#20 Holidays - Updated 12/16
Topics (Just click on the topic you want to view)
(For Halloween see #18, for Hanukah, see #32 Multicultural Music/Jewish Culture)
Fall----Thanksgiving----Winter----Las Posadas----Holiday Sing-Along----Christmas ALTERNATIVE
Christmas Web Sites, Books----Christmas Ideas----Christmas Jokes----Christmas Games, Activities
Christmas Songs----Christmas Musicals & Skits----Faculty Christmas Songs----Dances----Caroling
Christmas Gifts (for kids)----Kwanzaa-----Groundhog Day----Valentine's Day----Presidents Day----Earth Day
St. Patrick's Day----Easter--May Day----(For Mother's Day, see #54 Theme Music Ideas: E-O)----Cinco De Mayo
See also the file: #53, #54, #55 Theme Music Ideas and #39, #40 Program Ideas
******************************************************************
FALL
06/15 SONG: My little ones love "All the leaves are falling down; falling gently to the ground. Now the wind will lift them high; lift them gently to the sky."? It's a scale song; two words on high do, two on ti. two on la, etc. Then reverse.? Easy to transfer to xylos or to do with scarves. ---- Nikki Febinger----------------------
10/08 BOOKS written by Steve Metzger. The first one is "The Leaves Are Falling One by One" (illustrated Miriam Sagasti) to the tune of "The Ants Go Marching One by One". The second title is "We're Going On a Leaf Hunt" (illustrated Miki Sakamoto), another spin-off on "We're Going On a Bear Hunt". Lots of curriculum tie-in possibilities for both:) --- Linda Roberts
--------------------------------
10/04 For a “Fall Sound Story” see: Sound Stories
-----------------------
01/02 LESSON: Autumn Rhythms: Level Gr. 2/3
Concept: Rhythm is the subdivision of the beat. It is identified by notational symbols:
*= ta one sound, one beat. * = two sounds, one beat. * = no sound, one beat.
Process: Each number represents an activity the students do. This activity took approximately three weeks.
1. Present an autumn song. Sing, move, enjoy
2. Children go in partners. Combine a grade 2 student with a grade 3 student.
Equipment needed: one pencil and one paper.
Brainstorm and list all things autumn. Share ideas with class.
3. Hand in papers. Teacher chooses phrases from each paper, lists these on the board, and adds rhythm symbols. Students read and understand the relation of the notational symbol to the words.
4. Students are given the list of words and a paper divided into sections. Each section has a rhythm: ta ta, titi ta, ta titi, titi titi, ta rest. Students task is to cut out the words and put them into the correct section.
5. Teacher then takes the words and makes them into a class poem. Children read poem. Play rhythms of the poem. Combine rhythms and words. Add percussion instruments. etc.
Here is the poem I wrote from the children's autumn words:
(ti ti, ti ti, ti ti, ta) Autumn, Autumn, now is here!
* * * * * * * (ti ti, ti ti, ti ti, ta) What a chilly time of year!
* * * * * * * (ti ti, ti ti, ti ti, ta) Frosty pumpkins, big and round,
* * * * * * (ti ti,ta, ti ti, ta) Crunchy leaves, gold and brown.
* * * * (ta, ta, ta, ta)Long nights, short days.
* * * * * * * (ti ti, ti ti, ti ti, ta) Autumn, Autumn here to stay/
Presentation:
Sing original Autumn song, read poem, sing song with action, read poem and
accompanying rhythm with rhythm instruments,sing song.M
8. Evaluation:
Each child is given a package of 5 flash card with the above rhythms.
Children lay rhythms out in front of them. Teacher says (or shows) an
autumn phrase. Child picks up card that matches the phrase and holds it up.
Teacher can evaluate who or who does not understand the concepts.
This idea can be used for other subjects: Christmas, Weather, Instruments
etc.
-----------------
11/01 NATIVE AMERICANS: This is Native American Heritage Month.
K-2 & special ed. play rhythm patterns on rhythm instruments that work with
lots of songs such as: Grinding Corn (SB gr 1), Navajo Happy Song, and other
simple Native American tunes. I made a "campfire" out of two vine wreaths
stacked up and secured to a circle of cardboard, then filled with tissue and
cellophane flames (red/orange/yellow) with a tap light inside. Dimlights and
tap the light and it "glows". We sit in circle around the campfire and play
steady beat game to Navajo Happy Song, listen to a portion of the Navajo
Night Chant sung authentically and move our hands as the pitch rises and
falls. Then we dance to both songs around the campfire. We look at ears of
Indian corn and do motions to Grinding Corn. We talk about what a Pow Wow is
and then watch a portion of a wonderful Reading Rainbow program which is
about the Crow Pow Wow in Crow Agency, Montana. It features teepee making,
horse riding, authentic Prairie Chicken Dance and regalia. (If you look for
this one it is the one that tells the story of the "Gift of the Sacred Dog".
