Samples taken from ‘The French
collection’ Allons-y Compiled,
adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All
rights reserved
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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