Kindergarten- we are continuing to work with the song "Tinker, Tailor" by singing and playing a game that goes with it similar to Duck Duck Goose. We also got to sing about the job we might want to have when we grow up. We learned a new poem and song about the sun to help bring on spring time, too!
1st grade- we are having fun with a silly song called "Peanut Butter Jelly Time", creating movements to go with each phrase of the song, kind of like creating our own dance. We are also working on reading many rhythms using quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. We played some rhythm flashcards on rhythm sticks, and played a fun new Rhythm Tic Tac Toe game in teams.
2nd grade- we review the song "Rain, Rain Go Away" from last year, and then learned a new version of that song that comes from Ghana in Africa. We then learned a poem called "Rain on the Green Grass." We decided to sing the poem instead of just speaking it, and figured out MANY ways to sing the poem using the notes la, so, and mi. We then played the "birdie" game, where the birdie hides underneath a cup and the students have to guess where he is hiding based on the last note that I sing (either la, so, or mi.) It's a great game to train their ears to hear the difference between those pitches.
3rd grade- we have been working on a really fun collaborative project between music and art. Students selected a topic that had something to do with nature, such as ice, thunder, ocean, aspen tree, etc. Students brainstormed all kinds of descriptive words (think of the 5 senses) that go with that topic. Then we turned the list of all those descriptors into a 3 line haiku. Haikus are a beautiful form of Japanese poetry in which line 1 contains 5 syllables, line 2 contains 7 syllables, and line 3 contains 5 syllables. For exmaple:
Rain
Drip drop, splash, puddles
Sparkly crystals fall down
Clouds change to rainbows
Students practiced reading their haikus expressively in groups. Next, each group of students chose 1 haiku to perform. They had to somehow include the text of the haiku, some movement, and some instruments. They performed for the class; it was a ton of fun! I saw some really detailed and well thought out performances.
4th grade- we are working hard to prepare for our concert on Thursday, April 23rd! I don't want to give too many details away, but DON'T MISS IT! Here are some links I promised to include for them to practice with over spring break:
5th grade- we are thinking ahead to our performance on Thursday, May 14. Each class is working on a special piece to perform individually, so that has consumed quite a bit of time. Students all have different roles to fill in this process; we have recorder players, xylophone players, drummers, singers, and dancers. It's going to be an impressive show!
Happy spring break! (almost)
