More action songs T-W

Tall as a tree

The earth needs the raindrops

The elephant wobbles from side to side

The lighthouse song

The prehistoric animal parade

The snail

The wise man and the foolish man

There’s a spider on the floor

Tippy tippy tiptoes

Tom saw a sailor

Tommy was a baker

Tongo

Tony Chestnut

Tuli-lule

Two little hands

Two little boats are on the sea

Up I stretch on tippy toe

Walk all around

Way up in the sky

We are woodmen sawing trees

We’ll hop, hop, hop like a bunny

We’re five jolly pirates

We’re marching in our wellingtons

Wheels keep turning

Wiggle and freeze

Willum he had seven sons

With my little broom

You can stamp your feet

Last updated: 6/19/2018 4:44 PM

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:

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.

Tall as a tree

Tackle concepts of size and comparison in a fun way. Be quiet or noisy at the end as the mood takes you!

Tall as a tree.

(Stand up and reach up high.)

Wide as a house.

(Stretch out arms and legs.)

Thin as a pin.

(Stand tall, as thin as you can.)

Small as a mouse.

(Curl into a ball.)

Tall as a tree, how tall can you be?

Wide as a house, how wide can you be?

Thin as a pin, how thin can you be?

Small as a mouse, how small can you be?

And how very, very, quiet can you be?

As quiet as a mouse - Shhh!

BOO! How very LOUD can you be?!

(Jump up high!) Leave last line out if you wish to finish on a quiet note!!!

The earth needs the raindrops 🔊

Words by J. Kartsch and music by A. Wagner.

Verse 1. Draw a large circle with hands, make rain fall with fingers. Shade eyes. Hands open and close. Put hands to cheek. Verse 2. Arm and hand make a tree. Cup hand on branch. Put crossed hands to heart.

The earth needs the raindrops,

The day needs a light,

And heaven needs little stars

When the day turns to night.

The tree needs a little branch

Where the bird builds her nest,

And we need a little heart

To love and to trust.

The elephant wobbles from side to side O

Make different movements for each animal.

This song is an adaptation, by Peter Charlton, for the Australian ABC Play School programme, of the classic nursery game ‘The elephant goes like this and that’.

1. Move from one leg to the other waving an arm for a trunk. Hold hands up high and the wide. Put hands to mouth to shout last line. 2. Move slowly with head outstretched and then as before. 3. Jump in a bouncy manner and then as before.

The elephant wobbles from side to side,

He's terribly big and he's terribly wide,

And people shout wherever he goes,

"Goodness, gracious, what a nose!"

The tortoise goes with a slurpety slop,

If he went much slower he would stop,

And people shout when they see him go,

"Goodness, gracious aren’t you slow!"

The kangaroo goes with a bumpety bump,

He’ll never walk when he can jump,

And people shout to him in the street,

"Goodness, gracious, what big feet!"

The lighthouse song O

A lighthouse song by Jennie Brockhurst based on Twinkle, twinkle little star.

Twinkle, twinkle little light,

Flashing brightly through the night,

When it's stormy you must show,

All the sailors where to go,

Twinkle, twinkle little light,

Flashing brightly through the night.

The prehistoric animal parade 🔊

Words and music by M.L.Reeve. A song in four different keys.

Some might point to the historical inaccuracies; brontosaurus is now apatosaurus, a woolly mammoth is not a dinosaur but this song was written in the 1970s when such niceties were uncommon or unknown.

It is a great song for using percussion.

Move as the words suggest to a slow beat.

Listen to the chorus,

Of the brontosaurus

And the stegosaurus

Down by the swamp.

Along comes a dinosaur,

Making such a loud roar,

Thumping with his feet

And going stomp, stomp, stomp.

Pterodactyl flapping,

Long beak clacking,

Big teeth snapping,

Down from a tree.

Here's a woolly mammoth,

Tusks all curly,

Joins the hurly burly.

Oh dear me!

What a noise!

It's the boys and the girls

Of the prehistoric animal brigade!

The snail O

A children’s song from Devon which can be found in the songbook ‘Sing a song One’ published in 1978. Subsequently I have heard it sung by both Cyril Tawney and Bill Murray, who noted on his CD info that it was collected from Fanny Maunder who was born in Buckfastleigh, Devon, in 1849.

