Nursery rhymes I want to sing in July: fun summer songs
July, the beginning of summer, is hot but such a fun season, isn’t it?
How about singing joyfully in the hot summer to blow the heat away?
To prevent kids from getting heatstroke, spending time indoors singing fun songs is also recommended!
Here, we’ve gathered classic children’s songs and ones often sung at nurseries and kindergartens.
There are songs you can enjoy with hand play, too.
There are lots of songs children love, so sing and play together and feel the summer!
You can have a great time at home as well.
Use this as a guide so both kids and adults can have fun together!
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Nursery rhymes to sing in July: Fun summer songs (81–90)
Morning on the Ranch
It is said that the lyrics of “Morning on the Ranch” were written with Iwase Farm in Kagamiishi, Fukushima Prefecture as their model.
The lyrics depict the ranch at daybreak, shrouded in mist, interweaving scenes of sound and light along with the people working on the ranch and the sheep.
Describing how morning arrives on the wide ranch and a new day begins, the song’s lyrics are also included in elementary school textbooks.
Asking children what kinds of animals might be on a ranch, or explaining the kinds of work people do there, may help them form a clearer image of the piece.
A quiet lakeside
“Shizukana Kohan” (Quiet Lakeside) is a German folk song to which Keizo Horiuchi added Japanese lyrics.
Its gentle tempo and catchy, memorable melody make it popular with children, who sing it cheerfully and with enthusiasm.
Because it’s a beloved song, many people of all ages know it, which is another reason it’s so enjoyable.
Forming a circle and holding hands while singing with the children can create a sense of unity and make it even more fun.
Since it’s a bright, lively tune, it’s also recommended for summer events.
Hey! SeaSakushi: Yamakawa Keisuke / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naosumi
When you think of summer, many of you probably picture the blue ocean.
In times like that, we recommend this song, “Hey! Ocean,” which lets you feel the sea’s vastness and beauty, as well as the gentleness and power of nature.
The lyrics are charming, as if you’re really speaking to the ocean, making it perfect to sing with energetic children full of summer spirit.
Move your body to the bright, free-flowing melody and rhythm, and you’ll likely feel your spirits lift! Try singing from your diaphragm, imagining your voice carrying far into the distance.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Hand play with a song everyone knows! Let’s introduce “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” It’s also one of the songs often sung as a lullaby.
How about incorporating it into your activities as a hand play this time? Imagine your palms as stars and express the sparkling, shining stars.
The choreography is easy to understand and doesn’t have any complex movements, so it seems enjoyable from infant to preschool classes.
Try adding “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to eurhythmics, morning meetings, or closing circles.
What shall we make with rock-paper-scissors? Tanabata version
Let’s try arranging a classic hand game! I’d like to introduce the Tanabata version of “What Can You Make with Rock, Scissors, Paper?” This idea is recommended for those who want to fully enjoy Tanabata, the once-a-year festival.
Many children are probably familiar with the hand game “What Can You Make with Rock, Scissors, Paper?” This time, let’s try a Tanabata-themed arrangement! The choreography and lyrics inspired by Tanabata are so cute.
Be sure to give it a try!
I want to see you on July 7.
Let’s sing it to the melody of “Yankee Doodle”! We’re introducing “I Want to See You on July 7th.” Isn’t “Yankee Doodle” a tune everyone has heard before? This time, let’s enjoy the hand game “I Want to See You on July 7th” set to that melody! The choreography is short and simple, so it seems easy for both children and adults to try.
If you incorporate it along with the origin of Tanabata and the meaning of the festival, it should help deepen children’s understanding, too.
Nursery rhymes to sing in July: Fun summer songs (91–100)
Everyone’s WishesKeroponzu
Get everyone excited at Tanabata parties and events! We’d like to introduce “Everyone’s Wishes.” At Tanabata, people write their wishes on tanzaku paper strips and hang them on bamboo branches.
While many write about things they want or dreams for the future, it originally seems to have been about wishing for improvement in one’s skills! In the song “Everyone’s Wishes,” children are interviewed about the wishes they wrote on their tanzaku—perfect for livening up a Tanabata-themed event.
Be sure to incorporate “Everyone’s Wishes” into your celebration!