1. Teach the song.
Note the two different patterns – three beats in a bar for the first line
and two beats in a bar for the second line.
2. Add body percussion to the song: -
a. three beat pattern = tap knees once then clap twice
b. two beat pattern = tap knees once and clap once
3. Can the children think of other 3-beat and 2-beat body percussion patterns that can
be done while the song is sung?
4. With a partner change the body percussion pattern to: -
a. Three beat = tap knees, clap own hands, clap partners hands
b. Two beat pattern = clap own hands, clap right hands with partner, clap own
hands, clap left hands with partner.
c. Continue to sing the song.
5. Game 1. With the class in a circle singing the song.
A large, soft ball is passed around the circle but anyone with a first beat of bar
is required to bounce the ball to themselves and all the other beats will simply
be a pass.
6. Game 2 – variation but still in a circle.
3-beat pattern - One person is the leader in the centre of the circle and
bounces the ball to himself on beat 1, catches it himself on beat 2 and passes
it to someone else on beat 3. This person then follows the same pattern,
bouncing to himself, catching and passing back to the leader on beat 3.
2-beat pattern – the leader bounces the ball to someone on beat 1 who
catches it on beat 2 then bounces it back to the leader etc.
7. Repeat either game with the whole song in “thinking voice” – singing internally.
Additional extension.
8. To further develop the feeling of a change of metre – play “Secret Agents”.
One person is chosen to be the leader who must think of a category of people
from those in the room who all share a similarity, for example – all wear
glasses; have a ponytail; got lace-up shoes etc. All these people will be a 3-
beat clapping pattern – knees, hands, hands. Everyone else will be a 2-beat
clapping pattern – knees, hands once.
The leader goes round the whole circle with everyone following the patterns –
but they then need to work out what all the 3-beat people have in common.
9. As a further listening activity click on this link to The Medallions Calls from the Pirates
of the Caribbean and see if anyone can spot the bars that have not got 3 beats – and
put up their hands when they hear them. (there is one in the middle and then it turns
into 2-beats at the end) https://youtu.be/ymTy9s9bfL8
Good luck and enjoy!
