Singing Games Lesson Plan - Year 6 Lesson 1

The first lesson of the Year 6 Singing Games series aims to instil in students an understanding and appreciation of traditional playground games, while simultaneously enhancing their musical skills. The learning objectives focus on developing clear diction while singing, chanting with rhythmic accuracy, and coordinating physical movements such as clapping and bouncing a ball in time with a steady pulse. Key musical concepts such as pulse, rhythm, and sequence are central to the activities planned for the lesson.

The main activities of this lesson revolve around interactive and challenging games that combine musical rhythm with physical coordination. Students start by playing 'CONCENTRATION', a game that requires them to maintain a continuous sequence of actions while chanting and remembering to call out names in turn. This tests their ability to keep a steady pulse and focus under pressure. Two versions of the 'CONCENTRATION' ball game further challenge the students to bounce a ball in rhythm while chanting names, with the added difficulty of random selection in the second version. A complex clapping game, 'FOUR WHITE HORSES', is also introduced, where students must remember a series of words and clapping patterns. The plenary involves a discussion to reflect on the enjoyment and learning outcomes of the games, and the session concludes with the introduction of the song 'DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY', setting the stage for the next lesson. The National Curriculum objectives are met through exploring duration and using voices collectively for music creation.