Follow my leader
and other line games L-W
Lead through that sugar and tea
Let us chase the squirrel
Little red caboose
Off to Timbuktu
Oh, won’t you come a-sailing?
Page’s train
Polka dance
Puffer train
Snail, snail
Somebody’s knocking at my door
Swing and turn, Jubilee
Take your feet out the sand
The elephant is so slow
The little red engine that could
The old grey cat
The thread follows the needle
There’s a dragon crawling round
Turn,
cinnamon, turn
We’re going
on a bear hunt
Wind the
bobbin, “Ding dang”
Wind up the
apple tree
Find more line games at: http://www.singinggamesforchildren.com/A%20Cluster%202.1%20HSAAWG/HSAAWG%2029-37%20awaywego%20w.htm
Last
updated: 6/29/2020
2:38 PM
These songs are nursery rhymes and
other traditional songs compiled, illustrated and music arranged by Dany
Rosevear.
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To watch the author sing a song click
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© Dany Rosevear 2013 All rights
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Your fair use and other rights are no
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Lead through that sugar and tea O Learn to use space effectively. A
simple classroom or playground game where children, in small groups, move in
different directions and weave in and out of other lines without touching. The third verse comes from the
Ozark Folk song collection where it is played as a classic ‘play party’ dance
with lines and sets of pairs and is suitable for older children. http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/ref/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2860
Make lines of six or eight with a leader at each end. Leader 1 weaves
the line in and out of other group; on repeat the second leader takes the
line off in another direction. At the end of the first verse both leaders
join hands to make a circle and dance round first in one direction and then
the other. The circle then splits into pairs that cross hands and skip round.
The circle reforms so there are two new leaders and the game continues. Miss the last verse to simplify for younger children. Young children
might like to lead an older sibling or parent round obstacles as they sing. |
Lead through that sugar and tea-o, Lead through that candy, You lead through that sugar and tea And I’ll lead through that candy. (Repeat
verse) Circle round that sugar and tea-o, Circle round that candy, Circle round that sugar and tea And circle round that candy. (Repeat verse) Olly-olly-um-bum, sugar and tea-o, Olly-olly-um-bum candy, Olly-olly-um-bum, sugar and tea-o, Swinging is so handy. |
A song from North Carolina. There are many versions of this game that can be played to this simple
tune. Find some of these for different age groups at: http://ket.oake.org/spr09game.htm
The one below is a tunnel game. Two curved lines stand facing the
other so each child has a partner. Pairs hold hands high to make a tunnel
making sure they stand close to the next set of partners. One pair at the end
of the tunnel hold inside hands and move through the tunnel followed by
subsequent pairs. When they get to the end they raise hands high to rejoin
the line. The game continues until everyone has gone through the tunnel or
they tire of the game!
|
A follow-my-leader song. A caboose was a conductor’s cabin at the end of a freight train,
similar to the guard or brake van at the end of UK and Australian trains.
Find out more about these vehicles at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caboose
One child takes the line around the
room. After each verse the child at the front runs to the back of the line so
a new child is ready to take the role of leader. To ensure every child gets a turn
have three or four trains weaving in and out around the room. Don’t forget to
make train noises – pull down for the ‘Toot, toot!’.
|
Off to Timbuktu 🔊 A cheerful ‘follow the leader’
game. From ‘This little pig went to
market’ compiled by Norah Montgomerie, published 1966. Children make a line one behind the other; The one in front, the leader
chooses an action which everyone else copies as they travel about the room.
