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 shown below, you substitute other actions for the clapping pattern. When teaching clapping games, it’s a good idea to try the game with the entire class being your "partner in the air" until they know all the movements. Then allow them to choose partners and play the game with their partners.

1. A Sailor went to Dis, Dis, Dis (three finger circles on either side of your head)
2. A Sailor went to knee, knee, knee (chop knee three times)
3. A Sailor went to land, land, land (pat floor three times)
4. A Sailor went to Disneyland (one finger circle, chop knee, pat floor)

Learn about persimmons

“Shake Them ‘Simmons” is a game song. Teach the song by rote.

Students pick a partner and then form a foursome.

Verse 1: Clap in time, or all four join hands, and walk to the right in a circle.
Verse 2: Put right hand in center (forming a star with other students) and walk around to the left.
Verse 3: Put left hand in center (forming a star) and walk around to the right.
Verse 4: Partners take hands and swing each other.
Verse 5: Promenade to a big circle with all partner groups. Continue singing this verse until all pairs are in the big circle.

You can create and add additional verses, such as “circle right” and “circle left” before verse 4.

Playing and Creating: Invite individual students to improvise melodies for 8-16 beats between the verses.

This song is a choral selection with a meaningful message for the students to learn. This is a rote song. Introduce the song as a listening selection. Ask the students to listen to the selection and think about ways that a song like this could be used in the community. What events might this song be sung at? Discuss ways in which music is used in your community.