Music and Movement School Visit

Create a possum orchestra with percussion instruments

Pre-Year 2

Focus text: My Possum Plays the Drums

Learning outcomes: onomatopoeia and musical concepts

I use my picture book My Possum Plays the Drums to introduce children to musical concepts and onomatopoeia.

I share where the idea for My Possum Plays the Drums came from (hint – a very noisy Canberra possum!)
Interactive story time – I provide a set of percussion instruments for children to play along with the book and create their own possum orchestra (I have 40 percussion instruments)
Explore different instruments and their sounds
Introduce children to musical concepts including rhythm, pitch, tempo and dynamics (I have a background in singing and violin)
Introduce onomatopoeia
There are plenty of movement breaks to keep the youngest of children engaged – such as air drumming and pretending to be possums on the roof
For primary school children I can provide a behind the scenes peak into the creation of My Possum Plays the Drums – from initial idea to first draft to early illustrations to the final book.

Testimonials

“We had the pleasure of welcoming Catherine Meatheringham for Book Week 2024. She addressed our kindergarten students, reading the book My Possum Plays the Drums. The children were captivated by the story, and the experience was made even more magical with the interactive “possum orchestra”, as Catherine brought along a set of wooden percussion instruments.

The combination of storytelling and music and/or activity was a perfect way to engage our students and encouraging them to read.

I highly recommend inviting Catherine to share her books. Her passion for storytelling is evident, and her ability to provide a dynamic literary experience to the students was truly impressive.”

Macquarie Primary School, ACT

"Catherine's visit to Monash Primary School was the highlight of Book Week! The students were completely engaged by her excellent stories, as well as her fun and creative activities. Our students got to play in their own 'Possum Orchestra', and our Year 1 teachers were super impressed by the 'Our Home' craft session. Catherine was lovely to deal with and very responsive during the planning stages of her visit to Monash, and was generous with her time and advice during student question time."

Tonia, Monash Primary School, Library Administration