It needs to be sung at a steady pace as it alternates between 6/8 and 9/8 time.

It can be played as below or as a finger rhyme with the fist slowly moving up the arm with two fingers out like horns.

Children curl up like a snail and slide along the floor with arms up like the snail’s horns. One or more children pretend to be blackbirds and creep among the snails flapping their elbows like wings. On the last line they choose a child to tap gently; these children then become the new blackbirds.

The snail creeps out with his house on his back.

You can tell where he's been by his slimy track.

Chorus:

Creep, creep, creep, oh how slowly he goes.

And you'd be the same if you carried your house.

You can't see him but you know where he's been

He feeds on the leaves of the plants so green.

Still, still, still, in the darkness of night.

He steels away ere the morning light.

With horny eye he peers about.

But the blackbird at last has found him out.

Tap, tap, tap on the roof of his house.

He gobbles him up as a cat would a mouse.

The wise man and the foolish man O

A simple retelling of the parable from the New Testament; it also teaches a universal message about building our lives on firm foundations.

1. Place fists alternately on top of the other. Make a house shape and then place fist firmly on the palm of the hand. Fingers wiggle downwards for the rain and hands move upwards for the floods. On the last l line place one fist firmly on top of the other hand.

2, Move palms facing down over each other then as before. Clap loudly on the last line.

The wise man built his house upon the rock,

And the rain came tumbling down.

The rain came down, and the floods came up,

And the house on the rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

And the rain came tumbling down.

The rain came down, and the floods came up,

And the house on the sand fell flat!

There’s a spider on the floor O

The original Raffi version of this song was written by Bill Russell from Canada.

I heard the song at a Mother and Toddler session recently with my grandchild; this seems to be the version sung in nurseries in England nowadays. It has the same tune as ‘Put your finger in the air’.

There's a spider on the floor, on the floor,

There’s a spider on the floor

And he’s coming through the door,

There's a spider on the floor, on the floor.

Now that spider’s on my knee, on my knee,

Now that spider’s on my knee,

And he’s looking right at me,

Now that spider’s on my knee, on my knee.

Now that spider’s on my tummy, on my tummy,

Now that spider’s on my tummy,

And I think I want my mummy,

Now that spider’s on my tummy, on my tummy.

Now that spider’s on my arm, on my arm,

Now that spider’s on my arm,

But he won’t do me any harm,

Now that spider’s on my arm, on my arm.

Now that spider's on my head, on my head,

Now that spider’s on my head,

Can he come to you instead?

Hooray! That spider on my head has just jumped off.

There's a spider on the floor, on the floor,(fast)

There's a spider on the floor, on the floor,

There’s a spider on the floor…

Phew! Now, he’s crawling out the door.

Goodbye dear old spider on the floor.

There was a little turtle O

Watch out for the little turtle – he’s got a mean bite!

There was a little turtle.

He lived in a box.

He swam in the puddles.

He climbed on the rocks.

He snapped at the mosquito.

He snapped at the flea.

He snapped at the minnow.

And he snapped at me!

He caught the mosquito.

He caught the flea.

He caught the minnow.

But he didn't catch me!

Make hand into a fist with thumb out. Cover turtle with the other hand.

Place one hand on top of the other and make thumbs ‘swim’.

Hands make a climbing motion

Snap thumb and finger x3s.

Snap at self.

Grab three times.

Shake finger from side to side and point to self.

Tippy tippy tiptoe 🔊

Children love an excuse to tiptoe, find a dramatic theme like Hallowe’en or grandma sleeping as an excuse to move in a quiet manner. The words are anonymous and music is by Milton Kaye from ‘Music for living: music through the day’.

Move around the room weaving in and out of each other or with a partner.

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, here we go,

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, to and fro.

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, through the house,

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe like a mouse.

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, here we go,

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, to and fro.

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, time to hop,

Tippy, tippy, tiptoe, time to stop.

Tom saw a sailor 🔊

I came across this song in ‘Merrily, merrily’ published 1979 by the Nursing Mother’s Associaton of Australia where it was credited to anonymous. However an internet seach suggests it comes from ‘Dickory's horse, and five other songs for singing and acting’ written by Anne Harding Thompson in 1933. As this publication is not available I have added an activity to play.

