Year 1 Music Activities

Covers: Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Body Percussion

Activity 1

Body Percussion

    n/a
  • Mu1/1.1 use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
  • PE1/1.1c perform dances using simple movement patterns
  • Sc1/2.2d identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body
Activity Two - Making Musical Instruments

Activity 2

Making Musical Instruments

  • Musical Instrument Design Criteria Activity Sheet
  • Water Glass Xylophone:
  • 3 – 7 glasses the same size
  • Water
  • Measuring jug
  • Food colouring

  • Straw Pipe
  • Straws
  • Tape
  • Scissors

  • Rice Shaker
  • 3 – 5 plastic/ glass jars with lids
  • Rice

  • Box Drums
  • Cardboard boxes of different sizes
  • Yoghurt pots and containers
  • Tape

  • Stringed Box
  • Cardboard box
  • Scissors
  • Elastic bands
  • Mu1/1.2 play tuned and untuned instruments musically
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
  • Dt1/1.1a design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
  • Dt1/1.1b generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
  • Dt1/1.2a select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
  • Dt1/1.2b select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
  • Dt1/1.3b evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
Activity Three - Listening Games

Activity 3

Listening Games

    A variety of percussion instruments for example:
  • drums
  • maracas
  • tambourine
  • xylophone
  • harmonica
  • recorder
  • Mu1/1.2 play tuned and untuned instruments musically
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
Activity Four - My Voice

Activity 4

My Voice

    n/a
  • Mu1/1.1 use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
Activity Three - Listening To A Range Of Music

Activity 5

Listening To A Range Of Music

  • Access to a range of recorded music
  • Mu1/1.3 listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
Useful Websites

Full body percussion performance: Connect It
If you are within the UK you can view an amazing body percussion performance by children. This is truly inspiring and I definitely recommend this.
If you are outside of the UK search for it on YouTube but still check out the cool activities on the Ten Pieces website.

Recommended Radio

Expanding your child’s musical journey can be as simple as putting the radio on during breakfast. Here are some stations we enjoy:

BBC Radio 3

Classical music without advertising available free worldwide on the BBC Sounds app.

Radio Barbouillots

This is a French kids radio station. There is very little speaking and a wide range of music styles and sounds. If you don't speak French, like our family, it is absolutely fine as there is more music than anything else. This also exposes your children to new languages in a passive way.
The link above is to the website where you can directly stream or find the app link.

Activity One - Body Percussion

Activity 1
Body Percussion

Practical Resources:

    n/a

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Mu1/1.1 use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
  • PE1/1.1c perform dances using simple movement patterns
  • Sc1/2.2d identify, name, draw and label the basic parts of the human body

Downloads:

Activity Two - Making Musical Instruments

Activity 2
Making Musical Instruments

Practical Resources:

  • Musical Instrument Design Criteria Activity Sheet
  • Water Glass Xylophone:
  • 3 – 7 glasses the same size
  • Water
  • Measuring jug
  • Food colouring

  • Straw Pipe
  • Straws
  • Tape
  • Scissors

  • Rice Shaker
  • 3 – 5 plastic/ glass jars with lids
  • Rice

  • Box Drums
  • Cardboard boxes of different sizes
  • Yoghurt pots and containers
  • Tape

  • Stringed Box
  • Cardboard box
  • Scissors
  • Elastic bands

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Mu1/1.2 play tuned and untuned instruments musically
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
  • Dt1/1.1a design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
  • Dt1/1.1b generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
  • Dt1/1.2a select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
  • Dt1/1.2b select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
  • Dt1/1.3b evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Downloads:

Activity Three - Listening To A Range Of Music

Activity 3
Listening Games

Practical Resources:

    A variety of percussion instruments for example:
  • drums
  • maracas
  • tambourine
  • xylophone
  • harmonica
  • recorder

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Mu1/1.2 play tuned and untuned instruments musically
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music

Downloads:

Activity Four - My Voice

Activity 4

Practical Resources:

    n/a

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Mu1/1.1 use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music

Downloads:

Activity Five - Bird Watching

Activity 5
Listening To A Range Of Music

Practical Resources:

  • Access to a range of recorded music

Relation to Curriculum in England:

  • Mu1/1.3 listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music

Downloads:

Suggested Resources

How do I use these activities?

This resource is designed to provide fun and engaging musical activities for children in Year 1 and Year 2. Children will have the opportunity to play games to explore body percussion, create their own rhythms, and listen to recorded music. Additionally, they will get to design and make their own musical instruments, providing an opportunity to develop their creativity and design skills.

This resource covers aspects of the National Curriculum of England, including Design & Technology, Music, Physical Education and Science. If you are looking for other engaging and fun activities for primary-aged children, check out Hands-On Education's resources. They cover most points of the national curriculum for England within Key Stage One, and offer videos, activity sheets and easy-to-understand activity plans to support children in their learning journey.

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