Transition Songs (Welsh National Opera)

for Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1

WNO workshop leaders Emily Rooke and Dalma Sinka have created six brand new transition songs for you to use as part of your school routines from the summer term onwards!  Each song has a bespoke backing track and video you can use in the classroom as a teaching video to learn  the melody and the Makaton signs that go with it.  We hope that you can make use of these to help ease transitions during the school day and embed them into your day to day activities throughout the school year. 

In the resource pack we have included some suggestions for how you might like to make use of these songs throughout your normal daily routine with your class but this is not an exhaustive list!  There are lots of ways to incorporate song and singing in your day and please feel free to adapt the lyrics of these songs to suit your classroom and activities specifically.  We have included a small amount of Makaton signs in the learning videos but we would not expect pupils to be using them while washing their hands or tidying up for example so feel free to use or not use them as appropriate.

Getting in a Circle

Learning Video & Backing Track

Getting in a Circle Backing Track (piano only)

Washing Hands

learning Video & Backing Track

Washing Hands Backing Track (piano only)

Lining Up

Learning video & Backing Track

Lining Up Backing Track (piano only)

Tidy Up Song

Learning Video & Backing Track

Tidy Up Song Backing Track (piano only)

Quiet Time

Learning Video & Backing Track

Quiet Time Backing Track (piano only)

Pack Your Bags

Learning Video & Backing Track

Pack Your Bags Backing Track (piano only)
Let's Get Loud (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for Let’s Get Loud by Gloria Estefan sung by Jennifer Lopez then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Fizzical Rap (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

Vocal Warm Ups (WNO)

Welsh National Opera Singers and Workshop Leaders Dalma and Emily have created some fantastic vocal warm up videos for us. These can be used either in your classroom, as a CPD activity for teachers who are planning on leading singing or for individual students working on their vocal technique.

Posture & Stretching

Breathing Exercises 1

Breathing Exercises 2

Facial Muscles & Diction

Extending Your Vocal Range

All Purpose Warm Up

WNONia CollinsKS2, KS3, KS4, KS5, CPD
Shotgun (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for Shotgun by George Ezra then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

The Seaside (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

Better When I'm Dancing (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for Better When I’m Dancing by Meghan Trainor from The Peanuts Movie then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Bigger and Smaller (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

True Colours (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs for True Colours by Cyndi Lauper sung as a duet by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick in the film Trolls, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Hot Water (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

This Is Our Carnival (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs for This Is Our Carnival, an original song written by Jo Downs and sung by children from Theatre Educational directed by Katy Edmunds and produced by Aidan Hampson. This special song is part of a larger project for National Children’s Carnival Week taking place up and down the country in the week beginning 12th July 2021. Our project with The New Carnival Company has allowed us to share this song nationally so join in from wherever you are and feel free to change the lyrics ‘Isle of Wight’ to your own school, town or carnival company name!

Learn the Makaton signs with Kelly and then try it out with the performance video. Also included is a pdf of the score for download and backing track versions for your own performances.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

This Is Our Carnival Backing Track
Jo Downs
Rise Up Underdog & Shine (Big 10 Minute Sign & Sing Workshop)

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for Rise Up Underdog & Shine, an original song mash up arranged by Sheldon Hamilton-McKenzie and sung by Emilia Heritage, in this special extended edition workshop, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

The Old Oak Tree (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

Skye Boat Song (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

with Welsh National Opera (WNO) — Early Years and Key Stage 1

Learn to sing the song and the all the Makaton signs for this traditional song with opera singers from WNO

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

BACKING TRACK - TO PRACTICE WITHOUT THE VIDEO

Skye Boat Song (Backing Track)
The Song Makers (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

with Welsh National Opera (WNO) — Early Years and Key Stage 1

Learn to sing the song and the all the Makaton signs for this traditional song with opera singers from WNO

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

BACKING TRACK - TO PRACTICE WITHOUT THE VIDEO

The Song Makers (Backing Track)
In The Town (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

Cherry Blossom (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

with Welsh National Opera (WNO) — Early Years and Key Stage 1

Learn to sing the song and the all the Makaton signs for this traditional song with opera singers from WNO

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

BACKING TRACK - TO PRACTICE WITHOUT THE VIDEO

Cherry Blossom (Backing Track)
Rabbit Wearing Glasses (5 Minute Rhythm & Rhyme)

Join in with our new inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Kelly where you can!

Big 10 Minute Sign & Sing: Teaser Trailer

Watch the Sign & Sing team get ready to deliver the event on Monday 29th March - with mixed results… 😆

If you haven’t already signed up to take part there’s still time! All the information you need is on this page www.southamptonmusichub.org/Big10

Nia Collins
Naya Raasta (10 Minute Sign & Sing)

Key Stage 2

Learn the Makaton signs for 'Naya Raasta' written and sung by Dr Pooja Angra used with permission from Art Asia, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG