These audio and video resources combine KS1 Music and KS1 History in a fun, time-travel journey through more than 500 years - spanning Christopher Columbus to the present day! There are 13 songs in total, each devoted to 'famous people' from the KS1 History curriculum.
1. Columbus and Magellan. audio
The series begins with a song celebrating two great explorers - Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan.
2. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. audio
Finding out about the lives of two extraordinary monarchs: Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
3. Samuel Pepys and The Great Fire of London - part 1. audio
Finding out about London immediately before the Great Fire including the plague of 1665.
4. Samuel Pepys and The Great Fire of London - part 2. audio
Finding out about The Great Fire and singing songs based on well-known nursery rhymes.
5. Samuel Pepys and The Great Fire of London - part 3. audio
Finding out about rebuilding London with songs based on well-known nursery rhymes.
6. Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart and Haydn - part 1. audio
Exploring great composers with songs based on some of their most famous melodies.
7. Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart and Haydn - part 2. audio
Exploring great composers with songs based on some of their most famous melodies.. Part 2 looks at Mozart and Haydn.
8. Stephenson, Anning, Brunel and Queen Victoria. audio
Celebrating famous Victorians: the Stephensons, Brunel, Mary Anning and Victoria herself.
9. John Logie Baird and mass communication. audio
The series ends in the 20th century, celebrating TV and other mass communications.
Introduction to 'History: Famous People'
Children use their imaginary pocket chronometers to travel through time to different historical periods from the 15th century through to the current day.
Along the way we meet many 'Famous people' from the Key Stage 1 History curriculum - including Christopher Columbus, King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Samuel Pepys, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mary Anning, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Queen Victoria, in a chronological journey helping children understand how one historical period follows another.
Using the content
The content for History - Famous People is structured as nine content or episode pages, with five of the episodes containing one song, and four episodes containing two songs.
Each of the historical periods / famous people included are clearly flagged and the content has been arranged in such a way that you should find it possible to dip between historical periods, linking the songs on offer to your own topic work.
Each episode page includes the following resources:
- Song tutorial video
- Karaoke full vocal version of the song (for rehearsal)
- Karaoke backing track version of the song (for performance)
- Lyrics to display or download
- Music to display or download
- Notes describing the content of the tutorial and how best to use it
Use the Tutorial to begin learning each song: our presenters Wayne and Jenny guide pupils through each song methodically, giving extra attention to any difficult passages or activities in groups.
Use the Full vocal and Backing track versions of the songs to revise them in preparation for a performance.
In the Teacher's Notes you will find information supporting each of the content pages, with suggestions for follow-up activities including developing composing activities for each historical theme and suggestions for using the listening music.
Teacher's Notes. document
Guidance on all the content (pdf)
Meet the famous people. image
Meet the famous people in this slideshow of images
Lyric sheets for pupils. document
All the lyric sheets together (pdf)
