Instrumental Lesson Plan - Reception Lesson 3

The third instrumental lesson for Reception pupils is designed to develop their understanding of when to play and not to play, as well as to improve their ability to play accurate rhythm patterns on un-tuned instruments. The lesson's objectives also include encouraging children to use descriptive language when discussing the sounds that different instruments make. The key vocabulary for this lesson includes terms such as 'start', 'stop', 'tap', 'shake', 'scrape', and 'ring'. The resources required for this lesson are a variety of instruments categorised as tappers, shakers, scrapers, and bells, along with a large drum, symbol cards, and the option of lively recorded music with a steady pulse.

During the main activities, pupils will engage in a series of games and exercises. They will participate in the 'Start Stop Game' with their instruments, respond to different drum cues in the 'Drum Game', and practise following a four-beat rhythm pattern in 'Follow the Rhythm of the Drum'. In the 'Instrumental Timbres' activity, children will play their instruments and think of words to describe the sounds they produce. The lesson also involves singing 'Freres Jacques', with each line of the song accompanied by a different instrumental group, and revisiting the 'Instrument and Symbol Game' from previous lessons. For an extension activity, children may have the opportunity to lead the games. The plenary includes singing a song about putting instruments away and a finger-wiggling track to conclude the session. Teachers can refer to the provided 'Teacher Notes' and DVD tracks for additional guidance on songs and games.