Michael Row the Boat Ashore | Free Music Lesson Plan (Call and Response)

Big Idea

All Aboard! Introduce Call and Response as students sit in boats and use rhythm sticks as oars to row their way through this free, no-prep elementary music lesson plan.

Grade Level: 1-3
Activity: Singing & Movement
Skill: Identifying Call and Response Form

Students will demonstrate an understanding of call and response through choreographed movement.

This lesson is designed to fulfill the 2014 National Standard for Music:
Demonstrate and explain how the expressive qualities (such as dynamics and tempo) are used in performers’ decisions to convey expressive intent. (Responding - MU:Re9.1)

Recording of Michael Row the Boat Ashore
Rhythm sticks (2 per student)

Music Lesson Plan

Michael Row the Boat Ashore Music Lesson

Step 1
Introduce call and response to the class. Describe the "call" as the musical question and the "response" as the musical answer.

Step 2
Teach the students to sing each call and response phrase together as a class.

Step 3
Divide the class into two groups: the Call Group and the Response Group.

Step 4
Have the groups perform the song. One group poses the question (call) and the other group offers the answer (response).

Step 5
Sing the song all the way through, then have the groups switch roles.

Step 6
Ask the students these questions:

"Which part are you singing?"
"Why does the call sound like a question and the response sound like an answer?"
"Does Michael Row the Boat Ashore always have a response following the call?"

Step 7
Play the following melody from Mozart's Symphony No. 40:

Mozart Symphony 40 Call and Response

Step 8
Ask students if they can hear the call and response phrases as you play the example. Why do these phrases sound like questions and answers?

Step 9
Have students "sit in boats" by forming groups of 3 or 4. They should sit one behind the other with their legs crossed.

Step 10
Pass out the oars (rhythm sticks). Each student gets two sticks.

Step 11
Tell the class they will perform one movement for the call and another for the response. Students will "row" during the call. Demonstrate the rowing movement, taking one stroke per measure.

Step 12
Have students perform the rowing movement with the recording during the call each time it is heard. Guide their practice so they row at the beginning of each measure.

Step 13
Demonstrate the movement for the response. Tap the rhythm sticks over your head at the beginning of each measure, then lower them to your side.

Step 14
Students perform the song again, adding the movement for the response.

Step 15
Wrap the lesson up by having students perform Michael Row the Boat Ashore independently to demonstrate their understanding of the form.

Step 16
Quiz students on Call and Response form.