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Music Education
Resources by Paula Downes, a lot of music by Andrew Downes

We Are Flying Out To Elmdon

The second of six cross-curricular lesson plans on Songs of the Skies & Holidays for Primary or Elementary School children using songs and animations, poetry analysis and writing, music analysis, instrument making, art projects and play ideas.

We are flying out to Elmdon
Animation by Paula Downes, music by Andrew Downes, poetry by primary school children coached by Julie Boden.

If you want to perform the songs, they can be accompanied by the animations, a CD of synthesised sounds (available here), or a chamber orchestra (parts available here). There is also a conductor version of the video for multimedia live performances.

The Poem
We are flying out to Elmdon
Flying from Birmingham.
To the great cities of Europe
Flying to Paris, Rome, Milan.

Dad shouts, 'Are you ready?'
Mum cries, 'Lend a hand!'
Our beds are bouncy castles.
Our sheets are dunes of sand.

We're tossing and we're turning
as hands explore the clock.
We're making lists of presents
we're counting sticks of rock.

We are flying out to Elmdon
Flying from Birmingham.
To the great cities of Europe
Flying to Paris, Rome, Milan.

Poetry Analysis
Search for rhyming words, nouns, adjectives. Show the children where the different cities are on googlemaps. Talk about the sights they might see in those cities.



Check-in and Security at the Airport
The Mum and Dad in the poem are stressed out because they have little time. It is important to get to the airport early for a flight. Watch the following videos about check-in, security and the journey of your baggage.

Poetry Writing
Brainstorm all the nouns and adjectives to do with airports, check-in and security.

Ask the children to select words that rhyme from the brainstorm.

Ask them them to write a poem with the same rhyming structure as the poem in the song. 

Now listen to the song again and listen out for all the ostinatos in the accompaniment. You can also try to identify the instruments playing them after watching the videos below.

Strings:

Woodwind:

Brass:

Percussion:

Drama Project
Imagine you are flying somewhere in Europe. Act out the check-in and security at the airport.

Move on to Ghazal of Italy - Milan and Rome


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Music Education
Resources by Paula Downes, a lot of music by Andrew Downes

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