Three Things Link Up

I am linking up with Aileen Miracle at Mrs. Miracle's Music Room for a linky party in which music teacher bloggers write about three things that have worked in our classrooms.

I just got back from Spring Break in Phoenix, Arizona and, wow, love that place!  I also have really fallen in love with cacti, especially saguaro cactus, which grow everywhere near where my parents have a winter home. They live in the Sonoran desert, one of the few places these lovely creatures live.  They are funny and each one is so incredibly different; it's like they have their own personalities!
This is snap I took our last evening.. gorgeous sunset, but I really love black and white, too, and as I was shooting, a cowboy came right into my frame. Lucky for me!

 

 

1.  Listen to the Rain

In Arizona, they have been without rain since January so I think there is a bit of rain dancing going on, which led me to this post about the book, "Listen to the Rain" by Bill Martin and John Archambault.

 Available  here from Amazon.com.  My students love this lesson and it's a great one for talking about mood!  Enjoy.. and hope you are having a green spring! 

2.  Spring Bunny and Chick Rhythms

Wandering through Target a few weeks ago and I came across the cutest eraser packs with bunnies and chicks.  I have a bit of a collection of these as Target puts these out seasonally in their "Dollar Spot".  I have pumpkins, Frankensteins, candy corn, flowers, and other seasonal goodies to create word chain rhythms.  Yesterday my first graders were loving these little guys!

I was in the process of making a printable when I was on one of my facebook pages and Erica S. posted the one pictured!  She had such overwhelming response to everyone wanting it that she made it a freebie on TpT and offered an optional Notebook file for purchase.  You can get the freebie and file here.  Thanks, Erica!!! On the front of the page you notice 5 rhythms the children can write.  For the super achievers, on the back there are 10 more! Woohoo!! No, "I'm done, now what?".  My students were given about 7 minutes to complete 5 and most everyone got 5 and several went beyond!! Woot Woot!!!  They were then figuring out what they could use at home to make more rhythms.. can you say "flower/grass" or "Star Wars/Luke" or "cookie/milk"?  They were so funny! 
We began the 30 minute lesson using the book, "Bling Blang".  CUTE!  We used the basic outline found here for the activity, prepped students on movement first, sat and looked at book and did hammer and saw movement, then stood with a partner and performed hammer/saw movement with partners, walked to the beat (played softly on drum) during the verses.  I whispered "find new partner" a few beats before the chorus began again.  One note about partners; my students have many partnering opportunities but I always review the rules; the first person that asks you/that you ask is your partner.  We talk about hurt feelings if someone leaves you for a "better opportunity" and to always show respect and kindness. If two people ask at the same time they "rock/paper/scissors shoot, one and done unless it's a tie".  We then played Salami (Sol La Mi) game, then I had them find the beat while I played "There's Music in a Hammer" from Grade 1 Gameplan, pg. 83.  We sang the song, walked the beat, then hopped the beat like a bunny.  Why a bunny?  Cats like to chase critters, and bunnies and chicks are cute critters, which led us into the writing activity.  Students each picked up 3 bunnies and 3 chicks (no chances for all "Ta's/Ti-Ti's!!".  Ha!! The room was so quiet as they were each writing and whispering/tapping their rhythms.  GREAT fun!  If we had more time I would have had them partner up and create 2 rhythms to perform as a word chain to create alternating "B"sections with the song.  Oh, time... such an enemy, isn't it??

3.  Avocado Hand Clapping Game

My kids have been obsessed with this game this year; it started when we returned to school in August and one of our students had learned this game from a cousin. It spread like wildfire with crazy lunch time battles of Avocado.. so much that some teachers banned the kids from playing it at lunch!!
This will be included in my new book, we are in the editing process right now!  My last book was hand clapping games from around the world, available here from Beatin' Path Publications.  The new book will be available soon, also from Beatin' Path and will be all North American games and songs, some with Latin American roots, but all in English! 

Palm Push – Own palms facing each other, thumbs and fingertips touching, quickly flip palms down and out away from body, push palms out towards partner

Game continues until someone makes a mistake in the clapping game; the person who made the mistake is either called “avocado” for 10 minutes, or they choose a new name from the letter they made a mistake on; “L”; they could be called “Lily”, “Lucy”, Leon”, etc. for the next 10 minutes.

 

Teacher Tip:  It will make more sense with the palm push to think of it as an extension of the “clap own” so that once you clap your own hands you keep the fingertips and thumbs together and push the palm out towards partner.  My students can’t get enough of this game and the upper elementary students love it!

 

Dancing and Singing to Ireland

I blogged just a few days ago about several songs and activities I use for St. Patrick's day and here are a couple others!

1.  The Rakes of Mallow or "Irish Stew"

The music is from the Rhythmically Moving CD's and Kriske and DeLelles have a version of this in Book 2 of Gameplan.  The version of the dance my students use is a "mashup" of theirs along with some other moves!

 

        

Partners side by side in a circle, holding a pair of rhythm sticks.

