1. Preview units >
  2. Music >
  3. Upper key stage 2 >
  4. Year 5 >
  5. Music in nature: Chords and melodies >
  6. Lesson 1: Exploring nature’s dynamics
Bell

This is preview content for the 2026-27 academic year. Your feedback will help us improve these units.

Before you continue

This is preview content for the 2026-27 academic year. Your feedback will help us improve these units.

Learning objective

  • To explore how dynamics can be used to reflect changes in nature.

Success criteria

  • I can describe music using adjectives and
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

National curriculum

Music

Pupils should be taught to:

  • Appreciate
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Cross-curricular links

English

Spoken language

Pupils should

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Before the lesson

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Show the Presentation: Matching musical features. Check understanding of crescendo (gradually getting louder) and diminuendo (gradually getting quieter). Click the buttons to reveal the definitions if needed. Play audio 1 and read the question below aloud. Ask the children to decide which box shows the answer, then click and drag it to the empty box…

Learning objective

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in
Extended-mode explainer videos

How to extend your display to view the lesson page and presentation mode simultaneously. Choose your operating system below to watch the video

Mac

Windows

If you need further support with extending your display,
please contact [email protected].

Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac

Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows

Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support:

  • Could describe changes in dynamics using everyday language, for example, ‘getting louder’ or ‘getting quieter’.
  • Could use visual prompts to identify dynamic changes by matching sound to images or symbols.
  • Could contribute to a group soundscape by performing a single repeated sound to support the overall change in dynamics.

Pupils working at greater depth:

  • Should create a clear and controlled crescendo by using layering to gradually build sound.
  • Should explain how their use of dynamics reflects changes in nature.
  • Could take a leading role in shaping the group soundscape by guiding when sounds are added or removed.
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding can:

  • Recognise changes in dynamics, such as crescendo and
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Vocabulary definitions

  • crescendo

    Music gradually getting louder.

  • diminuendo

    Music gradually getting quieter.

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

In this unit

Assessment – Music Y5: Music in nature: Chords and melodies

Lesson 1: Exploring nature's dynamics

Lesson 2: Cloud songs

Lesson 3: Creating contrast with chords

Lesson 4: Composing the forest

Lesson 5: Northern Lights

Created by:

Kapow Primary team
Kapow logo
Our team comprises experienced classroom teachers who love the foundation subjects
Find out more
Kapow logo

Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 20th April, 2026

_
Assessment – Music Y5: Music in nature: Chords and melodies Previous Lesson
Lesson 2: Cloud songs Next Lesson

Related content

Please don’t screenshot or copy images from this page.
Kapow Primary resources are created by teachers and protected by copyright. Copying images or slides into your own presentations (for example using the Snipping Tool) counts as reproducing the resource and isn’t permitted under the Kapow licence.
This resource is being accessed through your school’s Kapow licence.
Thank you for respecting the work of the teachers who create these materials.