Savez-vous planter les choux ?
This French song is used to teach young children their body parts.
Savez-vous planter les choux ?
Do You Know How to Plant Cabbage?
Chanson mimée
Action Song
(French)
(English)
Savez-vous planter les choux
À la mode, à la mode ?
Savez-vous planter les choux
À la mode de chez nous ?
On les plante avec le doigt
À la mode, à la mode
On les plante avec le doigt
À la mode de chez nous.
On les plante avec les mains
À la mode, à la mode ?
On les plante avec les mains
À la mode de chez nous.
On les plante avec le pied
À la mode, à la mode ?
On les plante avec le pied
À la mode de chez nous.
On les plante avec le coude
À la mode, à la mode ?
On les plante avec le coude
À la mode de chez nous.
On les plante avec le nez
À la mode, à la mode ?
On les plante avec le nez
À la mode de chez nous.
Do you know how to plant cabbage
In the fashion, in the fashion,
Do you know how to plant cabbage
In the fashion of our country?
We plant them with the finger
In the fashion, in the fashion,
We plant them with the finger
In the fashion of our country.
We plant them with the hands
In the fashion, in the fashion,
We plant them with the hands
In the fashion of our country.
We plant them with the foot
In the fashion, in the fashion,
We plant them with the foot
In the fashion of our country.
We plant them with the elbow
In the fashion, in the fashion,
We plant them with the elbow
In the fashion of our country.
We plant them with the nose
In the fashion, in the fashion,
We plant them with the nose
In the fashion of our country.
Notes
More verses can be invented.
Game Instructions
First verse: Go around in a circle. Next verses: the children pretend to be planting with the part of the body that has been mentioned.
The tune in the recording below is different from the other one. It's less well-known. Monique sang this tune as a kid.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing and translating this song (with Mama Lisa) and for creating the midi music.
Illustrations by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1851-1913) from Vieilles Chansons pour les Petits Enfants: Avec Accompagnements / de Ch. M. Widor (1844 - 1937); Illustrations Par M.B. de Monvel. Paris: E. Plon, Nourrit et Cie, [1883]. The images were graphically edited by Lisa Yannucci.
Merci beaucoup!
