Using Folk Arts in Key Stage 1
Using Folk Arts in Key Stage 1: Street Cries, Green Men and Morris Dancing
By Bev and Ray Langton
This cross-curricular project took place at Allens Croft Primary School in Kings Heath, Birmingham. It brought together exploration of English traditions, based on Years 2’s theme of ‘England’. The children participated in singing a range of English folk songs, as well as playing tunes on mini-melodeons.
They listened, danced and responded to traditional tunes from The Full English digital archive, including the mysterious and haunting The Green Man, leading to an exploration of folk traditions and craft activities, inspiring their own wall plaques and the production of a place. Pupils composed their own lyrics and street cries. For the performances in school and the showcase conference, the children wore tatter which they made themselves. They shared a wide range of the activities they had undertaken, including singing, dancing and playing the mini-melodeon.
You can download a PDF explaining the project, and giving planning details of the different strands of activities, by clicking on the PDF tab at the top of this panel.
Bev Langton
Bev is a well-regarded folk arts practitioner who regularly works across the country in schools, festivals and community settings. She is a qualified teacher and has worked as a national advisor and consultant across the country.
Bev is a dancer and leader of The Shrewsbury Lasses and also a ceilidh caller. Bev loves to encourage children to develop an interest in all aspects of the folk arts. Along with husband Ray she produces festivals and events for children at major folk festivals such as Sidmouth FolkWeek and Towersey Festival. She is also a director of Squeezing Shropshire, a community association that specialises in encouraging others to take part in musical activities.
Ray Langton
Ray is a well-regarded folk arts practitioner who regularly works across the country in schools, festivals and community settings. Ray is a qualified teacher and also singer, dancer and multi-talented musician along with being an excellent, melodeon player.
Ray also loves to encourage others to take an interest in the melodeon through his Mini Melodeon Workshops. Along with his wife Bev he produces festivals and events for children at major folk festivals such as Sidmouth FolkWeek and Towersey Festival. He is also director of Squeezing Shropshire, a community association that specialises in encouraging others to take part in musical activities. Ray is long-time Squire of the Shrewsbury Bull & Pump Morris Men.
