Songs that bring people together
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can participate in playground singing games and know that these can be used to bring communities together.
Key learning points
- Playground singing games are unaccompanied songs that are often inspired by folk songs.
- Playground singing games are shared orally by friends teaching one another in the playground.
- Children teach one another playground songs in playground communities all over the world.
- A group of people performing together is called an ensemble.
- To be a successful ensemble, it is important to look at one another and listen to one another and to work as a team.
Keywords
Folk song - a song that originates from a particular country, culture or people that is usually passed down orally
Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Ensemble - a group of people who perform together
Unaccompanied song - a song that uses voices only
Common misconception
Playground singing games, such as clapping games, are different to "real music" or are not "real music."
Playground singing games are a fantastic example of real music making! The skills needed to play them are used by musicians in other contexts. This unit draws a comparison between playground songs and these skills in action in a string quartet.
Teacher tip
For the restricted audio clip, it would be beneficial for the pupils to watch a clip of the Maxwell Quartet playing 'Oot in Da Harbour' to enable pupils to see how the quartet work as an ensemble. For example, the group are sitting in a circle/making eye contact/tapping their feet to the beat etc.
Equipment
Claves (enough for one pair per pupil)
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Hi Lo Chickalo and Double This That are examples of ...
Q2.Match these musical elements to their definitions.
Q3.A is a group of people that are connected because they have things or places in common.
Q4.A quartet is an ensemble made up of __________ musicians.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Playground singing games are __________ songs that are often inspired by folk songs.
Q2.Playground singing games are often shared __________ by friends teaching one another in the playground.
Q3.A group of people making music together is called ...
Q4.To play singing games successfully, we need to have a good sense of to help our ensemble.
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Songs that bring people together, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Songs that bring people together, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Singing together: how songs are used in communities unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.