Key Stage 1 Carnival of the Animals
British Birds

Go bird watching and learn about British birds. Paint observations about birds, respond to classical music and build simple nests out of natural materials. Monet will inspire children’s artwork. Introduce new musical terms. Create a swan ballet and design cuckoo collages and masks in preparation for a grand dance finale!

Session 1 Bird watching

Objectives

Art and Design

  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share ideas, experiences and imagination.

Science

  • Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and pupils should observe closely.

Lesson Planning

Arrange a visit to the local wood to excite and engage children in finding out more about birds. Use the painting `Path in the Woods´ as a source of inspiration for practical work. Children can let their senses guide them into making observations and new discoveries.

Teaching Outcomes
To use the painting Path in the Woods as a starting point for practical work and use Art and sensory observations to develop imagination and ideas.
To use video clips and first hand observations to learn about British birds.

Children will:

  • Use the painting Path in the Woods as a starting point for practical work.
  • Use art and sensory observations to develop imagination and ideas.
  • Use video clips and first hand observations to learn about British birds.
  • Use their senses to compare different textures, sounds and smells.

You Will Need

  • A collection of natural materials
  • Magnifying glasses

Session 2 The colour of birds

Objectives

Art and Design

  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.

English

  • Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas.

Lesson Planning

Children will go on a visualisation journey, becoming birds of all shapes and sizes. They will read `Birds´ by Kevin Henkes and use paint as a tool of expression.

Teaching Outcomes
To use paint to communicate experiences and observations about birds.
To use descriptive words to explore ideas about birds.

Children will:

  • Use paint to communicate experiences and observations about birds.
  • Explore visual elements including colour, pattern and shape.
  • Use descriptive words to explore ideas about birds.

You Will Need

  • The book Birds by Kevin Henkes

Session 3 Bird movements

Objectives

Music

  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high quality live and recorded music.

Dance

  • Perform dances using simple movement patterns.

Lesson Planning

Children will listen, describe and respond creatively to the music `Aviary´. They will then compose and perform their own dance compositions.

Teaching Outcomes
To respond to Classical music, Listen and describe the music: Aviary.
To use movement imaginatively, create and perform dances using simple movement patterns, express and communicate ideas and feelings.

Children will:

  • Respond to classical music.
  • Listen and describe the music The Aviary.
  • Use movement imaginatively.
  • Create and perform dances using simple movement patterns.
  • Express and communicate ideas and feelings.

You Will Need

  • Different coloured paper (use the same 6 colours as used in session 2)
  • Lolly sticks

Session 4 Nest building

Objectives

Art and Design

  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • Learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Lesson Planning

Children will explore a range of natural materials creatively then make birds´ nests.

Teaching Outcomes
To make simple nests out of natural materials, making links to what they have learnt about birds.

Children will:

  • Make simple nests out of natural materials.
  • Use the image Tree of Life as a starting point to their work.
  • Describe the image Tree of Life, making links to what they have learnt about birds.

You Will Need

  • Container for nest building materials
  • Corn husk

Session 5 The Swan in Monet's Garden

Objectives

Art and Design

  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • Develop a wide range of art and design techniques using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
  • Learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Music

  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high -quality live and recorded music.

Lesson Planning

Children will examine the work of the artist Claude Monet and use some of his techniques as a source of inspiration for their own artwork.

Teaching Outcomes
To use Claude Monet´s art as a starting point and use imagination and real life observations to develop art work.
To explore and express their ideas and feelings about the music The Swan by Saint-Saëns.

Children will:

  • Use Claude Monet's art as a starting point for practical work.
  • Learn about and use visual elements including colour and shape.
  • Identify colours and some techniques used by Claude Monet.
  • Use imagination and real life observations to develop art work.
  • Explore and express their ideas and feelings about the music The Swan' by Saint-Saëns.

You Will Need

  • The Magical Garden of Claude Monet by Laurence Anholt

Session 6 Staccato and legato

Objectives

Music

  • Play tuned and un-tuned instruments musically.
  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.
  • Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

Lesson Planning

Children will listen to the music `The Swan´ and `Hens and Cockerels´. Then will use musical terminology to describe and compare the pieces, working to create a group musical composition.

Teaching Outcomes
Understand how sounds can be made in different ways, learn the musical terms legato and staccato.
Play tuned and un-tuned instruments.
Organise musical ideas to make a group composition.

Children will:

  • Understand how sounds can be made in different ways.
  • Learn the musical terms legato and staccato.
  • Play tuned and un-tuned instruments.
  • Organise musical ideas to make a group composition.

Provided Resources

  • List of animals from the 'Carnival of the Animals' movements
  • Music composition guidance

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 7 Swan ballet

Objectives

Dance

  • Perform dances using simple movement patterns.

Music

  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.

Lesson Planning

Children will feel the magic of the ballet, listen to the poem `Dying Swan´ by Alfred Tennyson and create their own ballet dance.

Teaching Outcomes
To explore simple movements and ideas, working in small groups to create and perform a short dance.
To explore and express feelings about the music: The Swan, using movement and dance.

Children will:

  • Explore simple movements and ideas.
  • Work in small groups to create and perform a short dance.
  • Explore and express feelings about The Swan movement using movement and dance.

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 8 The cuckoo

Objectives

Music

  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music, experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

Art and Design

  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • Develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

Lesson Planning

Children will Listen to the music `The Cuckoo´ and learn a dark secret. They will predict bird calls and describe them using all the musical terms that they have learnt so far.

Teaching Outcomes
To understand the terminology legato, staccato, tempo and pitch, understand that sounds can be made in different ways.
To record from first-hand observation, experience and imagination, create a cuckoo bird collage with natural materials.

Children will:

  • Understand the terminology legato, staccato, tempo and pitch.
  • Understand that sounds can be made in different ways.
  • Record from first-hand observation, experience and imagination.
  • Create a cuckoo bird collage with natural materials.

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 9 Cuckoo masks

Objectives

Art and Design

  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.

Music

  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.

Lesson Planning

This session children will make masks, learn how to move like a cuckoo and create a cuckoo dance.

Teaching Outcomes
To make a cuckoo mask, to use their observations of the cuckoo, experiences and imagination
To explore and express feelings about the music: Cuckoo using movement.

Children will:

  • Make a cuckoo mask.
  • Use their observations of the cuckoo, experiences and imagination.
  • Explore and express feelings about the music Cuckoo using movement.

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 10 Rehearsing our performance

Objectives

Music

  • Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.

Dance

  • Perform dances using simple movement patterns.

Lesson Planning

Children will celebrate the work they have done so far by creating a class assembly.

Teaching Outcomes
To listen and respond to music from The Carnival of the Animals works.
To rehearse and create a dance performance through practice and evaluation.

Children will:

  • Listen and respond to music from Carnival of the Animals works.
  • Rehearse and create a dance performance through practice and evaluation.

Provided Resources

  • Images for 'The Aviary'
  • Swan and cuckoo dance images

You Will Need

  • Props for the dances