Unit 4 – Singing
Singing is an integral part of the primary school music curriculum. From the early years in kindergarten, students are introduced to singing and to music through nursery rhymes, sung in English and Maltese. In Year 1 – 6, students develop more reading, writing and coordination abilities. Singing aims at developing students musical, vocal and expressive skills as well as their sensitivity and emotional qualities. Singing can also work across the music curriculum in topics such as history of music, musical notation, the playing of the recorder, and those topics related to Maltese music. It can also work across the primary curriculum where together with the class teachers it can be part of cross-curricular projects involving history, science, religion, art, drama as well as the study of English to mention a few.
We have selected songs which can be used for the initial Primary Years 1-3. The selected songs are of course only suggestions which can be used in our mixed ability classes.
The songs are kept within a small range of notes, exploring only very little higher pitches. Good keywords which can be used when teaching singing in the classroom are: gentle, soft, light, don’t force, crisper, faster, take a breath together, look at me, listen to yourself and to others – make sure your tune is like the one of your friend next to you, smile, enjoy it, feel good!
For Year 2 level we suggest We can Play on the Tambourine as well as Kieku Kelli. We are grateful to song writer and educator Mary Anne Zammit for her permission to use and include her songs in this unit.
All the singing sessions can be developed and completed in the time-frame of a lesson with successful results achieved almost immediately.
Activity 1 – We can Play on the Tambourine
There are many different types of instruments coming from all over the world. Today we are going to sing about a few of them, and learn about the sounds they make. Remember that when we sing, we try to make as nice and as beautiful a sound as possible.
- Look at the song. You are going to sing about a tambourine, a drum, and other percussion instruments. They are all very different instruments. Try to explore a louder and more gentle sound according to how you think the instrument plays. Try to imitate (copy) the sound of the instrument with your voice.
- Now imagine that you are holding a tambourine. As you are holding the instrument in the air beat it sideways with the other.
- Do the same with the other instruments.
- When you sing the last stanza, choose your favourite instrument and pretend to play it.
Activity 2 – Kieku Kelli
Imagine you have many toys. Do you have a favourite one? Today’s song speaks about the many toys you would like to have. It also speaks about sharing these toys with friends.
Our favourite toys can be a ball, a kite, a car and a skipping rope. Read the song ‘Kieku Kelli’ with your teacher.
- Divide your class into two groups and answer each other as your teacher will show you.
- Add percussion instruments.
- Next lesson, get the toys listed in this song and place them all on a table in your class, like a small exhibition.
Link to animated video – click here