Edelweiss

Edelweiss, Edelweiss, 

Every morning you greet me.

Small and white, clean and bright

You look happy to meet me.

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow,

Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss, Edelweiss, 

Bless my homeland forever.

Actions:

Sitting cross-legged in a circle, each person places their left hand face up between their left knee and their neighbour's right knee about a foot off the ground. Everyone places their right hand, palm down, on their right neighbour's upturned left hand. To the music, with your right hand, first you clap your neighbour's left hand, then your right knee, your left knee, the bottom of your left hand and then the top of your left hand twice.  

(These actions fit half of one line of the song)

E.g.: for the line "Edelweiss, Edelweiss", you'd go through the actions twice.

To make it more of a challenge switch directions half way through. From the word "Blossom" your left hand is now doing the calpping and the right hand remains stationary. Once everyone is comfortable switching, try changing with every line.  

Kookaburra

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Merry merry king of the bush is he,

Laugh, kookaburra, laugh, kookaburra,

Gay your life must be, ha, ha, ha!

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Eating all the gumdrops he can see,

Stop, kookaburra, stop, kookaburra,

Leave some there for me, ha, ha, ha!

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Counting all the monkeys he can see,

Stop, kookaburra, stop, kookaburra,

That's not a monkey, that's me, ha, ha, ha!

Some other verses we like to sing:

Kookaburra sits on an electric wire

Jumping up and down 'cuz his bum's on fire

Fry Kookaburra, fry kookaburra

Tasty you will be, ha ha ha!

 

Kookaburra sits on an electric wire

With tears in his eyes 'cuz his tail's on fire

Ouch Kookaburra, ouch Kookaburra

Sore your tail must be, ha ha ha!

Kookaburra sits on the railroad tracks,

Better get off or he'll be flat,

Run kookaburra, run kookaburra,

Uh-Oh! Watch out! SPLAT!

Tzena

(can also be sung in a round)

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,

Can't you hear the music playing in the village square?

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,

Can't you hear the music playing in the village square?

Tzena, Tzena, join the celebration.

There'll be people there from every nation.

Dawn will find us dancing in the sunlight,

Dancing in the village square.

Alouette

All: Alouette, Gentille Alouette

Alouette, Je te plumerai

Leader: Je te plumerai la tete

All: Je te plumerai la tete

Leader: Et la tete

All: Et la tete

Leader: Alouette

All: Alouette

Oh, oh, oh, oh...

Alouette, Gentille Alouette

Alouette, Je te plumerai

Leader: Je te plumerai les yeux

All: Je te plumerai les yeux

Leader: Et les yeux

All: Et les yeux

Leader: Et la tete

All: Et la tete

Leader: Alouette

All: Alouette

Oh, oh, oh, oh...

Other parts:

La tete - head

Les yeux - eyes

Le nez - nose

Les oreilles - ears

La bouche - mouth

Le cou - neck

Les mains - hands

Les pieds - feet

Les orteilles - toes

Action: for each body part called, touch it while singing the appropriate line in the song

Kum Ba Yah

Kum ba yah, My lord, Kum ba yah, 

Kum ba yah, My lord, Kum ba yah, 

Kum ba yah, My lord, Kum ba yah, 

O lord, Kum ba yah.  

Verse 2: 

Some one's crying Lord, Kum ba yah

Verse 3:

Someone's praying Lord, 

Verse 4:

Someone's laughing Lord

A Song from Zimbabwe

Trees are a Treasure(Sung to the tune of Frère Jacques)

Trees in Africa provide shade, anchor soil and cooking fires for many families.

Trees are a treasure,

Trees are a treasure,

Keep them safe,

Keep them safe,

They are a treasure,

They are a treasure,

Keep them safe.

Keep them safe.

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