Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn about the origins and development of the modern-day ukulele, get familiar with the most common types of the instrument and boost their creativity by inventing a new ukulele type.
💻 Materials:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
What string instruments do you hear? (Ukulele, bass guitar)
How would you describe the sound of the ukulele? (Choose suitable adjectives: mellow, sweet, mild, bright, soft, smooth, friendly, happy, etc.)
Do you know when the ukulele was invented?
Do you know in which country the ukulele was invented?
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Soprano ukulele is the smallest. It has a standard tuning of G-C-E-A.
Concert ukulele is slightly larger than the soprano ukulele and has the same tuning.
Tenor ukulele is even larger and louder and has the same tuning.
Baritone ukulele is the same length as the tenor ukulele but slightly broader. It has a deeper sound and is tuned to D-G-B-E.
Guitalele is a hybrid of guitar and ukulele. It has 6 strings.
Bass ukulele or U-Bass has the tuning of a bass guitar (E-A-D-G).
Banjolele is a cross between banjo and ukulele.
Electric ukulele is amplified, just like an electric guitar.
Pineapple ukulele has a rounder body, similar to a pineapple cut in half.
Sopranino ukulele is even smaller than the soprano ukulele.
Pocket ukulele is the tiniest one. Its scale length is around 11 inches, making it quite challenging to press some chords!
What type(s) are they?
🕐 Time: 15 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Think of hybrids between different instruments, weird shapes and colors etc. Let your imagination fly!
What is the name of the new instrument?
How did you create it?
What material would it be made of?
How would it sound?
What sort of music could be played on it?
🕐 Time: 4 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Which ukulele type did you like the most?
Which ukulele type would you like to try?
What songs would you like to learn on the ukulele?
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…
In this lesson, students will learn about the origins and development of the modern-day ukulele, get familiar with the most common types of the instrument and boost their creativity by inventing a new ukulele type.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons and add additional activities (see 'Activities' section). If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 45 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson, students will be able to...
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Listen to ukulele
What string instruments do you hear? (Ukulele, bass guitar)
How would you describe the sound of the ukulele? (Choose suitable adjectives: mellow, sweet, mild, bright, soft, smooth, friendly, happy, etc.)
Do you know when the ukulele was invented?
Do you know in which country the ukulele was invented?
🕐 10 min - Ukulele history
🕐 10 min - Ukulele types
Soprano ukulele is the smallest. It has a standard tuning of G-C-E-A.
Concert ukulele is slightly larger than the soprano ukulele and has the same tuning.
Tenor ukulele is even larger and louder and has the same tuning.
Baritone ukulele is the same length as the tenor ukulele but slightly broader. It has a deeper sound and is tuned to D-G-B-E.
Guitalele is a hybrid of guitar and ukulele. It has 6 strings.
Bass ukulele or U-Bass has the tuning of a bass guitar (E-A-D-G).
Banjolele is a cross between banjo and ukulele.
Electric ukulele is amplified, just like an electric guitar.
Pineapple ukulele has a rounder body, similar to a pineapple cut in half.
Sopranino ukulele is even smaller than the soprano ukulele.
Pocket ukulele is the tiniest one. Its scale length is around 11 inches, making it quite challenging to press some chords!
What type(s) are they?
🕐 15 min - Invent a new type!
Think of hybrids between different instruments, weird shapes and colors etc. Let your imagination fly!
What is the name of the new instrument?
How did you create it?
What material would it be made of?
How would it sound?
What sort of music could be played on it?
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…