A:

Walk forward clockwise for 8 beats, heel, toe, tap, tap, tap ( qq n q ), heel, toe, tap, tap, tap ( qq n q ), turn and walk forward counter clockwise for 8 beats, heel, toe, tap, tap, tap ( qq n q ), heel, toe, tap, tap, tap ( qq n q ). Say, "Forward, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, heel, toe, tap, tap, tap, heel, toe, tap, tap, tap".  

Heel, toe:  One heel on the floor with toes sticking up, take the same foot and tap the toe on the floor in front of other foot. Next heel and toe use the opposite foot.  To simplify, say, "jump, jump" in place of "heel, toe".

B:

Click sticks 4 beats (sword fight!) with partner, stir (make a stirring motion to stir your Irish Stew) 4 beats, do-si-do 8 beats repeat by turning to opposite and perform with neighbor.

 

2.  The Rattlin' Bog

I was introduced to this song a long time ago as a child by my favorite Maine musicians, Schooner Fare, and still LOVE it!  The version I use in the classroom is much faster, as each verse speeds up dramatically and it is beloved even by my fourth graders!  This is a good version with lyrics on the screen:

 

3.  Irish Washerwoman Dance

This is a fun, high energy  dance for your older kiddos and the description of the dance moves is included in the notes below the video on youtube!

How to Make Stretchy Band Video

Yay!!  I finally got a video made this morning for a tutorial on how to make stretchy bands. I use them frequently in my classroom and not only for movement activities, but also I put instruments behind them and create a line with the bands that students can only step over when we are ready. It makes a great visual barrier for students, especially those with poor impulse control.

Here it is! 

Gettin' Me Eire On!

Ireland, oh, Ireland!
Someday I'm going to visit ye!!
I'll sit in a pub with a pint or two,
And fiddle and jig far across the sea.

 

My students hear a lot of reels and jigs this time of year, as well as some Celtic music.  There are a lot of choices from youtube but I tend to use the CD's from Step Lively and there is a lot of reels/jigs from New England Dancing Masters so if you have any of their collection you probably have some wonderfully authentic sounding jigs and reels.  I love the Irish Reel Medley from New England Dancing Masters. From youtube I love this Irish Reel Medley and the video shows a bodhran, fiddle, pipes, and guitar. Lively arrangement!

Rhythm Play

 

My students are playing spoons and drums to this while I show 4 beat rhythms they have to play. Every 16 beats I switch to a new rhythm, say, "One, two, ready, play" and they are off for another 16 beats playing the next card.  Great assessment tool, too!

 

Irish dances

One of my favorite folk dances (and students) is "Brian Boru," an Irish dance in  "Teaching Movement and Dance."

Another "The Bridge of Athlone" can be found in the previously mentioned "Listen to the Mockingbird" by the oh-so-very-wonderful New England Dancing Masters.

 

Movement/Form

This is one of my favorite activities with Susan Ramsey (probably an Orff levels class) and it is so very fun.  I play it with first grade on up with varying degrees of complexity.  They LOVE it!

 

 

 

 

Video

Leroy Anderson's Irish Washerwoman with gorgeous background of Ireland!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

Five Favorite Pins of February

I am linking up with Aileen Miracle at Mrs. Miracle's Music Room for a Linky Party of our Five Favorite Pins from the month of February!  I can't believe how fast the beginning of the year has flown!  Springing into Spring! 

1. Twelfth Street Rag
I love this colorful, clear visual! Check out the pin here.


 This is from the fabulous blog of https://rhythmandglues.wordpress.com/  Seriously wonderful ideas and loaded with pictures! 

2.  Music and Feelings using characters from Inside Out here.

Original post here: http://www.mathematicshed.com/miscellaneous.html

3.  Musical Fractions.  Oh how I love colorful visuals!  Check out the pin here.

Original post here:

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2014/10/14/9-creative-art-projects-that-will-make-your-students-love-math

4.  Whole Note with a Partner

On Pinterest I keep a board called "Music Concept Skill Activity Videos".  This not only keeps my Pinterest boards organized, but also helps tremendously when I am looking for an activity to teach me or remind me, "How does that go again?". 

I love this idea, not only for whole notes, but I use similar basketball and ball activities to reinforce/re-introduce rhythmic concepts of quarter,half, etc. notation. 



 

5.  Another one from the same Pinterest board, and this (college prof?) has a bunch of these videos posted on youtube that are great for teaching folk songs, dances, and activities!  My third graders really loved this and now come in begging to sing and try the game again faster and faster!

 

Hope you enjoyed some of these!

 



 



The BIG One.. We're Talkin' Assessment!

I am linking up today with Elizabeth over at Caldwell Organized Chaos today for a linky party with other music educator bloggers! 