Excelllent video. )
We finish with our campfire experience by singing & doing choreography to
"Sunset" from gr 2 SB series.
---------------------
I did an Autumn Leaf song with K today. (MK8 SONG - Plank Road Publishing)I told them to raise their hand when they didn't hear any voices.Then I told them to make their hands fall like leaves on the chorus part. Then we listen a second time and I gace them streamers(fall colors) and they floated their streamers on the chorus part. they had a good time and it looked neat all in a circle with the streamers.
------------------
10/01 AUTUMN LEAF LISTENING
materials: black and green markers, scissors, large leaves cut from colored construction paper (enough for each child to have two matching), recording of Autumn Leaf (mk8 11-1), book about leaves (Ken Robbins' Autumn Leaves is great!), opt. recording of Autumn by Vivaldi.
procedures: ~before class draw leaves on paper with black marker (use green if drawing Hickory leaves), complete with veins. they should be leaves represented in the book. laminate if possible. cut out leaves. ~as students enter hand them each two matching leaves (play Vivaldi). ~show leaf book, teaching kids to recognize various leaves from book. kids sit holding their leaves in laps. when their leaves are mentioned, they stand next to teacher and display leaves for others to see. ~arrange kids around room as if they are trees in your yard. have matching trees stand together.
WIND GAME: ~tell them that they may look anywhere but NOT at YOU.
~begin to make gentle wind sounds as you wave your leaves gently to match.
~they must listen to your wind and move their leaves accordingly.
~whoever talks is out.
~if a leaf falls, you must leave it on the ground. "I've never seen a tree bend down and pick up its leaves. You may not either."
~call someones name in a ghostly-wind voice. he/she is he new wind.
~continue until three or four have been Mr. Wind.
~take over as Mr. Wind and blow a real gust so that everyone throws their leaves.
AUTUMN LEAF SONG:
~pick up fallen leaves.
~do leaf choreography waving them in various ways while singing the song.
~teacher: lead the refrain always doing the same motions with each repeat.
~students: lead the verses. all will copy the leader. back to teacher for refrain.
-----------
If you're looking for holiday songs for Orff instruments, try "A pentatonic Travelogue," which is written, composed, and published by Dwight Joiner. Some of the holiday songs have doctrinal words, some don't. So the book is handy either for public school or parochial school. Besides the section on holiday songs, there is a section on other cultures and a section on the four seasons of the year. This item is available through interlibrary loan.
FALL
(tune: ss ml s m, s m s m, ss ml s m, ss ll s --)
Au-tumn leaves are fal-ling, fal-ling, fal-ling; Au-tumn leaves are fal-ling, on the au-tumn day --.
--------
LISTENING ACTIVITY-SEASONS
*Listen to Vivaldi's Autumn while showing beautiful book about Autumn. *Teach song and do various movn'ts to the beat while singing.
*Select small gps. to do creative movnts. imitating falling leaves while others sing.
*Provide students with notated song on legal size paper (I notate only note heads on three-line staff). Have kids follow notes with finger while singing. "Connect the dots" with colored marker (follow note heads left to right with marker tip). Put tiny leaf stickers on note heads.
*Before school: Make a giant staff on white art paper (off a roll). Use black marker or yarn for lines. Lightly pencil in circles where note heads should be. Don't forget lyrics underneath. Go outside with class and collect various leaves. Press in music texts for one week to flatten and dry. Next lesson: masking tape leaves where note heads are. Display in hall. Sing together while teacher follows leaves with his/her finger
-------------------
FINGERPLAY: Leaves Are Falling All Around
This is a finger play with movements
Leaves are falling all around - (put hands up and wiggle fingers)
Red, (do the sign language symbol for red)
Yellow, (do the sign language symbol for yellow)
Orange, (do the sign language symbol for orange)
And Brown. (do the sign language symbol for brown)
Twirling, swirling to the ground (wiggle fingers and bend knees and do the twist)
Look how many leaves I've found! (jump up with arms stretched out)
---------------
PARODY: To the tune of "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain!" (Learned this WAY back in student teaching!)
Oh the leaves are red and yellow in the fall (clap, clap)
Oh the leaves are red and yellow in the fall (clap, clap)
Oh the leaves are red and yellow
And the apples taste so mellow,
Oh the leaves are red and yellow in the fall. (clap, clap)
Noisy crows are flapping there in the sky (CAW, CAW!)
Noisy crows are flapping there in the sky (CAW, CAW!)
Noisy crows are flapping there, Mr. Scarecrow says BEWARE!
Noisy crows are flapping there in the sky. (CAW, CAW!)
