slap partners right hand, clap own hands, slap partners left hand, repeat sequence. Clap hands slap both partners hands, (clap own hands, slap thighs, link arms and skip round)

3. Facing a partner in a circle repeat actions above, on the last line skip round until you face a new partner.  Continue this sequence until everyone ends up facing their original partner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Juba this and Juba that,

Juba chased a yellow cat,

Juba up and Juba down,

Juba ran around the town.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Jump, jump, jump  🔊

 

 


An old Play School favourite by Lionel Morton. Younger children might prefer a simpler version changing ‘jump’ for other action words: hop, shake, stamp, clap.

 

Move energetically and have fun with the dramatic nature of the words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jump, jump, jump if you feel you want to-oo-ooo

Jump, jump, jump if you feel you ca-aa-aan

Jump, jump, jump if you feel you want to-oo-ooo

Jump, jump, jump if you feel you can.

 

Hop, hop, hop when you’re feeling bouncy,

Shake, shake, shake altogether now.

Stamp, stamp, stamp when you’re feeling cranky,

Clap, clap, clap, then make a bow.

 

Dance, dance, dance when you hear a band play.

Sing, sing, sing when you hear a tune.

Cry, cry, cry when you’re feeling teary

Laugh, laugh, laugh and we’ll all join in.

 


 

 

Jump, jump, jump, jump over the moon 🔊

 

 


Get jumping.

Adapted from a poem by Kate Greenaway with added verses and music by Arthur C. Edwards. From ‘Music for living’ book 2 published by Silver Burdett in 1956.

Last verse adapted by Dany Rosevear.

 

An opportuniy to make BIG jumps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jump, jump, jump!

Jump over the moon;

Jump all of the morning,

And jump all of the noon.

 

Jump, jump, jump!

Jump over a star;

Choose one that is twinkling,

And not so very far.

 

Jump, jump, jump!

Jump over the sea;

Jump over the dry land,

And jump over to me.

 

Jump, jump, jump!

Jump far, far away;

What wonderful wonders

We’ll see every day.

 


 

 

Jumping up and down 🔊

 

 


A simple slow and fast activity for the young ones;An energetic action rhyme based on ‘Knees up, Mother Brown!’  Could also be played as a baby / toddler bounce.

Adapted by Dany Rosevear.

 

Move in the ways suggested, normally then at speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jumping up and down,

Jumping up and down,

Keep it steady, always ready!

Jumping up and down!

 

Running on the spot,

Running on the spot,

Keep it steady, always ready!

Running on the spot!

 

Hopping up and down,

Hopping up and down,

Always hopping, never stopping!

Hopping up and down!

 


 

 

Just look how high I’m jumping 🔊

 

 


Get rid of those fidgets and move!

Children love to be watched and be challenged, the last verse is quite an acheivement!

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

 

Move as suggested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Just look how high I’m jumping,

I’m jumping, I’m jumping,

Just look how high I’m jumping,

Way high up in the sky!

 

Just look how far I’m hopping,

I’m hopping, I’m hopping,

Just look how far I’m hopping,

Goodbye and au revoir!

 

Just hear how quiet I tiptoe,

I tiptoe, I tiptoe,

Just hear how quiet I tiptoe,

As quiet as a mouse!

 

Just hear how loud I’m stamping,

I’m stamping, I’m stamping,

Just hear how loud I’m stamping,

Like a giant on a thundercloud!

 

Just see how fast…

Spoken:

I STOP!

And SIT!

And put my hands in my lap!

Then THUMBS UP!

And a BIG CLAP!

 


 

 

Kuma san / Mr. Bear 🔊

 

 


A simple lively action play.

 

Slap knees and clap hands for each ‘Kuma san’ or ‘Mr. Bear’.

1. Turn around. 2. Touch ground. 3. Hop on left foot then the right. 4. Make big waves first with one hand then the other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kuma san, kuma san, maware migi,

Kuma san, kuma san, ryote wo tsuite,

Kuma san, kuma san, kata-ashi ageta,

Kuma san, kuma san, sayo-un-nara!

 

Mister bear, Mister bear, turn yourself around,

Mister bear, Mister bear, hands upon the ground,

Mister bear, Mister bear, hop with one foot in the air,

Mister bear, Mister bear, time to say good bye!

 


 

 

La la la la la la 🔊

 

 


Follow simple instructions.

This can be played individually, with children walking in and out of each other, with a partner or in a circle. Make up more verses with children suggesting actions.

 

Walk or skip round the circle to ‘La la’. Do actions in time to the music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


La la la la la la,

La la la la la la la la.

La la la la la la,

La la la la la la la la.

Stamp your feet just like so,

Tap your nose and tickle your toes.

Stretch up high, bend down low,

Clap your hands and off we go.

 


 

 

 

Let everyone clap hands like me 🔊

 

 


Play as a slow waltz. Ask children to come up with their own ideas – energetic or funny ones depending on their mood.

