Imagine a circle of French children in a sunny vegetable patch, giggling as they pretend to plant cabbages with every part of their bodies. Savez-vous planter les choux ? – literally “Do you know how to plant cabbages?” – is a playful call-and-response rhyme that invites everyone to try gardening “our way” (à la mode de chez nous). Each new verse swaps the usual gardener’s hands for a finger, a foot, a knee, an elbow, and even a pair of wiggling hips, turning a simple chore into a full-body dance.
Behind the silliness lies a clever language game. By repeating the same melody while changing only the body part, the song teaches key vocabulary, rhythm, and pronunciation, all while encouraging coordination and group laughter. It celebrates community (“our way”), curiosity (“Do you know how…?”), and the joy of learning through movement. Whether you are five or fifty, singing along will leave you with a smile, a handful of new French words, and maybe the urge to plant a cabbage or two yourself!