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Jack and the Beanstalk: 4. And he went higher!

In the morning Jack finds the beanstalk growing in the garden. He creeps downstairs without waking Ma. Then he climbs to the very top of the beanstalk and follows a path which eventually leads to a huge castle.

Episode 7 of the story

Jack wakes in the morning to find his room darker than usual - and he can hear a strange rustling noise coming from outside. When he goes over to the window Jack sees an enormous plant, reaching up into the sky - the beanstalk! Jack is delighted that the old man really had been telling the truth after all - and now Jack also knows why he was given the shoes. Jack creeps downstairs, without waking his Ma, and slowly he starts to climb the beanstalk. Soon the cottage is far, far below him...and then Jack is up among the clouds. But he keeps climbing, higher and higher...

Story questions - episode 7

What two things does Jack notice when he wakes up?

His room seems darker and he can hear a rustling noise coming from outside - both are caused by the giant beanstalk

What does Jack think his new red shoes are for?

He decides he must have been given them in order to climb the beanstalk

What does Jack do next?

He begins to climb the beanstalk

What does Jack see - below and above?

Looking down he sees the cottage getting smaller and smaller - looking up he sees the beanstalk stretching up into the clouds, the end of the beanstalk out of sight

Episode 8 of the story

Jack carries on climbing and now the clouds are below him but above all he can see is more sky. Jack tires and wonders if he can carry on but then he hears the voice of the oldman, encouraging him to keep climbing and letting him know he is nearly at the top. Finally Jack reaches the top and pulls himself through a gap between tworocks to see a bleak landscape all around. Next he sees a hare and it leads Jack to a path...which he follows until he sees an enormous castle. As Jack approaches the castle he wonders who could possibly live in such a place.

Story questions - episode 8

What does Jack feel at the top of the beanstalk?

Some rocks - he seems to have arrived at the underside of some fantasy world

What does Jack see?

He sees a bleak, rocky landscape all around - with crows. Next he sees a hare and the hare appears to want Jack to follow

How does Jack find the path that leads to the castle?

A friendly hare looks at Jack and when Jack follows the hare it leads him to the path - and then disappears again

What can Jack see at the end of the path?

An enourmous castle - Jack wonders who could possibly live in such a huge building

The song: 'And he went higher!' (vocal)

Sing And he went higher! again all the way through, making sure that you sing the high and lowjumpy note patterns in tune.

Practise clapping in the rests in the chorus, keeping together with the beat of the music.

Note the long, long, short, note patterns in each verse and the fasttempo.

Click here for the backing track video.

Literacy links

YearActivity
Year 1Discuss how Jack is feeling as he climbs the beanstalk. What are the things that he is missing? Take it in turns to say his thoughts out loud - eg ‘I miss my mum! / I miss Daisy! / I'm not sure I can go any further.'
Year 2Ask the chidlren to imagine and describe what the castle looks like in detail. Write down all the descriptive words they suggest. Children can then write some short descriptive sentences about the castle.

Listening music

Extract from Carnival of the animals by Camille Saint-Saens

The music describes the lion. Is the rhythmsmooth, gentle or strong and jumpy rhythm? (Strong and jumpy).

Are the dynamics loud or quiet? (Loud).

Can children spot the lion 'roaring' in the music? (At 37" when the music runs quickly up and down).

Other KS1 Music series

Resources