More
action songs Ti-Tw + U
Tippy
tippy tiptoes
Today
is Monday
Tohora
nui
Tom
saw a sailor
Tommy
was a baker
Tony
Chestnut
Touch
your nose, touch your chin / The touch game
Touch
your shoulders
Two
hoots
Two little
boats are on the sea
Two
little hands
Two,
two, what are two?
Uncle
Jesse
Last updated: 9/5/2022
2:20 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
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.
16
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Tippy tippy tiptoe 🔊
Children love
an excuse to tiptoe, find a dramatic theme like Hallowe’en or grandma
sleeping as an excuse to move in a quiet manner. The words are anonymous and
music is by Milton Kaye from ‘Music for living: music through the day’. Move around the room weaving in and out of each other or
with a partner. |
|
Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, here we go, Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, to and fro. Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, through the house, Tippy, tippy, tiptoe like a mouse. Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, here we go, Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, to and fro. Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, time to hop, Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, time to stop. |
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Today is Monday 🔊
Sequence
the days of the week. A traditional cumulative rhyme that has been charmingly
updated by the wonderful Eric Carle; you can find it in his beautifully illustrated
picture book of the same name. The foods
can be changed to reflect your children’s favourites, one of my grandchildren
loves pizza! String beans – wave hands back and forth.
Spaghetti – roll hands round each other. Zoooop – spoon towards mouth. Pizza
– slice. Fresh fish – palms of hands together and swim. Chicken – flap
elbows. Icecream – lick. Hungry
children – rub tummy. Pretend to eat. |
|
Today is Monday, today is Monday, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday, Tuesday, spaghetti, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! Today is Wednesday, today is Wednesday, Wednesday, zoooop, Tuesday, spaghetti, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! Today is Thursday, today is Thursday, Thursday, pizza, Wednesday, zoooop, Tuesday, spaghetti, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! Today is Friday, today is Friday, Friday, fresh fish, Thursday, pizza, Wednesday, zoooop, Tuesday, spaghetti, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! Today is Saturday, today is Saturday, Saturday, chicken, Friday, fresh fish, Thursday, pizza, Wednesday, zoooop, Tuesday, spaghetti, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! Today is Sunday, today is Sunday, Sunday, ice-cream, Saturday, chicken, Friday, fresh fish, Thursday, pizza, Wednesday, zoooop, Tuesday, spaghetti, Monday, string beans, All you hungry children, come and eat it up! |
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Tohora nui / The big whale 🔊
A singing
game from New Zealand in the Maori language. English translation
/ interpretation and written music by Dany Rosevear. 1. Stretch arms out to the side. 2. Stretch
arms up. 3. Arms make big circle in front. 4. Put wrists together with hands
out above head. 5. Hands beind back and shooting out. 6. Hands, in front and
side by side, move up and down away from body. |
Tohorā nui,
Tohorā roa,
Tohorā tino mōmona,
Tohorā whiuwhiua,
Tohorā piupiua e,
Tohorā kau kau ana I te moana e!
A whale is big,
A whale is long,
A whale is so, so, so gigantic,
Flap and swish your tail, whale,
Spout your blowhole high,
Swim
around whale, swim across the oceans so wide!
|
Tom saw
a sailor 🔊
I came across this song in ‘Merrily, merrily’ published 1979 by the
Nursing Mother’s Associaton of Australia where it was credited to anonymous.
However an internet seach suggests it comes from ‘Dickory's horse, and five
other songs for singing and acting’ written by Anne Harding Thompson in 1933.
As this publication is not available I have added an activity to play. Divide
children into two groups: sailors holding a bundle over the shoulder and children
with hands on hips. Line 1. Walk around the room in and out of each other
looking for a partner. 2. Stop in front of a partner and stamp three times.
3. and 4. Children sing question, sailors answer and give their child a bun
to eat. |
|
Tom saw a sailor walking down the street, He had a spotted handkerchief and bare brown
feet. “What’s in your bundle sailor, ahoy?” A pipe for the bosun and a bun for the boy!” |
|
A great song for dramatisation. This song is also known as ‘Johnny
was a soldier’ or ‘Tommy was a soldier’. One child
chooses and mimes an occupation. The others try to guess what it is. Once
they have guessed they sing the child’s name and job as that child continues
to mime. They then all copy the movements or make up ones of their own to
show what else people in that job can do. |
|
Tommy was a baker, Tommy was a baker, Tommy was a baker, I know, I know, I know. All do as I do, All do as I do, All do as I do, I-oh, I-oh, I-oh! Zara was a doctor... Ethan was a driver... Nancy was a gardener... Edward was a pilot... Bobby was a builder... |
|
Tony
Chestnut O
Rather like ‘Head, shoulders knees and
toes’ this song can be sung with words omitted in sequence with actions
replacing them. Alternatively for a vigorous work out it can be sung faster
each time. Point to
the toe, knee, chest, and head (nut) in turn as each word is mentioned. Follow
this by the nose and eyes, then place crossed hands over the chest (love) and
point to a friend (you). |
|
Tony Chestnut knows I love you, Tony knows, Tony knows, Tony Chestnut knows I love you. That’s what Tony knows! |
|
Touch your nose, touch your chin / The touch game 🔊
Identify parts
of the body and make funny noises. Music added
by Dany Rosevear. 1. Touch nose then chin 2.
