More action songs C

Can you hop like a rabbit?

Can you jump?

Can you walk on two legs?

Can you wiggle like a worm

Caterpillar crawling round

Chee chee chaw / Singin’ in the rain

Chest, chest, knee, toe

Chipper Chopper Joe

Clap, clap, clap your hands

Clap your hands and wiggle your fingers

Clap your hands, slap your knees

Clap your hands with me

Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain

Come rowing with me

Cranes reach up

Cuddly koalas

Last updated: 1/2/2023 10:56 AM

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

To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊

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

·       you may not use this work for commercial purposes

·       for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

·       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.


 

 

 

Can you hop like a rabbit? 🔊

 

 


Move like the different animals and learn to stand still; not easy for the young ones.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

1. Move in different ways and then stand very still – don’t move a whisker!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Can you hop like a rabbit?

Can you jump like a frog?

Can you waddle like a duck?

Can you run like a dog?

Can you fly like a bird?

Can you swim like a fish?

Can you be so very still,

As still as this?

 

Can you jump? 🔊

 

 


An energetic action game; appreciate how we can move in so many different ways. And be still.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

 

Move as suggested in small then larger movements.

Sing and move to the last verse quietly, put hands over head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Can you jump? Yes we can!

Like a kangaroo!

Joey jumps, mamma jumps,

Just look what we can do!

 

Can you hop? Yes we can!

Like robin in the snow.

Little hops, bigger ones,

From left to right we’ll go.

 

Can you stamp / stomp? Yes we can!

Like a thundercloud!

Little stamps / stomps, bigger ones,

First softly then so loud.

 

Can you swim? Yes we can!

Like a dolphin in the sea.

Up and down and all around,

Come and swim with me.

 

Can you fly? Yes we can!

Like an eagle in the sky.

Little flaps, great big ones,

Over mountains high!

 

Can you sit? Yes I can!

As quiet as a mouse.

There’s not one little whisker twitch,

In my little house!


 

 

Can you walk on two legs O

 

 


A lively game using the whole room as a space or the outside if possible.

The words tell you what to do,; children might like to suggest other actions.

Written by Lindford Holgate in ‘Playsongs from the Nursery School’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Can you walk on two legs, two legs, two legs?

Can you walk on two legs,

Round and round and round?

I can walk on two legs, two legs, two legs,

I can walk on two legs,

Round and round and round.

 

Can you hop on one leg, one leg, one leg?

Can you hop on one leg,

Round and round and round?

I can hop on one leg, one leg, one leg,

I can hop on one leg,

Round and round and round.

 

Can you wave with one hand, one hand, one hand?

Can you wave with one hand,

Round and round and round?

I can wave with one hand, one hand, one hand,

I can wave with one hand,

Round and round and round.

 

Can you wave with two hands, two hands, two hands?

Can you wave with two hands,

Round and round and round?

I can wave with two hands, two hands, two hands,

I can wave with two hands,

Round and round and round.


 

 

Can you wiggle like a worm? 🔊

 

 


This is one depending on the age of your pupils that you can speed up each time it is sung; great fun for community occasions.

 

1. Wiggle body. 2. Wiggle left then right arm. 3. Flap crossed hands like wings. 4. Crawl low.

5. Finger and thumbs make make a circle. 6. Stretch arms above head. 7. Clap to left, right then point to self.

1. Flop body to left then right. 2. Hop on the spot. 3. Wiggle arms in front like a snake. 4. Shake body. 5. Flutter hands. 6. Spin round still flapping. 7. Clap to left, right then point to self.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Can you wiggle like a worm?

Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?

Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?

Can you crawl upon the ground

Like a beetle that is round?

Can you move with me?

 

Can you flip? Can you flop?

Can you give a little hop?

Can you slither like a snake?

Can you give a little shake?

Can you dance like bee

Who is buzzing round a tree?

Can you move with me?


 

 

 

Caterpillar ‘bye-‘bye O

 

 


Originally written by Deanna Hoermann to a simple Hungarian tune, particularly suitable for young children, in sol-fa: so.so mi.mi/so.so mi/ x3 so.fa me.re do do. She also suggested playing a game where caterpillars crawl on the floor and on the last line the magpie swoops down and catches a child who becomes the next magpie.

The tune below and last three verses were written by Dany Rosevear.

 

Verse 1: Wiggle forefinger, put finger to lips, cross hands to make wings and flap, wiggle finger, wave hand.

