Australian collection

An Australian animal alphabet

(Tread lightly on the Earth my friend)

Click go the shears

Did you ever see a kangaroo?

Good morning Mrs Dingo

Grandma saw a possum

Great big boomers

Hop, hop, hop

How does a kangaroo go?

I got kicked by a kangaroo

I walked along in the bush one day

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo

Kangaroo Brown

Kangaroo, skippy roo

Kangaroos like to hop

Kookaburra

Little Tommy Tadpole

Look at the terrible crocodile

Maranoa lullaby

One snail, two snails

Platypus, echidna

Said the kind kangaroo

Tadpole, tadpole what do you see?

The emu and the kookaburra

The kangaroo

The ostrich

The sneezing fisherman

Three jellyfish

When someone smiles at me

Who wants an octopus cuddle?

If you cannot see the music below try this PDF link:

http://singinggamesforchildren.com/A%20Cluster%202.2%20Awaywego/16%20Australian%20collection.pdf

Last updated: 2/25/2016 3:57 PM

The songs below are part ofAway we go’ Round and about compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page

To listen to music from these songs click on O

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

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·       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.

 

 

An Australian animal alphabet

(Tread lightly on the Earth my friend) O

 

What a curious continent with such unique and wonderful animals!

 

This song is quite a challenge to learn but its alphabetical structure will aid the memory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SPOKEN

Tread lightly on the Earth my friend, tread lightly as you go,

Leave it as you found it for tomorrow’s child to know.

 

Albatross, archerfish, angel shark and ant,

Bilby, bandicoot, budgie, brolga, bat.

Cassowary, cockatoo, crocodile, cane toad,

Dugong, dolphin and dingo by the road.

In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the oceans all around,

We came along and wondered at the creatures we had found.

 

Emu, echidna, eastern tiger snake,

Fairy penguin, frilled lizard, flying foxes wake.

Galah, goanna, gecko and the great white shark,

Humpbacked whale, hare and hog deer leaping through the dark.

In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the oceans all around.

We came along and wondered at the creatures we had found.

 

Ivy leaf roller, island thrush, ibis,

Jacky lizard, jabiru and box jellyfish.

Kookaburra, koala bear, kestrel, kangaroo,

Lyrebird, lorikeet, long-footed potoroo.

In the bush, the swamps, the skies the oceans all around,

We came along and wondered at the creatures we had found.

 

Marsupial mole, magpie,

Nightjar and numbat,

Orcas, osprey, octopus, oystercatchers catch.

Possum, pelican, parrot, platypus,

Quokka, quoll and button quail making such a fuss.

In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the oceans all around,

We came along and wondered at the creatures we had found.

 

Red back spider, rainbow lorikeet,

Sugar glider, stink bug, swordfish and the sheep.

Tree frog, tiger moth, turtle and termite,

Ulysses butterfly so beautiful in flight.

In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the oceans all around,

We came along and wondered at the creatures we had found.

 

Vine hawk moth, vinegar fly, velvet gecko then,

Wombat, wallaby, willy wagtail, wren.

Many eXtinct animals then

Yabby, yakka skink,

Z is for the zebras; lionfish, shark and finch.

In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the oceans all around,

We came along and wondered at the creatures we had found.

 

SPOKEN

Tread lightly on the Earth my friend, tread lightly as you go,

Leave it as you found it for tomorrow’s child to know.

 


 

Click go the shears O

 

Roud # 8398. The tune is an adaptation of the American Civil War song "Ring the Bell, Watchman" by Henry Clay Work. Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_Go_the_Shears

I learnt this version below in the 1980s from the children’s Music Box programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Down by the pen, there the old shearer stands,

Grasping the shears in his thin bony hands,

Fixed is his gaze on the next sheep to come,

In a little minute boys, another’s done.

 

Chorus:

Click go the shears boys, Click, click, click!

Wide is his blow and his hands move so quick,

The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow,

Zip! Another sheep is done and let him go.

