Read the rhythms. Teach the melody of the song. Teach and play the game. This is a good game to use to celebrate ALL the birthdays in your class. Play it on the last music lesson of each month, inviting the students who’ve had birthdays to be the “cake cutter.” Use the first line of music to show the students the placement of high do. Review song "I Can Sing a High Note" and read this song in solfa. "I Can Sing a High Note" uses do, so and high do.

The students form a circle. In measures 1-2, clap hands; in measures 3-4, shake hands; and in measures 5-8, the students in the circle join hands. During the singing, one student walks around the outside of the circle. At the end of the song, they “slice” the cake - they bring their hand down separating two students whose hands were joined. They then stand in place with arms outstretched. The students they separated race in opposite directions around the circle. The first student to tag an outstretched hand wins.

Alternative game: Adapt by playing this as a challenge. Choose two students, give them a challenge, and see who finishes first! Make up as many interesting challenges as you can think of!

Teach the song by rote and play the game.

Have the class form a circle. Choose one student to be a leprechaun. The leprechaun marches around the inside of the circle. At the end of the second phrase, the leprechaun stops in front of a student. They join hands and they "jig" - left heel forward, right heel forward, etc. The students in the circle should do a "sailor hornpipe" at the same time (fold arms and jig in place). Now two students march in the inside circle. They choose two more partners and j ig again. Continue with four, then eight until the entire class has had a turn.

Read the words of the song. Students may not be familiar with a pickup note. Tell students that a pickup note is a note that comes before the first complete measure. Read the rhythms of the song together. If your students can read so, mi and la, sing the song using solfa. Or teach the song by rote.

Option 1: Read the solfa notes for the song.

Option 2: Read the letter note names for the song.

If you have barred instruments, invite students to play the song on barred instruments.

If you have barred instruments, teach the Orff arrangement for the song.
If you don't have barred instruments, you could have students create a rhythmic or melodic ostinato using do re and mi to accompany the song.

Listen to the first part of the song.
Play the video again and sing along.

Make up a story with the students’ assistance, using the sea songs to illustrate the story.
-or-
Use the story in Supporting Resources.

Play the clap game for "A Sailor Came to Sea"

The clapping pattern used throughout the song is: clap own hands, clap partner’s right hand, clap own hands, clap partner’s left hand, etc.
On the words “sea, sea, sea,” salute and then continue the clapping pattern.

Another way to play is clap both of your partner’s hands three times on “sea, sea, sea.”
2. A sailor went to knee, knee, knee ... pat own knees three times
3. A sailor went to chop, chop, chop ... karate chop your right hand into your left elbow three times
4. A sailor went to sea, knee, chop ... pat own knees three times salute, touch knee, chop elbow

Do a desk clapping game to go with the song.

"A sailor went to" - clap own hands, tap left hand on desk, clap, tap right hand on desk, clap.
verse 1: "sea, sea, sea" - salute 3 times.
verse 2: "knee knee knee" - tap right knee 3 times.
verse 3: "chop chop chop" - chop elbow 3 times.
verse 4: "sea knee chop" - salute, tap knee, chop elbow.

The music in this video is fast for Grade 2. Watch the demo to learn the movements.

Then either sing unaccompanied at a slower tempo or slow the video down.

If you use the primary video player there's a gear wheel tool on the bottom right that you can use to slow the video.

Sing "The Music Time Is Over".