This week’s music and movement lesson is on the theme Under The Sea. I’m pretty sure the first thing that comes to all of our minds is of Sebastian the crab singing “Under The Sea” in his Jamaican accent.

In this theme, there are so many different songs and resources you could choose from. But Super Simple Songs are honestly my favourite. Their songs are of a high standard and are structured very simply, logically and clearly in the progression of the lyrics. Their videos that go along with their songs are just so inviting and wholesome. Children seem to learn Super Simple Songs easily. Go and check out their YouTube channel and be sure to subscribe. You won’t be sorry. You will find many songs that you will love to use.

Materials Preparation:

Find a few different pictures or toys of sea creatures.

Bring along a portable instrument or even a few different ones (if you have) for the Musical Principle Activity. This could be a recorder, mouth organ, ukulele or guitar.

Prepare the songs included in the lesson outline below (you can buy them on iTunes or download them from YouTube). They are:

• “A Sailor Went To Sea” Super Simple Songs
• “Baby Shark” Super Simple Songs
• “Under The Sea” by Alan Menken – The Little Mermaid

Familiarise yourself with the songs prior to the class. Bring along small percussion instruments for the children to use, such as small drums, maracas or bells for the Instrumental Activity.

1. Hello Song/Warm-up Song:
   • Gather the children together in a circle and greet one another with the Hello Song/Warm-up Song you prefer to use.
2. Circle Time Songs: 
   • Use 2 or 3 simple songs for every lesson just to help the children feel familiar and confident. You can use a parachute that all the children hold onto in a circle in different ways for each song. It’s okay too if you do not have a parachute – you may use a big colourful blanket or none at all.
     • Ring a Ring of Roses (Children hold the parachute in a circle and walk around in a circle, fall down, then jump up, make the “wind” billow the parachute up and down quickly, etc.)
     • Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Children sway from side to side holding the parachute, like rowing a boat, then making big or small waves up and down, and even letting a toy fish or shark “float on the water” i.e. on the parachute)
     • The Grand Old Duke of York (children march in place, lift the parachute up then down, and then salute)
     • Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush (children go around in a circle holding the parachute for the first verse, and then rub the parachute material together in their hands for the second verse – “This is the way we wash our clothes”)
3. Introduction of Theme: UNDER THE SEA
   • Introduce the Under The Sea theme using toys or pictures you found of different sea creatures.
   • Ask the children to name some of the creatures you show them.
   • “A Sailor Went To Sea” Super Simple Songs – Act out the song! Pretend you all are sailors going to sea to see what you can see in the sea.
4. Gross Motor Activity:
   • “Baby Shark” Super Simple Songs
   • Use the cues from the song to act out each different shark and action.
5. Musical Principle Activity:
   • The sea can be big and loud during a thunderstorm, then still and quiet on a calm sunny day. The children will learn about dynamics in music,
   • Explain what dynamics are: How loud or soft the note that is being played sounds.
   • Use the portable instrument(s) that you brought to demonstrate loud and soft playing.
   • Teach the children that the real musical name for loud is forte and the real musical name for soft is piano. You may add that these words are Italian – a different language in the world that is used in musical terms.
   • Now it’s time to practice playing loudly and softly! Call out to the children to play softly and then loudly on their percussion instruments, so that they understand the concept of soft and loud.
   • Emphasize also that when they play loudly, it doesn’t necessarily mean to play fast and vice versa – when they play softly it doesn’t mean play slowly.
6. Instrument Activity:
   • Song: “Under The Sea” by Alan Menken – The Little Mermaid
   • If you like, you may even show the children a picture of Alan Menken and explain that he is a composer and it is his job is to write songs for movies. You could even show a picture of The Little Mermaid.
   • Play percussion instruments to the song.
   • Make sure the children are able to learn how to play on the beat. Count 1-2-3-4 aloud as you play along with the song.
   • You can decide if the children should sit or stand for this activity. You can try to imitate different sea life movements as you play – play like jellyfish, or like a whale, shark or octopus.
   • Also point out all the different instruments that can be heard during the song.
7. Conclusion
   • If you like, you could do “Baby Shark” again.
   • Remind the children to be super careful while swimming in the sea! They should not swim out too far out by themselves.
   • Teach the children to be kind to the environment; never ever throw litter on the beach as the litter can harm sea life.
   • Sing your Goodbye/Winding-down song in your circle.