1. Subjects >
  2. Music >
  3. Key stage 2 >
  4. Year 3 >
  5. Pentatonic melodies and composition (Theme: Chinese New Year) >
  6. Lesson 3: Letter notation

Learning objective

  • To write and perform a pentatonic melody.

Success criteria

  • I can write a pentatonic melody using letter
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National curriculum

Music

Pupils should be taught to:

  • Play
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Cross-curricular links

  • None.
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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Display the Presentation: Agree or disagree? and use the activity to recap learning from the previous lesson.

Learning objective

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Could be grouped together and supported by the teacher with their melody creation and notation; should use the Activity: Pentatonic melody grid (support); could create fewer phrases to form their melody.

Pupils working at greater depth

Should add performance directions to their score, including dynamic markings, tempo markings and other performance indications; could practise following these when they perform.

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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: accurately notating (with letters) and playing

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Vocabulary definitions

  • The vocabulary for this lesson has already been introduced in Lesson 1.

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In this unit

Assessment - Music Y3: Pentatonic melodies (Chinese New Year)

Lesson 1: Dragon dance

Lesson 2: Pentatonic scale

Lesson 3: Letter notation

Lesson 4: Enter the dragon

Lesson 5: Final performance

Originally created by:

Kapow Primary team
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Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 28th November, 2025

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Lesson 2: Pentatonic scale Previous Lesson
Lesson 4: Enter the dragon Next Lesson

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