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Sea Shanties Station Rotation

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Sea Shanties Station Rotation

Sailors singing sea shanties on a ship

🎯 WALT (We Are Learning To)

Today we are learning to:

  • Understand how sea shanties use call-and-response
  • Feel the difference between 6/8 time (sway feel) and 3/4 time (march feel)
  • Create our own sea shanty verses with strong beats

📋 Success Criteria - I can:

Identify strong beats (1 and 4) in 6/8 time

Write a call-and-response sea shanty

Work as part of a crew using rhythm

🎵 What is a Sea Shanty?

Sea shanties are work songs sailors sang to help them work together. One person sings the call, then everyone sings the response.

6/8 time feels like: STRONG-light-light STRONG-light-light (like swaying)

Count: 1-2-3 | 4-5-6 (beats 1 and 4 are strongest)

🚢 Station Activities

1. Station A - Call and Response: Write your own sea shanty call (choose your level):
BEAT MAP
 1   2   3   |   4   5   6   |   1   2   3   |   4   5   6

Level 1 (Beginner): Fill in the blanks

"Heave away, the _____________ are high!"

"Pull the _____________ and don't let go!"

Level 2 (Advanced): Write your own complete call

Choose a crew response:

"All together, pull along!"

"Heave away, we can't go wrong!"

"Pull as one, we're sailing on!"

2. Station B - Rhythm Instruments: Which beats do these instruments play in 6/8 time?

Circle the beats each instrument plays: 1 - 2 - 3 | 4 - 5 - 6

Drums (strong beats): Write which beats _______________

Shakers (light beats): Write which beats __________________

band
One Rule for your :

3. Station C - Create Your Verse: Plan your sea shanty story

Problem: What challenge do the sailors face?

Solution: How do they work together to solve it?

4. Station D - Feel the Beat: Compare 6/8 and 3/4 time

6/8 time feels like: (tick one)

Swaying side to side

Marching in step

Jumping up and down

3/4 time feels like: (tick one)

Swaying side to side

Marching in step

Jumping up and down

🏆 Reflection and Extension

5. How did working as a crew help you keep time?
6. Extension Challenge: Write a complete 4-line sea shanty verse

Remember: Make strong words land on beats 1 and 4!

7. Self-Assessment: How well did you achieve today's learning goals?

I can identify strong beats in 6/8 time:

Very well

Quite well

Need more practice

I can create a call-and-response sea shanty:

Very well

Quite well

Need more practice

Word Bank for Support: waves, rope, sail, storm, crew, together, strong, pull, heave, anchor

🎵 Remember: Sea shanties helped sailors work as a team. Your rhythm and words should help everyone stay together!

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