Singing and performing with simple instruments

Learning Intentions

  • We are learning to sing simple songs and rhymes, and play singing games.
  • We are learning to sing in a range of formal and informal situations.

What to look for

  • Pupils joining in singing simple songs and rhymes
  • Pupils joining in action songs
  • Pupils echoing what the teacher sings
  • Pupils singing in response to the teacher

Learning Activities

Lead the pupils in singing a variety of simple songs and rhymes. Include action songs, where possible, and opportunities for the pupils to provide simple accompaniments, for example:

  • Hickory Dickory Dock: they tap their fingers or claves to make tick-tock noises in response to the beat;
  • Jack and Jill: they do actions and/or use maracas and drums to make sounds for tumbling down;
  • Hush-a-Bye Baby: they make quiet, gentle sounds with tinkling bells;
  • The Grand Old Duke of York: they play a loud march on the drum or tambour; and
  • Incey Wincey Spider: they shake tambourines or maracas to make water sounds.

Lead the pupils in singing a variety of songs related to topic work, for example:

  • myself:
    • Head, shoulders, knees and toes;
    • Hand on your head;
    • Tap your name;
    • Clap your hands, wiggle your fingers; and
    • One finger, one thumb keep moving;
  • animals:
    • A hedgehog is very prickly;
    • Mrs Bear lives in a cave;
    • A dragon’s very fierce;
    • There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf; and
    • When we’re on the farm;
  • weather and days:
    • What is the weather today?;
    • Ho Jack Frost;
    • I hear thunder;
    • Summer’s hot and summer’s fun;
    • Hello Mr Sun; and
    • Monday’s here;
  • colours:
    • Do you know the colours?; and
    • What is yellow?;
  • counting songs:
    • Five little ducks;
    • Five green speckled frogs; and
    • Five wonky bicycles.

Sing soh-me (chime bars G-E or equivalent) and have the pupils echo using words, for example:

  • Today is Monday.
  • It is sunny.
  • I am happy.
  • My shoes are red.
  • I love reading.
  • Mary has brown hair.

Sing (or use a puppet to ‘sing’) questions, and have the pupils sing responses. Again, use G–E pitches, for example:

  • Hello, what is your name?
  • What’s your favourite colour?
  • What’s the weather like today?
  • Ask the pupils to sing back ‘hello’ in response when you call the roll, or in other everyday situations.