 

In the middle of the floor in his cane-bottomed chair,

There sits the boss with his eyes everywhere;

Notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen,

Paying strict attention that it’s taken clean.

 

The tar-boy is there, awaiting command,

With his black tar pot, and his black tarry hands,

Sees one old sheep with a cut upon its back,

Hears what he's waiting for it’s, "Tar here, Jack!"

 


 

Did you ever see a kangaroo? O

 

A question and answer song. Groups can swap roles for each verse. The words could easily be adapted to suit animals from other continents. Children can have great fun making up daft rhymes – the more ridiculous the better!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Did you ever see a kangaroo? Yes sir!

Did you ever see a kangaroo? Yes sir!

Did you ever see a kangaroo

Playing on a didgeridoo?

Yes sir! Surely not sir? Would I lie?

 

Did you ever see a platypus? Yes sir!

Did you ever see a platypus? Yes sir!

Did you ever see a platypus

Jumping on a Sydney bus?

Yes sir! Surely not sir? Would I lie?

 

Did you ever see a bandicoot? Yes sir!

Did you ever see a bandicoot? Yes sir!

Did you ever see a bandicoot

Bungie jump and loop the loop?

Yes sir! Surely not sir? Would I lie?

 

...kookaburra... ... Surf boarding at Scarborough....

...great white whale... Swimming in a water pail

...jellyfish... ...Wave a wand to make a wish...


 

Good morning Mrs Dingo O

 

This rhyme is from the Australian Northern Territory Department of Education resources for teaching poetry.

I have added a tune so it can be sung or recited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Good morning Mrs Dingo,

Good morning Mrs Fly,

Good morning Mrs Kangaroo,

The sun is in the sky.

Good morning, good morning,

The sun is in the sky.

 

Good morning Mr Donkey,

Good morning Mr Pup,

Good morning Mr Buffalo,

The sun.....is....up!

Good morning, good morning,

The sun.....is....up!

 

 


 

 

Grandma saw a possum O

 

And so she did with granddad on her grandson’s very first birthday. It was on New Year’s Eve 2013 at Tarpeian Precinct overlooking Sydney Harbour bridge! Down the gum tree ran the marsupial and scarpered across the park in the hot sunshine much to the delight of the multinational crowd gathered to watch the fireworks that day.

 

This is just a song to enjoy rather than a singing game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandma saw a possum,

It ran down a tree,

“G’day,” said the possum,

“You can’t ketch me!”

 

Chorus

Well, a possum is a possum,

And a cross one possibly,

If you tried to toss a possum

Off a eucalyptus tree.

 

 “You betcha?” cried old grandma,

She chucked up her hat.

It landed on the possum

And stopped it in its track.

 

“Is it night time?” cried the possum,

“I can no longer see.”

So he popped it in his pocket

And he ran back up the tree.

 

Grandma danced a jig,

She danced the old can can,

While possum twirled the hat around

Shouting “Ketch it if you ken!”

 

Grandma caught her hat,

She doffed it high and low.

She blew the possum kisses

And danced off on tippy toes.


 

Great big boomers O

 

No visit to Australia is complete without sight or sound of the amazing wildlife to be found in the outback, bush and billabong. Early and late in the day are the times when these creatures stir and make themselves known with their movements and incredible choruses.

Male kangaroos have several different nicknames ‘boomer’ is one of them. Others include: jacks, bucks and old men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I’d like to see the great big boomers,

Bouncing in the bush lands,

I’d like to see the great big boomers,

Bouncing as the sun goes down.

Hippy hop, don’t stop, great big boomers,

Hippy hop, don’t stop, leap and bound,

Hippy hop, don’t stop, great big boomers,

Bouncing as the sun goes down.

 

I’d like to see the long necked turtles,

Paddling in the billabong,

I’d like to see the long necked turtles,

Paddling as the sun goes down.

Snippety snap, long necked turtles,

Snippety snap, all around!

