Singing Games Year 5 Notations - Great big house

The "Great Big House in New Orleans" is a singing game designed for Year 5 children, which combines music, movement, and sociability. It is set to a catchy tune with notations provided for guidance, and the lyrics tell a story of a grand house in New Orleans with forty stories high, filled with pumpkin pie. The game includes additional verses that add narrative elements, such as a visit to an old mill stream and a farewell to a loved one. The song is structured in a way that allows children to engage with the music through both singing and coordinated actions.

To play the game, an even number of children is required. They form a circle while holding hands and are assigned alternating numbers—1,2,1,2, and so on. As they sing the first verse, they walk around in a circle in time with the music. In the second verse, the number 1s step forward to create an inner circle, and the number 2s weave their hands through the number 1s, leading to a group hug. The third verse sees all participants stepping to the left and then back into a larger circle, with movements synchronized to the rhythm of the song. This game not only teaches musical notation and rhythm but also encourages teamwork and physical coordination among the children.