More
action songs J-L
Jack-in-the-box
Jackie
the sailor
Jingle
clap
Johnny,
Johnny Jingles
Juba
Jump,
jump, jump
Jump
over the moon
Jumping
up and down
Just
look how high I’m jumping
Kuma
san / Mister Bear
La la
la la la la / Tap your nose
Let
everyone clap hands like me
Let’s
clap, clap, clap our hands today
Little
birds, little birds
Little
hands, little hands
Little
jumping Joan
Little
seed, deep in the ground
Long-legged
sailor
Looking
for a dinosaur
Love
grows one by one
Love
grows under the wild oak tree
Last updated: 4/4/2022
11:47 AM
The songs below are part of ‘Away 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.
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A simple suspense action game or hand play as children wait for that
magic moment when Jack is released from his box. You will notice how the
notes descend until the last ones. This is from one of my favourite song books for young children,
‘Singing Fun’ by Lucille F. Wood and Louise B’ Scott, published in 1962. I
came across it when first teaching. Game: Squat down with hands over
head, put finger to lips. Jump up high! Hand play: Place hands over head, put
finger to lips. Wrap forefinger with opposite hand. Lid thumb springs open
and ‘Jack’ forefinger jumps out. |
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Jack in the box, Quiet as a mouse, Deep down inside Your dark little house. Jack in the box Resting so still, Will you come out? Yes, I will! |
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Avast, me hearties! Get ready for a life at sea. Words by Mabel F. Wilson.
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Jingle clap 🔊
This lively community song would work well at Christmas as a partner to
‘Jingle bells’ as it is the same tune!. Follow the instructions –
the actions are spelt out clearly! |
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Clap your hands, stamp
your feet, Let's all stand up,
please. Face to the left, face to
the right, Now hands upon your knees. All sit down, now stand
up, Clap your hands, two
beats. Before you’re down, turn
once around, Then sit down on your seat |
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Johnny, Johnny Jingles 🔊
Dramatize the morning getting up routine; discuss what else children
do before setting off for school. Substitute ‘Jenny’ or a child’s name to
make the song more personal. Music by Dany Rosevear. Mime sequence. |
Johnny, Johnny Jingles,
Jumped out of bed;
Brushed his teeth and washed his face
And combed his tousled head.
He put his clothes on carefully,
His shoes he neatly tied;
Then he went to breakfast
And sat by his mother’s side.
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This clapping game has its
origins in an African-American plantation dance brought over from West Africa
by slaves who performed it without instruments. I have
adapted one below to be played in three ways depending on the age and
abilities of the children: 1. With one player as a simple hand clapping
game (clap, slap knees) 2. In pairs (clap own hands, slap partners
right hand, clap own hands, slap partners left hand, repeat sequence. Clap
hands slap both partners hands, (clap own hands, slap thighs, link arms and
skip round) 3. Facing a partner in a circle repeat actions
above, on the last line skip round until you face a new partner. Continue this sequence until everyone ends
up facing their original partner. |
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Juba chased a yellow cat, Juba up and Juba down, Juba ran around the town. |
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Jump, jump, jump 🔊
An old Play School favourite by Lionel Morton. Younger children might
prefer a simpler version changing ‘jump’ for other action words: hop, shake,
stamp, clap. Move energetically and have
fun with the dramatic nature of the words. |
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Jump, jump, jump if you feel you want to-oo-ooo Jump, jump, jump if you feel you ca-aa-aan Jump, jump, jump if you feel you want to-oo-ooo Jump, jump, jump if you feel you can. Hop, hop, hop when you’re feeling bouncy, Shake, shake, shake altogether now. Stamp, stamp, stamp when you’re feeling cranky, Clap, clap, clap, then make a bow. Dance, dance, dance when you hear a band play. Sing, sing, sing when you hear a tune. Cry, cry, cry when you’re feeling teary Laugh, laugh, laugh and we’ll all join in. |
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Jump, jump, jump, jump over
the moon 🔊
Get jumping. Adapted from a poem by Kate Greenaway with added verses and music by
Arthur C. Edwards. From ‘Music for living’ book 2 published by Silver Burdett
in 1956. Last verse adapted by Dany Rosevear. An opportuniy to make BIG
jumps. |
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Jump,
jump, jump! Jump
over the moon; Jump
