All Around the Buttercup
Apple Tree
Students sing and walk in a circle keeping the steady beat. Two students (the “apple tree”) hold their hands above heads, creating an arch for students to walk under. On the word "out" the apple tree quickly lowers its branches and traps an apple.
That caught student becomes a new apple tree with the teacher and the game continues - catching more apples, creating more trees, until there is only one apple left.
Bow Wow Wow
Students stand in a circle, facing a partner.
M. 1 - stamp three times
M. 2 - shake finger at partner
M. 3 - take hands with partner and spin - each partner takes the other’s place.
M. 4 - stamp three times, turn around to face partner
Bounce High
Game: Students form a circle and pass a ball from person to person by bouncing and catching around the circle. The ball hits the ground on the downbeat.
Alternative game: Students stand in a circle with one student in the middle who bounces and catches the ball on the strong beats. The whole class sings the first four beats. The student in the middle sings the last four beats and passes to a new student at “Shilo” (replace Shilo with new student name). The game begins again with a new student in the middle.
Bobby Shafto
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: m s l
Scale: mi tritonic
Form AAAB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat; rhythm; ta-di ta-di ta-di ta; ta-di ta-di ta ta; 2/4
Melody: s l s m
Comparatives: loud / quiet; fast / slow; high / low
Subject: love
* Note: Some teachers sing "bonny Bobby Shafto" instead of "pretty Bobby Shafto".
Classroom Ideas:
Loud / Quiet
Use a loud voice when Bobby Shafto's ship is across the ocean. Use a quiet singing voice when his ship is close by.
Students listen to T sing the song either loudly or quietly. Students identify whether Bobby Shafto is close or far away.
High / Low
Bobby Shafto's ship is floating on a high wave or low wave. Students sing while looking at visual representation.
Fast / Slow
Bobby Shafto's ship is moving fast or slow across the ocean. Sing how his ship moves.
Move around the room as the teacher sings the song fast or slow.
Bell Horses
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: m s l
Scale: sol tritonic
Form: AB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: ta ta-di ta ta-di; ta-di ta ta-di ta; ta rest
Melody: s m; s l s
Comparatives: loud/quiet; high / low
Game: Movement to text
Subject: Animals
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
Bee Bee Bumblebee
Song Analysis:
Form: ABBB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: Steady beat; rhythm; ta ta ta-di ta; ta-di ta-di ta-di ta; 2/4
Comparatives: loud/quiet; fast/slow; high/low
Game Type: Counting out
Subject: nature
Grade: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st
Classroom Ideas:
Loud / Quiet:
Play game using a loud or quiet voice. When a student is "out" he or she goes to a hand drum and plays along either loudly or quietly.
Teacher plays hand drum either loudly or quietly. Students aurally identify and play the game as the teacher directed with the drum.
High / Low:
Pretend the bee is buzzing through the air (speak high). Pretend the bee has landed on a flower (speak low).
Lean a barred instrument upon a chair so the high end is facing up. One student may play the rhyme with high or low pitches while the rest of the class speaks.
Fast / Slow:
Point to bee icons that are close together (fast) or far apart (slow).
The Closet Key
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: d r m
Scale: do trichordal
Form: AB (abac)
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat; ta-di ta-di ta ta
Comparatives: loud/quiet; high/low; fast/slow
Game: Hidden Object
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
Down to the Baker's Shop
Doggie Doggie
Students sit in a circle. One student (the dog) faces away from the circle with their eyes closed. Another student is secretly given the bone or another small object to hide in their lap. At the end of the song, the dog sings, “who stole my bone” on a s-m-l-s-m melody. The student who has the bone sings “I stole your bone” on a s-m-l-s-m melody. The dog turns around and tries to identify whose voice they heard.
Eency Weency Spider
Goodnight Sleep Tight
Song Analysis:
TONE SET: m sl
SCALE: mi tritonic
FORM: aa
Classroom Use:
RHYTHM: ta, ta-di
MELODY: sol mi sol la
COMPARATIVES: quiet; slow; high/low
GRADE: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st
SUBJECT: sleep / night / lullaby
Pajarito Tan Bonito
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: d m s
Scale: do tritonic
Form: AB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat; ta-di ta-di ta-di ta-di; ta-di ta-di ta-di ta; 2/4 meter; ta rest
Melody: s m ; s m s
Comparatives: loud/quiet; fast / slow
Subject: Animals
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
Page's Train
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: d r m s l
Scale: do pentatonic
Form: AB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat;
Comparatives: loud/quiet; fast / slow
Subject: Transportation
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
One, Two, Three, Four, Mary at the Kitchen Door
Song Analysis:
Form: ABCB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat; rhythm; ta ta ta ta; ta-di ta-di ta-di ta; ta ta ta-di ta;
Comparatives: loud/quiet; high / low; fast / slow
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
Old Mr. Rabbit
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: l, d r m
Scale: do tetratonic
Form: AB
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat
Comparatives: loud/quiet; fast / slow
Subject: Animals; Food
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
Lucy Locket
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: m s l
Scale: mi tritonic
Form: AA
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat; rhythm; ta-di ta-di ta-di ta-di; ta-di ta-di ta t; 2/4 meter
Melody: s l s m
Comparatives: loud/quiet; high / low; fast / slow
Game: Hidden object
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
* Note: This game is an addition and not listed in the source.
Hop Old Squirrel
Song Analysis:
Tone Set: d r m
Scale: do trichordal
Form: AB (ABAC)
Classroom Use:
Rhythm: beat
Comparatives: Loud / Quiet; High / Low
Subject: Animals;
Grade: Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st
