**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Opera Day. World Opera Day is an annual worldwide celebration of opera, observed on October 25th. It was jointly established by Opera Europa, Opera America, and Ópera Latinoamérica to highlight the positive impact of opera on society and to promote awareness of this art form. For official information and to learn more about global opera initiatives, please consult the World Opera Day website (www.worldoperaday.com).
Understanding World Opera Day in EYFS & KS1
Let the music soar! 🎶🎭 World Opera Day is an annual worldwide celebration of opera, observed on October 25th. It was jointly established by Opera Europa, Opera America, and Ópera Latinoamérica to highlight the positive impact of opera on society, promote its cultural value, and increase awareness of this vibrant art form. It's a day to appreciate the blend of music, drama, singing, and visual spectacle that opera offers.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a wonderfully dramatic and expressive theme for exploring music, sound, storytelling, emotions, and performance. It's about introducing children to different forms of musical expression, encouraging them to use their voices, and sparking imagination through narrative and melody. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about creative arts and emotional expression both captivating and harmonious.
Why Is Teaching About Opera & Music Important for Young Children?
Integrating lessons about opera and music into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) helps develop their appreciation for the arts. While opera might seem complex, its core elements of storytelling, music, and emotion are highly accessible to young learners.
Emotional Expression: Opera, through its powerful music and singing, offers a unique way for children to explore and express a wide range of emotions. Our 'Emotions and Feelings' and 'Mental Health' pages are relevant here.
Storytelling & Narrative: Many operas tell compelling stories, which can enhance children's comprehension, imagination, and sequencing skills. Our 'Fairy Tale Theatre' Dramatic Role Play Pack connects to narrative.
Musical Appreciation: Exposure to different genres of music, including classical and operatic styles, broadens children's musical tastes and understanding of rhythm, melody, and dynamics.
Vocal Development: Encouraging singing, even in a playful way, supports vocal range, breath control, and confidence in using one's voice.
Cultural Awareness: Introducing opera exposes children to a rich cultural art form with a long history and global presence.
Cognitive Benefits: Engaging with music improves memory, listening skills, and pattern recognition.
Engaging Opera & Music Activities for World Opera Day (0-7 Year Olds)
Make World Opera Day a truly expressive and musical experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on the joy of singing, the power of sound, and the magic of storytelling through music! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available on our dedicated 'Music and Sound' page.
Here's some inspiration for bringing the wonder of opera into your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
Listen to Opera Excerpts: Play short, child-friendly excerpts from famous operas. Discuss what sounds they hear (singing, instruments), and use our range of 'This music makes me feel...' resources to help the children explore their feelings.
Dramatic Play & Storytelling: Opera is highly dramatic! Use our 'Fairy Tale Theatre' Dramatic Role Play Pack' to set up a stage for children to act out simple stories or nursery rhymes, adding their own "opera" singing.
Singing Along: Encourage children to sing familiar songs with gusto! Use our 'Songs I Love to Sing' Booklet'. You can also use our song words for popular tunes like 'Bingo’, 'Five Little Speckled Frogs’, 'The Wheels on the Bus’, and 'The Pirate Song (The Day I Went To Sea)'.
Singing Contest Role-Play: Set up a 'Singing Contest Role Play Pack' where children can perform their favourite songs or even improvise short opera-like solos!
Explore Sound & Rhythm: Investigate different sounds. Use 'Making Sounds Game' and 'Onomatopoeic Sound Cards’ to explore vocal sounds and sound effects. Practice rhythm with 'Clapping Cards'.
Sound Walks & Listening Games: Go on a "sound walk" to identify different sounds around the setting, using 'Listening 'Sound Walk' Sheets - Check List or Tally'. Play 'What Made The Sound?' Listening Game' to help children discriminate sounds.
Voice and Body: Discuss how singers use their 'Human Body' (lungs, mouth, throat) to make powerful sounds. Encourage 'Expressive Movement' to music.
Instrument Exploration: Introduce different musical instruments. If you have a toy or real guitar, use 'Guitar Parts Poster and Activity Sheets'. Discuss how instruments create the music that accompanies opera singers.
My Favourite Sounds: Use 'My Favourite Sound(s) Sheets - Phase 1 Phonics & Listening Skills' to help children identify and talk about sounds they enjoy, linking to the sounds in opera.
Well-being Through Music: Remind children that music and singing can be great 'Mental Health - Mood Booster Activity Cards'.
Explore Related Pages: For more comprehensive support, visit our dedicated pages:
These activities offer great inspiration for making World Opera Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering musicality, creative expression, emotional literacy, and an appreciation for the performing arts.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Opera Day’
Please visit our ‘Music and Sound’ page for additional resources.
Please visit our ‘Music & Sound’ page for additional resources.
Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes
More Early Years Event Pages for October
Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children
Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!
SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONS…
Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'World Opera Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by Opera Europa, Opera America, or Ópera Latinoamérica, which jointly established this day. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and to learn more about global opera initiatives, please visit their website at www.worldoperaday.com.
Let the music soar! 🎶🎭 World Opera Day is an annual worldwide celebration of opera, observed on October 25th. It was jointly established by Opera Europa, Opera America, and Ópera…