Divide children into two groups: sailors holding a bundle over the shoulder and children with hands on hips. Line 1. Walk around the room in and out of each other looking for a partner. 2. Stop in front of a partner and stamp three times. 3. and 4. Children sing question, sailors answer and give their child a bun to eat.

Tom saw a sailor walking down the street,

He had a spotted handkerchief and bare brown feet.

“What’s in your bundle sailor, ahoy?”

“A pipe for the bosun and a bun for the boy!”

Tommy was a baker O

A great song for dramatisation.

This song is also known as ‘Johnny was a soldier’ or ‘Tommy was a soldier’.

One child chooses and mimes an occupation. The others try to guess what it is. Once they have guessed they sing the child’s name and job as that child continues to mime. They then all copy the movements or make up ones of their own to show what else people in that job can do.

Tommy was a baker,

I know, I know, I know.

All do as I do,

I-oh, I-oh, I-oh!

Zara was a doctor...

Ethan was a driver...

Nancy was a gardener...

Edward was a pilot...

Bobby was a builder...

Tongo 🔊

A traditional call and response song from The Solomon Islands, Polynesia. The song depicts people in different long boats communicating with each other over the water. Tongo means mangrove in Polynesian.

Initially the leader can be the teacher; once children are more confident children at the front of each boat can be the leader, but each time the song is a leader from the bak moves to the front to take this role.

Children sit in groups, one in front of the other with arms outstretched. Move together rowing, throwing nets or clapping.

Leader: Tongo,

Group: Tongo,

Leader: Jimnee bye bye oh,

Group: Jimnee bye bye oh,

Leader: Tongo,

Group: Tongo,

Leader: Oom ba de kim bye oh,

Group: Oom ba de kim bye oh,

Leader: Ooh a lay,

Group: Ooh a lay,

Leader: Mah le ka ah lo way.

Group: Mah le ka ah lo way.

Tony Chestnut O

Rather like ‘Head, shoulders knees and toes’ this song can be sung with words omitted in sequence with actions replacing them. Alternatively for a vigorous work out it can be sung faster each time.

Point to the toe, knee, chest, and head (nut) in turn as each word is mentioned.

Follow this by the nose and eyes, then place crossed hands over the chest (love) and point to a friend (you).

Tony Chestnut knows I love you,

Tony knows, Tony knows,

Tony Chestnut knows I love you.

That’s what Tony knows!

Tuli-lule 🔊

This song is similar to ‘Skip to my Lou’; and comes from ‘Handy play party book’ published by the Cooperative Recreation Service in 1940. The circle game described there is a ‘grab a partner’ one where children stand next to a partner in a single circle clap and sing; one single child starts out to find a partner. Once a partner is stolen they skip round in skating fashion back to the child’s original place.

The game below is one that can easily be adapted to the age and experience of the children playing.

1. Children bounce freely around the room. 2. Do the same with hopping or any other action. 3. Clap and and move about to find a partner, repeat this verse clapping partner’s hands. 4. Cross hands and swing partner round. 5. Partners find another pair or make a class circle and holding hands skip or walk round.

6. Sit down and clap.

Bounce around, tuli-lule,

Bounce around, tuli-luli;

Tulilu, my darling’

Hop around…

Skip around…

Clap around…

Swing around…

Circle round…

All sit down…

Two little hands 🔊

Get ready for quiet time.z

Words by Lucille F. Wood from ‘Singing fun’ published 1962; this book contains so many familiar children’s nursey classics in such a small volume.

Move as the words suggest or find rhythm instruments that make the same sound.

Two little hands go clap, clap, clap.

Two little feet go tap, tap, tap.

Two little fists go thump, thump, thump. Two little legs go jump, jump, jump.

One little body turns around,

And everyone sits quietly down.

Two little boats are on the sea O

Learn about controlled slow then fast and back to slow movements.

This song can be played as a pair game, see below, or a knee bouncing activity: sway baby gently from side to side, bounce faster, then sway gently once again.

Children in pairs sit facing each other holding hands and rock back and forth gently at first then faster. Make appropriate sounds at the end of each line.

Two little boats are on the sea, Mmm mmm!

All is calm as calm as can be. Mmm mmm!

Gently the wind begins to blow, Ooooh Ooooh!

Two little boats rock to and fro. Ooooh Ooooh!