I don't know about you but at this point in the school year I am suddenly shocked at how little time we have left in school!  We are finished at the end of May and with Spring Break and holidays/workdays we only have 7 full weeks of school remaining.  Now, there are several weeks of half days/workdays and holidays, but it is striking to realize how time is slipping away!  So that leads me to the post today; a check in of sorts, several assessments I use in the music classroom. 
I have posted about this previously with other activities here.
I have posted this one before and just used it this week with Jr. Kinder. and Kindies and I always somehow forget how very much they love this!
What Sound Do You Hear Now

Stretchy Band Assessment
This is the time for a little silliness as well as seeing how well your students understand and can internalize rhythmic concepts. I use this with first grade on up; first grade quarter/eighth/rests, second grade add half note, third and fourth add sixteenth and whole notes. 
1.  Put on some catchy up-tempo music. I particularly love the Hamsterdance Party!  Hilarious and I think it was an Artie Almeida workshop where this idea (and music) was presented. 
2.  Students are holding on to a stretchy band; I made these out of a box of irregular (flawed) white pantyhose.  musicquilt@Hotmail.com.  SOOOOOo easy and very fun to create your own color combinations. I have several small ones and a couple larger ones and use them to mark off my room for instrument groups, or to mark off my room so students don't go to instruments that are set up until I give directions for them to do so, etc. 

Email me for directions on how to make these: 
3.  You are going to be the "caller" and call out "quarter note".  Students will keep the beat by bouncing the band up and down to the beat.  Next call out "rest"; freeze! Then "eighth notes"; I have students alternate hands up and down quickly to the eighth note rhythm, etc.  Half notes; move down to their knees then up over head saying, "one, two, one two", whole notes; down to toes and then up over head saying, "one, two, three, four".  You got it!  Once they get it, switch every 8 beats or so, then switch every 4.  "Now put it in your feet" (march around the circle to the quarter note, or go in for 4, out for 4). Pretty soon you are teaching them a dance, which is fun!  We also switch and put the band behind our backs, play the band like a guitar, do the washing machine (move both hands to one side then the other while holding on with both hands).  Up to the sky, down to the floor, you guessed it, anyway that works while being able to assess who understands rhythmic note concepts and who needs a little more help. 

Necklace Assessments
A few years ago our local Orff chapters in NC and some from SC joined forces to host the National American Orff Schulwerk Association National Conference here in Charlotte.  We had two amazing, courageous, creative teachers who had fabulous, exciting ideas for the teacher boutique.  This was one of them.  Print out rhythms, or staff notation, or dynamic markings, or instrument families, etc. on cardstock, punch holes and put ribbon or yarn around them.  Students put them on like a necklace with note sides facing out.  I use a Garage Band Smart Drum rhythm (a rap track will do) and I say, "quarter note" and throw a ball to someone who has a quarter note.  They wait until I say the next rhythm "rest" and they throw the ball to someone else who has a rest.  Students are not allowed to point to themselves "Me, ME!!!" or else they are out.  Clean and simple, people! Once they have had a turn throwing the ball, they sit down.  This is fun and they love when I trick them; if only quarter notes are standing, I say, "eighth notes" and they are like, "WHAA???".  Haha!
I love using these balls; I made them from yarn and while time consuming to make them, they are the BEST!!! Google yarn ball or large pom pom ball and you'll find instructions.  Also use zip ties in the middle!  I have had these almost 15 years!

Chinese New Year Book Music Activity!

I am teaming up with some fellow bloggers for a month of learning about music around the world. Catch up with posts over at caldwellorganizedchaos. 

Chinese New Year is right around the corner; beginning February 8 and lasting 15 days long, it is the biggest holiday celebrated in China and in many Asian countries.  The New Year festival is full of food, family, special clothing, and a full month off of school for children in China! 
This is the year of the monkey!

1.  The Story of Nian  This is a short (3 minutes) video that tells the story of the mythical Nian and about some of the traditions of Chinese New Year. 

2.  How the Chinese Zodiac was named  Another short video of how the Chinese Zodiac came to be in the order it is.  This one might be best for older students.

This one for younger students:

3.  Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year in Chinese)
I teach my students a song I wrote (and keep changing) a few years ago.  You can find the music and orchestration here.  We use Chinese dance fans, some are long and some short.  Even 4-5 of these will make a difference in a performance.

I have about 25 now
which I have collected over the past several years. The kids love them and we use them to create movement for other activities, too, in addition to streamers and scarves!  I also have a bunch I bought at Dollar Tree as they often have them and the plastic ones hold up pretty well and the kids love them!

This is an activity for Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades.  I also do this with my Junior Kindergarten classes and simplify some of the words in the book.  They all love the story!

4. The Runaway Wok

1.  First, prep the movement by doing "Mystery Speed" where you have the children sing a known song or hello song and then play on piano a song that has a mystery speed or type of movement (gallop, skip, jump, glide, twirl, etc.). 
2.  Follow the directions below and have fun!

5.  Five Little Monkeys from Jungle Beat by Lynn Kleiner



This works beautifully with the younger children as an extension and I love the jazzy version of this one !  SO many instrument possibilities here, too!