Lesson video

Hello everyone.

My name is Mrs. Steele.

And I'm so excited that we're going to be learning together today.

In today's music lesson, we will be exploring singing together as a community, and we're going to be playing lots of singing games and have a brilliant time.

Let's get started together.

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to take part in singing games and understand that singing games can be used to strengthen communities.

Here are the key words that we'll need in our learning today.

Warmup, a sequence of exercises used to prepare the mind, body, and voice for singing.

Folk song, a song that originates from a particular country, culture or people that's usually passed down orally.

Community, a group of people that are connected because they have things or places in common.

For example, a school community.

An unaccompanied song, a song where only voices are used.

Let's begin by warming up so that we're all ready to make music together.

It's important that we warm up our voices, our bodies, and our minds before every music lesson.

This make sure that we feel energized, focused, and ready to make music.

Join in with this whole body warmup so that you are full of energy and focused.

Here's the video! <v ->Let's begin by warming up our bodies</v> because we know how important it is to warm up before we start making music and singing.

We'll begin with a stretch.

Arms high into the air, onto our tiptoes, hold onto a monkey bar, and we are going to not let go of that monkey bar, but we are going to lower our heels to the ground, so we're going to get taller.

Lowering to the count of four.

Here we go.

1, 2, 3, 4.

Gosh, you're all super tall.

Drop your fingers and your wrists and your elbows and your shoulders.

Relax your knees and go ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble.

<v In unison>Ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble.

</v> <v ->Very good.

Let's do that one more time.

</v> Stretch up, onto your tiptoes.

Hold onto the monkey bar, lowering our heels to a count of four going 1, 2, 3, 4.

Gosh, you're so tall now.

Drop your fingers and your wrists and your elbows and your shoulders.

Relax your knees and ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble.

<v In unison>Ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble-ble.

</v> <v ->Very good.

Now let's take up as much space as we can.

</v> Make a really, really big space, huge shapes, and we are going to shrink down into a ditty-tiny shape.

Tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, like a little seed, and we are now going to grow back to a big shape.

when you're ready, 1, 2, 3, go.

Grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow.

And relax.

Feet slightly apart.

Arms by our sides.

Let's focus on our bodies now.

Wiggle your nose and your knees, fingers, toes, bottoms, ears, back to nose, (hums softly) and fingers, and toes together and relax.

Really well done! <v ->Now let's do some breathing exercises together.

</v> Breathing will fill up our lungs with air and will support our singing.

When I'm breathing like a singer, I remember to keep my shoulders down and I use my imagination to help me.

Imagine your tummy is a balloon.

We can see Jun's tummy balloon in the picture here.

We're going to breathe in calmly and deeply to fill up our balloon with air, and the bottom of our balloon will fill up first like this.

(breathing deeply) Now it's your turn.

Join in with these calm breathing warmups.

Remember to watch the leader carefully and keep your shoulders down as you breathe.

Breathe in calmly and deeply, and your tummy balloon will gradually fill up with air.

Here's the video for you to join in.

Join in with these breathing exercises.

Copy me.

(rubbing hands) (blowing softly) (soft hissing) Now that we can breathe like a singer, let's make sure we have posture like a singer too.

Stand with your feet slightly apart.

Make sure they're in line with your shoulders, and we call this standing neutral.

Now imagine you've got a golden thread coming out the top of your head like a puppet string.

That puppet string is gently holding you up so you can stand tall, still and proud, and keep your hands gently and relaxed by your sides.

Are you doing that now? Check that you are standing like a singer.

I know a song to help us remember how to stand like a singer.

It's called "Standing Tall".

Watch the video and echo the leader.

It's me actually.

As you echo me, make sure you are standing tall and proud, keep your feet apart, in line with your shoulders and your hands gently by your sides.

Echo me.

Here I come in the video.

This is an echo song.

You're going to copy me.

♪ Standing tall ♪ ♪ Standing tall ♪ ♪ Try not to fall ♪ ♪ Try not to fall ♪ ♪ Mouth open wide ♪ ♪ Mouth open wide ♪ ♪ Hands by your side ♪ ♪ Hands by your side ♪ ♪ Feet apart ♪ ♪ Feet apart ♪ ♪ Sing from your heart ♪ ♪ Sing from your heart ♪ ♪ Singing strong ♪ ♪ Singing strong ♪ ♪ Till the end of the song ♪ ♪ Till the end of the song ♪ <v ->Let's put all of that together</v> and join in with this warmup song.

Before you begin, check that you are standing like a singer.

Breathe in deeply, keep your shoulders down and fill up your tummy balloon with air.

Here comes the music for "I am warming up my voice".

Join in with the echos.

(cheerful music) ♪ I am warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I am warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I am warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I am warming up my voice ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ Low notes down below ♪ ♪ ow notes down below ♪ ♪ Sing this like a cat ♪ ♪ Sing this like a cat ♪ ♪ Meow, meow, just like that ♪ ♪ Meow, meow, just like that ♪ ♪ Meeeee-owwwww ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ Low notes down below ♪ ♪ Low notes down below.

♪ ♪ Sing this like a mouse ♪ ♪ Sing this like a mouse.

♪ ♪ Eek-eek round the house ♪ ♪ Eek-eek in my house ♪ ♪ Eee-eeek ♪ ♪ I am warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ Low notes down below ♪ ♪ Low notes down below ♪ ♪ Sing this like a cow ♪ ♪ Sing this like a cow ♪ ♪ Moo-moo I know how ♪ ♪ Moo-moo I know how ♪ ♪ Moo-Oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I'm warming up my voice ♪ ♪ I am warming up my voice ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ High notes all in a row ♪ ♪ Low notes down below ♪ ♪ Low notes down below ♪ ♪ Sing this like a Bee ♪ ♪ Sing this like a Bee ♪ ♪ Buzz buzz, just like me ♪ ♪ Buzz buzz, just like me ♪ ♪ Buzz-Zzzz ♪ (cheerful music) <v ->It's time for a check-in with our learning so far.

</v> To breathe like a singer, it's important to: A, take the biggest breath you can; B, breathe calmly and deeply with your shoulders down; or C, breathe in quickly just before you're about to sing.

Which one of these helps you to breathe like a singer? Press pause to decide your answer.

Here comes the answer.

I expect you knew it's B.

To breathe like a singer, it's important to breathe in calmly and deeply with your shoulders down.

Great understanding everyone! Now we're going to learn about singing in playground communities.

In this unit, we're going to be exploring how singing together can strengthen our communities.

And one good example of this is playground singing games.

These games can help us feel connected to our friends and help to make our school community a happy, welcoming place, which is how we'd all like our school community to be.

These songs and games are enjoyed by children all over the world in their playground communities, and these songs have usually got some things in common.

Playground singing games are usually simple and memorable.

They're unaccompanied songs, songs that only use voices.

They're inspired by folk songs, which means they're shared orally by singing them and teaching them to your friends, not by writing them down, and they're often fun and silly.

Children play these games in their playgrounds, in pairs or groups.

It's time for a quick check-in with our learning so far.

True or false? Playground singing games are usually complicated and shared by writing them down.

This is so we can remember them another day.

Show me a thumbs up if you think that's true, and a thumbs down if you think that's false.

Here comes the answer.

That's false.

Well done if you've got that right.

Because playground games are usually inspired by simple folk songs, they're easy to remember and they're shared orally, not by writing them down.

This often means their exact origins, where they come from are unclear.

Sometimes children make changes to these as they play and share the game with their friends.

It's about time we played some singing games, isn't it? I wonder if you know this one.

It's a popular playground clapping game, and it's called "Hi Lo Chickalo".

Watch the video to learn how to play, then press pause to try it with a partner where you are.

♪ Hi Lo Chickalo Chickalo Chickalo ♪ ♪ Hi Lo Chickalo Chickalo Hi ♪ ♪ Lo hi chica hi chica hi chica hi ♪ ♪ Lo hi chica hi chica hi lo ♪ <v ->Hi again!</v> Do you know any other clapping or singing games that you play in your playground community? I wonder if you knew "Hi Lo Chickalo" already.

But do you know any others? And how do you feel when you play these games in your playground? You might want to press pause now to share your ideas, or you could think about them in your own thinking voice.

Here are some of our Oak friends ideas.

Aisha says, "She feels happy when she plays these games.

Clapping games are easy to join in with, and it's a good way to make new friends too." I wonder if you shared ideas like that or perhaps something different.

Let's try another playground clapping game.

This one's called "Pass One Window, Tideo".

It's inspired by a folk song that may have come from America.

Watch this video to learn how to play with a partner.

Then press pause to try it where you are.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go ♪ ♪ Pass one window tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Pass two windows tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Pass three windows tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Jingle at the windows tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Tid - e - o Tid - e - o ♪ (clapping hands) ♪ Jingle at the windows Tid - e - o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Tid - e - o Tid - e - o ♪ (clapping hands) ♪ Jingle at the windows Tid - e - o (clapping hands) ♪ <v ->Now let's make it a bit more complicated.

</v> Watch this video to learn how to include more friends and play in groups.

This version takes a lot of teamwork and quite a bit of practice.

Watch the video, then press pause to try it where you are.

(soft clacking) ♪ Ready, steady, off we go! ♪ ♪ Pass one window tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Pass two windows tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Pass three windows tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Jingle at the windows tid-e-o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Tid - e - o ♪ (clapping hands) ♪ Tid - e - o ♪ (clapping hands) ♪ Jingle at the windows Tid - e - o (clapping hands) ♪ ♪ Tid - e - o ♪ (clapping hands) ♪ Tid - e - o ♪ (clapping hands) ♪ Jingle at the windows Tid - e - o (clapping hands) ♪ <v ->Hi again.

Could you manage that tricky version?</v> It takes a bit of practice.

