Some introductory information to get you started!

ReadME

Before You Begin! ReadME

The overarching aim of this activity is to spark curiosity and gather essential aural experience. The song, ‘Lambs in the Field’, offers opportunities for learners to experience musical elements from a sensory point of view. These elements will be presented more formally in later learning activities.

TEACHER GUIDE

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Introduction

The aim of this activity is for learners to commit to memory, the lyrics of the song, Lambs in the Field, prior to learning the melody.

Learn the Lyrics

This activity introduces learners to an audio performance of the song, Lambs in the Field. Learners will hear the melodic line married to the lyrics they have previously learned. Listening with focus and concentration will help to enable powers of musical observation.

Listen and Enjoy (audio)

This activity uses a performance of Lambs in the Field by a quartet of bowed stringed instruments and singer as the inspiration for the creation of something new. Each learner will illustrate a copy of the lyrics of the song in their own way.

WORKSHEET

Music Journal Entry

This video presents the song, Lambs in the Field, in a video rendition. Learners can enjoy watching and listening while preparing for the next step - learning the melody in two different keys.

Listen and Enjoy (video)

The aim of this activity is for learners to begin to develop the aural and vocal skill required to be able to sing with accuracy the song, Lambs in the Field. This song offers an opportunity for learners to experience simple, yet fundamental, musical elements from a sensory point of view. These elements will be presented more formally in later learning activities.

Learn the Melody

Lambs in the Field has a special feature built into the melody - a change of time signature (grouping of musical pulses) at the end of each lyric line! It will initially be marked by a clap-clap action, but, in later activities other ways to illustrate this feature will be practiced. Having learned the lyrics and melody already, the addition of another element to challenge performance skills will be fun!

Fun with the Melody

This activity provides an opportunity for learners to connect their musical experience to other domains of knowledge and interest. Learners will create a presentation of Fun Facts they discover about the sheep family. The presentation can be done in any way that is creative, practical, and appropriate (when considering age, learning stage, and capacity).

Fun Facts

This Musical Alphabet: Going Forwards Introduction learning experience is a simple and fun introduction to the Musical Alphabet that includes an easy, but important, practice game and follow-up worksheet!

CORE: Musical Alphabet Going Forwards

An introduction and game to begin learning the sounds of the major scale using body scale actions!

CORE: Introduction to the Body Scale

This Musical Alphabet: Going Forwards Quiz learning experience is a fun way to assess learnings achieved thus far in relation to mastering the musical alphabet going forwards. The video is designed as a fast-paced activity, however, using the pause button on you computer will allow for a variable pacing.

CORE: Musical Alphabet Going Forwards Quiz!

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pulse and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is to practice expressing the musical pulse and clap-clap action with our hands as we remain in place (seated at a desk or table).

Express the Musical Pulse with Hands

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pulse and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is to explore different ways to express the musical pulse with our feet as we remain in place (seated at a desk or table).

Express the Musical Pulse with Feet

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pitch and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is for learners to begin to differentiate between our first 2 notes; one high sound and one low sound. We will use body scale actions to embody these two sounds and by doing so, demonstrate the contour of the melody of Lambs in the Field.

Follow the Melodic Contour with Body Scale Actions

The Musical Pulse: Feeling a Steady Pulse video enables learners to experience what a steady musical pulse sounds and feels like by using rhythmic movements to accompany the music.

CORE: Feeling a Steady Pulse

The concept of musical pulse is explained through a real-world example of the human heart.

CORE: Introduction to the Musical Pulse

Have fun writing new lyrics for the song, Lambs in the Field. A PDF worksheet has been provided as well as a video presentation to take learners through the process step-by-step.

WORKSHEET GUIDANCE

Write New Lyrics

This Musical Alphabet: Forwards and Backwards learning experience is a follow-on exercise to the Musical Alphabet: Going Forwards pre-requisite activity. Enjoy the process as learners strive to memorise the sequence of the musical alphabet going in both directions. This can be a challenging exercise that can take many repetitions to master. Once learner confidence is high, try the follow-up worksheet.

CORE: Alphabet Going Forwards and Backwards

Follow-up worksheet to be used together as a class. Make use of the pause button to offer time for all learners to work out the answer to each puzzle.

CORE: Alphabet Forwards and Backwards Worksheet

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.

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 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 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 in preparation for developing a unique performance!

Practice: Melodic Contour with Body Scale Actions

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 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)

To orchestrate a unique performance by creating a plan that demonstrates all the learnings from the Lambs in the Field learning sequence!

Orchestrate a Performance Plan

Share a unique performance of the song Lambs in the Field demonstrating what has been achieved in this introductory learning sequence.

Join the Band!

This comprehensive learning sequence introduces young learners to foundational musical concepts through the song Lambs in the Field. Starting with simple listening and lyric recitation activities, the sequence gradually incorporates melody learning, rhythmic pulse, and expressive body actions to embody musical elements such as pitch and pulse. The pedagogical approach emphasizes sensory engagement, repetition, and active participation, fostering a joyful and patient learning environment. Students experience music both aurally and kinesthetically, using echo-back and call-and-response techniques, body scale actions (e.g., shoulders for high notes, waist for low notes), and hand or foot pulses that mirror the song’s rhythm. The sequence also encourages creativity through lyric writing and illustration activities, connecting music to language arts and personal expression. Collaborative group work and team performances promote social skills and confidence. Visual aids such as learner scores with simple graphics support early music literacy development without overwhelming technical detail. Throughout, learners are encouraged to enjoy music-making over perfection and to develop self-observation skills for vocal accuracy. This sequence builds a strong foundation for musical understanding while integrating cross-curricular links and fostering a positive, inclusive atmosphere for all learners.NOTES AND TIPSListening and Engagement- Use multiple listening opportunities with pauses for discussion to deepen understanding.&nbsp;- Encourage listening with eyes closed to foster mental imagery and sensory connection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vocal Practice- Employ echo-back and call-and-answer to build memory and confidence.&nbsp;- Celebrate effort and joy over accuracy at early stages to maintain motivation.&nbsp;- Use small groups and solo challenges to develop self-observation and patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Movement and Pulse- Introduce body scale actions (shoulders = high pitch, waist = low pitch) to make pitch tangible.&nbsp;- Practice expressing pulse using various hand and foot actions before combining with singing.&nbsp;- Allow learners to alternate roles (leader/follower) to build leadership and listening skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;Creative Expression- Provide lyric worksheets and opportunities for learners to write and share new verses.&nbsp;- Incorporate art by having students illustrate lyrics, linking music to visual arts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Performance Preparation- Use simplified learner scores with clear graphics to familiarize learners with notation concepts.&nbsp;- Encourage repeated practice and teamwork in preparation for group performances.&nbsp;- Keep a relaxed atmosphere and celebrate small successes to build confidence and enjoyment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cross-Curricular Integration- Connect musical pulse to real-world concepts like the heartbeat to enhance understanding.&nbsp;- Use presentations on sheep facts to link music learning with science and literacy.This learning sequence offers a rich, multi-sensory approach to early music education that supports holistic development and nurtures a lifelong appreciation for music in young learners.

Lambs T'nail video 1230 x 300.mp4

An engaging music learning sequence using the song *Lambs in the Field* to develop listening, vocal, rhythmic, and creative skills through sensory experiences, movement, and collaborative performance.

Course content

Lambs in the Field (Sample Curriculum)

Adele ODwyer

What you will learn

This course includes