Snippety snap, long necked turtles,

Paddling as the sun goes down.

 

I’d like to watch the dingoes dancing,

Dancing in the outback,

I’d like to watch the dingoes dancing,

Dancing as the sun goes down.

Howl as the sunsets, dancing dingoes,

Howl as the sunsets, paw the ground,

Howl as the sunsets, dancing dingoes,

Dancing as the sun goes down

 

I’d like to hear the kookaburra,

Laughing in the treetops,

I’d like to hear the kookaburra,

Laughing as the sun comes up.

Whoop-a-whoop, hoo ha ha, kookaburra,

Whoop-a-whoop, woo, you’ll get hiccups,

Whoop-a-whoop, hoo ha ha, kookaburra,

Laughing as the sun comes up.

 


 

Hop, hop, hop O

 

Can you hop on one foot? It’s easy on two!

Originally a German children’s song ‘Hopp, hopp, hopp’ this baby bouncing game is translated into English as ‘Trot, trot, tot’.

 

Place baby on your lap facing you and off you go.

Young children can bounce around on two feet, join with a partner for the second verse and attempt to hop on one foot for the last verse. Stand perfectly still at the end of the song – probably the most difficult thing to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hop, hop, hop,

Go and never stop.

Hop along old kangaroo,

May I ride away with you?

Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop,

Go and never stop!

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa,

We’ve not far to go.

Safe and snug inside your pocket,

Off we go just like a rocket,

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

We’ve not far to go.

 

Hop, hop, hop,

Now its time to stop.

You hopped on two feet kangaroo,

Can you hop on one foot too?

Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop,

Whoa, now its time to stop!

 

 


 

 

How does a kangaroo go? O

 

 


This is an adaptation of the song by M.C.Dainton ‘How does a caterpillar go?’ from ‘Physical action training songs’ it can also be found in the original ‘This little puffin’ by Elizabeth Matterson.

Mime actions for each of the creatures in this song. The last line will help you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


How does a kangaroo go?

Dear me, does anybody know?

How does a kangaroo go?

A-jump, a-jump the whole day long

 

A wobbly wombat – wobble, wobble

 

A kookaburra – Koo-koo-kaa-kaa

 

A frilled neck lizard – ssss

 

A sleepy kola - mmmmmm!

 


 

 

I got kicked by a kangaroo O

 

A lovely alliterative song. Make up verses about other Australian animals.

I got whopped by a wallaby...

I got tickled by a tiger snake...

I got flapped by a flying fox...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I got kicked by a kangaroo,

I got kicked by a kangaroo.

Kanga, kanga, roo roo roo,

Kanga, kanga, roo roo roo.

I got kicked by a kangaroo.

 

I got bitten by a bandicoot,

I got bitten by a bandicoot.

Bandi, bandi, coot coot coot,

Bandi, bandi, coot coot coot.

I got bitten by a bandicoot.

 

I got pushed by a platypus...

Platy, platy, pus pus pus...

 

I got kissed by a koala bear....

Koala, koala, bear bear bear...

 

I got crushed by a crocodile...

Croco, croco, dile dile dile...

 

I got gobbled by a great white shark...

Great white, great white, shark shark shark...

 

So they sent me back to Bendigo,

They sent me back to Bendigo.

Bendi, Bendi, go go go,

Bendi, Bendi, go go go.

They sent me back to Bendigo.

 

 


 

I walked along in the bush O

 

I got this one from the Kindergarten in the Air book though the tune is the one more familiar to English ears. It is based on the well known song ‘I went to visit the farm one day’ with farm animal noises. It could be adapted to any place where there are groups of animals such as the zoo / pond / seaside.

Add verses of your own.

 

What sound does a frog make in Australia? This site has them from around the world but not an Australian one. http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/songs.html

 

Actions:

Walk around the space. Put hand to eyes. Stop and put hand to ears. Make sound of the animals and then set off again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I walked along in the bush one day;

I saw a crow across the way.

And what do you think I heard it say?

