Focus
- Rests
- Fast and slow
You will need…
…to be familiar with the words and music of the song. To have hands and voices ready for the activities.
Before you start…
Ask the children if they have ever been to the seaside. What things have they seen there and what sounds did they make?
The tutorial video
Tutorial: The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh
We join Nigel and Suki aboard The Jolly Jack as they go in search of treasure!
- Learn Verses 1 - 4.
- Identify the rests in Verse 1 and Verse 2.
- Spot how the words, ‘big ship sails’ in Verse 1 are on the same note. They are also the same length.
- Notice how the rhythm of ‘Never, never, do,’ in Verse 2 is quite fast.
- Note the change in tempo in Verse 3 (it gets slower).
- Can the children identify the lines in the verses which are repeated?
Song: 'The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh'
Learn with the vocal version of the song.
Then polish your performance with the backing track.
Download / print the song lyric sheet.
Download / print the song music sheet.
Sing with the vocal version of 'The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh'
Sing with the backing track of 'The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh'
Activity: Identifying 'rests'
The activity is based on the music of the song and the class will need to divide into two groups - Group A and Group B.
- Group A sings and repeats ‘Climb the rigging!’
- Group B claps the two beat rests that come in between these lines.
- Encourage children to really listen and count the rests independently.
- Help them to come in together and in time.
Story: The Fisherman and the Magic Fish - Part 1
Audio with scrolling text
Frederick, a fisherman, catches a magic, talking fish.
He lets the fish go but when he returns home he is chided by his wife, Isobel, who insists Frederick should have asked the fish to grant them wishes.
Frederick returns to the fish and first he asks for their home to be turned into a cosy cottage and then, later, a castle. The fish grants his requests.
THE FISHERMAN AND THE MAGIC FISH - PART 1
It was a sunny day by the sparkling sea. Frederick the fisherman was sitting on a rock, trying to catch something with his fishing line. But he wasn’t having much luck…
Then, just as he began to doze off, the rod tugged sharply in his hands. Quick as a flash, he reeled in the line. Hanging on the end was a large, rather ugly fish with surprised-looking eyes.
‘Mmmm!’ cried Frederick, licking his lips as he took the fish from the line. ‘My wife and I are starving hungry. We’ll enjoy having you for our supper tonight!’
‘But I’d taste horrid,’ replied the fish. ‘And besides, I’m a magic fish. If you eat me, I won’t be able to grant wishes.’
Frederick had never heard a fish talk before. He was so surprised, he dropped it back in the water. And off the fish swam with a big splash.
When Frederick got home and told his wife Isobel what had happened, she was furious. ‘Why didn’t you ask it to help us?’ she cried. ‘Maybe it could have given us somewhere nicer to live’.
The next day Frederick went back to the rock. The sea was looking rather yellow and strange - but he hardly noticed as he sang a little rhyme out loud.
‘Oh magic fish swimming in the sea! Hear my call and come to me!’
‘Ah, the fisherman who set me free,’ said the magic fish as it popped its head up. ‘How can I help you?’
‘Er, well, I hope you don’t mind me asking…’ began Frederick. ‘But please can you turn our horrid hut into a cosy cottage?’
The magic fish gave a little smile. ‘Go back home and see what you find…’ it said mysteriously.
Frederick couldn’t believe his eyes when he returned. The hut had turned into a pretty cottage with a kitchen, bedroom and sitting room. Outside was a yard full of hens, and a vegetable garden.
‘It’s wonderful!’ sighed Isobel.
‘That fish really is magic!’ cried Frederick.
They settled into their new home. But one morning, Isobel looked miserable.
‘I feel squashed in this tiny cottage,’ she sighed.
‘There’s nowhere to put all my new fishing rods,’ agreed Frederick. ‘I’ve got enough to fill a castle!’
‘What a good idea!’ said Isobel. ‘Why don’t you ask the magic fish if we can have a castle?’
‘Oh magic fish swimming in the sea! Hear my call and come to me!’ sang Frederick next day.
‘Hallo, Frederick!’ smiled the magic fish. ‘How can I help you this time?’
‘Er - could you turn our tiny cottage into a big, roomy, castle, please?’
The fish fell silent. ‘Go back home - and see what you find…’ it said at last.
When Frederick returned, Isobel was standing at the grand gates of an enormous castle made of stone.
‘Isn’t this grand, Lady Isobel?’ joked Frederick.
‘It is indeed, Lord Frederick!’ giggled his wife. ‘Now we have everything we could possibly want!’
Back by the rock, the magic fish raised its head above the waves. ‘Hmm, we shall see,’ it said, with a little wink.
Story transcript. document
Download / print the text of the story
Listening activity: sounds of the seaside
Listen to the recording of the seaside…
- Can the children hear the sea…the the children playing…the gulls…the speed boat?
- Which of the sounds do the children think are ‘high’ in pitch and which ‘low’?
- Which of the sounds do the children think are fast and short…and slow and sustained?
- What other watery sounds can they think of?
- In the final montage of sounds can they identify when the speed boats enters?
Resources
Teacher's Notes. document
Information and guidance on using the content
Song sheet. document
Download / print the lyrics of the song
Music sheet. document
Download / print the music for the song
More episodes
2. There's a hole in the bottom of the sea. collection
Nigel and Suki continue their adventure...and Suki tries to catch a stowaway frog!
3. My ship rolls over the ocean. collection
Nigel and Suki are caught in a storm at sea and Suki is scared of the lightning.
4. Suki over the ocean. collection
Nigel and Suki row towards Golden Island...and try some fishing.
