Before I forget, I want to second {actually "third"} the recommendation made earlier in this thread for Ella Jenkins songs.

I also want to give a shout out to Raffi. In my opinion, most of Ella Jenkin's songs and most of Raffi's songs are too advanced for even older pre-school age children. I think they are better suited for kindergarten, first, and second grade children. However, I think that Ella Jenkins records and Raffi records are great for background listening for pre-school age children. That link to Raffi's records includes one song that my daughter reminded me about this morning that might work for older pre-school children:

The More We Get Together

The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together the happier we'll be.

'Cause your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends.

The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together the happier we'll be.

**

Another song that I found most older pre-school and kindergarten age children in my area know is The Itsy Bitsy Spider. The children like to incorporate hand motions while singing this song.

**

Heads,Shoulders, Knees, And Toes is a good song that helps teach and reinforce recognition of body parts. With older children, I taught a faster version "Head And Shoulders Baby 1,2,3" which I believe is on an Ella Jenkins recording.

Heads,Shoulders, Knees, And Toes

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
Eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.

[When singing this song, children point to the designated part of their body]

**

Soeaking of songs that are familiar to children, when pre-school children are transitioning from one activity to another in the classroom or at home, a good song to sing with them is Barney {The Purple Dinosaur}'s Clean Up song:

Clean up. Clean up.
Everybody everywhere.
Clean up. Clean up.
Everybody do your share.

**

Another song that pre-school children in my area are taught is
If You're Happy And You Know It

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
[clap clap]
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
[clap clap]
If you're happy and you know it.
then your face will surely show it.
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet.
[stomp stomp]
etc.

If you're happy and you know it say "Hooray"
Hooray!
etc.

If you're happy and you know it do all three
[clap clap; stomp stomp, Hooray!]
etc.