When the song finishes the child at the front moves to the end of the line so
a new child becomes the leader and chooses another way of moving and the game
continues. |
Would you like to go there too? All the way and back again, You must follow our leader then. You must follow our leader, You must follow our leader, All the way and back again, You must follow our leader. |
Oh, will you come a-sailing O A simple introduction to this form
of line dancing. Learn to ask and answer questions. Make two facing lines each child standing opposite a partner. Line 1
skips to the centre and back singing the question. Then it is line 2s turn to
do the same and answer. Do the same for each verse. On the last verse instead
of skipping back line 2 continues dancing towards line 1, they then sing ’la
la la’ to the tune and dance freely round the room with their partners. |
Oh, will you come a-sailing, a-sailing,
a-sailing, Oh, will you come a-sailing, a-sailing o’er
the sea? We cannot come a-sailing, a-sailing,
a-sailing, We cannot come a-sailing, we have no ship
you see. Oh, will you come a-riding, a-riding,
a-riding, Oh, will you come a-riding, a-riding o’er
the lea? We cannot come a-riding, a-riding, a-riding, We cannot come a-riding, we have no horse
you see. Oh, will you come a-fishing, a-fishing,
a-fishing, Oh, will you come a-fishing, a-fishing in
the sea? We cannot come a-fishing, a-fishing,
a-fishing, We cannot come a-fishing, we have no nets
you see. Oh, will you come a-dancing, a-dancing,
a-dancing, Oh, will you come a- dancing, a- dancing oh
so free? Oh yes, we’ll come a-dancing, a-dancing,
a-dancing, Oh yes, we’ll come a- dancing, a- dancing oh
so free. |
Page’s train 🔊
A North Carolina folk song. Move fast
move slow. Can be played as a ‘follow my leader’ line game as below or
individually moving around the classroom. Change ‘Page’ to another child’s
name when it is suitable and make up other rhyming couplets of creature,
thigs that move fast and slow. Five or six children make a line one behind the other; the one in
front, the one in front leads them in and out of other lines. When the song
finishes the child at the front moves to the end of the line so a new child
becomes the leader as the game continues. |
Page's train goes so fast, Can't see nothing but the window glass. Page's train goes so slow, Can't hear nothing but the whistle blow. Page's mule goes so fast, For carrots, sugar or a field of grass. Page's mule goes so slow, There'll always be another row to hoe. |
Polka dance 🔊
From ‘Movement and dance for the
five to sevens’ A collection taken from ‘Child Education’ 1924 -42. Probably
more suitable for 7 year olds. You might recognise the tune as ‘Shepherds’
Hey’. First four bars and repetition: Children stand side by side with a partner making two lines each pair
behind the other. Advance with a polka step. On last bar give three claps and
turn to face partner. Second four bars and
repetition: Dance on
the spot. On last two bars hold out hands. First four bars and repetition: Give right hand to partner and dance around.
On repetition do the same with left hand. Second four bars and repetition: Advance forward in twos, top pair turn
outwards to left and right to move in the opposite direction. At the bottom
of the line they join hands advance again then dance as before finishing with
a bow. |
See me dancing on my toes, To the way the music goes, One foot up and one foot down, Round and round about the town. Dancing here, dancing there, Let us sing and dance and have no care. Just like fairies we can be, Won’t you come and dance with me? |
Steam engines might be long gone but young children will be fascinated
by tales of journeys long ago – ask grandparents to talk about their
experiences on a steam train. Children make a line hands on
shoulders and shuffle round the room. Change leaders at the end of each
verse. Don’t forget to make train noises such as the “Oo-oo!” of the whistle.
Puffer train, puffer train, Noisy little puffer train, If you’re going to the sea, Puffer train will you take me. Ff-ff-f-ff! Sh-sh-sh! Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch
–ch-ch-ch! Noisy little puffer train. If you’re going to the town, Don’t forget to slow right down… If you’re going to the fair, Puffer train please take me there… |
Snail, snail O A song from Cornwall where snails
are known as ‘bulhorns’. Its Cornish
origins are tenuous as snail games and songs are played worldwide; it
is possible there is confusion with another game known as the ‘snail
creep’ Watch the game below performed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oz5wOq8qLY
Children hold hands in a circle; one person, the leader, takes the line
in a leisurely manner round the inside of the ring as the song is repeated
until a spiral is formed. They then turn and unwind until everyone is back in
the circle but facing outwards. Repeat this sequence until the whole circle
is once again facing inwards. |
Snail, snail, snail, snail, Go around, around, around. |
Somebody’s knocking at my door O An
American play song that began as a spiritual. As an
easier option to the game below children can just tap with claves or clap
along to the beat or rhythm. Children sit in two lines opposite a partner. Ensure each child can
clap their own name pattern. After singing the word ‘door’ each time the
child in one line claps the rhythm of their name, when the song ends their
partner copies this pattern. Continue down the line until each child has had
a go. Alternatively each child could have a percussion instrument to play
their name pattern. |
Somebody’s knocking at my door, Somebody’s knocking at my door, Oh, children, why don’t you answer? Somebody’s knocking at my door. |
Swing and turn, Jubilee O This play party game comes from
Jean Ritchie’s family tradition. Children stand facing a partner in two lines holding hands. The ends of
the lines also hold hands so they can circle to the left until back in their
original position in two lines. Hands are dropped and the pair at the head of
the line skips sideway to the bottom of the set as the others clap. Once they
reach the foot the game continues as before. |
It's all out on the old railroad, All out on the sea, All out on the old railroad, Far as I can see. Swing and turn, Jubilee, Live and learn, Jubilee. Swing and turn, Jubilee, Live and learn, Jubilee. Hardest work I ever done, Working on the farm, Easiest work I ever done, Swing my true love's arm. If I had a needle and thread, As fine as I could sew, I'd sew my true love to my side And down this creek I'd go. Coffee grows on a white oak tree, Sugar runs in brandy, Girls are sweet as a lump of gold, Boys as sweet as candy. |
Take your feet out the sand O A very energetic action song. Move around the room as if moving through hot sand and then as
suggested by other medium e.g. kick leaves, splashing in puddles, sliding on
ice. |
Take your feet out ‘the sand, Take your feet out ‘the sand, Take your feet out ‘the sand And stick them in the mud! Take your feet out the leaves, Take your feet out the leaves, Take your feet out the leaves And stick them in the mud! …jam
…snow …puddles |
An elephant might not always be slow – when he needs to he can get up
quite a speed – but this is a lovely song to move to at a steady pace.
