Singing to help us work in time together
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can sing songs with a steady pulse and know that this can help us to work together in time.
Key learning points
- We warm up before every music lesson to make sure that our minds, bodies and voices are ready.
- Sea shanties have a steady pulse that is sounded as a strong beat. This helped sailors to work together in time.
- This strong beat stays the same. It does not get slower or faster. This helped sailors to all move together.
- Rhythm is the pattern of notes that we play and sing and follows the syllables of the words. It is different to pulse.
Keywords
Sea shanty - a traditional folk song sung by sailors to help them work together in time
Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Rhythm - the pattern of notes that we play and sing
Common misconception
Pulse and rhythm are the same thing.
Pulse is the regular, steady heartbeat of the music. We can feel the pulse and this sometimes makes us want to move or tap along to the pulse. Rhythm is the pattern of notes that we play and sing. Rhythm follows the syllables of the words in a song.
Teacher tip
When playing the rhythm Drunken Sailor with claves, encourage pupils to first speak the rhythm as they play. This will ensure their playing matches the syllables of the words. Then whisper the words as they play. Finally, ask pupils to put the words into their "thinking voice" only.
Equipment
Claves (enough for half the class to have a pair each), drum (one)
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.We before music to keep our voice safe and healthy.
Q2.Sailors would sing __________ to keep them in time and help them stay motivated.
Q3.Call and response is ...
Q4.Which of these are examples of body percussion?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A call is followed by ...
Q2.Match the musical element to its definition.
the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
the playing or showing of the steady pulse like the ticking of a clock
the pattern of sounds that we play and sing
how fast or slow the music is played
Q3.How does a drum beat help in a sea shanty?
Q4.When we play the claves to match the syllables of the song, we are playing a ...
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Singing to help us work in time together, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Singing to help us work in time together, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 music lessons from the Singing together: how singing helps us work together unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.