Music
Pupils should be taught to:
British values
See Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools (non-statutory advice) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0.
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Print in advance of the lesson.
The Knowledge organiser provides a visual summary of the key facts and vocabulary for the unit. The children can use it throughout the unit to check keyword meanings or spellings and to help them remember important information when completing an activity. Find further ideas for using the Knowledge organiser to support adaptive teaching here.
Teacher knowledge
Reading music: ‘What’s the news?’
This song is in 4/4 time, which means there are four beats in each bar. The small black box on the middle line of the stave is a minim rest, and it lasts for two beats.
If you know a child has specific issues, consider discussing the lesson with them in advance and adapting it as needed. They might benefit from adult support. If problems emerge during the lesson, consult your Senior Leadership Team. It is the teacher’s responsibility to check all resources and lesson content to ensure it is suitable for their class setting.
Sensitivities
Before teaching this unit, consider whether any children have family or cultural connections with the Caribbean.
Before starting this unit, check that the children can recall:
Play the link: 'Calypso Rose' by Calypso Queen on VideoLink. Talk to the children about what they saw and heard.
Ask them:
Explain to the children that calypso music originated in Trinidad and was influenced by the music of the West African enslaved people trafficked to the Caribbean. Inform them that they will learn more about calypso music and learn to sing, play and improvise in a calypso style!
Display slides 1 and 2 of the Presentation: What is calypso? Discuss the historical origins and spread of this musical tradition.
Share examples of calipso names and ask the children what their calipso names would be. Allow time for paired discussion and take feedback.
Show slide 3 and explain that the 1920s and 1930s are known as a golden age for calypso music, when the first recordings were produced. Ask the children if they would listen to the news if it were set to funky music.
Proceed to slide 4 and play the song ‘London Is the Place For Me’ by Lord Kitchener, an example of calypso music. Ask the children:
Show slide 5, which lists some features of calypso. Explain that the children will learn more about these different musical features in each unit lesson.
Display slide 6 of the Presentation: What is calypso?
Explain that it shows the vocal part for a calypso-style song (called ‘What’s the Story?’) that the children will learn throughout this unit. Click to play the guide track audio and follow along with the lyrics displayed on the presentation to familiarise the children with the song (see the Teacher video: What is calypso).
Ask the children:
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Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac
Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows
Pupils needing extra support
Could pair with a more confident talk partner for the questions; could be placed near more confident singers for the singing.
Pupils working at greater depth
Should be encouraged to justify their answers with more depth; could conduct the singing by showing everyone else when to start and stop.
Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: naming some of the key features of calypso music; singing along with the song by the end of the lesson.
Pupils working at greater depth indicated by: justifying their answers with greater depth; singing the song accurately by the end of the lesson.
Music originally from Trinidad in the Caribbean, often thought of as carnival music with catchy, syncopated rhythms.
A singer or musician who performs calypso music.
When a musician makes up music while they are playing, instead of using written notes.
When a musician makes up music while they are playing, instead of using written notes.
Music that tells stories, brought to Trinidad by West African enslaved people.
When the music moves ‘off the beat’.
Being taken from one place to another, often in a secret or illegal way, usually to be treated unfairly or harmed.
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 21st January, 2026
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Improvising in a calypso style using a pentatonic scale and different rhythms on tuned percussion.
Creating and performing lyrics for a calypso song.