Verse 2: Make fingers scuttle for beetle and hands jump for frog

Verse 3 as verse 1:

Verse 4: Make hand into fist with first two fingers out for snail then interlace fingers to make hedgehog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Caterpillar crawling round,

Trying not to make a sound.

Comes a magpie from the sky;

Caterpillar ‘bye-‘bye!

 

Bright blue beetle scuttling round,

Trying not to make a sound.

Comes a froggie hopping by;

Bright blue beetle ‘bye-‘bye!

 

Little pink worm wriggling round,

Trying not to make a sound.

Comes a blackbird from the sky,

Little pink worm ‘bye-‘bye!

 

Stripy brown snail gliding round,

Trying not to make a sound.

Comes a hedgehog snuffling by,

Stripy brown snail ‘bye-‘bye!

 

Grasshopper is jumping round,

Trying not to make a sound.

Comes a lizard walking by,

Grasshopper ‘bye-‘bye!

 


 

 

Chee chee chaw / Singin’ in the rain 🔊

 

 


A happy, happy song from the past with community fun thrown in.

You will need to play this unaccompanied with young children.

 

1. Fingers make raindrop, clap twice, repeat. 2. Throw out hands and place on chest. 3. Clap hands x3. 4. Put up relevant part of body and move or wiggle it to the rest of the verse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I'm singing in the rain,

Just singing in the rain,

What a glorious feeling,

I'm hap-hap-happy again!

Thumbs up! Thumbs up!

A-chee-chee-chaw!

A-chee-chee-chaw!

A-chee-chee-chaw-chaw! X2

 

I'm singing in the rain…

Thumbs up! Thumbs up!

Elbows back! Elbows back!

Feet together! Feet together!

Bum out! Bum out!

Head up! Head up!

Tongue out! Tongue out!

 

Last time:

I'm singing in the rain,

Just singing in the rain,

What a glorious feeling,

I'm hap-hap-happy again!

A-chee-chee-chaw!

A-chee-chee-chaw!

A-chee-chee-chaw-chaw! X2

 


 

 

Chest, chest, knee, toe 🔊

 

 


A simple song until you start using your ‘thinking voice’!

 

1. Touch each part of the body as it is sung. 2. Do the same just singing in the head i.e. silently. 3. Each time ‘chest’ is sung sing in head and toch chest but sing the . 4. Put up relevant part of body and move or wiggle it to the rest of the verse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Chest, chest, knee toe,

Chest, chest, knee toe;

Head, head, chest, chest,

Knee, shin, toe.

 


 

 

Chipper Chopper Joe 🔊

 

 


Aim straight or suffer the consequences!

We all love trees and should plant as many as we can but trees still need to be managed so others and the environment can thrive.

Use percussive instruments to accompany this song.

 

1. Pretend to chop down trees. 2. Hop on one foot. 3. Continue chopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Chip chop, chip chop, Chipper Chopper Joe,

Chip chop, chip chop, Chipper Chopper Joe,

One big blow!

Ouch! My toe!

Chipper Chopper Joe chops wood like so!

 


 

 

 

Clap, clap, clap your hands O

 

 


The lively tune of Old Joe Clarke is a great accompaniment for energetic movement. Encourage children to suggest their own actions.

 

The actions speak for themselves, continue the movements through the La las! Alternatively skip round in a circle for the verses make the appropriate movement for the chorus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Clap, clap, clap your hands,

Clap your hands together,

Clap, clap, clap your hands,

Clap your hands together.

La la la la la la la, La la la la la la,

La la la la la la la, La la la la la la.

Stamp, stamp, stamp your feet…

Shake, shake, shake your hands…

Stretch, stretch, stretch up high…

Wheels, wheels, wheels go round…

Dig, dig, dig the ground…

Sing sing sing a song…

 

 


 

 

Clap your hands and wiggle your fingers O

 

 


Learn the names of different parts of your body and to differentiate between noisy and quiet movements.

 

The actions speak for themselves!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Clap your hands and wiggle your fingers,

Clap your hands and wiggle your fingers,

Clap your hands and wiggle your fingers,

We have made a pattern.

 

Tap your knees and rub you tummy,

Tap your knees and rub you tummy,

Tap your knees and rub you tummy,

We have made a pattern.

 

Stamp your feet and nod your head,

Stamp your feet and nod your head,

Stamp your feet and nod your head,

We have made a pattern.