Oh the bees are still a buzzin' in the fall (Bzzz, Bzzz)
Oh the bees are still a buzzin' in the fall (Bzzz, Bzzz)
Oh the bees are still a buzzin' And we know Jack Frost is comin'
Oh the bees are still a buzzin' in the fall. (Bzzz, Bzzz)
----------------------
ROUND: Falling Leaves: a simple 2 part round from 'Sing & Play on Special Days'
titi titi too titi titi too
l d t s l l d t s l
Yellow red & brown gently falling down
titi titi titi ta titi titi too
m m r m d t l l d t s l
Autumn leaves come floating slowly to the ground
www.christmasconcert.com or email me for more info on the book.
---------------
BULLETIN BOARDS
Fall into Music Music of the Fall Falling for Music Music Leaves Me
appy Music Leaves Me Hummin' Music Leaves Me....... Spring
Forward Fall Bach Sounds Like Fall Free FALL'in Music Fall lalalala
A Musical Fall Leave Me Alone Autumn-matic Music
----------------
October Time
POEM: October time is pumpkin time, The nicest time of the year.
When all the pumpkins light their eyes (encircle eyes) And grin from ear to ear. (big grin)
Because they know at Halloween They'll have lots of fun,
Peeking through the windowpanes (put hands over eyes and look) Watching children run!
BACK to Holiday topics
*******************************************************************Mexico: Day of Dead: http://www-lib.usc.edu/Info/Boeck/Dead/index.html
*******************************************************************
THANKSGIVING
12/16 PROGRAM: My Thanksgiving program was always with 2nds.1. "Harvest Home" - Jay Ungar and Molly Mason - "Thanksgiving Hymn" from this CD is a wonderful instrumental piece that I used as background music while some kids read what they had written in Music class. "I am thankful for........." Some of the kids wrote poetry or just their thoughts on things in their life they were grateful for. It was always a huge hit to say the least and so heartfelt. I also always contacted Jay Ungar in advance to get his permission to use his music. (He always agreed and was thrilled too!) I gave him full credit in the program too.
2. Thankful for the USA 15/2
3. I'm Grateful 10/2
4. We are Thankful 13/2
5. Donations to Mission: In our community, the City Mission has a Thanksgiving feast every year. I put a note in the program telling people that we will be collecting $ for perishable items and "extras" like flowers for the tables for the dinner if they would like to contribute. I also mention this - very briefly - the night of the program. We have a parent who is a police officer take the $ down to Mission the next morning. Rather than getting caught up with collecting food etc. we thought that a monetary donation would be just as appreciated - and it always was. ----- Kathleen Bragle, NBCT
----------------
12/11 RHYTHM WORKSHEET http://www.box.net/shared/zhuzqn7xtavv4j79hejl AND http://www.box.net/shared/h17mz106rnk13vvdcoyh
-------------------
SONG: Grinding Corn is a big favorite.
SONG: Scarecrow dancing: St Louis Blues
-----------------------
5 Fat Turkeys are We
Ten Little Indians/Pilgrim
Turkey Dinner
Turkey in the Barnyard
Gobble Gobble Mr/ Turkey
Over the River
Thanksgiving Day will soon bee here
Mr. Duck Went to call on Mr. Turkey
Hey Yunga
Look at me I'm an Indian
For the Sun that gives us Light
Turkey Tang
-----------------------------------------
07/11 SONG LIST
Five Fat Turkeys
For Health and Strength (nice round)
Listen to the Bells (sung to the Big Ben chimes theme)
Praise and Thanksgiving (out of a really, really old music textbook -
For Thy Gracious Blessing
Over the River
On the First Thanksgiving Day
Now Thank We All Our God
Thanksgiving (first line..For the sun that gives us light, We are truly thankful)
Come, Ye Thankful People Come
Psalm of Thanksgiving (native american type song...first line goes:
Many and Great O God are they things Maker of earth and sky)
Prayer of Thanksgiving (We gather together)
On Thanksgiving - a silly song from the old McMillan series sung tothe tune of Brother John)
a Turkey Named Bert
Thank You (Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food weeat...etc)
Turkey Tango from Music Express
Turkey Talk from Music Express
All the People Said Thanks from Music Express...one of my favorites
Here are the words to On Thanksgiving (sung to Brother John)
On Thanksgving, On Thanksgiving, Come to dine, be on time.
First we have the greeting, then we have the eating, Eat all day, that's the way.
On Thanksgiving, on Thankgiving, Football game, Glad we came
After turkey dinner, we will know the winner, If we lose, take a snooze. --- Penny Thomas
-----------------------------
12/09 PROGRAM: Just darling in their various hats- every class (there are 5 of them) mixed it up and had pilgrim girls and boys, turkeys, and Native Americans. The show was very cute. We called it “Thanksgiving Festival.”
1) Autumn Color Poem, an Autumn color song (with scarves) based on the nancymusic.com song "Colors of Winter". (I changed it to "Colors of Autumn" and changed a few words. )
2) Piggy back song about pilgrims (to the tune of Muffin Man) which ended with the verse: "They planted seeds, the corn grew tall, the corn grew tall, the corn grew tall. They planted seeds the corn grew tall, a long, long time ago." .
