Song 2: A tragic story
Title page for song/KS2 subject areas:
There are six suggested subject areas for this song:
- ECL[Link]Understanding English, communication and languages;
Write a story
- M[Link]Mathematical understanding;
Play with circles as part of ‘Shape and space’
- S/T[Link]Scientific and Technological understanding;
Forces and motion: make a roundabout. Look at light and mirrors.
- H/G/S[Link]Historical, geographical and social understanding;
Find out about playgrounds through History
- P/D/H/W [Link]Understanding physical development, health and well being;
How many sports use circles or circuits?
- A[Link]Understanding the arts;
Use surreal techniques to create portraits for 'A tragic story'.
Understanding English, communication and languages
What a journey this poor sage travelled. Talk about moving in circles! Round and round, in and out, right and left, twist and twirl and tack. This calls for a quest story.
This man’s pigtail was clearly his demon and it needed to be defeated! The song starts slowly and the pace quickens until the resolute ending. This can be shown in a story mountain at the planning stages. Pie Corbett’s ideas will really inspire the children:
The story could feature the sage or completely different characters. Work on the setting so that all the senses are tingling as the audience listens to the final piece.
Mathematical understanding
Circles are inspirational and can incorporate 2D and 3D shapes as well as work on angles and movement.
Pupils should be taught to:
a. recognise right angles; know that angles are measured in degrees and that one whole turn is 360 degrees and angles at a point total 360 degrees, then recognise that angles at a point on a straight line total 180 degrees; know that the sum of the angles of a triangle is 180 degrees
b. visualise and describe 2D and 3D shapes and the way they behave, making more precise use of geometrical language
c. make and draw with increasing accuracy 2D and 3D shapes and patterns
d. visualise 3D shapes from 2D drawings
Pupils should be taught to:
a. visualise and describe movements using appropriate language
b. transform objects in practical situations; transform images using ICT; visualise and predict the position of a shape following a rotation, reflection or translation
c. identify and draw 2D shapes in different orientations on grids; locate and draw shapes using coordinates in the first quadrant, then in all four quadrants [for example, use coordinates to locate position in a computer game] .
Scientific and Technological understanding
The sage in this tragic story clearly knew about forces and motion but had little ideathat light is reflected from surfaces. Had he used a mirror, perhaps he would have had more luck with his pig-tail. It would not have hung in front of him, but at least he could have admired it!
So, let’s look at centrifugal force first and have some fun!
Try this link or use other experiments to show Newton’s laws.
Children can explore a range of full-size items of playground equipment and make their own models. Give the children opportunities to learn about framework structures and how to make them stable and able to support loads. They investigate materials used for the play equipment, what the different parts of the equipment are, and how they have been assembled. Encourage them to think about a wide range of users of a playground, and that all children play, and that play equipment can be designed for their needs. (These include children who may be blind or partially sighted, deaf or hearing impaired, wheelchair users and so on). Through a range of focused tasks they develop their use of construction kits, combined with reclaimed materials. The main outcome of this will be to design and make a model of an item of playground equipment,e.g.slides, swings, roundabouts, climbing frames and adventure playground equipment.
Children love playing with torches and mirrors and can be taught that we see things only when light from light sources enter our eyes and that light is reflected from mirrors.
Try to send a beam of light around a large cardboard box using a bright torch and mirrors.
Have a look at these interactive websites.
Make sure the children stay safe, but have fun!
Historical, Geographical and Social understanding
The movement involved in the sage’s quest to see his pig-tail must have felt like being in a playground – ‘swings and roundabouts’ to say the least! So let’s visit a playground and research the history of roundabouts and other playground toys.
Playgrounds originated in Germany. They were created as organised and instructional play areas for the use of teaching children the proper ways to play. Over time, organised playing areas have been adopted by other countries of the world and have become commonplace. Design a Powerpoint presentation to deliver to the class.
Understanding physical development, health and well being
If playing at the playground is not enough, how about doing some circuit training?
Funnily enough, this link refers to simple circuit training designed for ‘Friday Afternoons’!
If resources allow, think about other sports that use circuits – running in athletics or cycling at a velodrome.
Understanding the Arts
This tragic story is rather surreal, so let’s have a look at Dali! Find out about his life and art.
Use surreal techniques to create portraits for ‘a tragic story’.
Page