Games galore in Gryphon’s Garden

Seasonal songs

Spring

A little seed

A speckled green frog

A sweet little robin

Chicks grow into chickens

Cuckoo, cuckoo

Dragon of a thousand lanterns

Early one morning

Here’s a baby birdie

Hot cross buns

I have heard a mother bird

I know a little pussy

I have made a pretty nest

I love the flowers

Ibble obble black bobble

I’m a little pancake

In the Spring the leaves are budding

It happens each Spring

Mix a pancake

Pop a little pancake

Pussy got the measles

Shrove Tuesday

Sounds of Spring

Spring song As I sat on the hillside

The donkey and the cuckoo

When I was a lad on me father’s farm

Where are the froggies?

Also find poems and songs at:

Little Tommy Tadpole

Pussy willow

If you see a daffodil

Last updated: 1/14/2016 4:02 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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

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A little seed O

A poem by Mabel Watts with music by Kay Stratton. Children love nothing better than seeing their own planted seeds grow; try sunflowers for utter amazement or vegetables to make into a salad dish – lettuce will grows profusely.

A little seed for me to sow…

hold thumb and forefinger together

A little earth to make it grow…

cup hands together

A little hole, a little pat…

dig a hole in palm; pat palm

A little wish, and that is that.

put hands together, throw hands apart

A little sun, a little shower,

make sun with hands then fingers make rain.

A little while and then - a flower!

pretend to sleep; cup hands around face like a flower.

A speckled green frog O

Words by Maude Burnham with music by Louse B. Scott from ‘Singing Fun’1962. Sing this slowly and expectantly until you get to SNAP!

1. Draw a pond with forefinger and put out right arm. 2. Place curved hand on arm. 3. With hands next to the eyes open and close right thumb and forefinger, do the same with both hands then roll both forefingers round. 4. Make right hand makes a snapping movement, cross both forefingers and look sad.

On the edge of a pond, on a great big log,

Sat patiently waiting a speckled green frog,

He winked, and he blinked, and he rolled each eye;

Then SNAP! went the frog at a little green fly.

A sweet little robin O

There are several versions (lyrics and melodies) of this song, the most well-known is by Burl Ives. Find out more at: Mudcat . The tune below comes from ‘Ozark Folk Songs’ collected and edited by Vance Randolph. The lyrics are mostly from ‘Book about birds’ 1850 by Rufus Merill.

There came to my window one morning in Spring,

A sweet little robin, she came there to sing.

And the song that she sang, it was sweeter by far

Than ever was heard on a flute or guitar.

ChorusTra la la la la, Tra la la la la,

Tra la la la la, Tra la la la la la.

She raised her light wings to soar far away;

Then resting a moment, seemed sweetly to say:

"Oh happy, how happy the world seems to be,

Awake, dearest child, and be happy with me.”

The sweet bird then mounted upon a light wing;

And flew to a treetop, and there did she sing:

I listened delighted, and hoped she would stay;

And come to my window, at dawn of the day.

Chicks grow into chickens O

A song by David Moses. Name young animals and plants. Some species have been allocated different names for their young e.g. chick calves foal kitten pup lamb - while the young of other species are just known as cubs.

Chicks grow into chickens,

Calves grow into cows,

Sycamore seeds grow into trees,

But cubs grow into lions and tigers,

Badgers, foxes, leopards and wolves, and bears.

Foals grow into horses,

Kittens grow into cats,

Fresh green shoots spout out of roots,

But cubs grow into lions and tigers,

Badgers, foxes, leopards and wolves, and bears.

Pups grow into seals or dogs,

Lambs grow into sheep,

Bulbs can grow into daffodils,

But cubs grow into lions and tigers

Badgers, foxes, leopards and wolves, and bears.

Cuckoo cuckoo O

A German song to welcome the Spring.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, calls from the forest,

Let us be singing, dancing and playing,

Springtime, springtime, soon will be here.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, never stops singing,

Field, wood and meadow, answers his echo,

Springtime, springtime, welcome to you.