3) Grinding Corn (Hopi song) with instruments. 4) We spoke a Peace Treaty (I got it off a website) . We had an Indian and a Pilgrim speaking to each other in front of the group- but everyone said it together.
‘Peace Treaty’ (between pilgrims and Indians) play drum while students speak & do motions:
Indian: For as long as the moon rises.
Pilgrim: For as long as the grass grows green.
Indian: For as long as the rivers flow.
Pilgrim: We will be friends Indian: We will live in peace.
5)Turkey poems and songs. Had 5 turkeys and a cook to hunt for them for "Five Fat Turkeys" (the Silver Burdett song version- not the chant). The 5 turkeys gobbled and scratched while the cook (in an apron that said "Where's the Turkey?" on it, chef hat , and holding a wooden spoon) hunted unsuccessfully for them.
6) "Gobble" song to the tune of "Pop goes the weasel."
7) MK8 Turkey in the Straw (8 students held up small scarecrows & danced them during the song), The gobbling was hilarious and I, of course, encouraged all the audience to gobble, too.
8) Rap poem called "Popcorn" that's in the gr 1 Making Music- the kids loved this. "We're making popcorn, pop, pop, pop, pop, popcorn!" with motions, of course.
A song I got from a 1981 issue of Sesame Street magazine I called it “Delicious Dinner” and had to transfer it from a small LP that came with the magazine! I played it on the piano, though, during the show.
9) We Are Thankful to the tune of "Frere Jacques" , 7 children said what they were thankful for.
10)"Thank You for the world so sweet..." with sign language. --- Dianne Park, San Diego, CA
-------------------------------------
WEB SITES:
11//08 LESSON - MUSICAL RHYTHMS: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ArtMusicMusicalTurkeyPK.htm
(Art + parody on “More We Get Together”)
-----------------------
11/08 POWERPOINTS: http://musicbulletinboards.net/downloadspage.htm
Scroll to the bottom to the "MK8 downloads" and sign in. You will find more Thanksgiving PPTs than you'll have time to use. – Camille Page
----------------------------------
IDEAS, ETC.,
10/08 I do a holiday program every November with my 2nds called "Sing and Give Thanks". I usually don't do a play (but I did do "The Unity Tree" (Plank road) one year). One of my favorite parts of this program is the part where I have some of the children read what they have written during Music Class - "Things I am Thankful For". It is always heartfelt and very special. I play the Molly Mason, Jay Unger CD HARVEST HOME "Thanksgiving Hymn" as background music while they read and it really IS a "moment". (I call and ask their permission to do this each year.) We add some turkey, pilgrims, thankful songs and poetry. I love this program and at the end, the teachers sing the verses of Tom Chapin's "Thanksgiving Song" and the kids join in on the refrain. --- Kathleen Bragle
-----------------------------------------
12/07 MOVEMENT: Old Tom Turkey couldn’t strut or prance (Bob head forward on the beat, like a turkey (arms behind back))
Slick said, (clap hands up and down - kind of like a slicing motion)
“I’ll teach you (bring arms up and place in “wing position”)
how to dance!” (flap wings and move knees in and out)
No more gobble gobble, (hands crossing on beat, as if “saying” no more)
get some soul (“disco”fingers point in air, swing hips)
Now he can shake, (shake hands over head)
he can rattle, (shake hands beside hips)
he can, rock and roll! (play air guitar! and then big freeze) -- Emily Samuels
------------------------------
12/07 ACTIVITY: Don’t remember where I got this, but it’s always a big hit.
All lines are said with a swing, syncopated rhythm:
Old Tom Turkey couldn’t strut or prance, Slick said, “I’ll teach you how to dance!”
No more gobble gobble, get some soul, Now he can shake, he can rattle, he can, rock and roll!
---------------------------------------------------------
12/07 THANKSGIVING LISTENING: I had a professor in college (Mary Lou VanRysselberg, at University of Oregon) who used Bernstein's "Turkey Trot" as an intro to conducting and mixed meter for grades 5-6. She would have the main theme written on the board as conducting shapes, and then teach kids how to conduct in 2/4 and 3/4, and they could follow the main theme and conduct. It was fun.
I use a recording directed by Bernstein that I got off iTunes. It's labeled "8 Divertimentos for Orchestra: V. Turkey Trot” (Allegretto, Ben Misurato)" from the Album Bernstein Conducts Bernstein. I write it on the board as numbers, and they conduct in 2/4 once every time they see a 2, and in 3/4 once every time they see a 3. It looks like this:
2 2 3
2 2 3
2 2 3 3 3
2 2 3 3 3
My problem was getting kids to listen during the other sections of the piece, so I now do this a little differently and with 3rd-4th graders. I do the main theme as a "Turkey Dance" on first hearing and have planned movement/storyline during the other sections. On a second hearing, we sit and conduct the main theme, and they generally have an easier time sitting and listening when the imagery from the dance/story is still fresh in their minds.
