| Lesson start ideas | Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson |
| Which subject | Music |
| What age group | Reception / Kindergarten |
| What topic | Tama Nui Te Ra |
| Quantity | 2 |
| Any other preferences |
Introduce students to the theme of "Tama Nui Te Ra," the Māori sun god, through storytelling and music exploration.
Gather the Children: Invite the children to sit in a circle on the colorful blankets or mats.
Engage with a Story: Begin by telling a simple, engaging story about Tama Nui Te Ra. Incorporate expressive gestures and sound effects to bring the story to life. For example, mimic the sun waking up in the morning and the shadows disappearing.
Introduce Sound: After the story, explain how the sun can make different sounds (e.g., bright and cheerful or soft and warm). Ask the children to think about what the sun sounds like to them.
Musical Exploration: Hand out the simple percussion instruments and encourage the children to make sounds that reflect the sun. Discuss how they can use the instruments to create a "sunrise" sound (soft and slow) and a "sunny day" sound (fast and lively).
Movement Activity: Distribute the bright scarves or ribbons and invite the children to wave them in the air as they create their chosen sun sounds. Encourage them to move around the circle, reflecting the energy and warmth of the sun.
Wrap up the lesson by gathering the children back in a circle. Ask them how it felt to make music and move like the sun. Reinforce the connection between "Tama Nui Te Ra" and music by singing a simple sun song together.
Help children understand rhythm and movement through an interactive game related to "Tama Nui Te Ra."
Set the Scene: Start by gathering the children in an open space and explaining that they will engage in a dance game that celebrates the sun and "Tama Nui Te Ra."
Introduce the Scarf: Present the colorful scarves and explain that these scarves will represent rays of sunlight. Each child will get one scarf to wave while dancing.
Teach Basic Rhythms: Choose a sun-themed song or instrumental music. As the music plays, guide the children in clapping or tapping simple rhythms together. This will help develop their sense of timing.
Dance Like the Sun: When the music plays, encourage the children to use their scarves to create movements that imitate the sun's rays shining down, bouncing off the ground, or swirling around. Suggest that they can also "make shadows" by bending down when the music slows down or stopping their movements.
Game Variation: To add an element of fun, play a game where the music stops and the children must freeze in their "shadow" position. After a few seconds, start the music again, and they can continue dancing with their scarves.
Conclude the lesson with a reflection where children can share their favorite movements or sounds. Reinforce the connection to "Tama Nui Te Ra" by reminding them how the god of the sun brings light, energy, and music into our world. Finish with a short, cheerful song about the sun that they can sing together.
These ideas are designed to engage 4-5-year-olds actively and help them associate music with the theme of Tama Nui Te Ra.