More
action songs U-Z
Up,
down, turn around
Up I
stretch on tippy toe
Up in
a rocket
Walk
all around
Walk
and stop
Way
down younder in the maple swamp
Way
up in the sky
We
are woodmen sawing trees
We’ll
hop, hop, hop like a bunny
We’re
marching in our wellingtons
We’re
marching to the drum
What
is an insect?
Wheels
keep turning
Wiggle
and freeze
Will
you come and walk with me?
Willum
he had seven sons
Wishi
ta
With
my little broom
Yes,
we can!
You
and me and little flea
You
can stamp your feet
Last updated: 8/14/2023
8:03 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:
© 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.
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Up, down, turn around 🔊
Get moving
- one for the beginning and the end of the day. Follow instructions! |
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Up, down, turn around, Touch the sky and touch the ground. Wiggle your fingers, wiggle your toes, Wiggle your shoulders and say, “Hello!” Up, down, turn around, Touch the sky and touch the ground. Jiggle your tummy, blink your eyes, Blow a kiss and wave “Goodbye!” |
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Up I
stretch on tippy-toe 🔊
Move and sing high and low. A game
from ‘This little puffin’. Line 1. Stretch
up high. 2. Bend low to touch heels. 3. Stretch arms high. 4. Bend knees to
curl down low. |
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Up I stretch on tippy-toe, Down to touch my heels I go. Up again my arms I send, Down again my knees I bend. |
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Up in a
rocket 🔊
A space action rhyme. Pretend to be a rocket and move
upwards into space. Encourage children to decide which planet, star or moon
they would like to visit. Crouch
down low with hands together pointing upwards. Rise gradually then take off
and move around the room. Land like a rocket and dance to the music. Once
children are familiar with this song when crouching begin movement with
counting back from ten finishing with ‘BLAST OFF!’ |
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Up, up, up in a rocket, Up we'll go, up we'll go, Up, up, up in a rocket, A-way up high we'll go! |
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Walk
all around 🔊
This song includes both energetic
and quiet movements plus stillness – the most difficult of all for young
children! It used to be sung as ‘Walk all around, boys’ - ‘kids’ or ‘guys’
would also be gender non-specific. Move (walk, hop, tiptoe etc.) in and out of each other around the
room. When the music stops sit or stand still before setting off again as the
next verse begins. Join together to make a circle as the last verse is sung. |
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Walk all around, now, Walk all around, Walk all around, now, Walk all around. Walk all around, now, Walk all around, Walk all around, now, Walk all around… AND STOP! Jump up and down, now… Tiptoe around, now, don’t make a sound… Stamp on the ground, now… Circle around… |
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Walk and stop 🔊
A freeze /
elimination game. After two or three games children can rejoin the group.
Children who move can clap to the beat. On the word ‘Stop!’ children stand still,
anyone moving is ‘out’. Increase the difficulty by moving in different ways.
Everyone comes together at the end in a circle or facing the teacher. |
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Oh, well you walk and you walk and you walk and you stop! Oh, well you walk and you walk and you walk and you stop! Oh, well you walk and you walk and you walk and you stop! Oh, well you walk and you walk and you walk and stop! Oh, well you wiggle… Oh, well you tiptoe… Oh, well you bounce… Oh, well you run… Oh, well you hop… Oh, well you all sit quietly with hands in your lap… |
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Way
down yonder in the maple swamp 🔊
A traditional American nursery
rhyme. Can be played in a circle or walking round the room weaving in and out
of each other. For extra fun (and if you can cope with it) play three times
starting slowly and getting faster each time. Set to music by Dany Rovear who has
also added an extra lively verse. 1. Walk round in a circle. 2. Clap high, clap low. Knock knees. Clap high, clap low. Touch toes. Clap hands,
stamp feet. Turn round on the spot. |
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Way down yonder in the maple swamp; The wild geese gather and the ganders honk. The mares kick up and the ponies prance; The old sow whistles and the little pigs dance. Hi down, ho down, Knock your knees to squeeze the fleas! Hi down, ho down, Touch your toes to scare the crows! Clap your hands, stamp your feet And then turn round and round. Last time: And then sit on the ground. |
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Way
up in the sky 🔊
This song can be interpreted in two
ways; as a sentimental action play for todlers and youngsters or in a more
mocking style as in the scouting tradition with exaggerated movements and
loud voices towards the end of the song. Thrown up hands, flywith your hands. Rock cupped hands. Rest head on
hands. Flap left then right crooked arm. Make sleeping action as before.
Whisper SHHH! Shout SLEEPING! Draw a sun, show falling dew with hands and wiggling
fingers. Throw out hands at each ‘good morning’. Open and close thumbs and
forefingers. |
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Way up in the sky, The little birds fly, While down in their nest The little birds rest. With a wing on the left, And a wing on the right, The dear little birds slumber all through the night, SHHH! They’re SLEEPING! The bright sun comes up, The dew falls away, “Good Morning,” “Good Morning.” The little birds say. |
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We
are woodmen sawing trees O
An opportunity for strong
movements. Even more fun in the woods. Investigate the connection between
the wood growing there and the paper we use. Where else is wood used. In the
days when I was a child we made wooden stilts and often grazed our knees
falling off them! Mime the actions suggested by the words |
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We are woodmen sawing trees, Sawing, sawing, sawing trees. We don’t stop for wind or weather, We keep sawing all together; We are woodmen sawing trees, Sawing, sawing, sawing trees. The tree falls down with a great big crash! Now we all will take an axe, And chop and chop with all our might, To get some wood for the fire to light; We are woodmen sawing trees, Sawing, sawing, sawing trees. Watch us carry logs along, As we sing our merry song; Tra la la la la la la, etc. |
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We’ll
hop, hop, hop like a bunny 🔊
This can be played as an action rhyme
moving appropriately round the room or as the hand play below. Music by Dany Rosevear. Verse 1. Make a hopping motion with finger rabbit ears. Fingers run.
Fists thump up and down. Hands jump up and down. Verse 2. Swim with one hand
on top of the other with thumbs out. Cross hands at wrists and flap. Fold
arms then put finger to lips. |
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We’ll hop, hop, hop like a bunny, And run, run, run, like a dog. We’ll walk, walk, walk like an elephant And jump, jump, jump like a frog. We’ll swim, swim, swim like a goldfish, And fly, fly, fly like a bird We’ll sit right down and fold our hands And say not a single word. |
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We’re marching in our wellingtons 🔊
One for the
very young preferably outside on a wet day. If inside use hoops as below. 3rd
verse by Dany Rosevear. Verse 1. & 2. Walk around
the hoops with strong stamping steps. Verse 3. & 4. Wave arm for a trunk. Stamp in and out of the hoops. Stamp to
home base. |
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We're marching in our wellingtons, Tramp, tramp, tramp! We're marching in our wellingtons, We won't get damp! We’re marching in our wellingtons, Step, step, step! Marching in our wellingtons, We won’t get wet! We’re marching just like elephants, Stamp, stamp, stamp! Splashing through the puddles, We want to get damp! Splashing through the puddles, In the rain, rain, rain! Splashing through the puddles, Then splashing home again! |
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We’re marching to the drum 🔊
Move to the
beat of the drum, sometimes noisily. Some times quietly. 1. March briskly around 2. Run in and out of each other, no
touching! 3. Bounce around 4. Tiptoe quietly. 5. Sit and clap to the drum. |
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We’re marching to the drum, We’re marching to the drum, Hi ho the derry oh We’re marching to the drum, And the drum says “STOP!” We’re running round the room… We’re jumping everywhere… We’re creeping silently… We’re sitting on the floor… |
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What
is an insect? 🔊
This song might help you remember
some of the basic facts about insects. Find out more at: https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/animals-and-nature/insects/useful-insects/
1. Touch head, chest and tummy each time. 2. Hold up six fingers,
point to legs. 3. Put forefingers up to side of head and waggle. 4. Slap
body, put hands over head. 5. Flap elbows, wag finger from side to side. |
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Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen, abdomen, Head and thorax, abdomen, has each insect! Every insect has six legs, has six legs, has six legs, Every insect has six legs, six legs has each insect! Antennae help them feel and taste, feel and taste, feel and taste, Antennae help them feel and taste, two antennae! Their bodies have an outer case, outer case, outer case, Their bodies have an outer case, it protects each insect. Most insects have two pairs of wings, two pairs of wings, two pairs of
wings, Most insects have two pairs of wings, some don’t have any! |
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Wheels
keep turning O
A little nostalgia written by
Graham Beebee. Some will remember this from BBC or
ABC (1989’) ‘Play school’, others from the LP ‘Bang on a drum’ and yet others
classroom singing from the Apusskidu’ song book published in 1975 by A&C
Black. Discuss different kinds of machines
and how they might move. Move body like a machine with arms working like levers. Then move in
and out of others moving in the same way. |
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Some machines are fun to watch And make a funny sound; With some oil on, they go quieter, That’s what I have found. Up and down the levers go, Pistons to and fro. Motors churning, Brrrm! Brrrm!
Wheels keep turning, Brrrm!
