Music in RE

To begin the topic of celebration I would first play a piece of music that is typically played at British parties and children may recognise. In order to ensure the children are sensible and focused I will ask them to listen to the music and consider the images whilst it is playing.

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After listening to this video I will ask these key questions: 1) What was the song like? (tempo, instruments, mood etc.) 2) What did the song make you think about? 3) How did you feel when you were listening to the song? Why? 4) What things do you celebrate? What do you do? How does it make you feel?

This enables the children to not just listen to the music but actively engage with it by discussing their own thoughts and feelings in response to it. Stern Claims using music in RE “helps to express emotions related to RE” (Stern 2004). So by choosing a piece of music, particularly first one that they are familiar with it gives the children a context that they can relate to so that they can then apply these thoughts ideas and emotions to empathise when thinking about celebrations of other religions and how they feel too. It also captures the children’s attention, particularly those who find it difficult to concentrate or those who have an interest in music this is a different way to ensure they are focused and enthusiastic about the learning.

I would then play the class music from another culture… This is a Blue Peter clip of girls in traditional Indian dress performing a stick dance to celebrate Diwali.

From this clip I would then ask the following questions: - What was the music like? How was it different from the first piece? - What do you think about the music? Do you like it? - How does the music make you feel? Why?

It is essential to highlight to the children that although we may celebrate in different ways and have different types of celebration music, we all still celebrate and there is no one “right” or “normal” way to do so. It is also important to note the connections throughout comparing and celebrations e.g. wearing special clothes, music, dancing etc. but most importantly the similar emotions that are felt during these celebrations.

Follow up tasks: Designing a Diwali themed birthday party children can apply what they have learnt about the Hindu religion and the Diwali festival by including elements of this celebration into their ideas. It is also showing respect for other religions by joining in with and celebrating their traditions. This allows children to be creative as they may wish to make a mood board, a power point, a poster, a video invite etc. to present their ideas.

Expressive Art Children can listen to music of different religions and draw a picture using shapes and colours that highlight their thoughts and feelings in response to this. They will also write an accompanying statement explaining what these emotions are and why this music makes them feel like this. Pupils may wish to use paper or may want to use the “Explain everything” app on the iPad so that they can record their explanation beside the image they have created.

Stern, J. (2004) Marking time: using music to create inclusive religious education and inclusive schools. Support for learning [Online]. 19 (3), pp Available from: 1/j x/epdf [Accessed 21st April 2016].