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: 5/5/2015
2:49 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 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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