To Turkey Dance, you "step-hop" when you see a 2 and "flap, flap, flap" your wings (and sometimes add a knee crouch/tail feather wiggle) when you see a 3.
The plan: (Everyone spreads out to start)
A section You wake up as a turkey in a barn and begin scratching the ground with your feet.
B section (Main Theme) conduct or Turkey Dance Turkey dances a Wake Up dance with fellow turkeys.
A Section More scratching of ground as you wander alone out into the yard.
B1 Section conduct or Turkey Dance
You Turkey Dance alone in the barnyard
C Section Look for food, wobble head, walk like a turkey, gobble gobble...
B2 Section conduct or Turkey Dance Meet up with a group of new turkeys and dance in a small group by the food trough.
D Section Another turkey steals your food and you face them as though demanding "Give it back!" (You can hear the rhythm of "Give it back!" repeated in the music.) There is a mini tug of war (you pull, they pull, you pull, and you win back your food on the 3rd pull).
B3 Section conduct or Turkey Dance Dance a victory dance because you won your food back
A section Scratch your way back home
Coda (echoes of B section) Start to turkey dance but end in a hiccup (with the oboe...); you must've eaten too fast! On last 3, you laugh at your hiccup and this funny day. -- Annie Nilsson, K-5 music teacher, Chugiak, Alaska
-----------------------------
12/07 BOOK: My favorite Thanksgiving book for K's is ONE LITTLE, TWO LITTLE, THREE LITTLE PILGRIMS, by B.G. Hennessy. If you don't have access to the book, it pops up on Google if you just enter the title in quotes. The whole thing is set to the tune of "Ten Little Indians," although I don't think the word Indian is used in the text - it's Wampanoag. That seems like quite a mouthful for K's, but mine were usually quite proud of themselves for knowing and using the name.
The text could be divided up and treated as a choral reading. My book is buried in the basement, and we never had to add songs and make a "program", but "Hohowatanay" is one song I'd work in. My K's also loved "Fastest Turkey". (I just did an Archive search & found it posted in a 2002 message from Denise Gagne. ) We did not do it as a chase game, just added simple actions. Instead of "in the barnyard", I'd use "in the forest" if referring to wild turkeys. -- Connie Herbon
---------------------------------------
12/07 LISTENING PIECE: "Variations on a Shaker Hymn", part VII from Appalachian Spring, Copland. (about 3 min.). I also second Joni's recommendation of the HARVEST HOME album by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason. "Haymaker's Hoedown" sounds like something students would like. (2:45) There's also "Autum"(Thanksgiving Hymn) from the "Harvest Home Suite", but it's not as "kid-friendly". -- Connie Herbon
--------------------------------
PROGRAM: I do a Thanksgiving program with my kindergarten students. I've used different songs, and many come from Music K8 magazines. The perfect Thanksgiving song is "Pilgrims" Vol. 11/2. Kindergarten teachers read the narrations in the song and the children sing the repeating chorus. I made a PowerPoint with some historical pictures to go along with the song. It's very moving. My PowerPoints are at school but I think I've seen Ppts. for this song on Musiceducationmadness.com and Tracy's web site.
Here are some other MK8[www.musick8.com] songs I've used:
THANKFUL FOR THE U.S.A. (Use the accomp. track and sing verse one twice!)
THANKFUL MOST OF ALL FOR ME (Make a Ppt. and insert pictures of thechildren.)
WHACKY GOBBLER (Groovy! You don't have to use Boomwhackers, just sing and move.) Dress some children up as turkeys for this one.
I also include a couple of songs from Ruth Roberts, "Thanksgiving Songs That Tickle Your Funny Bone." This is available through[www.musick8.com] Some of my favorites are:
Old MacDonald Led The Band (On Thanksgiving Day)
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians
Turkey Dinner, Turkey Dinner (The Drumstick Song)
We also do an acrostic Thanksgiving poem. Twelve students wear giant letters that spell Thanksgiving. Each child has one line of the poem to say. [google it] I've also used some "piggyback songs." Do a search for Thanksgiving songs and you'll find lots of ideas. Last year we did "The Turkey Lurkey" instead of "The Hokey Pokey." You put your right wing in...I also try to include some authentic Native American culture. You'd be surprised how many Native American organizations would be willing to come out to your school. One year they not only performed dances in full costume, but taught the children a dance as well. -- Monica Autry
--------------------------------------------
12/07 SONG: [Use] "Hey Pilgrims" song from Music K8 [www.musick8.com] and the wonderful powerpoint that is listed in Tracy's musicbulletinboards.net downloads? My kindergarten teachers love this because it has what they talk about during November in a nutshell and it also is one verse for the Kindergarteners to memorize (and they love it!).
http://heiferproject.blogspot.com
http://sistercities2005.blogspot.com
12/07 SONG: Raffi's "Thanks A lot"? I use very simple signs with it (to teach the words to the students and remember them myself). I also use "All I Really Need" by Raffi to emphasize the appreciation aspect of Thanksgiving. I learned these two from Shirley Handy at the Singing-Reading connection. -- Mrs. Paula Bettis, BME
---------------------------------
12/07 ACTIVITY: I learned the following circle song/game from the late Jim Sapienza while I was at George Mason for my levels course many years ago. It's good for K-2.
