L3 MS E

Have fun expressing the musical pulse with a ball by learning to time the simple bounce-catch action in time with the music. This activity challenges learners to learn this elemental ball skill with both hands. Learners will also be prompted to change hands on the count of 8 – an added element to make the challenge even more fun!

Q: Can the bounce-catch ball skill be useful for expressing the musical pulse?


Teacher Guide

Learning Experience

CORE: Express the Steady Pulse with a Ball (count 8)

This activity introduces learners to 3 sets of code words to further their understanding and awareness of the division of the musical pulse into 2 equal things. Three sets of code words are introduced: quick-quick and slow; short-short and long; 2-things and 1.

Q: How can I use code words to help me feel the division of the musical pulse into 2 equal things?

CORE: Introduction to Code Words

This activity presents learners with an opportunity to observe what a full music score looks like. By becoming familiar with unique symbols of standard music notation, learners subconsciously absord little details that will be taught more formally later on. This subtle familiarity serves to prepare learners for the development of music literacy.

TEACHER GUIDE

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Learn the Arrangement: Follow the Score

Learn the Arrangement: Follow Learner Score

The aim of this activity is to practice performing the musical pulse with different hand actions in a complete performance of the song, Lambs in the Field.

Practice: Musical Pulse with Hands

To develop confidence and skill in performing the melodic contour of Lambs in the Field with body scale actions in preparation for developing a unique performance!

Practice: Melodic Contour with Body Scale Actions

To develop confidence and skill in performing the musical pulse of Lambs in the Field with hands in preparation for developing a unique performance! This lesson introduces a simple Learner Score that uses a 2-line staff and graphics to indicate which combination of hand actions to use.

Practice: Musical Pulse with Hands from Learner Score

To develop confidence and skill in performing the melodic contour of Lambs in the Field with body scale actions in preparation for developing a unique performance! This lesson introduces a simple Learner Score that uses a 1-line staff and graphics to indicate which body scale actions actions to use.

Practice: Melodic Contour with Body Scale from Learner Score

To develop confidence and skill in performing the musical pulse of Lambs in the Field with hand actions without visual assistance in preparation for developing a unique performance!

Practice: Musical Pulse with Hands (audio)

To develop confidence and skill in performing the melodic contour of Lambs in the Field with body scale actions without visual assistance in preparation for developing a unique performance!

Practice: Melodic Contour with Body Scale (audio)

Having written some new lyrics to Lambs in the Field, learners can now enjoy singing them along with the accompaniment soundtrack! As the music for the verse comes around three times, learners can make decisions about what lyrics to sing for each repetition.

Practice: Your New Lyrics (audio)

The 2nd in a series of bounce-catch ball skill activities, this challenge reduces the count from 8 to 4 requiring added concentration and eye-hand co-ordination to negotiate switching hands while remaining in time with the music.

Q: Can the bounce-catch ball skill be useful for expressing the musical pulse and feeling the length of musical phrases (count 4)?

CORE: Express the Musical Pulse with a Ball (count 4)

This introductory music literacy activity introduces the 1-line music staff in preparation for learning to notate simple melodic phrases. The focus of this first step is to understand how to position notes correctly in the spaces above and below the 1-line music staff.

Worksheet for Printing

1-Line Music Staff

Learning Experience 2: Positioning Notes Correctly

Learning Experience 2: Worksheet Answers

CORE: 1-Line Staff Mechanics-Positioning Notes Correctly

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.emsona.com/en/student/courses/31148/watch/?enrollment_id=2302401&amp;lesson_id=479593" style="background-color: rgb(106, 252, 194); color: black; padding: 15px 30px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 6px;">Find this unit in the Dashboard</a>This enriching unit invites young learners into a world where music comes alive through movement, sound, and creative exploration. The journey begins with playful ball bounce-catch activities that develop timing, bilateral coordination, and counting skills while keeping steady time with music.Learners then discover how musical beats can be divided into smaller parts, using friendly code words to make abstract concepts tangible and fun. The unit beautifully introduces music notation through both full scores and simplified learner scores, allowing children to follow along and absorb the visual language of music naturally, without pressure.Through the charming song Lambs in the Field, children practice expressing steady pulse with various hand actions and explore melodic contour using body scale movements. These embodied experiences help learners feel the difference between high and low sounds in deeply memorable ways.As confidence grows, children progress from video-guided activities to audio-only challenges, strengthening their ability to listen independently and respond musically. Creative opportunities abound as learners craft their own lyrics to the familiar melody.The unit concludes with foundational music literacy work, teaching proper note placement on a one-line staff. Throughout these experiences, learners develop essential musical skills while building confidence, coordination, and joy in making music together.Learning Outcomes- Execute coordinated ball bounce-catch patterns in time with music while counting and switching hands with growing confidence and accuracy- Recognize and express the division of musical pulse into two equal parts using movement and code word pairs- Follow musical scores using visual guides and demonstrate awareness of musical structure by counting pulse beats during instrumental sections- Perform steady musical pulse with varied hand actions while simultaneously singing and executing additional movements like clapping- Express melodic contour through body scale actions, distinguishing between high and low pitches both with visual support and through listening alone- Position notes correctly in the spaces above and below a one-line music staff, demonstrating emerging music literacy skillsNotes and TipsPatience and Positive Atmosphere: Take time to master each skill without rushing. Laughter and joy create the best learning environment. Celebrate small successes and remember that coordination and multi-tasking develop gradually.Bilateral Development: Ensure learners practice ball skills and hand actions with both left and right hands to support balanced physical development.Counting Interludes: The two instrumental interludes in Lambs in the Field each contain 9 musical pulses. This counting challenge may be difficult initially but becomes clearer with repeated practice throughout the unit.Visual to Aural Progression: Videos provide helpful visual guidance initially. As learners gain confidence, transition to audio-only activities to develop independent listening and aural differentiation skills.Individual Assessment: Test skills individually when possible to ensure each learner can truly sense and follow the music independently rather than copying others.Group Flexibility: Divide classes into small groups or pairs for echo-back practice and assign different performance jobs to various groups to maintain engagement and allow focused skill development.Creative Expression: Store worksheets with new lyrics in music journals for future reference and encourage learners to make decisions about which verses to sing during performances.Music Literacy Introduction: Introduce notation purely as exposure without technical expectations. Familiarity builds gradually and prepares learners for formal literacy instruction later.Physical Embodiment: Adding standing and sitting actions to body scale movements provides extra sensory information that helps learners feel the difference between high and low sounds more dramatically.

This unit deepens musical understanding through ball skills, rhythm subdivision, score reading, and melodic contour work, all woven into the delightful song Lambs in the Field, fostering coordination, literacy, and creative expression.

Course content

L3: Lambs In The Field-Unit C

Adele O'Dwyer

What you will learn