Samples taken from ‘The French collection’ Allons-y Compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

· you must give the original author credit

· you may not use this work for commercial purposes

· for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

· any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

H Return to Gryphon’s Garden Home Page {–{—{

To listen to music from these songs click on O

Le fermier dans son pré O

Sing and play this song to the children – the tune should be instantly recognizable! Poitou is an area renowned for its dairy products.

Learning this familiar game in French should be child’s play, introduce each new character thus: ‘Choisis la femme’ etc. This game works well with all ages.

Everyone holds hands in a circle, the farmer stands in the centre.

Refrain Le fermier dans son pré, Le fermier dans son pré, Ohé! Ohé! Ohé! Le fermier dans son pré. The farmer’s in his meadow.... Le fermier prends sa femme…. The farmer takes his wife.... La femme prends son enfant…. The wife takes her child..... L’enfant prends sa nourrice…. The infant takes her nurse.... La nourrice prends le chat…. The nurse takes the cat.... Le chat prends la souris…. The cat takes the mouse.... La souris prends le fromage… The mouse takes the cheese.... Le fromage est battu, Le fromage est battu, Tout cru, lustucru, chapeau poitu! They all beat the cheese, They all beat the cheese, Sheen and shine, hats off to those in the Poitou region!

The circle walks to the left. The ‘farmer’ walks to the right. On the second verse he chooses a partner and walks holding their hand round the circle in the same direction. Eventually seven are chosen walking round the circle with hands joined. Once the cheese has been chosen all the children VERY GENTLY pat the child’s back.

Quand trois poules O

This favourite nursery rhyme of all French children is sung to the tune of ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’. Try naming other animals each time the song is sung: chiens, chats etc or solely farmyard creatures.

Children begin in groups of three, one behind the other, spread around the room.

Quand trois poules vont aux champs, La première va devant. La deuxième suit la première, La troisième va dernière. Quand trois poules vont aux champs, La première va devant. When three hens go into the fields, The first goes in front. The second follows the first, The third is last. When three hens go into the fields, The first goes in front.

Lines move in and out of other trios. The line stops, the first walks ahead then stops. The second does the same. Followed by the third. All walk off together. The last then runs to the front to become the first as the game continues.

Il était une fermière O

Add other rolling fruit and vegetables to the farmer’s basket: champignons / mushrooms, châtaignes / chestnuts, citrons / lemons, tomates / tomatoes.

Children begin by standing in a space. This song also works well as a simple circle game.

Il était une fermière, Qui allait au marché, Elle portait sur sa tête, Trois pommes dans un panier. Les pommes faisaient: rouli roula, Les pommes faisaient: rouli roula. STOP! Trois pas en avant, Trois pas en arrière, Trois pas sur l’côté, Trois pas de l’autre côté! It was a farmer’s wife, Who went off to market, She carried on her head, Three apples in a basket. The apples went: roly poly, The apples went: roly poly, STOP! Three steps ahead, Three steps back, Three steps to the side, Three steps to the other! Il était deux / quatre / huit / seize / number of large group fermières…etc.

Children walk freely in and out of each other holding a basket above the head. Stop and allow arms to roll over each other first one way then the other. Stop and jump. Walk three steps forward. Walk three steps back. Walk three steps to one side. Walk three steps to the other. Find partners, one stands behind the other with hands on shoulders until time for rolling of arms. As pairs set off, child at the front holds a basket. Pairs join up with a second pair and continue as before. Fours / eights double up and weave in and out of each group in line. Finish with whole group completing actions in one large circle.

Meunier, tu dors O

A tune that moves from stillness to frantic activity.

For the youngest children: Hold hands together close to cheek. Roll forearms round each other. Whirl arms round while moving feet very quickly. See a toddler moving this way on YouTube. Find it sung at http://bmarcore.club.fr/Tine/E127.htm .

In a second game children sleep as a child creeps round the circle, dropping the miller’s handkerchief softly behind one of the children. At the words ‘Ton moulin, ton moulin’ all the children look behind them. The one who has the hanky jumps up gives chase round the circle aiming to catch the child before their place is taken.

For the game below split the class into millers and wakers who make pairs spaced carefully around the room.

Meunier, tu dors, Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop vite. Meunier, tu dors, Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop fort. Miller, you’re sleeping, Your mill, your mill turns too quickly. Miller, you’re sleeping, Your mill, your mill turns too strongly. Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop vite, Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop fort. Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop vite, Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop fort. Your mill, your mill turns too quickly. Your mill, your mill turns too strongly. Your mill, your mill turns too quickly. Your mill, your mill turns too strongly.

Miller sleeps on the floor as a waker tiptoes round with fingers on lips. Waker skips round miller. Creep again. Skip round.