 

Make movements suggested by the words twice at the end of each line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Let everyone clap hands like me, (clap, clap)

Let everyone clap hands like me, (clap, clap)

Come on and join in with the game, (clap, clap)

You'll find that it's always the same. (clap, clap)

 

Let everyone stamp feet like me,

Let everyone stamp feet like me,

Come on and join in with the game,

You'll find that it's always the same.

 

Let everyone jump just like me,

Let everyone jump just like me,

Come on and join in with the game,

You'll find that it's always the same.

 

Let everyone whistle like me,

Let everyone whistle like me,

Come on and join in with the game,

You’ll find that it’s always the same.

 

Let everyone do what they want,

Let everyone do what they want,

Come on and join in with the game,

You'll find that it's always the same.

 


 

 

Let’s clap, clap, clap our hands today 🔊

 

 


Movement and stillness. A lively imaginative action song to perform in a space.

Based on a song by Sandy Inkster and adapted by Dany Rosevear.

 

1. Clap hands, jump up and down on the spot. 2. Stamp and wave ‘trunk’ arm, run on the spot with hands to chin. 3. Tap toes and stretch up high. 4. Slap knees and on the word ‘freeze’ make an animal shape and hold. 5. Flap arms then still flapping move downwards to rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Let’s clap, clap, clap our hands today,

Clap, clap, clap our hands today,

Clap, clap, clap our hands today,

Then jump up and down on the spot.

 

We’ll stamp, stamp, stamp like elephants…

Then run like a tiny little mouse.

 

We’ll tap, tap, tap our toes today…

Then stretch up as high as we can.

 

We’ll slap, slap, slap our knees today…

Then suddenly we will – FREEZE!.

 

We’ll flap, flap, flap like crows today…

Then fly down to our nests and rest.

 


 

 

Little birds, little birds 🔊

 

 


Follow instructions with quiet and more active movements. Arrange verses according to how you wish children to finish.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

1. Jump up and down vigorously and the quietly. 2. Tiptoe to leader and squat down. 3. Still squatting open and close thumb and fore finger, put hands to cheek and close eyes. Fly around room, return to base and sit down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little birds, little birds, jump up and down.

Little birds, little birds, don’t make a sound!

 

Little birds, little birds, tip-toe to me.

Little birds, little birds, bend your knees!

 

Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep!

Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep.

 

Little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves!

Little birds, little birds, sit down, please.


 

 

Little hands, little hands 🔊

 

 


A song about capabilities by Dany Rosevear. Children will have plenty of ideas what different parts of the body can do. Make up your own verses and actions.

 

As suggested by the words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little hands, little hands, what can you do?

Little hands, little hands, what can you do?

We can clap and we can shake, put a cake upon a plate, MMMH!

That’s what our little hands can do!

 

Little head, little head, what can you do?

Little head, little head, what can you do?

I can nod and I can kiss, sing a lovely song like this! La, la, la, la!

That’s what our little head can do!

 

Little feet, little feet, what can you do?

Little feet, little feet, what can you do?

We can stamp and we can hop, and run and run nonstop! STOP!

That’s what our little feet can do!

 


 

 

Little jumping Joan 🔊

 

 


A lively nursery rhyme. It was first published in the 19th century in 1881 in “Mother Goose or the Old Nursery Rhymes”. This version with a tune and a second part comes from”Music through the day” published by Silver Burdett in 1956.

 

A good song for ball bouncing or playing with a yo-yo or pogo stick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Here am I, little jumping Joan;

When nobody’s with me,

I’m always alone.

 

Bounce catch and bounce catch,

Bounce catch, bounce catch,

And bounce catch and bounce catch,

And bounce catch and bounce catch.

 


 

 

 

Little seed, deep in the ground 🔊

 

 


A ‘Jack in the box’ game for the Springtime.

It can also work as a hand play or action game, see the video.

Music and adaptation by Dany Rosevear.

 

1. Crouch covering the head with hands. Continue to crouch. 2. On ‘Now’ put palms together above head. On ‘will’ jump up high.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little seed, little seed,

Deep in the ground, sitting so still,

Sitting so still.

Little seed, little seed,

When will you sprout?

Now, I will!

 


 

 

Long-legged sailor O

 

 


This is a classic clapping game and can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_-tZyy4h4

 

My version is performed in pairs as a question and answer song taking turns to dramatize the two sections of each verse.

1. Throw hands (Have) out and point to partner (you), move fingers from side to side (ever) then throw arms up above the head (long-legged), place hand on heart (life).

2. Place hand above eyes (seen), throw up arms(long-legged), salute(sailor), throw up arms (long-legged) and cross arms over chest (wife).

The partner repeats these movements for the second two lines except the first two words where they shake finger (no) and point to self (I’ve).

