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Dead Horse Shanty

Grades 9-12

Enrichment Activity 2: Music to Move By

This activity is designed to have students experience what it is like to use music and singing to coordinate a physical activity. First, students will use the primary source recording “Dead Horse Shanty” to coordinate their movement. Later, students will try the same activity using a different tune. Keeping a fairly consistent rhythm will be key to these exercises. However, increasing and decreasing the tempo will add more challenge.

1. Sound recording of “Dead Horse Shanty”
2. Small objects like plastic cups or blocks that easily fit into one hand
3. An additional song; select another simple song with repetitive lyrics. For example, select a fairly simple song with a steady tempo like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (or a sea shanty that is easy to learn).

Part 1

1. Have students sit in a fairly close circle. Each student should have an object such as a ball or plastic cup, that they can easily hold and hand to their partner. 
2. Play the recording and encourage students to sing along (especially with the refrain).
3. While singing the song, have students identify/ establish a slow, steady beat.
4. Now that students are familiar with the song and the beat, you can add the movement.
5. Have students pass their object to their classmate on the right on the steady beat that you have established.
6. At the conclusion of the song, have students assess the process.
   1. What was it like handing off their objects to their classmates?
   2. Was it simple or challenging?
   3. How did the music help or hinder the process?

Part 2

1. Select a different recording or song for students to sing while performing this task.
2. Complete steps 2-6 from Part 1, using the new recording or song.
3. As students get comfortable with their handoffs, begin increasing the speed.
4. Continue increasing the speed until it is clear that students are no longer able to manage passing on their items.
5. At the conclusion of the song, have students assess the process.
   1. What was it like handing off their objects to their classmates? Was it simple or challenging? How did the music help or hinder the process?

Alternate approach to the activity

Another option is to begin this activity without any singing. Allow students to attempt to coordinate the collective movement of objects with their classmates without any guiding rhythm of music.

Sea chanty option: “Roll the Chariot Along”

Lyrics:
We’ll roll the old chariot along!
An’ we’ll roll the golden chariot along!
So we’ll ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
An’ we’ll all hang on behind!

If the devil’s in the way, we’ll roll it over him!
If the devil’s in the way, well, we’ll roll it over him!
If the devil’s in the way, we’ll roll it over him!
An’ we’ll all hang on behind!

Reflect:

• Did this activity give you any new perspectives about the “Dead Horse Shanty”? What kind of work were sailors doing while singing this song?
• What new perspectives do we have about the importance of sea shanties or work songs from this exercise?
• What does this exercise teach us about the importance of rhythm and tempo in work songs?
• What kinds of activities have you participated in that needed coordinated movement?