Do Wah Diddy Diddy!

Grade 3 music students are busy rehearsing a song called ‘Do Wah Diddy’ for next Friday’s Festival of Lights Concert. This song is a part of an inquiry unit exploring how we can analyse and appreciate music. Students are learning how to sing together as a choir and to follow the directions of a conductor. We look forward to performing this song soon!



Creating a storm… musically!

Grade 4 music students have been speaking a lot about the recent storms that have affected Copenhagen. Their latest inquiry unit explored how music can be used to express ideas and feelings. Students came up with the idea to compose a piece of music using percussion instruments to convey the different elements of a storm.

Drums and cymbals created thunder and lightning… Castanets created rain drops… Maracas were used to make the sound of heavy rain… High pitched notes on the piano represented birds tweeting at the end of the storm… It was a lot of fun (and a lot of noise!) J



Cats in the Cradle...

Grade 5 music students have recently completed an inquiry unit exploring how music can communicate a message. As part of this unit, students analysed the lyrics of the song, ‘Cats in the Cradle,’ by Harry Chappin. All grade 5 students rehearsed the song as one big choir and performed it at the Grades 4 and 5 Arts assembly on Thursday 5^th December. Check out the film clip of their performance on this blog!



Grade 5 Choir

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

CIS Grade 5 singing Cats in the Cradle

Pre-Kindergarten Newsletter

        Pre-Kindergarten Newsletter Unit 2 November 2013

 Music Notes from Miss Arden¯

The Pre-Kindergarten music classes have been exploring

how sounds can describe feelings. Students are

given a variety of opportunities to create different

sounds through songs and games that illustrate a feeling.

Musical elements such as loud voice and quiet

voice are added to help explore and depict

feelings. Our next unit’s focus will be on the

role we have when playing music together.

Kindergarten Newsletter November 2013

Kindergarten Newsletter UNIT 2 November 2013

¯ Music Notes ¯

In the Where We Are In Place and Time Unit, our music making has focused on locating the beat. Through rhythmic notation practice in songs, writing and playing musical instruments, students are able to experience basic ensemble playing as they gain a sense of the musical pulse. They are then able to explore new sound combinations. These activities set the stage for the next Unit titled “Get Moving” where our focus will be linked to music and movement activities.

Educating Champions of a Just and Sustainable World
Primary School Portfolios
2013-2014

“A portfolio is a record of students’ involvement in learning which is designed to
demonstrate success, growth, higher order thinking, creativity, assessment
strategies and reflection. A portfolio is a celebration of an active mind at work.”
Making the PYP Happen in the Classroom p. 50
At the Primary School of Copenhagen International School, portfolios:
• belong to the student and as such, will be taken home at the end of the year
• include work selected by students
• offer a view of the whole child
• provide a snapshot of student learning
• show student growth over time
• help students develop pride in their own work and progress
• encourage student reflection through a variety of age-appropriate student
reflections on the work placed in the portfolio
• can include brief teacher comments where teachers feel appropriate
• incorporate the essential elements and IB Learner Profile
• contain a variety of pieces from process to product in all learning areas, i.e.,
photos, projects, pictures, plans, drafts, graphs of personal scores, audio
recordings, personal inventories, etc.
• provide a talking point between students and parents, teachers and others