Children's Literature Sets

Those of you who follow my blog know that I looooove using children's literature in my classroom.  I end every first grade class with a song tale picture book.  However, I also love using children's literature as a springboard for improvisation, for rhythm activities, for melodic song incorporation, and for instrument playing.

I've just finished up two sets to share with you, to help you implement children's literature in your music classroom too.  (Note: Awesome classroom teachers who love to add music into their language arts lessons could also do this.  Gotta love music spreading outside of the music room and filling the school!)

The first set I finished goes with Eric Carle's Hungry Caterpillar book.

This set has four beat rhythm patterns to be chanted for each day's caterpillar dining.  Quarter and eighth notes are practiced, and an ostinato ensemble can even be performed.  Directions are included for making this rhythm activity a cross-curricular success.

The second set that is hot off the press goes with the book, "The Mitten."  In this set, I wrote a two measure sol mi la (and a few do's) melody for each character in the circular story.  Each page in the book has a melody to tag on to the prior melodies, making a longer and longer song.  Ideas for incorporating Orff instruments are also included.  Recordings of the song come along with the set, so classroom teachers who would like to use music in their language arts lessons can use the recordings to perform the songs with the book.  Three versions of slides are including, showing the text with a pictoral version of the solfege for the melodies, a version including just the text for each mini song, and a version including the notation for each mini song.  A copy of the sheet music is thrown in there too.  What more could you want or need? 

I can't wait to use these sets with my kids.  Hope they bring joy to your classroom as you share a love of music alongside a love of reading!

Mi Re Do and Half Note Combination Activity Sets

I've been working on mi re and do with my second graders melodically and half notes, rhythmically.  I decided to pull together some new sets for my second graders, and was inspired by some of the songs my 3rd grade recorder players are working on.

The first set I completed goes along with the song Down by the Station.  There is so much instruction available in this very little tune.

Included in this kit are:
1. Down by the Station Solfege Set: These slides will allow students to see Down by the Station notated pictorally, on a 5 line staff, and in G major.

2. Down by the Station Rhythm Identification Set: These slides will allow students to see the rhythm of the song written in pictures, with pictures and rhythms, and with text and rhythm notation.

3. Down by the Station Rhythm Dictation Worksheets: 2 worksheets allow students to dictate the rhythm of the song in 2 slightly different ways.

4. B Section Composition Word Chain Cards: These cards allow students to learn about Rondo form, while accomplishing the difficult standard of composing and arranging. Students will use the provided word chain cards to compose their own B section in groups. Directions for creating a whole piece performance as a class are provided.

After creating this set, I thought Merrily We Roll Along could be used in very similar ways, so I made the same type of set with a different song and theme.

Included in this set are 4 files:
1. Merrily We Roll Along Solfege Set: These slides will allow students to see Merrily We Roll Along notated pictorally, on a 5 line staff, and in G major.

2. Merrily We Roll Along Rhythm Identification Set: These slides will allow students to see the rhythm of the song written in pictures, with pictures and rhythms, and with text and rhythm notation.

3. Merrily We Roll Along Rhythm Dictation Worksheets: 2 worksheets allow students to dictate the rhythm of the song in 2 slightly different ways.

4. B Section Composition Word Chain Cards: These cards allow students to learn about Rondo form, while accomplishing the difficult standard of composing and arranging. Students will use the provided word chain cards to compose their own B section in groups. Directions for creating a whole piece performance as a class are provided.

 

Staff Twister Mania

My 3rd graders have been excited and inquisitive as we have been learning to identify the notes on the music staff.

To review in a more kinesthetic way, today we created a human staff. I taped 5 lines across the music room floor. 

First, we stepped in each line, saying its name as we moved. Then, we went back and stepped on the spaces in order. 

After mastering that, I'd say a note and the students would become the note. We discussed that some letters had two options for locations. 

Then, we added the twister piece. I'd say a body limb and a note.  For example, I said right hand on b. Then I might add left foot on e, and so on. We usually started fresh after 4 commands or so, so that no one was falling on the floor. 

Hope this review idea sparks some ideas for you! 

Rondo Sandwich

I just finished this fun activity to teach Rondo.  I do this activity with first grade students each year to teach RONDO, but I recreated the graphics and added the notation to make it snazzier than my hand drawn set from college.

These sandwich pieces can be put together to create a Rondo Sandwich.

First, teach the students how to sing the melodies on each of the sandwich pieces (all melodies use Sol, Mi, or La).  Hand out sandwich pieces to the students. Every other student should have a piece of bread (thus the rondo form).

Then, the class will create a sandwich in the middle of the room. My students sit in a circle, so we make the sandwich in the middle. When it is each student’s turn to sing their ingredient, have them sing it and place it on top of the sandwich being made in the middle of the class. After creating our sandwich, we discuss how making a sandwich is like rondo form, sharing how the bread could be called “A” and each ingredient gets a different alternating letter. You may wish to label this on the board with my “form cards” that are available for download in my teachers pay teachers store. If you have time, mix up the ingredients and have students create another sandwich. Great form and solfege reading/performing activity!

Happy Sandwich Singing!

Naughty Kitty Cat

This week it was time to teach a second grade favorite, Naughty Kitty Cat.  After spending time in two of our past classes learning the song, and playing the game, we did a contour dictation of the melody on the Smart Board, today.  I always love watching students thought process as through trial and error we drag the text to show contour.  It takes some errors, with me demonstrating the contour they draw, for them to realize the true shape of the melody.  Today, I created a new worksheet to have students write out the solfege dictation by hand next class, because I thought the group contour shaping we did today was great, but this year, I'd like to take the lesson to the next level.    The Smart Notebook and the Dictation Worksheet are both available in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store if you are interested in adding this lesson  to your solfege tool box this year!