all of the morning, And
jump all of the noon. Jump,
jump, jump! Jump
over a star; Choose
one that is twinkling, And
not so very far. Jump,
jump, jump! Jump
over the sea; Jump
over the dry land, And
jump over to me. Jump,
jump, jump! Jump
far, far away; What
wonderful wonders We’ll
see every day. |
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Jumping up and down 🔊
A simple slow and fast activity for the young ones;An energetic action
rhyme based on ‘Knees up, Mother Brown!’ Could also be played as a
baby / toddler bounce. Adapted by Dany Rosevear. Move in the ways suggested,
normally then at speed. |
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Jumping
up and down, Jumping
up and down, Keep
it steady, always ready! Jumping
up and down! Running
on the spot, Running
on the spot, Keep
it steady, always ready! Running
on the spot! Hopping
up and down, Hopping
up and down, Always
hopping, never stopping! Hopping
up and down! |
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Just look how high I’m
jumping 🔊
Get rid of those fidgets and move! Children love to be watched and be challenged, the last verse is quite
an acheivement! Words and music by Dany Rosevear. Move as suggested. |
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Just
look how high I’m jumping, I’m
jumping, I’m jumping, Just
look how high I’m jumping, Way
high up in the sky! Just
look how far I’m hopping, I’m
hopping, I’m hopping, Just
look how far I’m hopping, Goodbye
and au revoir! Just
hear how quiet I tiptoe, I
tiptoe, I tiptoe, Just
hear how quiet I tiptoe, As
quiet as a mouse! Just
hear how loud I’m stamping, I’m
stamping, I’m stamping, Just
hear how loud I’m stamping, Like
a giant on a thundercloud! Just
see how fast… Spoken: I
STOP! And
SIT! And
put my hands in my lap! Then
THUMBS UP! And
a BIG CLAP! |
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Kuma san / Mr. Bear 🔊
A simple lively action play. Slap knees and clap hands
for each ‘Kuma san’ or ‘Mr. Bear’. 1. Turn around. 2. Touch
ground. 3. Hop on left foot then the right. 4. Make big waves first with one
hand then the other. |
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Kuma san, kuma san, maware migi, Kuma san, kuma san, ryote wo tsuite, Kuma san, kuma san, kata-ashi ageta, Kuma san, kuma san, sayo-un-nara! Mister bear, Mister bear, turn yourself around, Mister bear, Mister bear, hands upon the ground, Mister bear, Mister bear, hop with one foot in the
air, Mister bear, Mister bear, time to say good bye! |
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La la la la la la 🔊
Follow simple instructions. This can be played individually, with children walking in and out of
each other, with a partner or in a circle. Make up more verses with children
suggesting actions. Walk or skip round the
circle to ‘La la’. Do actions in time to the music. |
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La
la la la la la la la. La
la la la la la, La
la la la la la la la. Stamp
your feet just like so, Tap
your nose and tickle your toes. Stretch
up high, bend down low, Clap
your hands and off we go. |
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Let everyone clap hands like
me 🔊
Play as a slow waltz. Ask children to come up with their own ideas –
energetic or funny ones depending on their mood. Make movements suggested by
the words twice at the end of each line. |
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Let everyone clap hands like me, (clap, clap) Let everyone clap hands like me, (clap, clap) Come on and join in with the game, (clap, clap) You'll find that it's always the same. (clap, clap) Let everyone stamp feet like me, Let everyone stamp feet like me, Come on and join in with the game, You'll find that it's always the same. Let everyone jump just like me, Let everyone jump just like me, Come on and join in with the game, You'll find that it's always the same. Let everyone whistle like me, Let everyone whistle like me, Come on and join in with the game, You’ll find that it’s always the same. Let everyone do what they want, Let everyone do what they want, Come on and join in with the game, You'll find that it's always the same. |
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Let’s clap, clap, clap our
hands today 🔊
Movement and stillness. A lively imaginative action song to perform in
a space. Based on a song by Sandy
Inkster and adapted by Dany Rosevear. 1. Clap hands, jump up and
down on the spot. 2. Stamp and wave ‘trunk’ arm, run on the spot with hands
to chin. 3. Tap toes and stretch up high. 4. Slap knees and on the word
‘freeze’ make an animal shape and hold. 5. Flap arms then still flapping move
downwards to rest. |
Let’s clap, clap, clap
our hands today,
Clap,
clap, clap our hands today,
Clap,
clap, clap our hands today,
Then
jump up and down on the spot.
