Find resources featuring Song Bank songs Celebrations
A topic-based plan by Andy Brooke, offering six weeks of activities across the KS2 curriculum to integrate Song Bank songs with everyday classroom delivery.
The theme of Celebrations can be as focused or as diverse as you like. This topic plan centres on what there is to celebrate about ourselves, how to plan for the future in light of our achievements, and a more 'official' celebration; the festival of lights.
Achievements
Speaking and Listening, Music, History, SEAL, PE
Sing Eyes on the sky from the Sing Up musical, What a good idea!. Discuss the theme, exploring how the song celebrates Leonardo Da Vinci and the Wright brothers for their achievements in flight engineering. Given that we now have jumbo jets and space rockets, why are these figures still remembered for their accomplishments? What other historical figures are remembered for their achievements? What are our own achievements?
Engage the children in a whole-class ensemble activity, for example a samba performance (see the Art Drum Website for accessible rhythm patterns for beginners), to reinforce the idea that some pursuits require teamwork if we are to achieve desired results. Think about other things that can only be achieved when we work together, such as a whole-class assembly or fundraising event.
Ask children to design a PE activity in which all members of the class/group must work together in order to achieve the goal. Have a few examples ready to prompt children if necessary. For example, ask them to move a netball from a start to an end-point, using a limited range of equipment, without letting it touch the ground, and without children leaving their base (eg. a hula-hoop).
Make certain that children with Physical Disabilities (PD) are included by adapting activities where necessary. Consider use of space, equipment and number of people as well as the task itself. Don’t be afraid to ask the child to advise, but ensure that they are not just ‘left to it’ – take time to discuss the strategies and expectations with them. Evaluate what has been achieved and how, then sing We're all in this together.
New beginnings
SEAL, Citizenship/PSHE, RE
It’s appropriate to engage in these activities at any time, though perhaps more so at the start of a new term, or at one of the ‘new years’ listed below.
Sing Auld lang syne. Discuss what the song is about, and why it is sung at New Year. Talk about resolutions – what are they and why do people make them? Why is the start of a new year a good time to set goals for ourselves? Ask children to consider what they have done well as a class and what they would like to improve in the future. Can they agree on a whole-class target? Move on to discuss individual targets, again in light of reflections on previous experience. Ask children to work with a partner to think about two things that can be done in order to achieve each target. Explore the SEAL materials on New beginnings.
Continue discussions on New Year. On what date is it celebrated? Is it always on 1st January? Ask children to find out about:
o Advent, the start of the Christian liturgical year: late November–early December
o The Chinese New Year: late January–February
o The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana: September–early October
o The Islamic New Year: the date is earlier by around 11 days each year (so there were two Islamic New years in 2008!)
o The Gujurati New Year: the day after Diwali, September–OctoberHow is New Year’s Eve/Day celebrated in Britain? Ask children about their experiences. A nice way to conclude the work on New beginnings would be to sing Apples and honey, a song which celebrates the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana. Apples and honey are eaten to usher in a sweet new year, and the festival symbolises the creation of the universe.
Festivals of light
RE, Science, Maths, D&T, Art, Geography, ICT
Festivals of light occur in various traditions. Sing Channukah, Channukah and talk about how Jews celebrate the festival. Perhaps the most ‘fun’ festival in Judaism, children love to play dreidel! In this game, players spin a four-sided top, each side of which is marked with a different Jewish symbol. Depending on which symbol lands face-up, children miss a turn, lose a counter, or take half or all of the counters from the ‘pot. Once they are familiar with the rules, try singing the Dreidel song in the Song Bank and ask children to make their own cardboard http://www.akhlah.com/holidays/hanukkah/hanukkah_crafts/dreidel_decoration.htmdreidel using the Sing Up online festive activity pack.
Talk about the significance of light in this festival – to commemorate the re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem after its desecration more than 1800 years ago. This is represented by lighting candles over a period of eight days on a special candelabrum, called a ‘menorah.’ Ask children to make an electrical menorah using simple electrical circuit equipment – bulbs, batteries, wires, crocodile clips, battery holders and, optionally switches.
The Hindu festival of light is called Diwali (though it is celebrated by other religions too eg. in Sikhism and Jainism). Learn The night of a thousand lights as an introduction. Talk about how people of all faiths (and none) will often wish each other ‘a prosperous New Year’ and that for Hindus this is what Diwali is all about: the festival of light is held in honour of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, light and good fortune (among other things). During the five-day festival, they will exchange gifts, light lamps in respect for Lakshmi, prepare and eat special meals, and organise firework displays.
During Diwali, people decorate their homes with rangoli designs, made from coloured powder. Get the children to make their own rangoli patterns. Individually, they could draw the patterns with glue and sprinkle coloured sand over; in groups or as a whole class, they could do a collage with screwed-up tissue or beads.
Other ‘Celebrations’ songs in the Song Bank include:
Mrs Tattersall Report this comment
Posted 30th Oct 2011 04:16
thanks very much for the ideas...............