Caw! Caw! Caw!

 

I walked along in the bush one day;

I saw a snake across the way.

And what do you think I heard it say?

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

 

I walked along in the bush one day;

I saw a frog across the way.

And what do you think I heard it say?

Ribbet! Ribbet! Ribbet!

 

I walked along in the bush one day;

I saw a crocodile across the way.

And what do you think I heard it say?

Snip! Snap! Snip!


 

 

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo O

 

This song was written by Jean E. Webb and appeared in The Child’s World (Songs, stories and verses from Kindergarten of the Air) published in 1973 by ABC.

The second two optional verses by Dany Rosevear will turn it into a cooperative game.

 

It can be used as a baby lap bouncing game or young toddlers can bounce around preferably outside with great big leaps. Older children can find a partner in the second verse and hop one behind the other; pairs then join together to hop in fours. This could continue until the whole group is hopping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo,

I'm Hoppity Hop, how do you do?

I hop on both legs, not one like you,

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo.

 

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo,

I'm Hoppity Hop, how do you do?

Come hopping with me, we’ll hop in twos,

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo.

 

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo,

I'm Hoppity Hop, how do you do?

Come hopping with me, we’ll hop in fours,

I'm Hoppity Hop the kangaroo.

 

 

 


 

 

Kangaroo Brown O

 

Jump to Australia in this energetic workout with a simple rhythm. Try singing at different speeds with leisurely long jumps for a tired kangaroo or fast little ones as Kangaroo Brown hurries off to town.

 

Watch a rather bizarre animated video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqzCe5TkP0w

 

Younger children can move individually to the music. Older ones can synchronize actions with those of a partner.

 

Verse two and three added by Dany Rosevear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown!

Jump, jump, jump off to town!

Jump, jump, up hill and down!

Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown!

 

Hop, hop, Hippetty Hare!

Hop, hop, hop up in the air!

Hop, hop, hop here and there!

Hop, hop, Hippetty Hare!

 

Bounce, bounce, Wallaby Woo!

Bounce, bounce, to Kalamazoo!

Bounce, bounce, can we come too?

Bounce, bounce, Wallaby Woo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

Kangaroo, skippy roo O

 

The object of this circle game is to encourage voice recognition.

 

It may be, however, that children are ta oo young to recognise one another’s voice; if this is so give each child in the circle different percussion instrument. ‘Skippy roo’ is then encouraged to point to which instrument has been played by identifying instrumental timbre and direction from which it has comes.

 

Children sit in a circle; one child ‘Skippy roo’ sits in the centre with eyes closed. The teacher points to a child in the circle who sings the last line. The child in the middle opens their eyes and points to the child who sang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kangaroo, Skippy roo,

Dozing in the midday sun,

Comes a hunter run, run, run,

"Guess who's caught you just for fun."

 

 


 

 

Kangaroos like to hop O

 

A baby and toddler play song by Leon Rosselson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kangaroos like to hop, - HOP HOP HOP HOP

Bounce baby up and down on the floor.

And frogs like to leap – WHEEEEE!

Make a long jump.

Horses like to trot –CLIP CLOP! CLIP CLOP!

Make little bounces

But I like to fall in a heap – BONK!

Drop to the floor

 

 


 

 

 

Kookaburra O

 

The first verse of this song is traditionally sung as a round.

Find out more about this famous Australian song at: http://alldownunder.com/oz-u/songs/kookaburra-song-9.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Merry, merry king of the bush is he,

Laugh kookaburra, laugh kookaburra,

Gay your life must be.

 

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Eating all the gumdrops he can see,

Stop kookaburra, stop kookaburra,

Leave some there for me.

 

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Counting all the monkeys he can see,

Laugh kookaburra, laugh kookaburra,

That’s not a monkey, that’s me.

