Using picture booksto teach music in key stage 1

By Mrs Schneider

Why not use some of the wonderful picture

books found in our classrooms to teach

music?

In the Dark, Dark Wood

With this book I used wooden instruments to illustrate the “Oohs” and metal ones for the “Ahhs”

Mr Little’s Noisy Car

The children picked percussion instruments to create the sound effects Mr Little’s car made.

So Much

You can use this book to investigate “me” - ‘“doh” interval, ( the third and the first note of the scale) to represent the “ding dong” of the doorbell and to sing the refrain “so much”

Storm BoyWe used the words in the story - “Welcome stranger, welcome stranger, son of a chief from above” to create rhythms to play on the boomwhackers every time the Whale Gods appeared. We also added an ocean drum.

The Smartest Giant in Town

In the lesson we had been looking at pitch and singing up and down an octave in steps. We took the song the giant sings and sang each line starting on a different step.

Using picture books is a great way to reinforce some of the learning objectives in

a different context.There are many good quality picture books

commonly found in classrooms that you could use.

Let us know any favourites that you like to use