Ship Ahoy!

Materials

none

Instructions

1. Begin by teaching the children the actions that go with the following
commands:
* Captain's coming aboard! (Stand to attention and salute.)
* Scrub the decks! (Mime scrubbing on hands and knees.)
* Dance a jig! (Fold arms and kick alternate legs.)
* Climb the rigging! (Mime climbing with alternate arms.)
* Look out for pirates! (Hold hand flat above eyes and peer all around.)
* Steer starboard! (Mime turning large wheel to left.)
* Steer port! (Mime turning large wheel to right.)
* Walk the plank! (Mime walking forward with arms outstretched.)
2. Reduce the number of commands and leave out port and starboard for
younger children. Encourage older children to make up extra nautical
commands.
3. Practice each movement a few times.
4. Call out the commands in quick succession. Encourage the children to try
and do all the actions as you call them out faster and faster. This is a lot
of fun!
More to do Use this game as part of a ship/boat or pirate theme.
Art: Encourage the children to make up a name for a sailing ship and
design a flag illustrating its name.
Dramatic Play: Make or bring in pirate costumes. Encourage the children
to pretend they are on a tall sailing ship.
Group or Circle Time: Use pictures and books to show children about life
on huge, old-fashioned sailing ships.