My Favorite Singing Games for Homeschool Music Education
When you think of teaching music in your homeschool, what comes to mind? For many families, it’s singing songs, listening to classical music, or maybe learning to play an instrument. But one of the simplest—and most joyful—ways to give your kids a solid foundation in music is through singing games.
Today I want to share some of my favorite singing games, why they’re so valuable for children, and how you can use them in your homeschool (whether you’re teaching one child, a few siblings, or an entire co-op)!
Why Singing Games Are So Valuable
Singing games combine music, movement, memory, and social interaction all at once. That means your kids are learning and developing in multiple ways while simply having fun.
Here are some of the benefits:
Musical growth: Children practice pitch, rhythm, steady beat, form, and even improvisation.
Cognitive growth: Memorization, sequencing, and problem-solving skills are exercised in every game.
Social growth: Kids practice cooperation, taking turns, listening to others, and building confidence.
Physical growth: Singing games include movement, clapping, coordination, and motor skills.
And maybe the most important benefit of all? They make music fun. When children laugh, move, and play while singing, they’re much more likely to develop a lifelong love of music.
Zero-prep, Multi-age Activities
As homeschool parents, we know how valuable it is to have zero-prep, multi-age activities that work in different settings. Singing games fit perfectly:
They can be done with just you and one child.
They’re ideal for siblings of different ages.
They work beautifully in co-ops and larger groups.
My Favorite Singing Games
These are some of the singing games I’ve taught in our homeschool, at co-op, and inside my Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership. I’d like to thank my friend Debby Richards, a previous homeschool mom and current music teacher, who introduced me to many of them.
“Chester”
This playful chant comes with motions and speeds up as you go. Children practice keeping a steady beat and coordinating movements with the words. It's great to stand in a circle so you can see everyone. By the final round, everyone is laughing!
Start out slow and get faster and faster.
Lyrics:
Chester, have you heard about Harry?
He just got back from the army.
I hear he knows how to wear a rose.
Hip, Hip, Hooray for the army!
Actions:
Chester: put arms over you chest and make fists
Have you: questioning motion with arms
Heard: point to your ears
Harry: point to hair
Back: put hands on back
Arm – y: point to your arm, then to yourself
I: point to your eye
Knows: point to your nose
Wear: hands over your chest
Clothes: point to or tug on shirt
Hip: hand on one hip
Hip: hand on other hip
Hooray: wave arms in the air
“Aiken Drum”
“Aiken Drum” is a Scottish folk song that sparks imagination. Kids create silly versions of Aiken Drum’s face out of foods—or even musical instruments. It can be drawn on a board for added fun. Younger kids love the silliness, while older kids enjoy the creativity and challenge.
I usually do this song with Kindergarten, but I have found that kids of any age love it. 🙂
The first video below is pretty preschool-ish, but it gives you the idea–kids make up what foods the parts of his face and body are made of.
Lyrics:
There was a man lived in the moon, in the moon, in the moon.
There was a man lived in the moon and his name was Aiken Drum.
And he played upon a ladle, a ladle, a ladle.
He played upon a ladle and his name was Aiken Drum.
And his ______ was made of ________, of ________, of ________,
And his ______ was made of ________, and his name was Aiken Drum.
This next version of “Aiken Drum” is different…they used instruments to make up his face (instead of fruits and vegetables). If you have some instruments around the house, try this!
“Bow Wow Wow”
“Bow Wow Wow” is a circle game filled with clapping and connection. Kids sing, move, and interact with every other child in the circle. It’s perfect for large groups, though it works with smaller numbers, too.
This one is a favorite at our homeschool co op! It's usually done in a circle, but can just be done with just a partner.
Lyrics:
Bow, wow, wow.
Whose dog art thou?
Little Tommy Tucker's dog.
Bow, wow, wow.
[True story: When I taught a public school elementary music class for kindergarteners, we had 22 kids in the class. With my aide and me, we equaled 24. One day, we played “Bow Wow Wow,” which requires every single student in the class to clap hands with and hold hands with every other student in the class. We got through the entire song, and I ended up facing the very last student when I realized he had chicken pox. He had just touched every single other student and adult in the classroom!]
“Dum Dum Dada”
This chant can be simple with younger learners or increasingly complex with older ones. It proves that singing games aren’t just for little kids—even teens enjoy the rhythmic challenges.
