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Busy Things hosts over 1600 curriculum-linked activities and games for early years and primary aged children. A school subscription also includes lots of features and tools for teachers that promise to save planning time.  Take a free trial to have a proper play or book a demo here. 

Monster scale

The row of monsters represents a musical scale. The notes of each monster is show at the bottom.

Explore the notes by clicking/tapping the monsters or by dragging up and down the scale.

Compose a tune for yourself and practise it. When you are ready, you can record it with the red circle Record button. To stop the recording, use the red square Stop button.

Use the green triangle Play button to play back your tune.



Discussion points

Age 3-4, Age 4, Age 5Age 5-6, Age 6-7, Age 7-9, Age 9-11

  • Can you move your body up high and down low like these notes?
  • What do you like about the music you have recorded?
  • Can you play up and then down the monsters?
  • What do you notice as you play up and down the scale?
  • Can you play these notes on a musical instrument?
  • Can you create your own short song with lyrics (words)?


Teaching tips:

Age 3-4, Age 4, Age 5Age 5-6, Age 6-7, Age 7-9, Age 9-11

Let children experiment with the scales alongside an instrument like a xylophone and beater. See if they can hear the difference between the shorter monsters producing lower notes, and the taller monsters producing higher notes by playing the scale up and back down again.

Use after looking at ‘Follow the cloud’ where children need to select the note shown to play a familiar tune.
Children could try playing some tuned instruments alongside this activity and having a try at some of the simple songs below:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: (Low) CC GG AA G, FF EE DD C, GG FF EE D, GG FF EE D, CC GG AA G, FF EE DD C.

Mary Had a Little Lamb: EDCD EEE, DDD EEE, EDCD EEE, EDDEDC.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat: (Low) C C C DE EDEFG, (High) CCC GGG EEE CCC G F E D C.
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Nursery

 £110+VAT yr

  Unlimited children in a single nursery

  Single shared login

  xx games for independent play

  Areas of Learning?

  Printable worksheets

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