How did you feel when you were playing this game? And what skills do you think you need to play these playground games successfully? Here are some of our Oak friends ideas.

Jun says, "The game was tricky at first and it felt exciting when we finally got it right.

We needed lots of perseverance." I wonder if you did too.

And Sophia says, "We needed listening skills to play together." Absolutely right.

"It was important to work as a team and it helped me feel connected to my group." You could press pause to share some of your own ideas now, or think about them in your thinking voice.

Now let's make music together in a circle.

Singing games are a great way to have fun together in a playground community.

They're often played by groups of children in a circle.

When we're in a circle, we can all make eye contact with each other.

We can sing to each other and with each other as part of a team.

In a circle, it reminds us that we're all equal.

Let's try playing a playground singing game together in a circle.

It's called "Sally Go Round the Sun." As you play, remember to make eye contact with your team, listen to each other and sing together.

The big challenge in this game is, can you all change direction at exactly the same time? Watch the video to learn how to play, "Sally Go Round the Sun." Then press pause to try it with your team.

(soft clacking) ♪ Ready, steady, off you go.

♪ ♪ Sally go round the sun ♪ ♪ Sally go round the moon ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sunshine ♪ ♪ Every afternoon.

BOOM! ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sun ♪ ♪ Sally go round the moon ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sunshine ♪ ♪ Every afternoon.

BOOM! ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sun ♪ ♪ Sally go round the moon ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sunshine ♪ ♪ Every afternoon.

BOOM! ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sun ♪ ♪ Sally go round the moon ♪ ♪ Sally go round the sunshine ♪ ♪ Every afternoon.

BOOM! ♪ <v ->Here's another playground singing game</v> that's played in a circle.

This one's called "Apple tree", and it's also an unaccompanied folk song that's been turned into a playground singing game.

Watch the video to learn how to play, then try playing "Apple Tree." Remember to stand in a circle so that you can see and hear each other equally.

Here comes the video.

Then press pause to play "Apple Tree" where you are.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go.

♪ ♪ Apple tree, Apple tree ♪ ♪ Will your apples fall on me ♪ ♪ I won't cry and I won't shout ♪ ♪ If your apples knock me out ♪ <v Teacher>You've been caught.

Okay, join the Apple Tree.

</v> Let's join up the circle again.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go.

♪ ♪ Apple tree, Apple tree ♪ ♪ Will your apples fall on me ♪ ♪ I won't cry and I won't shout ♪ ♪ If your apples knock me out ♪ <v Teacher>You've been caught, join the Apple Tree.

</v> Join up the circle again.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go.

♪ ♪ Apple tree, Apple tree ♪ ♪ Will your apples fall on me ♪ ♪ I won't cry and I won't shout ♪ ♪ If your apples knock me out ♪ <v ->Do you know any other circle games</v> to play in the playground together? You could press pause to share your ideas now.

Let's listen to another new song.

This is called "Ystäväni, tuttavani" and it's a singing game that's played in playground communities in Finland.

The words mean, My friend, my fellow, join a circle dance with me.

Have a listen.

(Mrs. Steele singing in Finnish) This song is often sung with a partner dance to go along with it, and we are going to try adding that partner dance now, as we listen.

Let's go through the moves for each of the three verses.

Then you can press pause to practice it where you are before we put it all together with the music.

So, in verse one, on lines one and two, you and your partner are going to hold hands and move slowly round in a circle.

Then on lines three and four, you're going to change direction.

Let's look at verse two.

In verse two, on lines one and two, you're going to hold opposite hands, raise them in the air and then move around in a circle.

And on lines three and four, you're going to swap hands and change direction.

And verse three is exactly the same as verse one.

In lines one and two, hold both hands with your partner and move around in a circle.

And on lines three and four, change direction.

You're going to want to practice that at your own pace where you are.

So in a moment, you can press pause and use the audio button to listen and practice together.

Then meet me back here and we'll put it all together in a performance.

See you in a bit.

Hi again! Now that you've had a chance to practice, let's put it together with the music.

I'll sing the song, but if you've got a Polish expert in your class, do encourage them to correct me and sing it instead of me, because they'll do it better.

But I'll sing and you and your partner can do the dance together.

Are you ready? ♪ Ready, steady, off we go.

♪ (Mrs. Steele singing in Finnish) Well done everyone! Were you and your partner successful in the partner dance? How do you know? Check if you did these things.

Did you make eye contact with your partner that makes it easier to stay in time together? Did you listen carefully to the music so you knew when to change actions? And did you work as a team to move together? Great music making everyone.

Well done! We've come to the end of our music lesson together today, so let's take a moment to think about everything we've been learning.

We've learned that playground singing games, often short, memorable folk songs that are passed down orally.

And we know that playground singing games are often unaccompanied so that they can be played anywhere.

And we know that playground communities can help us connect with one another and can help to build a happy, welcoming community.

I love making music with you today, and I can't wait to see you again for another lesson soon.

Bye everyone!.