Around the World with Bessy

Part Two - New York.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS

MUSIC

  • Sing and dance along with Bessy using the music downloads. Play along with real or “air” instruments!

  • Explore/ revisit Bessy’s theme, a traditional fiddle tune and try dancing a ceilidh dance or traditional folk dance. Create your own dance in this style.

  • Discuss the different musical styles used. Jazz, Musical Theatre, classical etc.

  • Some of the music is very descriptive. Discuss how music can describe both tangible things and feelings. Try describing things in the classroom with music. Show feelings with music. eg. Can you hear the telephone ring in “Long Distance Call”? Can you feel Suzie’s fear of heights in the “Elevator Song” and “The Liberty Climb”?

  • Discuss the jazz band. Explore the different instrument families and identify which instruments belong to each family.

ART

  • Draw pictures of the scenes that the music creates whilst listening to the music.

  • What colours do you see?

  • Make models of the instruments.

  • Draw your favourite character. Make a calendar, greetings card or poster featuring your favourite character.

  • Design a poster to advertise a concert.

DRAMA

  • Create your own class/school/group show

  • The show is virtually a live performance of the book. Create your own class/school/group version as a narration, playing and/or singing the music using the tracks from the book and projections of your own images.

  • Make the book into a play where the children act out the characters using dialogue as well as narration.

LITERACY AND LANGUAGE

  • Discuss the difference between British English and American English. Identify words unique to each language and find their equivalent in the other language. Also compare spelling such as “centre” and “center” Discuss the difference in the accents and how different facial muscles cause this. How easy is it to talk with a different accent?

  • Write about your own travel adventure either as human you or you as a musical instrument or animal or fantastical creature, either as a short story, poem or song.

  • Reading aloud together in class.

  • Reading to self followed by a class quiz.

SOCIAL SUBJECTS

  • Track Bessy’s journey from home to New York on a map/globe.

  • Suzie was waving a Scottish flag when bessy arrived. Discuss the flag and the American flag – talk about National anthems, Prime Minister/President differences etc.

  • On Google Maps street view, explore the various areas of New York which Bessy and Suzie visited.

  • Discuss the different areas and landmarks Bessy visits; eg; Empire State Building – compare to other tall buildings in the world.

  • Statue of Liberty – what does it represent?

  • Times Square – What happens there? New Year etc,

  • Central Park – what can you do there?

  • Rockerfeller Center – what else happens there?

  • Greenwich Village – how many jazz clubs are there?

  • Broadway – discuss musicals, shows and plays and theatre districts in the UK.

  • Carnegie Hall – named after the Scottish philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, There is also a Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline in Fife, his birth town, (also near to Bessy’s home) named in his memory. Discuss philanthropy and present day philanthropists.

  • Bessy joins in the Thanksgiving celebrations with Suzie and her friends. What is Thanksgiving all about? What or who would you say thank you for? Discuss other world celebrations.

  • Identify famous people who live or are from in New York.

  • Identifier popular products from New York.

NUMERACY AND MATHEMATICS

  • How many miles might Bessy have travelled in total on her journey?

  • Discuss currency. What is the rate of exchange from £ to $ at the moment?

  • What road signs would Lionel encounter? What are the national speed limits in America? Discuss miles and kilometres.

  • How high is the Empire State Building? Compare with other tall buildings in the world. How many steps did Bessy and Suzie climb in the Statue of Liberty?

TECHNOLOGIES

  • Record your own stories and songs using GarageBand or other software. Add in drum beats/guitar chords/sound effects.

  • Make a journey planner of Bessy’s journeys on Google Maps.

  • Make a Powerpoint presentation of own stories and pictures.

  • Explore Bessy’s website and download the challenges and competitions.

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

  • As we discovered in “Part One – Europe”, Bessy starts her day usually with a bowl of healthy crotchets and quavers but she enjoys treats too! Suzie introduced her to cheesecake…what is your favourite treat? Savoury or sweet?

  • Discuss friendship and how you could help someone visiting your country, city or school for the first time.

  • Bessy’s friends made her a playlist of her favourite tunes to travel with on her last trip, She took this with her on her journey to new York to keep her happy and connected to home. What would be on your playlist of you went on a long journey away from home? This was a very kind and thoughtful gesture of her friends. What would you do to cheer up your friend if they were anxious about a long journey or new experience?

  • Discuss inclusion. Suzie and her friends made Bessy very welcome in their group by helping her try a new activity (ice skating) and inviting her to their Thankssgiving dinner. How could you make a newcomer to your group feel welcome? Imagine how you would feel if you were the newcomer. What might you and your group learn from your new friend? Friendship is a two way street we learn from each other.

  • Discuss emotions created by the text of the story and by the music. Which is most powerful to you? What features of the music make you feel certain emotions. Why does this music make you feel happy, sad, energised or sleepy? How do you think “Carnegie Hall” makes Bessy feel. How does this differ from how Suzie or Peter or Pietro might feel? Why might this be?