Animaux grands
Ah! Les crocodiles
Danse de l’ours
J’ai vu le loup
Monsieur l’Ours
Qui a peur du loup?
Sardines et crocodiles
Un éléphant ça trompe
Un éléphant qui se
balançait
Last updated: 3/12/2016
5:25 PM
The songs below are part of ‘Hop-là!’ The French
collection
compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
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To listen to music from these
songs click on O
To watch the
author sing a song click on the title at:
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Several French children’s songs originate from the military tradition.
In this song with its steady marching beat, crocodile goes off to war leaving
his family behind. Watch at: http://www.wat.tv/video/ah-crocodiles-1llv1_2i4uv_.html Practice different clapping sequences before playing this game.
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Danse de l’ours O Also called ‘Branle de l’ours’ this is
included for its wonderful tune, no words to learn just concentrate on the
steps. Watch dancers at: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2x3hf_branle-de-lours_family. Either make a circle, one circle inside another or a circle with three
or four bears dancing individually in the middle. Hold hands in front
bearlike and move them to the rhythm of the music. It is also danced holding
hands.
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J’ai vu le loup O ‘I saw the wolf, the fox, the weasel’ is a
popular song from Medieval times still sung in France, Southern U.S.A. and
Canada. Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPWEPP1T9s&feature=related Children stand in groups of four, partners opposite each other. The
dance begins with partners right palms together pointed upright. This is a
challenging, lively, cumulative song. Simplify movements for younger children
by simply walking to the right and left in one large circle and introduce
each new action on its own.
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Monsieur l’Ours O Mr. Bear likes to sleep but the children think it is time for him to
wake up. The outcome is inevitable! Sung by children on: http://perso.orange.fr/saintsernin/comp0001.htm Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FtpSAGYMmk. Choose a child to be the bear. As a variation introduce two or three bears.
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Many folk stories for children around the world feature the wolf, a
creature of the collective imagination, exciting both fear and respect. Young
children will enjoy this song for the thrill of the dangerous as in ‘Who’s
afraid of the big bad wolf?’ There are now only a very few wolves in France, perhaps fifty or so.
In some parts of Europe such as Spain and Italy their numbers are much
greater. Watch at: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xiyvms_qui-a-peur-du-loup_music#
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Sardines et crocodiles O A traditional song from the Vendée and what
a load of nonsense it is! But with its delightful calypso rhythm, this dance
would be enhanced by an accompanying percussion band including maracas and
similar instruments, see www.dailymotion.com/video/x2sp62_sardines-et-crocodiles_music Split the class into sardines and crocodiles. The crocodiles in lines
of four or five hold on to the waist of the child in front.
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Un éléphant, ça trompe O A keen knowledge of imagery in the French language is necessary to
appreciate the multi layers of meaning in this nonsense marching song. In
particular the pun on the word ‘trompe’ can also mean ‘trunk’ or ‘trumpet’
and also ‘to mislead’ or ‘deceive’ as in ‘trompe d’oeil.’
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib3zBfCY3AE To simplify replace ‘La peintur’à l’huile…’ etc. with ‘La la la’. And as an alternative move to the following words:
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Un éléphant qui se balançait O Find a very different version of this song in ‘Hop, skip and away we
go!’ A similar one to this is sung with verve by class 2 at the Lycée franco-finlandais
d'Helsinki at: http://www.tkukoulu.fi/~clanttila/chansons/. Watch another game at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1KKgO--gxk Practice walking heel to toe in time to the music before attempting
this game as these movements demand a high level of physical control. You
will need plenty of room and a safe surface on which to fall at the end of
the song! Finishing with a tumble will teach the children to be considerate
of other members of the group – great fun too! Sit in a large circle, 2 or 3 leaders should be spaced inside.
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