KS1 Topic Overview: Carnival of the Animals

KS1 Topic Overview: Carnival of the Animals

Be inspired by Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals! Learn about the fascinating creatures that feature in the movements of the music. Learn about the formation of an orchestra, the range of instruments involved, and Saint-Saëns himself.Learn about mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and fossils around the world. Round the topic off with an animal Olympics and a carnival!

Block / Key NC Objectives / Creative Block Outcomes
Block A
An Introduction [to Carnival of the Animals and Saint-Saëns]
[3 sessions] / Musicand Science

Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high quality live and recorded music.
Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.
Identify and name a variety of common animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, identifying and classifying.

/ Introduce `The Carnival of the Animals´ and go on an incredible journey. Learn about the works, be inspired by the orchestra and explore making sounds. Discover how the music describes animal features.
Block B
Mammals
[12 sessions]
[3 African Savannah, 3 Australian Outback, 3 Domestic Mammals] / Science, Geography, D&T, PHSE andArt

Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.
Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including pets).
Name and locate the world’s 7 continents and 5 oceans.
Locate hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features – vegetation, season, weather.
Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify countries, continents and oceans.
Design purposeful, functional, appealing products based on design criteria.
Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing.
Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks.
Select from and use a wide range of materials and components.
Evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria.
Living in the Wider World - importance of respecting + protecting environment.
Develop a wide range of Art and Design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

/ Learn about common mammals found in the African Savanah, the Australian outback, and about domestic farm mammals and domestic pet mammals.Learn about their characteristics, needs and life cycles. Create a class safari park, collages, aboriginal artwork, and much more!Invite visitors to admire your work from this fantastic block!
Block C
British Birds
[10 sessions] / Music, Art,Dance, Scienceand English

Pupils shoulduse drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
Pupils shouldidentify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and pupils should observe closely.

Pupils shoulduse spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesizing, imagining and exploring ideas.
Pupils should be taught to listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high quality live and recorded music.
Pupils should be taught to perform dances using simple movement patterns.
Pupils should be taught to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination, learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Pupil should be taught to: Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination, to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space, about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.
Pupils should be able to:Play tune and un-tuned instruments musically,listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music, to experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

/ Go bird watching and learn about British birds. Paint observations about birds, respond to classical music and build simple nests out of natural materials. Monet will inspire children’sartwork.Introduce new musical terms. Create a swan ballet and design cuckoo collages and masks in preparation for a grand dance finale!
Block D
Domestic Birds
[6 sessions] / Science, Dance,Artand English

Pupils should be able to identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals,use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air).
Pupils should be taught to use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
Pupils should be able to use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions, Identify and classify, gathering data to help in answering questions.
Pupils should be taught to participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates, maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments.
Pupils should be taught toperform dances using simple movement patterns.
Pupils should be taught to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

/ Be amazed by domestic birds and take part in different egg-citing activities!Find out what they need to stay happy and healthy.Listen to Farmer Duck´s story and use it as inspiration for drama activities.Learn about the journey from egg to adult and use dance to retell the life cycle. Acquire knowledge about food chains and finally learn about the significance of feathers.
Block E
Exotic Birds
[4 sessions] / Art, English, Scienceand Music

Pupils shoulduse drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination, to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products, to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.

Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas.
Use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
Learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Pupil should be able touse their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes, listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high quality live and recorded music experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

/ Createexotic birds using exciting patterns and interesting shapes. Make a rainforest in the classroom to let your exotic birds come to life. Be inspired by the works of Gaudi, learn about Art Nouveau and try your hand at mosaic art. Finally,create a class choir using real performance tracks for a grand musical finale!
Block F
Fish
[4 sessions] / Science, PE, GeographyandArt

Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including pets).

Name and locate the world’s 7 continents and 5 oceans.
Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify countries, continents and oceans.

Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

Perform dances using simple movement patterns.

/ Learn about fish,research their life cycles and habitats and makeyour own aquarium with fish and underwater plants!Create a pattern of movements to develop a dance and compose and plan the dance story for a performance.Create fish puppets, props and a back drop; make and write invitations and finally perform your imaginative dance story and wait for the compliments!
Block G
Reptiles
[5 sessions] / Science,English andArt

Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including pets).
Describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air).
Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited.
Describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other.
Write for different purposes, saying out loud what they are going to write about.
Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.
To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

/ Learn about these fascinating and sometimes misunderstood creatures, discover incredible facts, play interactive games and create reptile word clouds. Examine marine iguanas and why they are endangered, make reptile models and use the information gained about habitats to create your own vivarium. Create a reptile house and open it to the public!
Block H
Amphibians
[4 sessions] / Science, MusicandGeography

Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals
Describe & compare the structure of common animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds mammals
Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify countries, continents and oceans

Understand how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate notations.
Play tuned and untuned instruments musically
Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

/ Study the world of amphibians and discover how Saint-Saëns overlooked this fascinating class of life. Investigate life-cycles, characteristics and habitats. Create patterns of sounds; learn about tempo, dynamics and pitch, rehearse and perform together. Put it all together so that amphibians can take their place in the Carnival of Animals!
Block I
Fossils
[6 sessions] / Science, History,Art, Danceand English

Pupils should be taught to use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions, gathering and recording data to help in answering questions.

Pupils should be able to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
Pupils should perform dances using simple movement patterns.
Pupils should listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.
Pupils should be taught to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

Pupils should be taught about the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.
Pupils should be taught to participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
Pupils should be taught to ask relevant questions to extend understanding and knowledge.
Give well-structured descriptions and explanations.

/ What is it like to be a fossil hunter? How do youidentify fossils? How are fossils formed? Who are the real fossil hunters? Discover the answers to these questions. Learn about Mary Anning, make fossils and dance like dinosaurs! Carry out a fossil hunting expedition and create a museum to showcase discoveries and creative outcomes from this block.
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Block J
Finale
[4 sessions] / P.E.,Dance,History and English

Explore and respond to music with movements.
Use their imagination to create a short dance.
Perform a dance to an audience.
Practise making simple movements bigger and bolder.
Create a sports game using basic movements,
In a group develop simple rules for their sports game.
Express opinions about each other’s performances and give constructive feedback.
Discuss their work and share achievements.
Communicate ideas effectively.
Talk about their work during this topic.
Explore ideas in light of the discussion about the Olympics/animal skills.
Learn about carnivals and why they happen.
Can discuss their own experiences of carnivals.

/ It´s Carnival time! Be prepared for fun, dancing, parades and music. Learn about world famous carnivals and put together a class carnival. Look back at the topic and use imagination to shape the carnival of the year! Finally, finish the topic in a spectacular way with an animal Olympics; which animal will be the King of the Carnival?

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