Early one morning O

The tune and the title will be very familiar to those at school in the 1940s to 60s but these seasonal words by Nathan Haskell Dole are not the ones I sang at school in the 1950s but are more suitable for young children. It appears in The Concord series, no 7 “140 Folk tunes” published in 1915 in Boston. ‘Bluebirds’ could be changed to ‘blackbird’ a more familiar bird in the U.K.

Early one morning, just as the sun had risen,

I heard a bluebird in the fields gaily sing:

“South winds are blowing, green grass is growing.

We come to herald the merry, merry Spring.”

One autumn afternoon, just as the sun was setting,

I heard a bluebird on a tree pipe a song:

“Farewell, we're going. Cold winds are blowing!

But we'll be back when the days grow long.”

Dragon of a Thousand Lanterns O

A great song for Chinese New Year; make your own large class dragon and get the children marching round the playground underneath it as they sing this song for maximum effect!

The song features in Ming-Ming and the Dragon Lantern from Time and Tune BBC radio for schools Spring 1980. I don’t know who wrote it – let me know if you find out - it’s a great song.

To the sound of gongs and cymbals,

And the playful beat of drums,

With flute and bell for his warcry yell,

The Lantern Dragon comes.

Snip-snap teeth, bamboo sticks!

Dragon of a Thousand Lanterns;

Glinting eyes, magic tricks!

Dragon of a Thousand Lanterns

With a tail of dancing children,

And a vast array of feet,

His body led by the Panda head,

All dragons he can beat.

To the river-bank he marches,

In a wiggle-waggle way,

And when Kong-Sang in a fury sprang,

That monster fell astray.

For the Lantern Dragon teased him,

With a thousand artful wiles,

The dragon fray could be heard that day, For miles and miles and miles.

Early one morning O

Early one morning, before the sun has risen

I heard a bluebird in the fields gaily sing:

“South winds are blowing, green grass is growing.

We come to herald the merry, merry Spring.”

One autumn afternoon, just as the sun was setting,

I heard a bluebird on a tree pipe a song:

“Farewell, we're going. Cold winds are blowing!

But we'll be back when the days grow long.”

Here’s a baby birdie O

A lap game for a baby as below or an action game for a toddler.

Learn to go up and down the musical scale with this song. .

Show young children how they might move – older ones will have their own ideas especially for the dinosaur verse.

1. Hold baby ‘bird’ close .2.Touch head and wiggle bottom 3. Stretch legs and flap elbows 4. Lift baby up 5. Gently lower baby to the floor.

Here’s a baby birdie, hatching from a shell;

Out pops her head, then out comes her tail.

Now her legs she stretches, her wings she gives a flap.

Then she flies and flies and flies,

Now what do you think of that?

Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, BOOM !

Here's a baby dinosaur, hatching from a shell;

Out pops his head, then out comes his tail.

Now his feet he's stomping, he gives a little roar ROAR!

He turns around and turns around,

Then sits down on the floor!

Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, BOOM !

Hot cross buns O

This is a street cry used in days gone by to sell spicy buns with a white cross which are associated with Good Friday. These days you can buy such buns all the year round! Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Cross_Buns or http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8598312.stm

This song is often sung as a round.

Play a pat-a-cake clapping sequence with a partner; clap own hands, partner’s right hand and then left.

Hot cross buns,

One a penny,

Two a penny,

Hot cross buns.

If you have no daughters,

Give them to your sons,

One a penny,

Two a penny,

Hot cross buns.

If your sons don't like them,

They're the only ones,

One a penny,

Two a penny,

Hot cross buns.

Buy them when they're hot

And eat them by the ton,

One a penny,

Two a penny,

Hot cross buns.

I have heard a mother bird O

How do we know when Spring has come? We can hear, see and feel it!

I have heard a mother bird, singing in the rain,

Telling all her little ones, Spring has come again!

I have seen a wave of green, down a lovely lane,

Making all the hedges glad, Spring has come again!

I have found a patch of ground, golden in the sun,

Crocuses are calling out: Spring just begun!

I know a little pussy O

Learn to go up and down the scales with this song.

Sing the meows quickly.

Squat and move up slowly then down again more quickly. On SCAT! jump up high.

I know a little pussy,

Her coat is silver grey,

She lives down in the meadow,

Not very far away.

Although she is a pussy,

She’ll never be a cat,

For she’s a pussy willow,

Now what do you think of that?

Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow… SCAT!

I have made a pretty nest O

This song is from ‘Fingers and Thumbs’ by Ann Elliot possibly in the 1950s and featured on Australian ABC TV Play School in 1966.

1. Interlock fingers with palms up 2. Open and close thumb and index fingers of each hand 3. Spread hands apart 4. Cross arms at wrist and flap hands

I have made a pretty nest, look inside, look inside,

Hungry birdies with their beaks, open wide, open wide,

See my little birdies grow, day by day, day by day,

Till they spread their little wings and then they fly away!

I love the flowers O

A cheerful uplifting song that rises steadily and then returns to its beginnings. This is a great song for creating one’s own verses.

The ‘season’s verse is my own effort in honour of the four seasons that bring such a wonderful variety of weathers and adds to the richness of our countryside especially with its effect on our flora and fauna..

I love the flowers,

I love the daffodils.

I love the mountains,

I love the rolling hills.

I love the fireside

When all the lights are low.

Boom-dee-ah-ra,boom-dee-ah-ra,

Boom-dee-ah-ra, boom!

I love the sunshine,

I love the falling snow.

I love the raindrops,

I love the winds that blow.

I love the changing light

As the seasons come and go.

Boom-dee-ah-ra,boom-dee-ah-ra,

Boom-dee-ah-ra, boom!

Ibble obble black bobble O

This rhyme is more usually associated with ‘dipping’ games allowing the players to select an individual to be ‘it’ or to count them out in a playground games.

To play Hold hands facing a partner and make a sawing motion back and forth. On the third line swing arms over head and turn round to face each other once again. On the word ‘twice’ repeat movement in the opposite direction. Make a sawing motion as before and on the word ‘out’ jump round to face away from partner. Find a new partner and start again.

Ibble obble black bobble,

Ibble obble out.

Turn the little dishcloth inside out,

Once if it's dirty,

Twice if it's clean,

Ibble obble black bobble,

Ibble obble out.

I’m a little pancake O

A similar version of this song based on ‘I’m a little teapot’ is used in swimming lessons for toddlers.

Make pancakes and choose toppings. You could make simple graphs to show which are the most popular.

I’m a little pancake round and fat,

You can see my tummy but not my back.

When I start to sizzle and turn brown,

Toss me up high and flip me round.

Make arms round above head. Pat tummy then back. Shake body. Jump up high and turn round.

I’m a scrumptious pancake, yes it’s true,

Here’s an example of what you can do:

First squeeze on some lemon merrily,

Then shake on the sugar and roll me for your tea.

Rub tummy. Shake finger. Make squeezing motion with hands.

Shake hands and roll arms.

In the Spring the leaves are buddingO

A song of the seasons. Possibly written by Jan Betts

In the Spring the leaves are budding,

Green, green leaves are budding.

In the Spring the leaves are budding,

Budding on the trees.

In the Summer leaves are rustling,

Green, green leaves are rustling.

In the Summer the leaves are rustling,

Rustling on the trees.

In the Autumn leaves are falling,

Brown, brown leaves are falling.

In the Autumn leaves are falling,

Falling from the trees.

In the Winter leaves are sleeping,

Brown, brown leaves are sleeping.

In the Winter the leaves are sleeping,

Sleeping in the trees.

It happens each Spring O

The Seeing and Doing anthology credits this song to Scunthorpe and District Teacher’s Centre. It has also featured without the chorus on BBC radio’s Playtime.

New leaves are growing because it is Spring,

New buds are showing because it is Spring,

New grass needs mowing because it is Spring,

Oh why does it happen each Spring?

Chorus:

Why does it happen like this every year?

Who tells them all when to grow?

It’s not just by accident, that’s very clear,

It’s something that I would like to know.

New flowers are peeping because it is Spring,

New lambs are leaping because it is Spring,

New birds are cheeping because it is Spring,

Oh why does it happen each Spring?

Chorus

Mix a pancake O

A poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-94) for Shrove Tuesday.

Mix a pancake,

Stir a pancake,

Pop it in the pan.

Fry the pancake,

Toss the pancake…

Catch it if you can!

