The timeless tune of The Farmer in the Dell and A Hunting We Will Go is incredibly versatile, making it a staple in countless children’s storytime sessions. Across various platforms like “Tell Me a Story“, you’ll discover numerous songs adapted from this melody, used for everything from greetings to seasonal celebrations, movement activities, and playful tickling games. This article highlights some of the most ukulele-friendly adaptations of this classic tune, perfect for adding musicality to your storytime. If you have a favorite variation that isn’t mentioned, we’d love to hear your rhymes too!
Using felt stories alongside songs like Farmer and Hunting is a fantastic way to enhance engagement during library sessions. Accompanying visuals with ukulele music captures toddlers’ attention for longer periods and stimulates different areas of their brains. Many of the variations below are also ideally suited for use with felt visuals.
Farmer in the Dell
<span><b> C</b> The farmer in the dell, the farmer in the dell, <b> F C G7 C</b> High ho the derry o, the farmer in the dell.</span><span><b>Verses</b> The farmer takes a wife... The wife takes a child... Cow... Dog... Cat... Mouse... Cheese...</span>
A Hunting We Will Go
<span><b> C</b> A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go,<b> F C</b> We'll catch a fish and put it in a dish,<b> G7 C</b> And then we'll let it go.</span><span><b>Verses</b> We'll catch a fox and put it in a box... We'll catch a whale and put it in a pail... We'll catch an armadillo, and set it on a pillow... We'll catch a brontosaurus and put it in a chorus... We’ll just pretend and in the end, we’ll always let them go! </span>
Alphabet Fun with the Farmer Tune
The melody is also excellent for educational songs. Take “Sing Hooray for A” for example, which uses the tune to teach the alphabet:
<span><b> C</b> Let’s sing hooray for A, Let’s sing hooray for A,<b> F C G7 C</b> Let’s sing hooray for A today, Let’s sing hooray for A.<b> C</b> Apple starts with A, Asparagus starts the same way,<b> F C G7 C</b> Let’s sing hooray for A today, Let’s sing hooray for A.</span><span><b>Verses</b> <em>Other letters in the alphabet...</em></span>
Similarly, “The Animals Say Hello” adapts the tune for animal sounds, perfect for interactive story sessions:
<span><b> C</b> The cat says hello, The cat says hello<b> F C G7 C</b> Meow, meow, meow meow, meow meow, The cat says hello.</span><span><b>Verses</b> <em>Other animals...</em></span>
Exploring Concepts with Song
Beyond letters and animals, the melody can illustrate broader concepts. “The Earth Turns Around” uses it to teach about planetary movements:
<span><b> C</b> The Earth turns around, the Earth turns around,<b> F C G7 C</b> Once a day, every day, the Earth turns around.</span><span><b>Verses</b> The moon goes round the Earth... Once a day, every day... The Earth goes round the Sun... Once a year, every year... The stars are all around... Here, there, and everywhere, the stars are all around.</span>
For interactive greetings, “We Clap and Sing Hello” is an excellent choice to start storytime with energy:
<span><b> C</b> We clap and sing hello, We clap and sing hello,<b> F C G7 C</b> With our friends at storytime, We clap and sing hello!</span><span><b>Verses</b> <em>Other actions (Strum, nod, stamp, etc)..<b>.</b></em></span>
For body awareness activities, “A Bee is on My Toe” is a fun and ticklish option:
<span><b> C</b> A bee is on my toe. A bee is on my toe.<b> F C G7 C</b> Heigh-ho just watch me blow. A bee is on my toe.</span><span><b>Verses</b> <em>Other body parts...</em></span>
Finally, for a playful food theme, “A Pizza We Will Make” turns the familiar tune into a culinary adventure:
<span><b> C</b> A pizza we will make, a pizza we will make<b> F C G7 C</b> Let's put on some ________, a pizza we will make.</span>
A colorful illustration representing the 'A Pizza We Will Make' variation of the Farmer in the Dell song, perfect for engaging children in food-themed storytime activities.
More Adaptations to Explore
There are even more variations to discover, including songs like “Can You Find Your Eyes?” for body parts recognition, “Spider in the Web” for action rhymes, and numerous other A ____ We Will Go themed songs available at this link.
Conclusion
The Farmer in the Dell melody is a treasure trove of possibilities for children’s songs. Its adaptability makes it perfect for various storytime themes and learning objectives. Whether you are using a ukulele, felt stories, or simply your voice, these variations will bring joy and engagement to your sessions. Explore these ideas and let the familiar tune spark even more creativity in your storytime adventures!
