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  2. Music > Key stage 1 > Archived unit: Musical vocabulary (Theme: Under the sea) > Lesson 1: Pulse and tempo: Dive into danger!
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This lesson is archived.

Learning objective

  • To learn the musical vocabulary: pulse and tempo.

Success criteria

  • I can explain
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National curriculum

Music

Pupils should be taught to:

  • Experiment
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Cross-curricular links

Physical education

Pupils should be taught

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Before starting this unit, you might want to check that children: Understand that the pulse of the music can change. Know that sounds can help tell a story. Know that their voice, body and instruments can show fast and slow beats.

Learning objective

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Could follow an adult or child partner, completing the movement and sounds they make as a guide.

Pupils working at greater depth

Could use the performance opportunities to demonstrate to the class their own ideas for movements and sounds; could describe the tempo of the various story characters; could consider how pulse and tempo are linked.

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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: moving and creating sounds

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Vocabulary definitions

  • dynamics

    The volume of the music (loud or quiet).

  • pulse

    The regular beat of the music, like a heartbeat.

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In this unit

Assessment - Music Y1: Musical vocabulary

Lesson 1: Pulse and tempo: Dive into danger!

Lesson 2: Dynamics and timbre: Underwater world

Lesson 3: Pitch and rhythm: Underwater world

Lesson 4: Texture and structure: Coral reef

Lesson 5: Musical vocabulary

Created by:

Elizabeth Stafford

Music specialist

Liz stafford 2026
Dr Elizabeth Stafford is Director at Music Education Solutions®. Elizabeth Stafford is one of the UK’s foremost experts in music education, widely recognised for her leadership, research, and influence across the sector. As Director of Music Education Solutions, she has worked with schools,…
Find out more
Liz stafford 2026

Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 15th January, 2026

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Assessment – Music Y1: Musical vocabulary Previous Lesson
Lesson 2: Dynamics and timbre: Underwater world Next Lesson

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