Songs and Games
Songs and Games

Singing Games

All Around the Zero

All around the zero, I’m you lovin’ hero. Back, back, zero, Side, side, zero, Front, front, zero Swing your lovin’ hero. All stand in a circle. “It” skips around the outside of the circle as the others sing the song and clap. When the song gets to the word “back” she stops. At the words back, back, Zero, she bumps backsides twice with the girl she is standing by. Then they bump sides twice, and then face each other and slap hands twice. At “swing your lovin’ hero” they link arms and swing around. They then change places and the other girl gets to be “it”.

Blue Aardvark

1 – 2 – 3 – 4, 5 – 6 – 7, 8 – 9 – 10, 11 12 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 – 18, 19 – 20 1 and 20, 2 and 20, 3 – 4 – 5 – 6, 7 – 20 28, 29, 30 1 and 30, 2 and 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . (Ends at the number 100) Form a circle. Each girl should have a partner except one – she is the Blue Aardvark. When the song begins, “it” runs to a set of partners (each set is holding hands) and takes one of the girls with her to the opposite side of the circle. The one person who is left without a partner must go across the circle and find a new partner who she takes back to her place with her. This action continues until the song ends at 100. The person left without a partner becomes the Blue Aardvark and starts the next game.

The Hanky-Tanky

Down by the banks of the Hanky-tanky Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky With an EEP, IIP, OOP, OP A dee slop a dilly and a ker-plop! Girls stand in a circle. Everyone holds out her left hand, palm up, in front of the person to the left of her. Then the girls outstretch their right hands, and place them palm down, on top of the palm of the player on the right. Leader starts, using right hand, tapping the hand of the player on her left. Play continues around the circle in rhythm to the song. The last person to be tapped at the end of the song is “out”.

Lummi Sticks

Mah ku way, ko tay oh Way, a ko-ee tahn yah Mah ku way, ko tay oh Way, a ko-ee tahn yah From New Zealand Legends say the Maori people came to New Zealand in the 14th century and brought this game with them. Lummi sticks are short poles about the thickness of a broom handle, and about 12 -15 inches long. 3/4 inch PVC pipe makes a great substitute, and the girls can each decorate their own set! BASIC MOVEMENTS: Down – Tap the sticks on the ground in front of you. Together – Tap the sticks together. Right – Tap stick to your right but do not hit your neighbor. Left – Tap stick to your left but do not hit your neighbor. Both – Tap sticks at the same time both right and left. (With partners – one taps to the inside, other to the outside.) Right/Left – Tap sticks separately, first to the right then left. Partner – Tap right/left sticks together as indicated by song. Flip – Gently rotate (flip) stick in your hand ½ way around. Toss – Gently toss stick to your partner. DO NOT THROW! Girls sit cross-legged with a partner with sticks placed horizontally in front of them. “Ready Position” is called when you are ready to start. The girls pick up their sticks and hold them upright in front of them. PROGRESSION: This is a series of progressions with each getting a little harder. Sing the complete chant (both parts) before going on to the next section of the progression. Do each section of the progression 2 times. Down, together, right Down, together, left Down, together, both Down, together, R/L (Repeat) Down, together, Partner right Down, together, Partner left Down, together, Partner both Down, together, Partner R/L (Repeat) Down, together, flip right Down, together, flip left Down, together, flip both Down, together, flip R/L (Repeat) Down, together, Partner toss right Down, together, Partner toss left Down, together, Partner toss both Down, together, Partner toss R/L (Repeat)

Snail

Snail, snail, come out and be fed
First your feelers, then your head.
Then your momma and your pappa
We'll feed you fried nothings Group forms a circle. Leader drops hand of the person to her left. With short snail-like steps
she begins to form a spiral within the original circle. When she reaches the center, she and the
second person in line form an arch. The rest of the group goes through the arch and spirals
back in between the lines of the group still moving forward. You should end up in a circle.
Note: This game is best with large groups.