1. Columbus and Magellan

Tutorial: learn the song 'Over the oceans'

The tutorial: learn the song

The series begins with a song celebrating two great explorers - Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan.

We meet our presenters, Jenny and Wayne, before setting our chronometers to travel to the year 1492 to meet Christopher Columbus.

Then we travel forward in time to 1519 to meet Ferdinand Magellan, who was responsible for the first circumnavigation of the globe.

The song is 'Over the oceans' - a celebration of the extraordinary achievements of both sailors.

The song: 'Over the oceans'

Song 1: 'Over the oceans' (vocal)

Song 1: 'Over the oceans' (backing)

The song has three verses: Verse 1 - Christopher Columbus; Verse 2 - Ferdinand Magellan; Verse 3 - celebrating Britain's sea-faring history.

Once you have learnt the song by singing with vocal version polish your performance by singing with the backing track.

Click here for the lyric sheet.

Click here for the music sheet.

Music activity: miming actions in time to music

Music activity: miming actions in time to the music

Miming the actions on board a busy sailing ship in time with the beat of the music:

  • pulling on the ropes
  • sweeping the deck
  • climbing the rigging up to the top of the mast

Identifying the instruments playing: a pipe, a drum and a violin.

Resources

Guidance on all the content (pdf)

Teacher's Notes

Meet the famous people in this slideshow of images

Meet the famous people

More from this series

Finding out about the lives of two extraordinary monarchs: Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

2. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I

Finding out about London immediately before the Great Fire including the plague of 1665.

3. Samuel Pepys and The Great Fire of London - part 1

Finding out about The Great Fire and singing songs based on well-known nursery rhymes.

4. Samuel Pepys and The Great Fire of London - part 2