A section - sung:
With a wobble wobble wobble and a gobble gobble gobble
All the turkeys spread their feathers on Thanksgiving Day,
When they see the farmer coming, all the turkeys start a-running
and they say you cannot catch me on Thanksgiving Day.mi-fa-so-so- so-so-so- la (3 times on eighth notes)
so-fa-mi-re- do (On Thanksgiving Day - eighth - eighth - 3 quarters)
Melody repeated
B section - spoken:
Run, little turkey, (ta-ti-ti-ta- ta)
Run away, run away, (ti-ti-ta, ti-ti-ta)
Run, little turkey, (ta-ti-ti-ta- ta)
Run away home. (ti-ti-ta, ta rest)
Motions - A section:
Wobble - shake tail
Gobble - push out chin
Spread feathers - spread fingers hand together in front then spread out
giving day - stamp three times
See farmer - shade eyes with hand and peer into distance
turkeys start a-running - run in place
cannot catch us - wag finger
giving day - stamp three times
For the B section, I gave two children on opposite sides of the circle paper turkeys. They ran within the circle and had to be back in place on the second Thanksgiving Day. They then passed the turkeys to the person to their left and continued the song. -- Rose M. Grelis
----------------------------------
01/07 Michael Nichols has just released a new book called "Seasons and Holidays." It contains 3 original songs with the Thanksgiving theme, "Scratch and Peck," "Indian Drums," and "Thanksgiving Day Round." The book has many beautiful, easy songs for many of the secular holidays as well as a couple of new, original Christmas songs. It is age appropriate for grades 1 - 6 and includes some teaching suggestions and Orff instrument accompaniments. It's available at Beatin' Path Publications.-- Brent Holl
------------------------------
01/07 “FOR HEALTH AND STRENTH” I adapted the words slightly for this round, so it is more suitable
in public schools. For health and strength and daily food give thanks for all that's good. We have a lovely recording of this in the revised Musicplay 5. -- Denise Gagne www.musicplay.ca , Musicplay - the Sequential Text Series [email protected] 888-562-4647
--------------------------------
01/07 “FOR HEALTH AND STRENGTH” (“Lord” included)
FIRST, we learned to sing it. As we were learning the melody, I had them do vocalises with descending scale pattern in the key of F Major, using numbers--54321, then to prepare the actual song, 55543332111. This is it, except for the pickup note (low C) at the beginning and the last 2 notes (ti do) at the end. I had them use their hands in the air (up and down orientation) to show the descending pitches and also the repeats. Then we added the final 2 notes (actually ti do) but I called it "down back" after the number sequence, since I was using numbers instead of solfege. It certainly could have been done in solfege also. Finally I added the pickup at the beginning, which was a LOW sol, making an octave jump from that to the 555... pattern. I called it "and 555..." The kids did the BIG jump of their hands at the start and then played the whole thing up and down in the air as they sang it, first with numbers and then with the words of the song. Also learned simple hand motions reflecting the text. "For health and strength"--flexed the muscles, "and daily food"--acted as if we were eating, "we praise Thy name"--folded hands as if in prayer, "O Lord"-raised hands high in air. We also tried singing it as a round.
DAY 2, we prepared to play it on barred instruments (set in F major, B flats added). The hand signing of the melody was changed from up and down to a left to right orientation, as if they were playing it on the bars. Special attention to the repeated notes (all the ODD numbers repeat). Lastly we added the end notes and the pickup, as we did the first day. Played the whole thing. Not too hard at all.
NEXT LESSON--added a few more instruments. End result was xylos playing melody, metall. playing F and C bordun in whole notes, and glocks playing low C, high C repeatedly in half notes. Combined.
MOVEMENT ADDED--extremely easy!!! Circle formation, palms touching neighbor's, at about shoulder level. (They didn't object to this like many objected to HOLDING HANDS--YUK.) As they sang, they did a step-touch to left and then to right, with a half note beat for each step or touch.
