Round and Round Went the Gallant Ship – Playground Games for Kids

Players: 4–30+
Location: Indoors or outdoors
Age Group: Young children

This simple circle game is especially suitable for very young children and combines movement, rhythm, and imaginative play.

Players join hands to form a circle and walk or skip around together while reciting:

Three times round went our gallant ship,
And three times round went she;
Three times round went our gallant ship,
Then she sank to the bottom of the sea.

As the rhyme is spoken, the players continue moving in a circle. When they reach the final line, “Then she sank to the bottom of the sea,” everyone quickly crouches down, sits, or gently falls to the ground to imitate a sinking ship.

How to Play

1. Form a circle and hold hands.
2. Walk, skip, or dance around while saying the rhyme.
3. At the last line, everyone drops down together.
4. Stand up and begin again.

Modern Variations

• Move faster with each round.
• Pretend to sail through storms, waves, or pirate waters before the ship sinks.
• Have players act out swimming back to shore after the ship goes down.
• Replace the ship with other vehicles, such as a submarine, spaceship, or pirate ship.

Why It’s Fun

Young children enjoy the anticipation of the final “sinking” moment, especially when everyone drops down together. The game encourages coordination, listening skills, group participation, and imaginative play while remaining easy for even the youngest players to learn.

Round and Round Went the Gallant Ship Printable