Primary School Songs: Space songs

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Apollo Journey - Astro Waltz - Moon Steps - Spin, Earth, Spin - Lumps and Bumps

Five songs about space, the Apollo missions to the Moon, and the planets of our solar system - with .

Introduction

These songs encourage pupils to discover aspects of space exploration and to think about our place in the universe - especially our solar system. They are fun songs to join in, several with sing-along choruses, some with a sense of dramatic adventure, and others in a mood of relaxed cool-ness, in a range of popular styles.

Each song can be heard in vocal versions and also in an instrumental backing track, with exactly the same timing, which you can use for practising as often as you like and for performing in assemblies or shows for parents and the whole school.

Apollo Journey follows the familiar story of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission from launch sequence, through lift-off, stepping on the moon, experiments on the lunar surface, ending with the return to Earth and splashdown.

Astronautical Waltz focuses on the human experience of being an astronaut - training, exercise, space helmets and spacesuits, working in 'micro-gravity'.

Moon Steps places lunar exploration within the wider context of humanity’s different voyages of discovery, tracing how transport by wheels and wings eventually led to rocket-science.

Spin, Earth, Spin highlights the movement of the planets in our solar system. As well as each sphere spinning on its axis, the smaller bodies orbit around the larger ones and some - including Earth - ‘wobble’ or ‘wiggle’ slightly as they spin.

Lumps and Bumps briefly describes a few physical characteristics of the moon and the planets within the solar system, to which you can dance a lively waltz!

Teacher's Notes

The songs are accompanied by containing:

detailed information about the music for performing each song
some hints for organising the class and combining the music with dance and drama in performance
suggestions for use of classroom instruments and simple composing
a range of follow-up ideas in subjects across the curriculum