 


 

Little Tommy Tadpole O

 

More properly titled as ‘Growing up’ this rhyme is by C. J. Dennis http://www.poemhunter.com/clarence-michael-james-stanislaus-dennis/biography/  an Australian poet and author who published it in ‘A Book for Kids’ in 1921. The music is by Jackson / Clayton from the Playmates songbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Little Tommy Tadpole began to weep and wail,

For little Tommy Tadpole had lost his little tail;

His mother didn't know him as he wept upon a log,

For he wasn't Tommy Tadpole, but Mr. Thomas Frog!


 

 

 

Look at the terrible crocodile O

 

A game played in pairs.

One child opens and closes the palms of their hands as the second child places one hand on top of the other and sticks thumbs out to swim like a fish. On the third line the ‘crocodile’ opens jaws wide – arms open and close. The ‘fishy’ inches nearer but on the last line swims away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Look at the terrible crocodile,

I-oh, I-oh, I-oh.

He’s swimming down the river Nile,

I-oh, I-oh, I-oh.

See how his jaws are open wide,

I-oh, I-oh, I-oh.

A poor little fishy is swimming inside…….

Spoken

Oh no he isn’t, he’s swimming the other way!

Sung

I-oh, I-oh, I-oh.

 


 

Maranoa lullaby O

 

 


This is an aboriginal lullaby from Southwest Queensland.

The words are by M. Lyell from Singing Together, Spring 1972, BBC Publications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Day now folds its wings,

Sleep while mother sings,

Dark the night and deep,

Time for you to sleep.

Mamma waruno, Murra wathuno,

Mamma waruno, Murra wathuno.

 

Soft the breezes blow,

Rock you to and fro,

While the stars above

Shine on you with love.

Mamma waruno…

 

Gently close your eyes,

Now the moon will rise,

With the morning light,

Stars are put to flight.

Mamma waruno…

 

Day now folds its wings,

Sleep while mother sings,

Dark the night and deep,

Time for you to sleep.

Mamma waruno…

 

 


 

One snail, two snails O

 

This Australian rhyme is by Mary Gilmore; Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

Make fingers move like snails – one on left hand two on the other. Make a kookaburra beak with one hand and grab the other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


One snail, two snails

Had a little talk:

One snail, two snails

Went a little walk.

They came to a garden

And climbed up a tree

Where a jolly old kookaburra

Gobbled up the three.

 

 


 

Platypus, echidna O

 

Go up the musical scale using Australian animal names. Make up more verses - there are so many native creatures you can choose.

Words by Norma Tovey.

If you would like a more challenging song for older children see An Australian Animal Alphabet above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Platypus, echidna, bandicoot and bat,

Wallaby and eagle, dingo, native cat.

 

Lyrebird and lizard, mouse and budgerigar,

Emu, seal and penguin, goanna and galah.

 

 


 

Said the kind kangaroo O

 

An anonymous rhyme I found in ‘Merrily, merrily’ from the Nursing mother’s association of Australia.

I couldn’t resist adding another couple of verses. Just sing the traditional verse with actions if you like!

 

You could rock a baby back and forth to this lovely tune or use as a finger play (see below); alternatively bounce around the room with big hops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Said the kind kangaroo, "Oh, what shall I do?

(Shrug shoulders and throw out hands)

If I had a cradle, I'd rock it.

(Cup hands and rock them)

But my baby is small, so I think after all,

I'll carry her round in my pocket!"

(Cup hand on tummy and put the other inside)

 

Said the kind kangaroo, "Oh, what shall I do?

There isn’t much room in my pocket.

Now my baby is big and is dancing a jig,

Tell me what can I do that will stop it!"

 

Said the wise potoroo to the kind kangaroo,

"It is time for your baby to hop it.

For she needs to get out, of that there’s no doubt;

Just watch her go off like a rocket!"

 

Said the kind kangaroo, "Oh, what shall I do?

I have an unoccupied pocket,

For my baby has flown and left me alone;

I shall have to move on or restock it!”