Children can move individually round the room or in lines of four or five as
below. One hand is placed on the shoulder
of the child in front and the other arm is swung like an elephant’s trunk. The
lines weave in and out around the room. Each time the song is sung the
child at the front moves to the back for a new child to become the leader.
|
The little red engine that could O With a bit of effort we can all
achieve our aims; the power of positive thinking. Make a circle and walk round moving arms back and forth. As the train
moves up the hill walk on tiptoes. Make a loud whistle sound to finish. |
The little red engine was chuffing along, When he came to a great big hill, He said, ‘I must chuff and never stop, I must chuff, chuff, chuff till I get to the
top. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,
I think I can,’ And he chuffed right over the hill. WHOO-OO-WHOO! |
A great song for dramatic activity. This can be played as a hand rhyme sitting in place – and is best
taught this way. As the children become more familiar with the song use the
whole room and divide the class into two groups. Sing ‘The old grey cats’ and
each group moves as suggested by the words. If you are playing outside and
there are good hiding spots this song could be turned into a ‘hide and seek’
game. |
The old grey cat is sleeping, sleeping,
sleeping. The old grey cat is sleeping in the house. The little mice come creeping, creeping,
creeping. The little mice come creeping in the house. The little mice are nibbling, nibbling,
nibbling. The little mice are nibbling in the house. The little mice are sleeping … in the house. The old grey cat comes creeping … in the
house. The little mice all scamper … through the
house. The little mice are hiding … in the house. |
How often are children’s clothes
mended today? This simple game however continues to give pleasure in the
playground. Children hold hands in a line; the end person is the knot and makes an
arch with the child next to them. The needle at the head of the line walks
the others through the arch and back to its original position so the last
person to go under will find their arms now crossed. The game continues with
the needle threading through subsequent arches until all children have arms
crossed. The two end children then join hands to make a circle and walk round
for one final verse. |
The thread follows the needle, The thread follows the needle, In and out the needle goes As mother mends the children’s clothes. |
There’s a
dragon crawling round 🔊 In West Java children play the
dragon game below. It is said this is a traditional Indonesian folk song but
the tune does not sound as if it comes from that geographical region! I would
love to hear the original in tis native language! Stand in a line holding the waist of the child in front; the head of
the dragon tries to catch the tail but as the leader runs each child must
hang on so the dragon doesn’t break. If the head catches the tail the tail is
out of the game. The game resumes with a new head and tail. |
There's a dragon crawling round, crawling round the room. Do not get too close or it will surely spell your doom. A dragon's always looking for something to munch; If you don't watch out, you may be its lunch! |
Turn, cinnamon, turn O A Florida singing game. This can be
played as a Virginia reel as below for verse one, as a circle game or simply
to skip round the room find a partner and swing them around on the last line.