Subsequent verses substitute the throwing of arms in the air with:

Arms up bent at elbow (short-legged)

Elbows tapping (knock kneed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Have you ever, ever, ever, in your long legged life,

Seen a long-legged sailor with a long legged wife?

No I’ve never, never, never, in my long legged life,

Seen a long-legged sailor with a long legged wife.

 

Have you ever, ever, ever, in your short legged life,

Seen a short-legged sailor with a short legged wife?

No I’ve never, never, never, in my short legged life,

Seen a short-legged sailor with a short legged wife.

 

Have you ever, ever, ever, in your knock-kneed life,

Seen a knock-kneed sailor with a knock-kneed wife?

No I’ve never, never, never, in my knock-kneed life,

Seen a knock-kneed sailor with a knock-kneed wife.

 

Have you ever, ever, ever, in your long-legged life,

Seen a short-legged sailor with a knock-kneed wife?

No I’ve never, never, never, in my long-legged life,

Seen a short-legged sailor with a knock-kneed wife.

 

You can also include: cross-legged / one-legged / bow-legged and make suitable actions

 


 

 

Looking for a dinosaur 🔊

 

 


A partner game. Children love pronouncing dinosaur names – the more difficult the better! Encourage children to make up their own imaginary dinosaur names and draw them.

This game can be played with children moving side by side or one behind the other. For more challenge call out a number up to five after first couplet and move in that number in a line behind a leader as described below.

 

Verse 1. With hand to forehead walk like an explorer round the room in and out of each other. Find a partner and move like favourite dinosaur. 2. Each time as before and then flying. 3. Stomp and growl. 4. Clap. 5. Hold hands in a circle and dance round. 6. Tiptoe, sing and walk quietly to home base and sit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


We’re looking for a dinosaur, a dinosaur, a dinosaur,

We’re looking for a dinosaur to come along with us.

To come along with us, to come along with us,

We’re looking for a dinosaur to come along with us.

 

We’re looking for a pteranodon, pteranodon, pteranodon,

We’re looking for a pteranodon to glide and soar with us;

To glide and soar with us, to glide and soar with us,

We’re looking for a pteranodon to glide and soar with us.

 

We’re looking for a T-rex, a T-rex, a T-rex,

We’re looking for a T-rex, to prowl and growl with us;

To prowl and growl with us, to prowl and growl with us,

We’re looking for a T-rex, to prowl and growl with us.

 

We’re looking for a stegosaurus, stegosaurus, stegosaurus,

We’re looking for a stegosaurus, to stomp along with us.

To stomp along with us, to stomp along with us,

We’re looking for a stegosaurus, to stomp along with us.

 

We’re looking for an allosaurus, allosaurus, allosaurus,

We’re looking for an allosaurus to dance around with us.

To dance around with us, to dance around with us,

We’re looking for an allosaurus to dance around with us.

 

Tiptoe, there’s a snaposnore-us, snaposnore-us, snaposnore-us,

Tiptoe, there’s a snaposnore-us, do not wake it up!

Do not wake it up, do not wake it up!

Tiptoe, there’s a snaposnore-us, do not wake it up!

 


 

 

Love grows, one by one 🔊

 

 


This delightful song by Carol Johnson is often accompanied by sign language as below but you can always make up your own.

Find Carol Johnson’s CDs and Music at: http://www.caroljohnsonmusic.com

 

Raise one finger on each hand, then two, then four to the beat of the music as the numbers are sung.

‘Love’ - make fists with hands and cross your arms on your chest.

‘Grows’ put right hand behind your left and move it upward to indicate growing.

‘Round like a circle’ - draw a large circle in the air with your finger.

‘Comes back’ - beckon with hand.

‘Knocking’ – ‘knock’ with hand.

‘Door’ - place hands in front of you, palms forward. Move right thumb and hand back toward your face to show an opening door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Chorus:

Love grows, one by one,

Two by two and four by four,

Love grows 'round like a circle,

And comes back a-knocking at your front door.

 

Note by note we make a song,

Voice by voice we sing it,

Choir by choir we fill up the world

With the music that we bring it.

Chorus

 

So let me take your hand, my friend,

We’ll each take the hand of another,

One by one we’ll reach for all,

Our sisters and our brothers.

Chorus


 

 

Love grows under the wild oak tree O

 

A north American scouting song and game.

 

Keep repeating the pattern below in time to the music:

1. Slap knees twice, clap twice, snap fingers to each side.

2. With palms down move hands over each other one way then the other, place one fist under the other and tap, swap fists and tap again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Love grows under the wild oak tree,

Sugar flows like candy,

Top of the mountain shines like gold

And you keep your little fella sorta handy.

 

Dreams, dreams, sweet dreams,

Under the wild oak tree-e,

Dreams, dreams, sweet dreams,

One for you and me! So!

 

Love grows under the wild oak tree,

Sugar flows like candy,

Top of the mountain shines like gold

And you keep your little fella sorta handy.

 


 

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