The Book of Beginning Circle Games

Written by one of the foremost leaders in early childhood music education, John Feierabend, The Book of Beginning Circle Games is a collection of traditional games to play in circles. Some of the games are stationary games in which one child chases after another while the rest of the group does not move. Some games begin with stationary circles but end with traveling circles as, one by one, children join a group moving around the circle. And some circle games travel around and around, often ending with a surprise twist.

All the games encourage various developmentally appropriate behaviors - social skills, cognitive development, creativity, language development, motor skills, and musical skills. The musical elements of melody, beat, structure, and expressiveness are also central to circle game songs. Playing games also help students develop a sense of community. Each song shows the melody line and at least one verse of lyrics and game directions. Songs in foreign languages do not have a pronunciation guide, but a general translation is given.

For Pre-K to Grade 2, ages 3 - 7

Contents:

Stationary Circles

• Bow Wow Wow
• Hickety Pickety
• I Have a Tree
• In and Out the Window
• Little Sally Walker
• Muffin Man
• 'Round & 'Round the Village
• Shooliloo

Hidden Objects

• Black Snake
• Biddy, Biddy
• Button You Must Wander
• Bob-a-Needle
• El Floron (Spanish)

Chase Games in a Circle

• A Tisket a Tasket
• Charlie Over the Ocean
• Chase the Squirrel
• Cut the Cake
• Grizzly Bear
• Le Furet (French)
• Little Swallow

Stationary Becomes Traveling

• All Around the Buttercup
• Boom Makaleli
• Brown Bread and Butter
• The Farmer in the Dell
• Go In and Out the Window
• Here Comes a Bluebird
• Little Bird
• My Little Boat
• Old Bald Eagle
• Old King Glory
• One Elephant
• Uno Elefante (Spanish)
• Needle and Thread

Traveling Circles

• Al Corro de la Patata (Spanish)
• Allee Galloo
• Built My Lady
• Down in the Valley
• Francisco
• Our Gallant Ship
• Gira Gira Tondo (Italian)
• Ickle Ockle
• Jump Jim Along
• La Rueda de San Miguel (Spanish)
• Little Red Caboose
• Looby Loo
• Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush
• No Bears Out Tonight
• Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley
• Our Boots
• Paw-Paw Patch
• Savez-vous Planter des Choux (French Canadian)
• Peep Squirrel
• Ring a Ring a Roundo
• Ring Around the Rosie
• Ringo Ringo Rango
• Rosie Darling Rosie
• Sally Go 'Round the Sun
• Santa Maloney
• Shoo Turkey
• Snail Snail
• Take Your Feet out the Sand
• The Leaves Are Green
• This Lady She Wears
• Walk Along John
• Walk Daniel
• Wind the Bobbin

Pass Under the Arch

• Que Pase el Rey (Spanish)
• La Fuente (Spanish)
• Como la Vibora (Spanish)
• London Bridge
• The Needle's Eye (2 versions are given)
• Oranges and Lemons

Chase Games Not in a Circle

• Blackhorn
• Chickama Chickama
• How Many Miles to London Town
• Old Raggy