FINAL PRODUCTION-- ABA form--A section--half the class in circle singing and moving as described above, other half of the class at Orff instruments playing the melody and simple ostinati described above. B section-ostinati continue. Kids continue the step-touch (which, by the way, is mirrored by the glock pattern, and they help each other stay on track). Kids stop singing, I play melody on my alto recorder, and they do the text-based hand motions (day 1) as their feet continue the movement. A section repeats
This gave some good learning opportunities and was most effective. Maybe some of you private school folks can use this as Thanksgiving approaches. Could even work nicely on a program! If I were doing it on a program, I would probably have the circle dancers wearing wrist bands made of a rubber band and several crepe paper streamers in autum colors--brown, gold, tan, orange. - Louise Eddington, Muncie, Indiana
-------------------------------
THANKSGIVING SONGS
06/06 You might want to check out the songs in THANKSGIVING SONGS THAT TICKLE THE FUNNY BONE which MK8 carries, I think. There was a little song that the K's always sang to the cafeteria workers entitled "Turkey Dinner" and was to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?" That whole series was cute - you could count on at least a couple of songs in each book that were workable, even though the kids did not know a lot of the original piggyback songs that were used. - Cak
---------------------------
1) "Fastest Turkey" (echo singing/movements)
2) "Five Fat Turkeys" (singing & actions, + act out for each other and practice performance and audience skills) (found in old World of Music K text, among other sources)
3) "Ho Ho Watanay" (a Native American lullaby) We sing it in English and Iroquois and also add sign language. We also play the Taos drums and Taos rattles, plus we talk about and play the shekere and monkey-pod rattle and discuss how people use what they find around them to make music. (found in World of Music K plus other sources)
4) ONE LITTLE, TWO LITTLE, THREE LITTLE PILGRIMS by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Lynne Cravath, Scholastic Inc. I both read and sing the book to the K's. (Tune is "Ten Little Indians) We discuss a bit about Pilgrims and the Wampanoag life and find Plimoth on the map. The author has a nice section in the back about practices and foods of "The First Thanksgiving." Plimoth Plantation also has information on the web. This book is very "K friendly."
5) "The Giving of Thanks," a Network song by Pat Finn, Music K-8, vol.12-2. K's learn verse one of this for our K-3 "feast." This year we might change to "Thanks for Thanksgiving," a song written by one of my 3rd grade classes last year. All three of our original 3rd songs from last year have been illustrated and recorded onto a Powerpoint by this year's 3rd's, so K's will probably get to view that too. -- Connie Herbon
-----------------------------------
Thanksgiving Dinner (rhythm is the flow of the lyrics / change pitches at slash marks: (ascending C scale)
Gobble, gobble, / bok, bok / Mashed potatoes, / gravy, / Turkey and / corn-bread, / Fill your plate / baby!
(descending C scale) Apple pie, / stuffing, / don't you want / more? / We forgot the / cran-berries. / Off to the / store! (Rhythmic ostinato for corn guiros or other unpitched percussion) "Where is the corn?" (ta ti-ti ta Z) -- Connie Herbon
------------------------------
IN NOVEMBER (sung to the tune of Alouette)
1. In November all of us remember how the first Thanksgiving came to be. Pilgrims had a merry feast, splendid at the very least. Merry feast, (at the least,) Oh,
2. In November all of us remember how the first Thanksgiving to be. Baked a tasty turkey roast, They all said that it's the most. Turkey roast, (it's the most,) Merry feast. (at the least,) Oh,
3. In November all of us remember how the first Thanksgiving came to be. Made a sauce o' cranberry, Oh, what fun and how merry. Cranberry, (how merry,) Turkey roast, (it's the most,) Merry feast, (at the least,) Oh
4. Such delicious pumpkin pie, Everyone said "my, oh, my!" Pumpkin pie, (my, oh, my!) Cranberry, (how merry,) Turkey roast, (it's the most,) Merry feast, (at the least,) Oh,
5. Pilgrims in a brand-new land, Thankful for their freedom grand. Brand-new land, (freedom grand,) etc.
6. In November all of us remember how the first Thanksgiving came to be.
---------------------
IDEAS
10/05 YOUNGER STUDENTS: How about doing "Five Fat Turkeys" (are we, we spent the night in the tree...)
Over the River & Throught the Woods is a Thanksgiving song (although everyone thinks its for Christmas)
"Thank you for the world so sweet "
Older set: We Gather Together (hymn), Turkey Tango (MK8), Thanksgiving Rap ( MK8), We Are Grateful (MK8) -- Dianne Park
-------------------------
10/05 PROGRAM (I do a Thanksgiving Holiday program "Sing and Give Thanks" every year with seconds.)
"The Unity Tree" - Jennings (all ready to go with CD and all- easily learned with a great message) or Poetry about friendship, Thanksgiving. Ask your classroom teachers for their favorite poetry for that time of year. Jack Prelutsky has some good things to offer.
You can sing "Best Friends". or America the Beautiful - 2 verses - you could have some small group sing the second verse with everyone joining in the Refrain or Do a group of silly turkiey songs "Alburqueque Turkey" is usually a big hit also "Bring Back My Turkey to Me"! or Tom Chapin's "Thanksgivingtime" or something like that. I had the teachers sing the versea and then the children joined in on the Refrain.
