Playing with London Bridge

The following pathway was created for the 2026 SongWorks Summer Courses by Certification Executive Director, Betty Phillips.

We’d like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest gratitude and appreciation to Betty for all the time, effort, and thoughtful care she pours into the job of SongWorks Certification Executive Director. For the past eight years, she and her husband Gary, our Certification Business Manager, have been integral to the success and growth of our beloved SongWorks Certification Program. We are so thankful for you!

Name Game

Part 1: Teacher sings and greets:
Hello, (student 1), How are you? How are you? How are you?
Hello, (student 1), How are you? We’re glad you’re with us.

Hello, (student 2), How are you? How are you? How are you?
Hello, (student 2), How are you? We’re glad you’re with us.

Part 2: Teacher, student 1, and student 2:
Let’s join hands and walk around, walk around, walk around,
Let’s join hands and walk around, it’s time to stop.

Extension 1

What is the question in the song? How might you answer? Here we go.

Part 1: 
Hello, (student 1), How are you? (student answer), (student answer)
Hello, (student 1), We’re glad you’re here and you are feeling (___________).

Hi, (student 2), How are you? (student answer), (student answer)
Hi, (student 2), We’re glad you’re here and you are feeling (___________).

Part 2: Let’s join hands…

Extension 2

Keep part 1 the same. Ask a student, “Shall we gallop or tiptoe?” or “How else can we move?”

Expanded Study

• Create a student chart of “Safe Ways to Move” (use their ideas)
• Can we all join hands and find a way to move safely while we sing? (test the ideas)
• If we drop our hands and move freely around the room, what movement shall we try? 

Original Bridge Game

Sing the song before each question. Remember to take many answers. Then check answers while singing the song. 

1. What is falling down?  
2. How many times do we sing “falling down?”  
3. What is the last word of the song?

Introduction (sitting circle) 

1. Do what I do. Sing the song and walk your fingers on your arm with continuous forward movement.  
2. When did your fingers start walking? (beginning of the song)
3. When did your fingers stop? (end of the song)
4. Sing the song while walking your fingers on your other arm or your leg.
5. Where else can we walk our fingers?
6. Ask the student to be the leader.

Game (standing circle) 

1. Teacher joins hands with one student; their arms are raised to create the bridge. 
2. Arms go up when the song starts and down on the last word. 
3. Students walk under the bridge as they sing the song and stop their feet at the end of the song. 
4. When arms drop, those inside are caught, becoming part of the bridge. 
5. When only a few students remain uncaught, start over.

Game Variation (calmer version)

1. Instead of having students remain in the bridge, give them a choice. After the cadence, repeat it using new words, “You may stay or go.” 
2. When only a few students remain uncaught, start over.
   

London Bridge (Name Game)

Created by Betty Phillips for the 2026 SongWorks Summer Course

London Bridge

From Let’s Do It Again, The Songs of ETM

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