 

Slap your thighs and shake your shoulders,

Slap your thighs and shake your shoulders,

Slap your thighs and shake your shoulders,

We have made a pattern.

 

Thump your fists and wave goodbye now,

Thump your fists and wave goodbye now,

Thump your fists and wave goodbye now,

We have made a pattern.

 


 

 

Clap your hands, slap your knees 🔊

 

 


Been sitting too long / ready for a new start? It’s time for a big stretch.

Get ready for the next activity; a brief transition action song.

Understand opposites; higher and lower, up and down. Follow instructions.

Words and set to music by Dany Rosevear, inspired by a similar Kodaly song.

 

1. Clap hands three times and knees three times. Lift hands and stretch, keep stretching.

2. Stamp feet three times and thighs three times. Spin arms up high move downwards  and sit on floor, arms folded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Clap your hands, slap your knees,

Hold your hands up high.

Keep on stretching, higher, higher,

Reach up to the sky.

 

Stamp your feet, slap your thighs,

Spin your arms around,

Keep on spinning, lower, lower,

Sit down on the ground.

 

 


 

 

 

Clap your hands with me 🔊

 

 


You will need to play this unaccompanied with young children

 

Clap, slap etc. with the words in time to the music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Clap your hands (clap, clap, clap, clap)

Clap your hands (clap, clap, clap, clap)

Clap your hands (clap, clap, clap, clap)

Clap your hands with me. (clap, clap)

 

Slap your knees…

Click your fingers…

Tap your toes…

Stamp your feet…

 


 

 

Climb, climb up sunshine mountain 🔊

 

 


Work together and think positive - a community song which also works well as an action song for pre-schoolers.

 

1. Climbing actions, draw sun and make a mountain with hands. 2. Hands make breeze movements. 3. As before. 4. Put hands to face.

5. Turn around, fist under chin. 5. Stretch arms above head. 6. As before. 7. Point to another child and then self.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain

Where little breezes blow,

Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain,

Faces all a glow.

Turn, turn your back on troubles,

Reach up to the skies.

Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain,

You and I, you and I.


 

 

Come rowing with me 🔊

 

 


Row to the gentle rhythm imagining you are in a gently rolling boat on a calm, beautiful lake.

The tune is the old Neopolitan waltz "Vieni Sul Mare" / "Come to the Sea"

 

Either hold hands with a partner and move back and forth or do this individually or in lines of 5 or 6 one behind the other. For the seagull verse cross hands at wrists and make them ‘fly’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Come rowing with me,

Come rowing with me,

Floating so peacefully over the sea,

Come rowing with me.

 

Sing seagull sing,

Sing seagull sing,

Sing as you fly through the twilight sky,

Sing seagull sing,

 

Come boating with me,

Come sail o’er the sea,

Following wavelets that dance merrily,

Come boating with me.


 

 

Cranes reach up 🔊

 

 


The cranes in the cities are all still at present resting from their tasks and set at different angles, visible everywhere; oh for movement!

The traditional first two lines will work well for the very young. Older preschoolers plus may well enjoy the further verses written by Dany Rosevear.

 

Move outstretched arms with palms together as suggest by the words. Use fists as in ‘one potato’ for last two lines of first verse. On last line stand very still.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cranes reach up, cranes reach down,

Cranes reach out and all around.

Cranes lift left, cranes lift right,

Building, building, dawn ‘til night.

Cranes load fast and cranes load slow,

Bit by bit the building grows.

 

Cranes reach low, cranes swing round,

Pick up blocks from off the ground.

Cranes reach up, to the top,

A heavy load they gently, gently - drop!

Night is calling, stop the build,

In the city cranes stand still.


 

 

 

Cuddly koalas 🔊

 

 


An Antipodean action song popular in scouting and also with pre-schoolers.

 

Koalas squat and hug selves. Possums make rings round eyes with hands. Wallabies and wombats swat alternate paws. Kangaroos jump up and down with paws in front.

Lions and tigers make hands prowl. Make long neck with arm for giraffe. Swing an elephant trunk with arm. Make snapping crocodile jaws with both arms. Scratch under left then right armpit like a monkey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cuddly koalas, cuddly koalas,

Possums too, possums too,

Wallabies and wombats, wallabies and wombats,

Kangaroos, kangaroos.

 

Lions and tigers, lions and tigers,

Giraffes too, giraffes too,

Elephants and crocodiles, elephants and crocodiles

Monkeys too, monkeys too.


 

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