Singing Games Activity Book - Oats and Beans and Barley Grow

"Oats and Beans and Barley Grow" is a traditional singing game found within an activity book, designed to engage children in a fun and interactive way. The song itself has a playful melody, with simple lyrics that are easy to follow. The game begins with the children forming a circle and one child, representing the farmer, standing in the middle. As the song is sung, the children in the circle and the farmer perform a series of actions that correspond with the verses of the song. In the first verse, the circle moves in one direction while the farmer skips in the opposite direction, symbolising the growth of oats, beans, and barley.

As the song progresses to the second verse, the children and the farmer enact the sowing of seeds, taking a rest, and surveying the land with motions such as stamping feet, clapping hands, and shading eyes to look around. The third verse introduces an element of partnership, where the farmer picks a new child from the circle to join in the middle, representing the search for a partner in the dance. The game continues with the pairs in the middle swinging each other around, while the rest of the children maintain the rhythm by stamping and clapping. The number of farmers in the middle doubles with each verse, creating an ever-growing group until it's time to swap roles, ensuring that every child gets a chance to be in the middle and participate fully in this delightful singing game.