“A Sailor Went to Sea” is a fun and playful song that many kids enjoy singing.
It is part of Enchanted Rhymes, which are short songs or poems written in a simple and magical way for children.
The rhyme goes something like this (without repeating the exact words):
It talks about a sailor (a person who works on a ship) who goes to sea and looks with his eyes to see what he can see.
This rhyme is short, repetitive, and catchy, which makes it easy for children to remember.
It is also playful because of the way words sound the same, like “sea” and “see.”
Example: When you sing this rhyme, you keep repeating the words “sea” and “see,” and it sounds musical and fun.
Who is a Sailor?
Before understanding the rhyme, let’s learn about sailors.
A sailor is a person who works on a ship or boat.
Sailors travel across the sea or ocean.
They help steer the ship, take care of it, and guide it safely.
Sailors also explore and see new lands, animals, and places.
Example: Just like bus drivers drive buses on roads, sailors “drive” ships on the water.
In the rhyme, the sailor is going to the sea, which means he is on an adventure!
Understanding the Words “Sea” and “See”
One of the most interesting parts of this rhyme is the play on words.
Sea means the big body of salty water, like an ocean.
See means to look with your eyes.
The rhyme is fun because both words sound the same but have different meanings.
This is called a homophone.
Example:
“I went to the sea” (water).
“I see a bird” (looking).
This rhyme helps kids learn about homophones in a simple way.
Rhythm and Repetition
The rhyme is very rhythmic.
This means it has a musical beat.
Children love to sing it while clapping their hands or tapping their feet.
The repetition of words makes it easy to remember.
Example: Kids can clap on each word “sea, sea, sea” while singing.
This makes learning fun.
Repetition is important in children’s learning because it helps them remember better.
Actions with the Rhyme
Many times, teachers add actions or gestures while singing.
When the rhyme says “see,” children can put their hands near their eyes like binoculars.
When it says “sea,” children can move their hands like waves.
Example: A class of kids singing the rhyme can move like waves and pretend to be sailors.
This makes the rhyme interactive.
Lessons from the Rhyme
Even though it looks like a simple song, this rhyme teaches many things:
About sailors – Children learn who sailors are.
About the sea – They learn about the big water bodies.
New words – Like “sea” and “see.”
Rhythm and music – Kids learn how to enjoy beats.
Observation – It encourages children to “see” things carefully.
Example: Teachers can ask, “What things do you see around you?”
after singing the rhyme. Kids may say, “I see a book, I see my friend, I see a toy.”
Fun with Word Play
The rhyme uses word play (sea vs see).
This is an early introduction to language skills.
Kids enjoy rhymes because they:
Sound musical
Have repeating words
Are easy to remember
Example:
Another rhyme with word play is “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.”
(Here “scream” and “ice cream” sound fun together.)
Imagination in the Rhyme
This rhyme also builds imagination.
Kids imagine:
A sailor on a big ship
The wide sea with waves
Looking around to see exciting things
Example: A child may imagine the sailor seeing dolphins jumping out of the water or a lighthouse shining at night.
Imagination makes children more creative and curious about the world.
Importance in School Studies
Why is this rhyme important in school?
Language learning – Improves vocabulary and pronunciation.
Memory building – Repetition helps kids remember better.
Confidence – Singing in groups makes children more confident.
Teamwork – When children sing together, they learn unity.
Joy in learning – Studies become fun with rhymes.
Example: Instead of just telling kids “a sailor works on a ship,” teachers use this rhyme to teach in a joyful way.
Moral or Hidden Message
Even though the rhyme is short and funny, it can carry a hidden message:
Always observe carefully (like the sailor who goes to see).
Learning can be fun if you look at things with curiosity.
The sea is big, just like our world, and there are always new things to discover.
Example: Just like the sailor sees the sea, children should see and learn new things every day in school.
Activities Based on the Rhyme
Teachers can do many fun activities:
a) Drawing Activity
Children can draw:
A sailor with a cap
A big ship
Waves of the sea
b) Role Play
One child can act as the sailor, and others can be the sea waves.
c) Word Game
Write the words “sea” and “see” on the board.
Ask children to make sentences.
“The sea is blue.”
“I see my mother.”
d) Singing with Claps
Sing the rhyme while clapping hands in rhythm.
Examples of What a Sailor Might See
To make the rhyme more meaningful, we can think of what the sailor might actually see in the sea.
Dolphins jumping in water
Fish swimming
A lighthouse
Seagulls flying
A sunset on the sea
Example: Teacher can ask, “What do you think the sailor saw?”
Children might answer, “Maybe a big whale!”
Connection with Other Rhymes
This rhyme is similar to other fun rhymes because it is short, repetitive, and easy to sing.
Examples:
“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.”
“Jack and Jill went up the hill.”
These rhymes all help children learn language, rhythm, and imagination.
