Lesson 4: Viking battle song
Experimenting with the order of known rhythms, children create their own Viking battle song.Learning objective
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National curriculum
Cross-curricular links
Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Show slide 1 of the Presentation: Pairs. Ask the children to clap a steady pulse (to feel the beat) and sing or say the rhythms from the last lesson (see Teacher video:Viking notation, 1:30–1:42). Model if needed and optionally use the audio files below to support.
Audio: Let's go raiding:
Audio: Vikings:
Audio: Long boat:
Display slide 2. Ask pairs to discuss how to describe the note durations using the musical terms on the left of the table.
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Adaptive teaching
Assessing progress and understanding
Vocabulary definitions
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, music hubs, trusts, arts organisations, and education providers nationally and internationally to improve the quality and impact of music teaching. With almost 30 years’ experience spanning classroom teaching, higher education, consultancy, and national programme leadership, she is known for combining academic expertise with practical, accessible approaches that support teachers and transform provision. She is author of The Primary Music Leader’s Handbook (HarperCollins) and Secondary Music Leader’s Handbook (HarperCollins), editor of Primary Music Magazine, and Music Hubs and Services Magazine, and presenter of the Primary Music in Conversation podcast. Formerly part of the leadership team for the government’s KS2 Music CPD Programme (2008-2011), Liz is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and advisor whose work continues to shape music education policy and practice across the UK and beyond.
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