In “Music for the Clouds” a small country has no rain for a long time and the harvest fails. Travelling musicians give a concert on the highest peak; the cheerful music makes the clouds laugh and the rain falls. After that, people walk up to the peak each day to play for the clouds. In “Drums in Space” a girl, Brenda Bongos, dreams of playing drums, but her neighbours, old and sick people, cannot bear the noise. She looks for quiet places to practise. After hearing on TV that sound does not travel in space, she builds a space bubble, plays her drums and becomes a famous “musical astronaut”. The tales are fantasy: sound really does not travel through empty space. The idea: music brings joy, and kindness to others gives strength.
Worked examples
Retelling 1: Long ago a land had no rain. Musicians played on a mountain. The clouds laughed and rain came down. Retelling 2: Brenda wanted to play the drums without disturbing her neighbours. She built a space bubble and became famous.
Question practice: Why did the musicians climb the mountain? Why could Brenda not practise at home? What does the story say about kindness?
Class activity
“Tale theatre”: groups act one tale in four scenes; others put the scenes in order.