Teacher Notes ...


STORY SUMMARY

Mr Clickermouse thinks his computer is his best and only friend. When it breaks down, he enlists the help of a cleaner and a firefighter in a desperate attempt to build a new machine that will do all his computer does - play games with him, write his letters out neatly, send and receive messages, play music and keep him company. The machine becomes ever more fantastical, but it is not until the computer mender finally arrives that Mr Clickermouse realises that he now has at least two friends, and one of them is human!

TEACHING MUSIC WITH 'THE VERY BEST FRIEND'

The Very Best Friend is ideal for resourcing early years and the music curriculum at Key Stage One.

Referring to the National Curriculum Key Stage 1 Programme of Study you will be able to produce lessons that address both the Performing and Composing and Listening and Appraising requirements.

The Key Stage details are given on the web at: www.dfee.gov.uk/nc/musks1.html.
Use these as a check list while looking at the Musical Activities section of The Very Best Friend resource which gives further details of classroom resources. You will find that the activities suggested can cover virtually all of sections 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6.

More information about obtaining materials


CROSS CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

ITC
More about computers e.g. the way they help us in our daily lives, help disabled people, their history - how they have become smaller. This could also include numeracy work.

DANCE, PE & DRAMA
Practical dance and drama activities, e.g. musical statues and word-cued games, together with dances inspired by characters in the show and a Happy Friendship dance.

SCMS, RE and CITIZENSHIP
People who help us; friendship; whether computers are 'cleverer than people' - can machines have a personality?

LITERACY
Word-cued dances and work on the songs, or writing stories related to the characters.

'THE VERY BEST FRIEND' resource pack is full of other ideas for cross-curricular activities. See above for details.

             The story
             The songs
             Musical activities
             About Green Candle
        
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