Pop a little pancake O

Shrove Tuesday in Britain is traditionally the time for making pancakes to use up all the good things in the larder before Lent begins. It is also a time for pancake races and the tossing of pancakes.

Pop a little pancake into a pan,

That’s for my dinner today.

Toss it in the air up high, high, high...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Shake on the sugar with a shake, shake, shake...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Squeeze on the lemon with a squeeze, squeeze, squeeze...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Roll it all around with a roly poly roll...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Pop it in my mouth with a yum, yum, yum...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Pussy got the measles O

I found the first verse of this song in Bill Meek’s ‘Moonpenny’.

Jean Ritchie was familiar with the original morbid Irish version which included verses about the death of the cat; she adapted the music to suit her inimitable style of singing and added the more soothing words as below to keep her children happy!

I also remember a playground chant and game ‘The cat’s got the measles, the measles, the measles, The cat’s got the measles, the measles got the cat’.

Pussy got the measles, on the first day of Spring,

The first day of Spring, the first day of Spring,

Pussy got the measles on the first day of Spring,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

We'll send for the doctor with his pills and things,

Pills and things, pills and things,

We'll send for the doctor with his pills and things,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

We'll make her some soup on a chicken's wing,

A chicken's wing, a chicken's wing,

We'll make her some soup on a chicken's wing,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

And all night long we will rock and sing,

Rock and sing, rock and sing,

And all night long we will rock and sing,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

Shrove Tuesday O

In this traditional song his sister poisons poor Jack - accidently one hopes!

Play this as a ‘Thread the needle’ game. Hold hands in one long line, two children at the end make an arch for the line to pass through as in 'The big ship sails through the Ally ally-o'. The line ends up with everyone's hands crossed in front.

Such games were popular at Shrove Tuesday festivals in Wiltshire. Find out more about such customs and how to play it at: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/traditional-games-2/traditional-games-2%20-%200330.htm

Shrove Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday,

When Jack went to plough,

His mother made pancakes,

But she didn't know how.

She tipped them, she tossed them,

She made them so black,

She put in some pepper

And she said, ‘Jack, eat that!’

Jack’s father made pudding,

‘Twas done in an hour,

He hadn’t got eggs

And he hadn’t got flour.

He hadn’t got figs

And he hadn’t got fat.

He dropped it on the table

And he said, ‘Jack, eat that!’

Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday,

Jack’s father went to plough,

His sister made pancakes,

But she didn't know how.

She buttered them, she sugared them,

She burnt them so black,

She made them so awful

That she poisoned poor Jack!

Sounds of Spring O

A seasonal action song. Music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Move forefingers downwards. 2. Frog, a loose fist jumps up arm. 3. Cross hands and flap wings, thumb and forefinger open and close. 4. Wind left hand up right arm. 5. Cross forefingers and move around. 6. With palms and forearms together move upwards then fan out fingers.

The melting snow says, "Drop, drop, drop."

The little frog goes, "Hop, hop, hop."

The little bird says, "Peep, peep, peep."

The little vine goes, "Creepetty creep."

The little bee says, "Hum, hum, hum."

The little flower says, "Spring has come!"

Spring song O

A German folk song.

As I sat on the hillside,

I heard the birds sing,

And I watched them a-building,

Their nests in the Spring.

As I walked in the garden,

Bees buzzed away home,

With their sweet load of honey,

To store in the comb.

The donkey and the cuckoo O

This German song ‘Der Kuckuck und der Esel’was loosely translated by Mabel Willson in her book MusicTtime. It was also recorded for BBC radio ‘Time and tune’.

The donkey and the cuckoo,

They quarrel every day;

Who is the finest singer

In the merry month of May,

Who is the finest singer

In the merry month of May?

‘Cuckoo!’ the bird sings loudly,

Until his throat is sore,

And the donkey bellows proudly

With a gruff ‘Hee-haw, hee-haw!’

‘Cuckoo!’ ‘Hee-haw!’ together,

They make a lively din:

But they cannot hear each other,

So they don’t know which should win.

When I was a lad on me father’s farm O

A song from Alison McMorland’s wonderful book ‘The Funny Family’ She collected it from Mr Thornton of the valley of Lothersdale, Yorkshire. Add more verses and accompany with suitable animal noises.