We’ll
stamp, stamp, stamp like elephants…
Then
run like a tiny little mouse.
We’ll
tap, tap, tap our toes today…
Then
stretch up as high as we can.
We’ll
slap, slap, slap our knees today…
Then
suddenly we will – FREEZE!.
We’ll
flap, flap, flap like crows today…
Then
fly down to our nests and rest.
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Little birds, little birds 🔊
Follow instructions with quiet and more active movements. Arrange
verses according to how you wish children to finish. Music by Dany Rosevear. 1. Jump up and down
vigorously and the quietly. 2. Tiptoe to leader and squat down. 3. Still
squatting open and close thumb and fore finger, put hands to cheek and close
eyes. Fly around room, return to base and sit down. |
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Little
birds, little birds, jump up and down. Little birds, little birds, don’t make a sound! Little birds, little birds, tip-toe to me. Little birds, little birds, bend your knees! Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep! Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep. Little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves! Little birds, little birds, sit down, please. |
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Little hands, little hands 🔊
A song about capabilities by Dany Rosevear. Children will have plenty
of ideas what different parts of the body can do. Make up your own verses and
actions. As suggested by the words. |
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Little hands, little
hands, what can you do? Little hands, little
hands, what can you do? We can clap and we can shake,
put a cake upon a plate, MMMH! That’s what our little
hands can do! Little head, little head,
what can you do? Little head, little head,
what can you do? I can nod and I can kiss, sing
a lovely song like this! La, la, la, la! That’s what our little
head can do! Little feet, little feet,
what can you do? Little feet, little feet,
what can you do? We can stamp and we can
hop, and run and run nonstop! STOP! That’s what our little
feet can do! |
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Little jumping Joan 🔊
A lively nursery rhyme. It was first published in the 19th century in
1881 in “Mother Goose or the Old Nursery Rhymes”. This version with a tune
and a second part comes from”Music through the day” published by Silver
Burdett in 1956. A good song for ball bouncing
or playing with a yo-yo or pogo stick. |
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Here am I, little jumping
Joan; When nobody’s with me, I’m always alone. Bounce catch and bounce
catch, Bounce catch, bounce
catch, And bounce catch and
bounce catch, And bounce catch and
bounce catch. |
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Little seed, deep in the
ground 🔊
A ‘Jack in the box’ game for the Springtime. It can also work as a hand play or action game, see the video. Music and adaptation by Dany
Rosevear. 1. Crouch covering the head
with hands. Continue to crouch. 2. On ‘Now’ put palms together above head. On
‘will’ jump up high. |
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Little
seed, little seed, Deep
in the ground, sitting so still, Sitting
so still. Little
seed, little seed, When
will you sprout? Now,
I will! |
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Long-legged sailor O
This is a
classic clapping game and can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_-tZyy4h4
My version
is performed in pairs as a question and answer song taking turns to dramatize
the two sections of each verse. 1. Throw hands (Have)
out and point to partner (you),
move fingers from side to side (ever)
then throw arms up above the head (long-legged), place hand on heart (life). 2. Place hand above eyes (seen),
throw up arms(long-legged), salute(sailor), throw up arms (long-legged) and cross arms over chest (wife). The partner repeats these movements for the
second two lines except the first two words where they shake finger (no) and
point to self (I’ve). Subsequent
verses substitute the throwing of arms in the air with: Arms up bent at elbow (short-legged) Elbows tapping (knock kneed) |
