1. Preview units >
  2. Music >
  3. Upper key stage 2 >
  4. Year 5 >
  5. Music in nature: Chords and melodies >
  6. Lesson 4: Composing the forest
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 perform a melody that represents the forest.

Success criteria

  • I can create and develop a melody that
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

None.

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: Composition techniques. Read through the techniques on the slide. Play the audio. Instruct the children to talk with a partner about how many techniques they can hear. Ask them to show their answer using their fingers and name the techniques they heard.

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 support:

  • Could use a vocal phrase to structure rhythm by matching syllables, e.g. ‘deep-in-the-for-est’ (D, E, E, F, A) or ‘tall trees, reach high’ (D, D, A, A).
  • Could use a reduced set of notes (D, E, and F) to create a melody by focusing on pitch changes that are closer together on the glockenspiel.

Pupils working at greater depth:

  • Should enhance their composition by adding chords to create a specific mood or atmosphere.
  • Should extend their melody by selecting and combining additional notes while keeping it in key.
  • Could experiment with layering melody and drone in different ways to vary texture.
Lock

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

Join Log in

Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding can:

  • Perform in a group by combining a melody
Lock

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

Join Log in

Vocabulary definitions

  • drone

    A really long note, often low in pitch.

  • melody

    A pattern of different pitches (the tune).

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

_
Lesson 3: Creating contrast with chords Previous Lesson
Lesson 5: Northern Lights 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.