 

 


 

Tadpole, tadpole what do you see? O

 

This retelling of Eric Carle’s ‘Brown bear, brown bear what do you see?’ comes from Australia’s Northern Territory Department of Education materials. I made some slight changes and have written music for the song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Tadpole, tadpole, what do you see?

I see a yabby a-looking at me.

Yabby, yabby, what do you see?

I see a little frog a-looking at me.

 

Little frog, little frog, what do you see?

I see a big crab a-looking at me.

Big crag, big crab, what do you see?

I see a hungry fish a-looking at me.

 

Hungry fish, hungry fish, what do you see?

I see a turtle a-looking at me.

Turtle, turtle, what do you see?

I see a water snake a-looking at me.

 

Water snake, water snake, what do you see?

I see a crocodile a-looking at me.

Crocodile, crocodile, what do you see?

I see mamma croc a-waiting for me!

 


 

The emu and the kookaburra O

 

This song can be used as a knee bouncing game for a baby or toddler.

The original verses come from versions of ‘Ain’t it great to be crazy’. This one with a key change in the second verse was adapted by Mike Jackson (?).

If you feel adventurous you could add further verses getting higher each time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Up in the North and a long way off,

The emu's got the whooping cough,

He coughed so hard his head fell off,

Up in the North and a long way off.

 

Way up yonder and not far off,

A kookaburra died of the whooping cough,

He whooped so hard with the whooping cough,

That he whooped his head and his tail right off.

Yes, he whooped his head and his tail right off.

 

 


 

The kangaroo

 

This is a very old Australian rhyme and Fee Showell makes a reference to it in her delightful account of school in 1921.

 

It is a lovely rhyme to use to emphasize the sounds of consonants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Old Jumpety-Bumpety-Hop-and Go-One

Was lying asleep on his side in the sun.

This old kangaroo, he was whisking the flies,

With his long glossy tail, from his ears and his eyes.

Jumpety-Bumpety-Hop-and Go-One

Was lying asleep on his side in the sun,

Jumpety-Bumpety-Hop!


 

The ostrich

 

Most of the creatures in the songs above are native to Australia, the ostrich however is an introduced species and in some places has gone feral. There are no hedgehogs in Australia but they could be replaced in this rhyme by an echidna a marsupial unrelated to the hedgehog – it is a spiny anteater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the ostrich straight and tall,

Stretch arm above head

Nodding his head above us all.

Here is the long snake on the ground,

Move arm like a snake

Wriggling upon the stones he found.

Here are the birds that fly so high,

Cross hands and flap like wings

Spreading their wings across the sky.

Here is the hedgehog, prickly and small,

Hands together with fingers sticking out

Rolling himself into a ball.

Here is the spider scuttling around,

Hands and fingers make spider movements

Treading so lightly on the ground.

Here are the children fast asleep,

Hands to cheek

And here at night the owls do peep.

Make thumb and forefinger into rings

Too whit too whoo! Too whit too whoo!

 


 

The sneezing fisherman O

 

 


This nonsense song attributed to ‘Anonymous featured in ‘Merrily, Merrily’ published in 1989 by the Nursing mothers’ Association of Australia:

A schnapper (as spelt in Victoria) is commonly known in Australia as a snapper or aa silver seabream; it is a food fish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_snapper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A fisherman went out one day,

To catch some schnapper in the bay.

But all he caught was a nasty cold,

That stayed with him till he grew old.

 

He sneezed and wheezed and wheezed and sneezed.

Each time he sneezed he looked displeased;

He sneezed and wheezed every night and day,

Until he sneezed himself away!

 

 


 

 

Three jellyfish O

 

Another from the book ‘Kindergarten of the air’ though I recently found it in the classic children’s compendium ‘This little Puffin’. – I had thought it must have originated in warmer climes.

 

Use fingers to indicate the number of jellyfish and hands to show movement of these sea creatures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Three jellyfish, three jellyfish,

Three jellyfish sitting on a rock.

One fell off! Oooooh!

 

Two jellyfish, two jellyfish,

Two jellyfish sitting on a rock.

