The Great Fire of London

Rhymes and Songs

Experiment with songs and chants. Change dynamics within music to change the effect, all while looking at the classic song ‘London´s Burning’.

Teaching Outcomes
To experiment with singing songs and speaking chants.
To know that the songs London´s Burning and Ring a-ring o’roses are based on historical events.

Children will:

• Experiment with singing songs and speaking chants.
• Explore using and changing the dynamics.
• Know that the songs London´s Burning and Ring a-ring o’roses are based on historical events.

• London´s Burning lyrics

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

London´s Burning performed as a round − YouTube clip

In this session, experiment with pitch by exploring low and high sounds in recorded music and by using a selection of musical instruments.

Teaching Outcomes
To experiment with pitch and to play tuned and un-tuned instruments.

Children will:

• Experiment with pitch.
• Listen to recorded music.
• Play tuned and un-tuned instruments.

• Fire photographs
• Manuel de Falla –fire dance description
• Fire score

• Xylophones and other tuned and untuned instruments

Clip of a fire − YouTube clip
Manuel de Falla – Fire dance − YouTube clip

All about the beat - explore how to change the tempo of music- fast and slow sounds.

Teaching Outcomes
To explore, choose and organise sounds and musical ideas.
To know that the song London´s Burning is based on a historical event.

Children will:

• Use their voices to speak chants.
• Experiment with tuned and un-tuned instruments.
• Experiment with using a beat and tempo.
• Explore, choose, organise sounds and musical ideas.
• Know that the song London's Burning is based on a historical event.

• Fire scene
• Music examples

• London´s Burning lyrics
• Xylophones or other tuned and untuned instruments.

There are no weblinks needed for this session.

Use all you have learned about dynamics, pitch and tempo to create your own 4-part music and movement composition inspired by the Great Fire of London.

Teaching Outcomes
To explore sounds and organise musical ideas into a composition.
To react to music with simple movements.

Children will:

• Organise musical ideas into a composition.
• Explore how sounds can be made in different ways.
• Experiment with tuned and un-tuned instruments.
• React to music with simple movements.

• Performance guide

• Xylophones or other tuned and untuned instruments

Clip of a fire − YouTube clip