Play games to discover body percussion, make up silly rhythms and enjoy listening to recorded music.

Year 1 Music Activities


Covers:	Activity	Resources	Relation to National Curriculum
	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 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 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 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 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 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:

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 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 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

Famous Composers Picture Book
By Anthony Marks and Galia Bernstein

This book focuses specifically on classical composers throughout history. Useful for children to visually place composers in history. Use this book to look a classical composer you have listened to.

The Story of Music
Author: Mick Manning - Illustrator: Brita Granstrom

This book takes you on a journey and explains how music has changed over time. Beginning with the drums and flutes of native tribes, this book covers a diverse range of musical genres and cultures.

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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