Page 36 - Level 1 Ukulele Lesson Plans

I’m going to draw a cross for every word. Ask the children to tell you which heartbeats have one word and draw a cross (x) under each of the words, inside the hearts. Then, add two crosses (one under each word) to the heartbeats that contain two words.
You sing and tap the crosses in time with the rhythm. Then, ask a volunteer to do the same.
You sing and tap the crosses in time with the rhythm as the children clap the rhythm. Tell the children to follow the crosses as they clap. Choose a volunteer to tap the crosses whilst the rest of the class claps.
Rub out words (so there are just the crosses in the hearts). You sing and tap the crosses in time with the rhythm as the children clap the rhythm. Tell the children to follow the crosses as they clap. Choose a volunteer to tap the crosses whilst the rest of the class claps.
“This is called a rhythm picture because it shows us the song’s rhythm!”
7. Plucking the Ukulele (5 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.
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’, just like we did last week.” 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.
Next, all of the children pluck the rhythm whilst you tap the pulse on your ukulele. Ask the children what you were doing (tapping the pulse). Switch so that the children tap the pulse and you pluck the rhythm.
Invite two children to perform a duet: one taps the pulse and the other plucks the rhythm.
“Singing and plucking ‘See Saw Up and Down’ in time with the rhythm is part of your homework this week.”
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