Touch eyes then knees. Pretend to sneeze and say ‘Achoo!’ sneeze on arm. 3. Touch
hair then ears. Touch lips and blow raspberry. 4. Touch elbows. Place hands
on hips. |
|
Touch
your nose, touch your chin, That’s the way this game begins. Touch your eyes, touch your knees, Now pretend you have to sneeze. ATCHOO! Touch your hair, touch your ears, Touch your two red lips right here. Blow
raspberry Touch your elbows just where they bend, That’s the way the touch game ends. |
|
Touch your shoulders 🔊
A classic rhyme
with a challenging ending. Identify parts of the body and finish settled for
the next activity. Music by
Dany Rosevear. Move as the words suggest making a big stretch
when reaching up. Finish sitting quietly on the floor. |
|
Touch your shoulders, touch your knees. Raise your arms then drop them, please. Pull your ears, and tap your nose. Touch your ankles, tickle your toes. Hands on hips and bend your knees. Slowly, quietly, sit down please. |
|
Two
hoots 🔊
An action rhyme and celebration of oneself and others. Everyone needs to take a pride in who they are and equally important
recognise that others have strengths and qualities that can be recognised and
admired. Recognizing and celebrating diversity in a group relies on individuals
having a confident positive self-identity. We all have a unique set of
attributes and need to be comfortable and take pride in our differences. At
the same time we need to recognize that we also have much in common that
allows us to live together in harmony. Take time to help children recognise
their own markers and why they makes them feel good. Watch out for that owl,
mouse! Words and music by Dany Rosevear. Chorus: Shake finger, stamp or clap twice. Repeat three times. Point
to self. Verse 1. Make beak with forefingers, shake elbow wings. Hand to ears.
‘Too-whit’ flapping wings. Point to self proudly. 2. Wave arm trunk. Flap
hand ears, make fists stomp. Hand to ears. ‘Trumpet’ waving arm trunk. Point
to self proudly. 3. Forefingers make twitchy nose. Scamper and scrabble with
finger toes. Hand to ears. Make ‘eek’ noise twitching nose as before. Point
to self proudly. |
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I don’t give two hoots, I don’t give two hoots, I don’t give two hoots, I’m just glad to be me. Old barn owl has a sharp, pointy beak, Feathers all a-flutter, so soft and sleek. Listen to it hoot, listen to it screech, “Too-whit, too-whoooo! I’m just glad to be me. I’m just glad to be me.” Chorus Elephant’s trunk is useful and strong, Its ears wiggle waggle, it stomps along, Listen to that trump! Such a playful song! “Trumpetty trump! I’m just glad to be me. I’m just glad to be me.” Chorus Little mouse has a pink, twitchy nose, It scampers and scrabbles on its tiny toes, Listen to it squeak where ever it goes, “Eek! Eek! Eek! Eek! I’m just glad to be me. I’m just glad to be me.” Chorus |
|
Two little boats are on the sea O
Learn about controlled slow then fast
and back to slow movements. This song can be played as a pair
game, see below, or a knee bouncing activity: sway baby gently from side to
side, bounce faster, then sway gently once again. Children in pairs sit facing each other holding hands and rock back
and forth gently at first then faster. Make appropriate sounds at the end of
each line. |
|
Two little boats are on the sea, Mmm
mmm! All is calm as calm as can be. Mmm
mmm! Gently the wind begins to blow, Ooooh
Ooooh! Two little boats rock to and fro.
Ooooh Ooooh! Loudly the wind begins to shout, Whoo
Whoo! Two little boats are tossed about.
Whoo Whoo! Gone is the wind, the storm, the rain, Mmm mmm! Two little boats sail on again.
Mmm mmm! |
|
Two
little hands 🔊
Words by Lucille F. Wood from ‘Singing
fun’ published 1962; this book contains so many familiar children’s nursey
classics in such a small volume. Move as the words suggest or find
rhythm instruments that make the same sound. |
|
Two little hands go clap,
clap, clap. Two little feet go tap,
tap, tap. Two little fists go thump,
thump, thump. Two little legs go jump, jump, jump. One little body turns
around, And everyone sits quietly
down. |
|
Two, two,
what are two? 🔊
This sweet little number rhyme,
possibly of Japanese origin, ends with a big hug. A very kind viewer suggested this might
be a translation of the poem "Futa-tu" by Michio Mado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVtzyL3Ap3c
Wish I'd listened to it before making up a tune! Music by Dany Rosevear. 1. Put up one finger on each hand Point to each eye then each ear. 2.
As before, then clap hands and stamp feet twice. 3. As before. Point to child
and give a big hug. |
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Eyes are two, one, two, Ears are two, one, two, Two, two, what are two? Hands are two, one, two, Feet are two, one, two, Two, two, what are two? You know you know, My arms are two! |
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Uncle Jesse 🔊
A lively
action / circle game. It’s the beginning of the school year and time
to learn a bunch of new names. This song and game will help you do that
easily and have a lot of fun at the same time. The
movements can be changed or added to. Children make a circle, one child, ‘Uncle
/Auntie Jesse’ walks round the outside as the circle moves round and on ‘now
he/she knows your name’ taps one child on the shoulder. That child walks into
the centre and moves as suggested. Those in the circle can can continue
moving round or imitate the movements. The child in the centre then becomes the new
‘Uncle /Auntie Jesse’. |
|
Here comes Uncle / Auntie Jesse, A-ridin’ down the lane, With his/ her horse and buggy, And now s/he knows your name: Come on down! (child’s name), Touch your head, (child’s name), Jump up high, (child’s name) Shake it, shake it down. (child’s name) |
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