Miranda’s Concert Clue

Miranda and Otis are preparing a sound story for the courtyard concert. Their class will make a bird call, soft rain and a passing train. Mrs Lane puts three picture cards on the bench so everyone can follow the order without reading a long list.

While the children fetch their instruments, a breeze scatters the cards. Otis catches the train picture beside a plant pot. Miranda finds the rain card under the bench, but the bird picture is missing. The concert begins soon, and nobody remembers which sound comes first.

Otis suggests starting with the train because its card is nearest. Miranda thinks they should look for another clue. Mrs Lane has left the practice recording on her tablet. They ask whether they may listen to the opening before setting out their cards again.

First they hear a light whistle, followed by gentle tapping. A rolling drum sound comes last. Miranda recognises the whistle as their bird call. “The recording tells us the order,” she says, “but we still need a picture everyone can see.”

They search around the bench together instead of moving all the instruments. Otis spots a white corner caught behind the plant pot. He steadies the pot while Miranda slips out the missing card. Its bird picture is damp, although the colours are still clear.

Mrs Lane provides three wooden clips and a short board. The children clip the bird, rain and train cards across it, checking them against the recording. Otis places the board where the whole group can see it, away from the edge of the bench.

During the concert, Miranda points to each picture as the sounds change. The bird whistles, rain taps and train rumbles past in the right order. When a breeze crosses the courtyard, the clipped cards stay in place, leaving everyone free to watch the leader.

Afterwards, Otis says that finding a card had not been enough; they also needed to find its place. Miranda puts the clips beside the instruments for the next performance. Their small sound story has taught them how to listen for a clue and keep it useful.