Page 7 - Level 1 Ukulele Lesson Plans

placed just before the frets and not on top of them. See the chord diagrams in the homework sheets.
“It’s time to learn your first chord on the ukulele! A chord is made when we strum more than one string at a time.” Show the children how to strum using the tips above. Get the children to strum the open strings downwards to the pulse as they say “1, 2, 3, 4” several times without stopping. Make sure to encourage a slow and consistent tempo.
“You can change the sound of a chord by pressing the fingers of your left hand down on certain strings.” Show the children how to play a C chord (left ring finger on 3rd fret of A/1st string). “We press down on the string using our third dinosaur finger.” Then say “1 dinosaur, 2 dinosaurs, 3 dinosaurs” as you do the finger movements from the finger dexterity exercise. Your thumb will end up touching the correct finger. Ask the children to count across in the fret spaces “1, 2, 3” using their first, second, then third fingers. Then make sure they have space between the neck and their hand so you can get a pencil through. Remind them it’s like the dinosaur claw grip. This means they will get a clear sound rather than a dead sound.
“Don’t worry if you find this too tricky as we’ll have lots of time to practice every week.”
Get the children to finger a C chord and strum downwards to the pulse as they say “1, 2, 3, 4” several times without stopping.
C is the chord we need to know to play ‘Bell Horses’. Put your ukulele down and I’ll show you.” You sing ‘Bell Horses’ and play along using the C chord on your ukulele.
Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day? One o’ clock, two o’ clock, three and away. Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day? Four o’clock, five o’ clock, home for today.
10. Let Off Steam! (5 mins): ‘Here We Go Up and Down’ adapted from lyrics by Wendy
Prevezer & Alison Street & music adapted from 'March of the Mods' by Tony Carr
“It’s time for us to play with the parachute! But first we’ve got to practice with the ‘imaginary parachute’ (IP) and if you listen really well, then I’ll take the real one out.” Sing the song sitting down in a circle and show the children the actions as you pretend to hold the IP so they can copy you. It will probably be best if you are sitting on the floor rather than on chairs.
Here we go up and down and up and down and, (moving IP up and down in time with the pulse, corresponding with the words)
‘Round and ‘round and ‘round and ‘round and, (moving IP from one side of your body to the other- later we will be walking the real parachute around in a circle here)
In and out and in and out. (moving arms in and out in time with pulse as you grip IP) Here we go again. (IP is still)
Whee! (lifting IP high up into the air)
Repeat the song using the real parachute.
Sing “stand up”. Repeat the activity two more times whilst standing. This time the children should walk around in a circle as they sing the “’round and ‘round” verse. Sing “sit down”.
11. Singalong Time (4 mins):
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