Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 4
Using opera to tell a story
I can talk about what opera is and how it is used to tell a story
- Year 4
Using opera to tell a story
I can talk about what opera is and how it is used to tell a story
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Opera is a way of telling stories through singing.
- Opera brings together dramatic singing, acting, dance, & art to create a multi-sensory live experience of storytelling.
- We can use our singing voices to convey how our character is feeling.
- Singing the words clearly help the audience to understand the story.
- We can show the relationship between two characters by the way they respond to each other.
Keywords
Opera - a form of storytelling using dramatic singing, acting, costume and design and sometimes dance
Libretto - a book containing the words (and sometimes stage directions) that the opera performers will use
Duet - a performance by two singers, musicians or dancers
Orchestra - a large musical ensemble, combining instruments from the string, woodwind and percussion families
Common misconception
Opera is boring and only for older, wealthier people. It's mainly people singing in high voices in languages we might not understand.
Opera can be performed anywhere, for anyone, and in many different languages. There are operas suitable for all age groups and they combine drama, comedy, singing, dance, music and design. Opera can be a great genre for exciting storytelling.
To help you plan your year 4 music lesson on: Using opera to tell a story, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 music lesson on: Using opera to tell a story, 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 stories are shared through song unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is a composer?
Q2.An instrumentalist is ...
Q3.An __________ is a group of people gathered to listen and watch a live performance.
Q4.Match the musical storytelling to its definition.
a type of theatre with songs, acting and dance
a West African storyteller and musician
a short, often comical, light opera
a form of narrative verse, often put to music
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.____________ is a way of telling stories through singing, acting, dancing and art.
Q2.A duet is a performance between __________ singers, musicians or dancers.
Q3.What is a libretto?
Q4.Match the musical words to their definitions.
a work that is presented to an audience
a person who directs musicians or singers
a large ensemble, combining string, woodwind, brass, and percussion