Rhythm and Moods

Episode    64                                                                         Planet: Sound

Learning concept of the episode: Faster and slower beats can convey different feelings.

Story Summary

On their way to a picnic, Bing and Bong walk in time to and follow the sound of a beat. They reach a ‘drum tree’ (the source of the beat), and some ‘pitch plants’. The plants play with the drum tree and control the mood of the scene with their music. As the music changes, Bing and Bong’s reactions change.  As the drum tree and pitch plants play, their music teases Bing and Bong into bigger and bigger reactions. They discover that they have been tricked by the musical plants and scold them. The plants feel bad and play sad music, which effects Bing and Bong. They all console each other. Bing and Bong then depart in a flourish of music and movement.

Focus Early Learning Goal

Personal, Social and Emotional Development 9: Understand what is right, wrong and why.

Linked ELGs

PSE6, CLL5, CLL4, P1

Preparation

• Watch the Tiny Planets episode 
• Talk about what Bing and Bong did in the story.

Talk about…..

• How did the music make Bing and Bong feel?
• Why can music do this to us
• What makes us happy and sad

Focus Activity

 Move to the music

Follow-on Activities

• Listen to pieces of music from different parts of the world
• Link to festivals where particular types of music may be played
• Ask children to talk about which music they like
• Play along to various pieces of music

Move to the music

Aim

For the children to listen, to and interpret different pieces of music

Resources

• Tape player
• Various pieces of music - lively, slow, classical, up beat etc.
• Large space

Guidelines

• Play the first piece of music.
• Ask the children to come up with ideas of what the music makes them feel like or think of e.g.  a giant or a witch or a fairy etc.
• Then let them move around the room to the music
• Do the same with the different pieces of music

Key Vocabulary

Listen, feel, move, happy, sad

Health & Safety

Ensure the tape player has been electrically tested and is safe to use. Supervise the children so they are not running around the room and knocking each other over as music can make them very excitable!