Page 32 - Level 1 Ukulele Lesson Plans

Remind the children how to use their thumb to pluck the strings. Tell them to pluck the 4th string (which is highest to the ceiling). “Can anyone remember which note the 4th string plays (G)?”
“Now we’re going to use the note G to pluck the rhythm of ‘See Saw Up and Down’.” Lead the children in slowly singing ‘See Saw Up and Down’ as they pluck the G string in time with the rhythm. Repeat several times.
Ask one or two confident volunteers to sing the song and pluck the rhythm on their own.
“Singing and plucking ‘See Saw Up and Down’ in time with the rhythm is part of your homework this week.”
8. Song/Game (6 mins): ‘Up and Down’ (traditional)
Sing ‘Up and Down’ performing the usual hand movements and the children copy you immediately afterwards. Remind the children that they are only to do the actions when it is their turn to sing.
Up and down and, Up and down. This is the way to, London Town.
Repeat (you singing the song then the children copying you immediately afterwards), changing the name of the town to a real or imagined place (e.g. Canberra Town, Birmingham Town or Chocolate Town).
Next, choose a volunteer to be the leader. Remind them to think of a town to sing about before they start singing. They sing the song (inserting their own town idea) and the rest of the children (and you) copy immediately afterwards. Make sure to sing at the same pitch as the volunteer. Repeat with two more volunteers.
“What are we showing musically with our hands (the pitch). We sometimes use our hands to show the pitch and we sometimes use the parachute. Can you think of any other ways we can show the pitch using our bodies?” Choose a volunteer to demonstrate another way we can show the pitch. You may need to give some suggestions (e.g. standing then sitting or touching shoulders then knees). Once the volunteer has shown you their idea, ask them to perform it whilst singing the song. The rest of the group copies immediately after the volunteer finishes singing. Repeat several times, choosing a different volunteer each time. It’s probably easiest to stick with singing about ‘London Town’ as thinking of (and then remembering to perform) a new town name and new actions might be too much to think about at once!
9. Strumming the Ukulele (6 mins): ‘See Saw Up and Down’ (traditional)
Remind the children how to hold their ukuleles. See activity 5 ‘Tuning’ from lesson plan 1 for instructions. Please also take a look at the strumming instructions under activity 9 ‘Strumming the Ukulele’ in lesson 1.
Ask a volunteer (who has done their homework) to sing and strum ‘See Saw Up and Down’.
Remind the children how to finger a C chord (using the techniques explained in previous lessons). The children sing ‘See Saw Up and Down’ as they strum a C chord with their thumbs, downwards and in time with the pulse. Play along with the children to encourage them to play in time. Repeat two or three times.
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