Page 51 - Level 1 Ukulele Lesson Plans

Everyone sings the song and draws the shape of the tune in the air with their musical pencils (following the pitch picture as they do so). Click here for video.
“Can anyone remember which notes we play for the tune of ‘See Saw’ (G and E)?” Play G and E on your ukulele and ask the children to tell you which note is higher (G). Then add the letters to the picture (G for the higher notes and E for the lower notes). “We also need to know the rhythm so let’s add the crosses too! Now it’s a pitch picture AND a rhythm picture!
Ask a volunteer to sing the song and tap the crosses with the marker (lid on) whilst the rest of the class sings and claps. Repeat with one or two other volunteers. Remind everyone to look at the picture as they do so.
7. Plucking the Ukulele (7 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.
Ask a confident volunteer, who has done their homework, to sing the whole of ‘See Saw Up and Down’ as they pluck the correct strings in time with the rhythm.
Rub the words out of your picture. “Now that we have the rhythm and the notes in our picture, we no longer need the words!”
“Does ‘See Saw’ start on the higher or lower pitch (higher)? And which string, according to our picture, do we pluck for the higher pitch (G)?” Tell all the children to pluck the G string (which is the 4th string and highest to the ceiling). “And which string do we pluck for the lower note (E)?” Help the children to find the E/2nd string (using “Green children” etc. if necessary) and tell them to pluck it.
Encourage everyone to sing “G, E” over and over as they pluck strings G and E in time with the pulse.
Next, lead the children in slowly singing ‘See Saw Up and Down’ and plucking the pitch and rhythm. Remind them they can refer to the picture for help. Repeat several times.
Then ask everyone to sing the song and strum the C chord in time with the pulse (remember to sing “ready” on G before everyone starts playing). Split the group in two and half the children strum whilst half pluck at the same time. Repeat then switch (so that everyone has a turn of plucking and everyone has a turn of strumming). You join in with whichever group requires the most support.
Next ask volunteers to perform in duets with one child singing and strumming and the other singing and plucking. Remember to sing “ready” on G so the two children know when to come in and at what pitch.
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