Dinosaurs Level: Key Stage 1 - Creative music

The Dinosaurs Escape! (timbre, dynamics)

First, tell this story about dinosaurs escaping from a zoo:

The dinosaurs were very sad that they lived in a zoo. One day the littlest dinosaur had an idea - they would escape! The big dinosaurs roared with laughter at this idea at first, but then they started whispering about how to make their escape. When the day came, the big dinosaurs and the flying dinosaurs let the little ones ride on their backs as they pushed down the walls of their enclosure. The zoo-keepers were angry! The last time we saw the dinosaurs they were happily flying into the sky or running away free!

When you do this with a whole class, pairs or small groups of children could first go to the music corner, with an adult helper, to choose instruments for their part of the story eg the angry zoo-keeper. The children then accompany the story with instruments as the teacher tells it again. If you are doing this with just a group, there is enough time for choosing instruments and experimenting with playing them to fit the story.

Extension Activity (structure, texture)

In small, supervised groups or pairs the children make the sequence of sounds that go with each part of the story, but without the words being said. They really have to think about how the story and the music are structured. I've taken the opportunity here to mention the element of music term, texture in relation to our music.

Alternatively, the children could make up their own story to set to music.