All Aboard: Sails, Anchor and Deck
Before setting sail, the crew gets the ship ready by acting it out: scrubbing the deck, raising the sails, pulling up the anchor and rowing to the captain's rhythm. It warms up the whole body with big gestures and a shared beat.
How to play
- The captain (the teacher) calls the crew: “Sailors, all aboard!” Everyone hurries into line and salutes (1 min).
- Scrub the deck: on your knees, rub the floor with both hands in big circles, then stand and use a pretend mop (1 min).
- Raise the sails: pull an imaginary rope hand over hand, from low to high, until you're on tiptoes (1 min).
- Pull up the anchor: feet wide, squat and pull back with your whole body shouting “heave-ho!” (1 min).
- Row to the captain's beat as the captain chants “Row, sailor, row, the wind will help us go,” first slow, then fast, sitting on the floor (2 min).
Rules
- The captain calls the job and we all do it together.
- Make big moves, like strong sailors.
- When rowing, follow the chant's beat.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use three jobs (scrub, sails, row) with the teacher doing them too.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use all four jobs and row at two speeds.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child is captain and picks the order; row in pairs sitting face to face, holding hands.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: every job can be done sitting, using arms and trunk.
- Hearing impairment: each job has a signal gesture the captain shows before starting it.
- Autism: show pictures of the jobs in order and always use the same chant.
Learning goals
- Warm up arms, trunk and legs with big gestures.
- Act out everyday actions from a job.
- Match movement to a chant's rhythm.
Teacher tip
The chant is original; always use the same beat so it becomes the rowing cue. If you have a spare minute, ask what else sailors do and try it out.
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