Meeting and greeting

Bow Belinda

Dipidu

Here comes a bluebird

Jim along Josie

Jingle at the window

Last updated: 24/10/2015 15:30

The songs below are part of ‘Hop, skip and away we go!’ The original collection

compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on O

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

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Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

Bow Belinda O

This partner game has some complex moves. Practice identifying left and right hands before playing this game. Also show children how to manoeuvre back to back (do-si-do), ensure pairs face each other with their eyes on a classroom object (whiteboard or window for example), so when they move round their partner they do not turn their bodies. If children (and the teacher) have the stamina to do so this game can be repeated with the new partner.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJNV4TSml2U&feature=related

Bow, bow, bow Belinda, x3 Won’t you be my partner? Left hand round, O Belinda, x3 Won’t you be my partner? Right hand round, O Belinda, x3 Won’t you be my partner? Both hands round, O Belinda, x3 Won’t you be my partner? Back to back, O Belinda, x3 Won’t you be my partner? Where o where is poor little Susie? x3 Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch. Come on guys let’s go and find her, x3 Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch. Picking up paw-paws, put them in your pocket, x3 Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Pairs bow low alternating hand positions - one hand in front and one behind. Holding left hands skip round with partner. Holding right hands skip round with partner. One child crosses hands the other holds partner’s hands and both skip round. See above and below – ask a pair to demonstrate initially. Leave partner, shield eyes and look around the classroom high and low. Beckon with a wave then join up with a new partner. Together pick up paw-paws.

Do-si-do

Dipidu O

Here is a song from Uganda with two distinct rhythms.

Once the song has been learnt teach the children a simple clapping sequence standing opposite a partner: own hands once together / partners right hand / own hands / partners left.

Pair the confident with the less confident who can simply hold hands up while their partner claps the sequence. Once confident, encourage pairs of children to make up patterns of their own to perform.

Good day, good day to you, Good day, oh dipidu, Good day, good day to you, Good day, oh dipidu. Dip, dip, dipidu, Dipidu, oh dipidu, Dip, dip, dip, dip, dipidu, Dipidu, oh dipidu.

Walk around the room smiling and waving hands as they pass their friends. Find a partner to walk with continuing to smile and wave hands at other pairs as they pass. Face partner and clap as above in time to beat.

Here comes a bluebird O

You can find some wonderful pictures and information about North American bluebirds at www.sialis.org .Also discover colouring pages and a variety of rhymes at this site.

Get to know each other in this sociable game. Learn the social ‘pecking order’ of the class by not insisting that children pick their nearest partner! To hearten those who are the last to be chosen, allow them to start the next game.

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAyFoop3bF8 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSW8oKV3O7E&feature=related

Make a circle, join raised hands to make ‘windows’; a ‘bluebird stands in the centre.

Here comes a bluebird in through my window, Hey diddle um a day day day. Take a little partner hop in the garden, Hey diddle um a day day day.

The ‘bluebird’ weaves in and out of the circle’s windows. On ‘Take a little partner…’ this child crosses hands with the nearest partner and both skip around in the centre of the circle. These two then weave in and out of the circle and each then choose a new partner to take into the ring. The game continues until everyone has a partner.

Jim along Josie O

‘Jim along’ was probably the equivalent of ‘Get along’. This simple dance song from Oklahoma encourages children to create their own movement ideas.

Adapt speed to suit the various rhythmic activities. This is a dance for individual movement with awareness of others moving around them, but some movements suggest dancing with a partner. It can also be danced in a circle by adding the second line of music.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkURwW90NQ4

Hey jim along, jim along Josie,

Hey jim along, jim along Jo,

Hey jim along, jim along Josie,

Hey jim along, jim along Jo.

Dancing alone:

Run, jim along, jim along Josie...

also Jump Skip Tiptoe, Hop

Dancing with a partner:

Swing along, sing along, jim along Josie,

Swing each other around

Roll, jim along, jim along Josie, etc.

Hold hands and turn under arms

Circle version:

Skip jim along, jim along Josie, etc.

Skip, hop, jump etc

Chorus

Look to the centre, hands on your knee-ees,

Clap three times and turn around please.

Jingle at the window O

At Christmas time in the USA this song has often followed the old favourite ‘Jingle bells’. Alan Lomax, who collected many folk songs, recorded that his father, as a child, was familiar with this one in rural Texas.

Ankle and wrist bells will enhance the jingling nature of this tune. Free rhythmic play is more suited to younger children than the more complex moves below.

Watch another game at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGFRdP99v0Q&feature=related

Skip one window, Tideo, Skip two windows, Tideo, Skip three windows, Tideo, Jingle at the window, Tideo! Chorus Jing-along, jing-along, jing-along Jo, Jingle at the window, Tideo! Additional verses Circle to the right, Tideo, Circle to the left, Tideo, All clap hands, Tideo, Jingle at the window, Tideo! Chorus Into the centre, Tideo, Out of the centre, Tideo, Turn right round, Tideo, Jingle at the window, Tideo! Chorus

Make two circles one inside the other. Each child opposite a partner. The outer circle holds hands high to make arches. Those on the inside skip in and out of three of the windows made by the outer circle, to face a new partner (three along). Swing that partner round ending with the inside circle on the outside. This sequence is repeated so a new partner is met each time. OR proceed to the additional verses: Begin as above in two circles then follow the sung instructions. For the last line and chorus swing partner round.

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