Jack and the Beanstalk: 7. We're rich!

The golden hen lays a golden egg each day and Jack spends his time offering eggs to the villagers who need one. But one day the magic hen has disappeared. Jack's Ma says she has heard rumours of a gang of thieves in the area and Jack decides he must make one final trip to the Giants' castle. When the Giant returns in the familiar fashion Jack hides again, then watches as the Giant calls for his magic harp - another item he has stolen. The harp's wonderful music sends the Giant asleep and Jack steps forward intending to take the harp home with him...

Jack steps forward to take the harp...but he has a surprise: the harp begins speaking, trying to wake the Giant. She explains to Jack that although the Giant is a bit gruff he does like her music. The Giant wakes and sees Jack and says he'll eat him for pudding. Jack sprints for the door - aided by the Giant's wife - and begins climbing down the beanstalk, pursued by the Giant. At the bottom Jack's Ma is waiting with an axe which she gives to Jack and he begins to chop. Beanstalk and Giant crash to the ground and the poor Giant must look for some other way to get back home. The villagerscelebrate.

Identify how the rhythm and melody in Verses 1 and 2 (and the first half of Verse 3) are exactly the same. They are repeated. The children can clap the rhythms.

Practise singing the final verse with chopping actions and keeping the words ‘Chop! Chop!’ on the beat.

Practise singing the jumpylow to high note interval found in the words, ‘We’re rich!’ in the chorus.

Click here for the backing track video.

Russian Dance from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker is a ballet about a little girl, called Clara, who goes on a magical adventure in The Land of Toys. What is the style of the music? (It’s very lively, with a jumpy rhythm).

The music is played by an orchestra. Can children remember what an orchestra is? Can they name some of the instruments of an orchestra?