This week we are looking at The Nutcracker and the composer Tchikovsky. On Monday we spoke about different genres of music, what we think music is and our thoughts on classical music.
By the end of the lesson we learnt we listen to alot of instrumental/classical music (especially in films) and that classical music can bring out different emotions within us, such as joy, calm and that it can even create drama.
We also looked at 3 versions of ‘The Dance of the Sugar Plum’, listening to Tchaikovsky’s composed piece, a modern version by Lynsey Sterling and a clip from The English National Ballet’s production. We then discussed which version we liked best and why, which brought up some interesting thoughts.
In the pictures you can see us enjoying making our own paper Nutcrackers and watching the ballet production of The Nutcracker.
The kiddos really enjoyed listening to this piece of music by The Piano Guys:
On Monday we had a very special delivery from the North Pole and a little visitor, Crumpet the Elf, who is in the classroom to learn about kindness.
We then had a go at creating our own elfs, thinking of names and what the elves magical powers/speciality would be.
Last week we looked at why we have advent calendars and why we have them at Christmas. We looked at the different ways that advent can be celebrated and what advent represents. In the pictures, you can see that we created our own Christingle oranges and how Christingle ties in with Christmas.
Continuing with our Nutcracker theme, we have been making toy soldier Christmas decorations.
They are super cute and the kiddos have worked really hard on them. Super happy tree decorations.
Last week we looked at why we have advent calendars and why we have them at Christmas. We looked at the different ways that advent can be celebrated and what advent represents. In the pictures, you can see that we created our own Christingle oranges and how Christingle ties in with Christmas.
We really enjoyed the embellishment bit, especially creating Christmas disco feet for our soldiers.
Today we’ve been looking at all things musical. Identifying instruments in an orchestra and discussing what we might use to make different sounds (as well as how we could set scenes with different instruments).
We have also continued to explore the music that Tchaikovsky composed for the Nutcracker. Identifying the music with words, emotion and our imagination.
Reuben F: ‘It feels like I’m in a different place and not really here’ (in regards to the waltz of the flowers).
We then enjoyed looking at the New York City Ballet: Waltz of the Flowers and the Boston Ballet’s Russian Dance (which we all thought was super energetic and a lot of fun).
In an ‘around the room’ style, we then looked for words relating to the Nutcracker, which we rapped and clapped to identify the syllables. Afterwards, we worked in groups of 3 to compose our own musical piece, exploring instruments and the sounds they make.
There is a little video at the bottom of this page showing some of the children’s composition.
Creating our own crowns/tiaras like the ones we saw in The Nutcracker ballet.
Our little tree decorations and our paper Nutcrackers.
Crumpet the elf was enjoying the reading corner today, after deep diving in the class fish tank, whilst Mary & Joseph have been resting in the dolls house- they’ve been journeying around the classroom to get to Bethlehem. In Mexico the celebration is called Las Posadas and it commemorates the story of the journey they made from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Our Nutcracker writing…
A few of our crowns, we are keeping them safe in school so that we can wear them for our Christmas meal next week.