It could also be used as a baby bouncing game! Make two lines facing a partner. The two at the top hold hands and skip
sideways down to the bottom of the line. They then face each line then travel
up the line right then left hand in succession swinging each child and
themselves to the top. Then skip outside down to the bottom and holding hands
with their original partner swing them round as the rest of the line do the
same. The game continues with the next pair at the top. |
All up and down my honey, All up and down we go. That lady’s a-rockin’ her sugar lump, That lady’s a-rockin’ her sugar lump, That lady’s a-rockin’ her sugar lump, Turn, cinnamon, turn. All up and down my honey, All up and down we go, That grandma’s a-rockin’ her sweetie pie… Turn that cinnamon round and round, Turn that cinnamon round and round, Turn that cinnamon round and round, Turn that cinnamon round! She's my sugar-lump, I'll never give her up,
She's my sugar-lump, I'll never give her up, Turn that cinnamon round! All up and down my honey, All up and down we go, Brother’s a-rocking his sugar plum… All round the ring we go! |
We’re going on a bear hunt 🔊 A scary follow my leader game. This version of the traditional song is
from Michael Rosen’s 1989 children’s picture book of the same name. Can remember when the whole school did this in assembley. Push grass aside. Swim overarm. Squelch with clawed hands. Push
branches away. Swirl arms. Tiptoe with one finger. Touch nose, form ears and
eyes with thumbs and forefingers. |
We’re going on a bear hunt We’re
going on a bear hunt We’re going catch a
big one, We’re going catch a big one, We’re not scared. We’re
not scared. What a beautiful day! What
a beautiful day! Uh-uh! Grass! Long
wavy grass. We can't go over
it. We can't go under it. Oh no! We’ll have to
go through it! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! We’re going on a bear
hunt We’re going on a bear hunt … What a beautiful day! What
a beautiful day! Uh-uh! A river! A deep
cold river. We can't go over it.
We can't go under it. Oh no! We’ll have to
go through it! Splash splosh! Splash splosh! Splash splosh! We’re going on a bear
hunt We’re going on a bear hunt … What a beautiful day! What
a beautiful day! Uh-uh! Mud! Thick oozy
mud. We can't go over it.
We can't go under it. Oh no! We’ll have to
go through it! Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! We’re going on a bear
hunt We’re going on a bear hunt … What a beautiful day! What
a beautiful day! Uh-uh! A forest! A big
dark forest. We can't go over
it. We can't go under it. Oh no! We’ll have to
go through it! Stumble trip! Stumble trip! Stumble trip! We’re going on a bear
hunt We’re going on a bear hunt … What a beautiful day! What
a beautiful day! Uh-uh! A snowstorm! A
swirling, whirling snowstorm. We can't go over it.
We can't go under it. Oh no! We’ll have to
go through it! Hooo whooo! Hooo whooo! Hooo whooo! We’re going on a bear
hunt We’re going on a bear hunt … What a beautiful day! What
a beautiful day! Uh-uh! A cave! A
narrow gloomy cave. We can't go over it.
We can't go under it. Oh no! We’ll have to go through it! Tiptoe! Tiptoe!
Tiptoe! WHAT’S THAT! One shiny wet nose!
Two big furry ears! Two big goggly eyes! IT’S A BEAR! Quick! Back through
the cave! Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Back through the
snowstorm! Hooo whooo! Hooo whooo! Hooo whooo! Back through the
forest! Stumble trip! Stumble trip! Stumble trip! Back through the mud!
Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! Back through the
river! Splash splosh! Splash splosh! Splash splosh! Back through the grass! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Get to our front door! Up the stairs. Oh no! We forgot to shut the door, Back downstairs, shut the door! Back
upstairs. Into the bedroom, Into bed, Under the covers. We’re not going on a bear
hunt again! |
In the past children watched their
mothers spin wool to weave into clothe which might have suggested this game.
Look at different types of bobbins and how they have been used in the past. Children hold hands in a line; one person, the tail stands still as the
child at the other end leads the line round repeating the first phrase until
a fairly tight spiral is formed. Lift hands up and wave to the second part.
On ‘Break it!’ drop hands and scatter. |
Wind the bobbin, “Ding dang,” Gonna wind it tight, “Ding dang.” Wind the bobbin, “Ding dang,” Gonna wind it tight, “Ding dang.” Bobbin a-wound up, bobbin a-wound up, Bobbin a-wound up, BREAK IT! |
Wind up the
apple tree 🔊 A game that can be played at apple
tree wassails on the Eve of Old Christmas or Twelfth Night ideally outside
with a real apple tree! This is from the Kentucky Dance
Institute pamphlet published in 1960. It also features in Lady Gomme’s book. 1. Children stand in a single curved line with hands joined. The child
at the left end is the apple tree, and stands still, while the child at the
other end is the leader and leads the line round and round the tree. 2. When
all are wound up the leader runs straight out, which makes the tree turn
round fast. |
1. Wind up the apple tree, hold on tight. Wind all day and wind all night. (Repeat as many times as necessary) 2. Stir up the dumplings, the pot boils over! x2 |
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