Loudly the wind begins to shout, Whoo Whoo!

Two little boats are tossed about. Whoo Whoo!

Gone is the wind, the storm, the rain, Mmm mmm!

Two little boats sail on again. Mmm mmm!

Up I stretch on tippy-toe 🔊

Move and sing high and low. A game from ‘This little puffin’.

Line 1. Stretch up high. 2. Bend low to touch heels. 3. Stretch arms high. 4. Bend knees to curl down low.

Up I stretch on tippy-toe,

Down to touch my heels I go.

Up again my arms I send,

Down again my knees I bend.

Walk all around 🔊

This song includes both energetic and quiet movements plus stillness – the most difficult of all for young children! It used to be sung as ‘Walk all around, boys’ - ‘kids’ or ‘guys’ would also be gender non-specific.

Move (walk, hop, tiptoe etc.) in and out of each other around the room. When the music stops sit or stand still before setting off again as the next verse begins. Join together to make a circle as the last verse is sung.

Walk all around, now, Walk all around,

Walk all around, now, Walk all around.

Walk all around, now, Walk all around,

Walk all around, now, Walk all around…

AND

STOP!

Jump up and down, now…

Tiptoe around, now, don’t make a sound…

Stamp on the ground, now…

Circle around…

Way up in the sky 🔊

A lullaby and morning greeting song.

This song can be interpreted in two ways; as a sentimental action play for todlers and youngsters or in a more mocking style as in the scouting tradition with exaggerated movements and loud voices towards the end of the song.

Throw up hands, fly with hands. Rock cupped hands. Rest head on hands.

Flap left then right crooked arm. Make sleeping action as before. Whisper SHHH!

Shout SLEEPING! Draw a sun, show falling dew with dropping hands and wiggling fingers. Throw out hands at each ‘good morning’. Open and close thumbs and forefingers like beaks.

Way up in the sky,

The little birds fly,

While down in their nest

The little birds rest.

With a wing on the left,

And a wing on the right,

The dear little birds slumber all through the night,

SHHH! They’re SLEEPING!

Then the bright sun comes up,

And the dew falls away,

“Good Morning,” “Good Morning.”

The little birds say.

We are woodmen sawing trees O

An opportunity for strong movements. Even more fun in the woods.

Investigate the connection between the wood growing there and the paper we use. Where else is wood used. In the days when I was a child we made wooden stilts and often grazed our knees falling off them!

Mime the actions suggested by the words

We are woodmen sawing trees,

Sawing, sawing, sawing trees.

We don’t stop for wind or weather,

We keep sawing all together;

We are woodmen sawing trees,

Sawing, sawing, sawing trees.

The tree falls down with a great big crash!

Now we all will take an axe,

And chop and chop with all our might,

To get some wood for the fire to light;

We are woodmen sawing trees,

Sawing, sawing, sawing trees.

Watch us carry logs along,

As we sing our merry song;

Tra la la la la la la, etc.

We’ll hop, hop, hop like a bunny 🔊

This can be played as an action rhyme moving appropriately round the room or as the hand play below.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

Verse 1. Make a hopping motion with finger rabbit ears. Fingers run. Fists thump up and down. Hands jump up and down. Verse 2. Swim with one hand on top of the other with thumbs out. Cross hands at wrists and flap. Fold arms then put finger to lips.

We’ll hop, hop, hop like a bunny,

And run, run, run, like a dog.

We’ll plod, plod, plod like an elephant

And jump, jump, jump like a frog.

We’ll swim, swim, swim like a goldfish,

And fly, fly, fly like a bird

We’ll sit right down and fold our arms

And say not a single word.

We’re five jolly pirates 🔊

Dramatise life at sea.

This started as a tune for a ball bouncing activity but ended up as a subtraction and action song! Music, extra words and actions by Dany Rosevear. You can find the inspiration here. Discuss other activities a sailor might do: climbing up the riggings, lying in a hammock, cooking food, walking the plank, dancing a jig, digging for treasure. Children then practice singing the third line and acting out their chosen task.

Children walk round in a circle holding hands. On the third line children in turn move into the centre to sing and imitate their chosen task; those in the circle copy the mime, all then fall to the ground with legs flying in the air. On the last verse children pretend to swim, look fearful then jump up and walk round holding hands.