This one can be simple or complicated. Every version I have ever seen has different movements. You can do it in a line, circle, or just with a partner.
Lyrics:
Dum dum dada dada dum dum dada.
Dum dum dada dada dum dum dada dada.
Dum dum dada dada dum dum dada.
Dum dum dada dada dum dum dum.
“Lucy Locket”
This game is like “hot and cold” but set to music. One child hides a “pocket” while the group guides the seeker with loud or soft singing. It’s an excellent way to build ear training and listening skills.
Lyrics:
Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Not a penny was there in it,
Only ribbon round it.
. . . Who has the pocket?
Here is one version of the Lucy Locket game:
[By the way, this isn't a game that adults would like to play; these are all music teachers learning how to play the game with their students. 🙂 ]
I couldn’t find a video for the other version. It’s sort of a “hot, cold” game. The person who is “it” covers their eyes, while someone hides the “pocket”. The kids start singing the song quietly, and the person who is “it” starts walking around. The closer he/she gets to the pocket, the louder the kids sing. The farther away, the quieter they sing, until he/she has found the pocket.
“Obwisana”
“Obwisana” is a traditional game from Ghana, usually played with rocks. Children pass the stones in rhythm, creating patterns that become more complex with age. It’s a wonderful introduction to world music, showcasing how movement and rhythm are universal.
The version below uses rhythm sticks as the object, but you could do it with any object you'd like. Have students create their own patterns and make them more complicated as they get older.
Translation: “Oh, Grandma, I just hurt my finger on a rock.”
Lyrics:
Obwisana Sa Na Na.
Obwisana Sa.
Obwisana Sa Na Na.
Obwisana Sa.
“We are Dancing in the Forest”
A favorite with my students! The suspense builds as the children ask the “wolf” in the center what he is doing. He might respond with something funny—“I’m brushing my teeth!”—or suddenly say “Yes!” and chase the others across the room. Kids love the drama, and it sneaks in improvisation as the wolf invents new responses.
There is one “wolf” in the center of the room. All other kids are one one side of the room. While they all sing the song, the kids dance. When they say “Wolf, are you there?”, the wolf responds…either with something he is busy doing, i.e. brushing his hair, eating his breakfast, etc, or he says “Yes!” or something like “I’m howling at the moon!” When the kids hear this, they try to run to the other side of the room without being tagged by the wolf. Whoever is tagged first becomes the next wolf.
Lyrics:
We are dancing in the forest.
And the wolf is far away.
Who knows what will happen to us
If he finds us at our play?
Wolf, are you there?
No, I'm (brushing my teeth, taking a walk, doing ballet, playing the piano, eating a sandwich, hanging up pictures, etc.)
or. . .
Yes!
[Use the first video to learn to sing it and the second video to understand how to play the game.]
“Charlie Over the Ocean”
This singing game is similar to Duck, Duck, Goose. Everyone sits in a circle on the floor. One person walks around the outside and then on “me” will tag the person in front of them. They will chase to see if the first person can return to the empty spot. Similar to Duck, Duck, Goose, but sung. It’s perfect for larger groups and teaches children to internalize melody while engaging in energetic play.
Lyrics:
Charlie over the ocean,
Charlie the sea.
Charlie caught a big fish.
Can't catch me.
[You'll notice something in this next video that is very typical of these types of singing games. The lyrics and tunes are not always consistent. People change them up from time to time and new versions emerge.]
“Here Sits a Monkey”
Children walk in a circle around the “monkey” who is sitting in the middle on a chair. At the right moment, the monkey rises and greets another student, who then takes the seat. The game builds anticipation, listening skills, and joy.
Lyrics:
Here sits a monkey in the chair, chair, chair.
He/She lost all the true loves he/she had last year.
So, rise up on your feet,
And greet the one you meet.
The happiest one I know.
[This video gives you the melody from the song, but I couldn't find a video of the movement.]
“London Bridge”
This classic has many verses—about silver and gold, pins and needles, even prisoners! Kids act out each verse, learning storytelling through music while experiencing a well-loved folk tradition. There are numerous versions of the lyrics for this song. Feel free to select only the verses you want to use.
Lyrics:
London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady!
Build it up with iron bars, Iron bars, iron bars. Build it up with iron bars, My fair lady!
Iron bars will bend and break, Bend and break, bend and break. Iron bars will bend and break, My fair lady!
