Acka Backa
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.
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.
Bluebird Bluebird
Students stand in a circle with hands connected above their heads to create “windows.” One student is the bluebird. They go in and out the windows, walking underneath students’ joined hands.
At “take a little partner,” the bluebird taps three other students on the shoulder. Those three chosen students fly behind the head bluebird in and out the windows. In the next round of the game, the head bluebird taps three more students on the shoulder. Continue until there are no students left in the circle.
Duermete Mi Nina
Teddy Bear
'Round and 'Round
Firefly
Here Comes a Bluebird
Students stand in a circle with hands connected above their heads to create arches.
One student musician is the bluebird. They “fly” in and under the arches as the rest of the class sings the song. At the words, “take a little partner,” the bluebird chooses a partner from the circle. They move to the middle of the circle, take hands, and hop together. When the song is over, the original bluebird takes their place back in the circle and the chosen student musician is the new bluebird.
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.