Brrrm! Round and round and round and round And round and round and round. |
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Wiggle and freeze O
A lively song
with a cheerful beat by Cathy Bollinger, find more of her songs
at: |
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I’ve got a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle in my wiggling
feet, And a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle to the wiggling beat, I’ve got a wiggle in my toes, a wiggle in my
knees, And when the music stops… everyone freeze! I’ve got a march, march, march in my feet, And I march, march, march to the beat, I’ve got a march in my toes, a march in my knees, And when the music stops, everyone freeze I’ve got a jump, jump, jump in my feet, And I jump, jump, jump to the beat, I’ve got a jump in my toes, a jump in my feet, And when the music stops… everyone freeze! I’ve got a tiptoe, tiptoe in my feet, And I tiptoe, tiptoe to the beat, I’ve got a tiptoe in my toes, a tiptoe in my
knees, And when the music stops… everyone freeze! I’ve got a hop, hop, hop in my feet, And I hop, hop, hop to the beat, I’ve got a hop in my toes, a hop in my knees, And when the music stops… everyone freeze! |
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Will
you come and walk with me? 🔊
Join in the fun and move together
in partnership. Make rhythmic choices suited to each movement: holding hands,
side by side, in a circle, following after etc. Make sure you give other
pairs plenty of space. Dance with a partner finding a new one for each verse. Dance freely
changing actions as suggested by the words. |
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Will you come and walk with me, Talk with me, walk with me? Will you come and walk with me, Ev’rywhere we go? La la la la la, la la la la, La la la la la la. Will you come and walk with me, Ev’rywhere we go? Skip with me… Run with me… Jump with me… Fly with me… |
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Willum
he had seven sons O
A song in the minor key. Move to a
steady beat. This song is probably originally a
Swedish one but I have yet to identify a song in that language. The actions suggested here suit
building a timber house in Sweden or the U.S.A. In the U.K. where brick
houses are more common ‘laying
bricks’ would be a good
substitution for ‘stacking wood’. Mime actions suggested by the words. |
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Willum he had seven sons Seven sons, seven sons Willum he had seven sons And this is what he did. He sent them out to build a house, Build a house, build a house, He sent them out to build a house, And this is what they did. Number one was chopping wood, Chopping wood, chopping wood, Number one was chopping wood, And that is what he did. Number two jumped up and down… Number three was stacking wood… Number four was hammering… Number five was painting doors… Number six was clapping… Number seven was sleeping… |
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Wishi
ta doya 🔊
‘River song’, this Native American
chant calls up
two different moods of water: gentle flowing eddies and streams, then the
fast movement of swirling, tumbling, white water. The third verse is not
traditional but works well as an alternative rhythm perhaps of drumming rain
and lightening. 1. Move hands across body like flowing water.The same to one side then
the other. 2.Make heavy rain fall down with fingers. Roll arms one way then
the other. 3. Beat fists on knees and clap hands. Repeat. |
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Wishi ta doya, doya, doya, Wishi ta doya, doya,hey! 2x Washa ta neya heya heya, Washa ta neya heya hey! 2x Boom, boom, boom, boom, clap, clap, clap,
clap! Boom, boom, boom, boom, clap, clap, clap! |
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With my little broom O
From ‘New
nursery Jingles’ by Elizabeth Barnard published in 1939. Make large
movements in a big space ending up on the floor with hands to cheek or small
ones, perhaps at bedtime, just using hand movements. Mime actions suggested by the words. |
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With my little broom I
sweep, sweep, sweep; On my little toes I creep,
creep, creep. With my little eyes I
peep, peep, peep; On my little bed I sleep,
sleep, sleep. |
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Yes we can! 🔊
A question and
answer action song. A positive
approach is so important for a young child.‘Yes, we can!’ A song for
transition from one activity to another when you’ve had enough of sitting. Movements
should be self evident; this is a ‘zipper’ song where you can make up your
own movements and encourage children to do the same. It is also a
good way to learn directions. I always had difficulty identifying left and
right and to this day touch a little scar on my right hand. A helpful way to
ensure you have it right is to make a capital ‘L’ for ‘left’ with the thumb
and forefinger. Some can say,’I write with
my right / left hand.’ Words and set to music by Dany Rosevear. |
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Can you step left? Yes, we
can! Can you step right? Yes,
we can! Can you stretch up? Yes,
we can! Can you sit down? Oh, yes
we can! Can you clap left? Yes, we
can! Can you clap right? Yes,
we can! Can you clap up? Yes, we
can! Can you clap down? Oh, yes
we can! Can you jump left? Yes, we
can! Can you jump right? Yes, we
can! Can you jump up? Yes, we
can! Can you turn round? Oh,
yes we can! |
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You and me and little flea 🔊
Been sitting
too long? Get ready for
change - move and stre-e-etch. A transition action game to get rid of those
fleas with a satisfying great long stretch at the end before moving on to the
next activity. Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. Challenge children
to sing the word ‘hippopotamus’ to fit with the music – not easy but great
fun especially in a deep voice and doable!! 1. Jump up and down. 2. Hop on one foot then the
other. 3. Stamp around. 4. On the ground, sitting on feet, make a long hands
forward stretch. |
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You and me and little flea Are jumping, jumping,
jumping; You and me and little flea Are jumping up and down. Me and you and kangaroo Are hopping, hopping,
hopping; Me and you and kangaroo Are hopping up and down. All of us and hippopotamus Are stomping, stomping,
stomping; All of us and hippopotamus Are stomping all around. All of us and little
pussycat Are stretching,
stretching, stretching; All of us and little
pussycat Are stretching on the
ground. |
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You can stamp your feet O
Also called
‘The freeze game’. Great for encouraging stillness. It can also be played as
a party game where children are ‘out’ if they move. Mime actions suggested by the words. Older children can freeze as a shape, tree, balloon etc. and see if
others can identify it. |
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You can stamp your feet, You can knock your knees, You can sway… and shake…
and spin… And when the music stops,
you can freeze! You can swing your arms, You can skip along, You can step… and jump…
and hop… And when you’ve had
enough, you can stop! |
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