Build it up with needles and pins, Needles and pins, needles and pins. Build it up with needles and pins, My fair lady!
Pins and needles rust and bend, Rust and bend, rust and bend. Pins and needles rust and bend, My fair lady!
Build it up with penny loaves, Penny loaves, penny loaves. Build it up with penny loaves, My fair lady!
Penny loaves will tumble down, Tumble down, tumble down. Penny loaves will tumble down, My fair lady!
Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, silver and gold. Build it up with silver and gold, My fair lady!
Gold and silver I've not got, I've not got, I've not got. Gold and silver I've not got, My fair lady!
Here's a prisoner I have got, I have got, I have got. Here's a prisoner I have got, My fair lady!
What's the prisoner done to you, Done to you, done to you? What's the prisoner done to you, My fair lady!
Stole my watch and broke my chain, Broke my chain, broke my chain. Stole my watch and broke my chain, My fair lady!
What'll you take to set him free, Set him free, set him free? What'll you take to set him free, My fair lady!
One hundred pounds will set him free, Set him free, set him free. One hundred pounds will set him free, My fair lady!
One hundred pounds we have not got, Have not got, have not got. One hundred pounds we have not got, My fair lady!
Then off to prison he must go, He must go, he must go. Then off to prison he must go, My fair lady!
Find the key and lock him up, Lock him up, lock him up. Find the key and lock him up, My fair lady!
“Here Comes Johnny”
This singing game is one of my all-time favorites. The students sit in a circle with their hands behind their backs and their eyes closed. The teacher (or someone who is “it”) puts money (could be a penny) in one student's hands and a key in someone else's. Then, they all open their eyes and start to sing. When they get to the line “Who has the money?,” the child who has it sings, “I have the money!” and the same for “Who has the key?” with the child who has it.
It’s a favorite because it mixes music with guessing and surprise.
Lyrics:
Here comes Johnny, here comes he.
Johnny is hiding the money and the key.
Who has the money? (I have the money!)
Who has the key? (I have the key!)
“Here's the Way We Billy, Billy”
This is a partner game where the partners face each other. For the first 2 lines (about Billy), hold hands and swing them back and forth. For the next two lines walk backwards, away from each other. For the last two lines, walk back toward each other.
It’s simple, sweet, and helps children connect movement with melody.
Lyrics:
Here's the way we Billy-billy, Billy-billy, Billy-billy, Here's the way we Billy-billy all night long!
Step Back Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Step Back Sally, Sally, All night long!
Come to me Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Step Back Sally, Sally, All night long!
Bonus: Adults enjoy playing singing games, too!
The Slovenian Hat Game is a musical game from a Slovenian folk dancing group that I saw perform in Bled, Slovenia. This would be fun to try!
How to Use Singing Games in Your Homeschool
Here are a few practical ideas to get you started:
Use them as breaks. After a tough math lesson or a long writing assignment, a singing game provides a reset.
Start small. If you only have one child, don’t skip them! Many games can be adapted for pairs.
Gather friends. Singing games shine in small groups or co-ops. Invite siblings, neighbors, or co-op members to join in.
Connect to other lessons. Tie “Aiken Drum” to a unit on Scotland, or “Obwisana” to a geography study on Ghana.
Let older kids lead. Give teens the responsibility to teach younger siblings. They’ll gain leadership experience while reinforcing their own musical skills.
Final Thoughts About Homeschool Singing Games
Singing games are more than just fun activities—they are powerful tools for teaching music in a joyful, natural way. They build skills, strengthen relationships, and bring laughter into your homeschool.
If you’d like ready-to-use lyric sheets and videos that demonstrate how to play these games, you’ll find them inside the Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership. It’s a wonderful way to bring singing games—and so much more—into your homeschool without stress or extra prep.
Which singing game will you try first? I’d love to hear about your family’s favorites!
Get the lyrics for each singing game here!
The Singing Games Lyric Sheetscontain lyrics to these 12 singing games: Chester, Aiken Drum, Dum Dum Dada, Bow Wow Wow, Lucy Locket, Obwisana, We Are Dancing in the Forest, Charlie Over the Ocean, Here Sits a Monkey, London Bridge is Falling Down, Here Comes Johnny, and Here's the Way We Billy Billy.
Find more fun songs to sing in Songs from Pa and Laura:
Songs from Pa and Laura
Explore and learn 40 songs from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