One fell off! Oooooh!

 

One jellyfish, one jellyfish,

One jellyfish sitting on a rock.

It fell off! Oooooh!

 

No jellyfish, no jellyfish,

No jellyfish sitting on a rock.

Then one jumped on! Hooray!

 

One jellyfish, one jellyfish,

One jellyfish sitting on a rock.

Then another one jumped on! Hooray!

 

Two jellyfish, two jellyfish,

Two jellyfish sitting on a rock.

Then another one jumped on! Hooray!

 

Three jellyfish, three jellyfish,

Three jellyfish sitting on a rock.

 


 

 

When someone smiles at me O

 

 


This song by Don Spencer or Val Dolon (?) is about feelings and featured in ABC’s Play School 1966 Season 306 5. Faces and feelings.

Initially I came across it in the publication ‘Kindergarten of the Air’ 1975.

The verses below invite children to find a partner and cooperate / coordinate by moving in unison. The last three verses are written by Dany Rosevear.

 

You will need to adapt this according to the age / abilities of your children.

Verse 1.Walk around room smiling; in the second part find a partner and skip round. Verse 2. Leave partner walk around as before then find a new partner, hold hands and jump up and down. 3. As before but do a clap own hands / slap partner’s hand sequence. 4. As before but yawn and sit down with partner hands to cheek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


When someone smiles at me, I feel like smiling too,

When I see someone who is happy I feel happy too.

Happy, happy me, Happy, happy you,

When I see someone who is happy I feel happy too.

 

When someone jumps near me, I feel like jumping too,

When I see someone who is jumping, I feel like jumping too.

Jumping, jumping me, Jumping, jumping you,

When I see someone who is jumping, I feel like jumping too.

 

When someone claps near me I feel like clapping too,

When I see someone who is clapping, I feel like clapping too.

Clapping, clapping me, Clapping, clapping you,

When I see someone who is clapping, I feel like clapping too.

 

When someone yawns near me I feel like yawning too,

When I see someone who is yawning, I feel like yawning too.

Yawning, yawning me, Yawning, yawning you,

When I see someone who is yawning I feel like yawning too.

 


 

 

Who wants an octopus cuddle? O

 

We all like a cuddle but there are limits! Encourage children to make up more verses about animals they would not like to cuddle.

 

1. Move hands like the sea. Join thumbs so eight fingers wiggle like tentacles on toes, knees and nose. Put hands to the face and make a loud sneeze. Cuddle self.

2. Thumb and forefingers open and close like crocodile jaws. Then as above.

3. Put paws out in front. Stroke toes, knees and toes. Make a tiny sneeze and cuddle self.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Under the sea there’s an octopus,

An octopus, an octopus,

And under the sea that kind octopus,

Wants to give you an octopus cuddle.

It’s after your toes, it’s after your knees,

It’s after your nose with a wigglely ease;

But just in time comes a great big sneeze...

ATCHOO!

HOORAY! IT’S WIGGLED AWAY,

For we don’t want an octopus cuddle,

No, we don’t want an octopus cuddle!

 

Down in the swamp lives a crocodile,

A crocodile, a crocodile,

And down in the swamp that kind crocodile,

Wants to give you a crocodile cuddle.

It’s after your toes, it’s after your knees,

It’s after your nose with a snippety ease;

But just in time comes a great big sneeze...

ATCHOO!

HOORAY! IT’S WADDLED AWAY,

For we don’t want a crocodile cuddle,

No, we don’t want a crocodile cuddle!

 

Up in a gum tree sits a koala bear,

A koala bear, a koala bear,

And in the gum tree that kind koala bear,

Wants to give you a koala bear cuddle.

It’s after your toes, it’s after your knees,

It’s after your nose with a snufflely ease;

But all at once comes the teeniest sneeze...

ATCHOO!

HOORAY! IT’S STILL HERE,

For we all want a koala bear cuddle,

Yes, we all want a koala bear cuddle!

 

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