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Have you ever, ever, ever, in your long legged life, Seen a long-legged sailor with a long legged wife? No I’ve never, never, never, in my long legged life, Seen a long-legged sailor with a long legged wife. Have you ever, ever, ever, in your short legged life, Seen a short-legged sailor with a short legged wife? No I’ve never, never, never, in my short legged life, Seen a short-legged sailor with a short legged wife. Have you ever, ever, ever, in your knock-kneed life, Seen a knock-kneed sailor with a knock-kneed wife? No I’ve never, never, never, in my knock-kneed life, Seen a knock-kneed sailor with a knock-kneed wife. Have you ever, ever, ever, in your long-legged life, Seen a short-legged sailor with a knock-kneed wife? No I’ve never, never, never, in my long-legged life, Seen a short-legged sailor with a knock-kneed wife. You can also include: cross-legged / one-legged / bow-legged and make
suitable actions |
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Looking for a dinosaur 🔊
A partner game. Children love pronouncing dinosaur names – the more
difficult the better! Encourage children to make up their own imaginary
dinosaur names and draw them. This game can be played with children moving side by side or one
behind the other. For more challenge call out a number up to five after first
couplet and move in that number in a line behind a leader as described below. Verse 1. With hand to
forehead walk like an explorer round the room in and out of each other. Find
a partner and move like favourite dinosaur. 2. Each time as before and then
flying. 3. Stomp and growl. 4. Clap. 5. Hold hands in a circle and dance
round. 6. Tiptoe, sing and walk quietly to home base and sit. |
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We’re looking for a dinosaur, a dinosaur, a
dinosaur, We’re looking for a dinosaur to come along with
us. To come along with us, to come along with us, We’re looking for a dinosaur to come along with
us. We’re looking for a pteranodon, pteranodon,
pteranodon, We’re looking for a pteranodon to glide and soar
with us; To glide and soar with us, to glide and soar with
us, We’re looking for a pteranodon to glide and soar
with us. We’re looking for a T-rex, a T-rex, a T-rex, We’re looking for a T-rex, to prowl and growl with
us; To prowl and growl with us, to prowl and growl
with us, We’re looking for a T-rex, to prowl and growl with
us. We’re looking for a stegosaurus, stegosaurus,
stegosaurus, We’re looking for a stegosaurus, to stomp along
with us. To stomp along with us, to stomp along with us, We’re looking for a stegosaurus, to stomp along
with us. We’re looking for an allosaurus, allosaurus,
allosaurus, We’re looking for an allosaurus to dance around
with us. To dance around with us, to dance around with us, We’re looking for an allosaurus to dance around
with us. Tiptoe, there’s a snaposnore-us, snaposnore-us,
snaposnore-us, Tiptoe, there’s a snaposnore-us, do not wake it
up! Do not wake it up, do not wake it up! Tiptoe, there’s a snaposnore-us, do not wake it
up! |
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Love grows, one by one 🔊
This delightful song by Carol Johnson is often accompanied by sign
language as below but you can always make up your own. Find Carol Johnson’s CDs and Music at: http://www.caroljohnsonmusic.com Raise one finger on each
hand, then two, then four to the beat of the music as the numbers are sung. ‘Love’ - make fists with
hands and cross your arms on your chest. ‘Grows’ put right hand
behind your left and move it upward to indicate growing. ‘Round like a circle’ - draw
a large circle in the air with your finger. ‘Comes back’ - beckon with
hand. ‘Knocking’ – ‘knock’ with
hand. ‘Door’ - place hands in
front of you, palms forward. Move right thumb and hand back toward your face
to show an opening door. |
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Chorus: Love grows, one by one, Two by two and four by
four, Love grows 'round like a
circle, And comes back a-knocking
at your front door. Note by note we make a
song, Voice by voice we sing it, Choir by choir we fill up
the world With the music that we
bring it. Chorus So let me take your hand,
my friend, We’ll each take the hand
of another, One by one we’ll reach for
all, Our sisters and our
brothers. Chorus |
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A north American scouting song and game. Keep
repeating the pattern below in time to the music: 1. Slap knees twice, clap twice,
snap fingers to each side. 2. With palms down move hands over
each other one way then the other, place one fist under the other and tap,
swap fists and tap again.
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