"The Giving Tree" - one year I had a child read the book and interspersed here and there the children had written their own songs based on the themes in it. We sang and performed in teams on the Orff instruments. or I always have the children write in the Music room about things they are grateful for. I pick about 4 - 6 and they read their work while I play Jay and Molly Unger's CD. It is called Harvest Home. On the back of the CD is an 800 number which I always call every year to get permission to play this in the program. They are always thrilled that I call and are very grateful. Yes, they do give permission.
One year I had a very talented free spirit whom we dressed up as a turkey (his idea) and he read turkey jokes! The audience went wild!!!! There are probably other things too, but this is what is in my head at this point. Other than the Giving Tree and the "Unity Tree" which were a unit unto themselves, a lot of the above I combine together each year. I do try to change some things each year, but not too much. There are some standards that the audience and the children just love. I hope this is somewhat helpful! Kathleen Bragle,NBCT
---------------------------------
10/01 POEM: My kids have had great fun with a poem by Jeff Kriske and Randy DeLelles called "A Turkey Named Bert". It is in one of their holiday books. I cannot remember the name of the book off hand. My book is at school and I am at home. I will look it up for you ASAP. It has songs, speech, movement, and Orff orchestrations for virtually any holiday and for a variety of age levels. The words of the chant even tell the kids what actions to do. I've done it mostly with 3rd graders, but I think 2nd graders could handle it, especially if you use any of Phyllis Weikart's approaches to teaching movement and beat competency. You're right--I, too, wouldn't trade my young students for anything! M
----------------------------
MK8 SONG: The song "Pilgrims" in vol.11-2 of MK8 (Plank Rd. Publishing) really touched me and sent me on a search for more information/pictures to use with the song. I'm sharing the literature lesson that has developed for the initial sharing of the song with my middle grades.
Materials needed: "Pilgrims" (vol.11-2 and recording), visual of Refrain words for student reference (opt.), CD or tape player with "pause" control. THE FIRST THANKSGIVING by Linda Hayward, illustrated by James Watling, Scholastic Inc (a STEP into Reading, level 2 book)
Notes concerning the book: This was originally published in 1990 by Random House Children's Books, so it's probably in your school library. Credit is given to the research staff at Plimoth Plantation (no, that's not the wrong spelling!) for help with historical accuracy in pictures and text. (My copy is from the book fair and is the first Scholastic printing, 2000.)
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING "Pilgrims"
p.4: Start the recording. Begin reading over the music after the opening chord of the introduction. Text of p.4 fits nicely into the timing of the intro., leading perfectly into the opening Refrain. At meas.17, fade music slightly and STOP immediately at beat 1 of meas. 19. (This "fade/stop" process will be repeated at the end of each Refrain.)
pp.6-9: read/show illustrations (no music) After reading p.9, start music. (v.1) The spoken verses on the recordingsummarizewhat was just read. Cont. music through Refrain "fade/stop."
pp.10-21: read/show illustrations/play v.2 & Refrain,etc.
pp. 22-37: read/show illustrations/play v.3 & Refrain, etc.
pp. 38-48: read/show illustrations/play v.4 & Refrain.
Once I decided where to divide the book to match the song verses, this really took very little time to put together. Tiny sticky notes with "teacher cues" at appropriate spots in the pages are helpful without defacing the text. I'm sure my classes will be joining on the Refrains after the first statement, so that's why I want a Refrain visual. On repeated playings, the students will have the complete lyric-sheet visual in front of them.
---------------------
CHRISTMAS TURKEY DANCE
Formation: Children form a single circle. Face into the centre of the circle
Gonna eat my Turkey, gobble motion 4 times with hands
gonna eat my Turkey flap elbows
Gonna gobble it up, twist down
Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! 4 claps Repeat this part 3 times
Verse: Step to the beat in the circle
Got to get away, got to go real fast
Don't want Christmas Eve, to be my very last
Turn and go in the opposite direction:
Got to get away, far away from here
I don't want to be the reason for your Christmas cheer!
Dance repeats
For more information visit my web site www.christmasconcert.com
----------------------
THANKSGIVING CHANT
Ms. Gragg also sends a Thanksgiving chant, which is found in "Orff Mosaic," a new Orff book of ideas from Canadian teachers, edited by Lois Birkenshaw-Fleming.
Turkey in the pan, Turkey in the pan, Turkey with ______, Eat it if you can.
Discuss the various foods you can eat with Thanksgiving dinner, from beverages through desert. Have the children patsch the beat and remind, them that their answer must be given in tempo to the chant for the activity to work properly. Therefore, each child must think in advance. You can make it more of a challenge by not repeating an item that has already been said. Depending on the number of children, you can also go around the group more than once.
----------------------
THANKSGIVING TIME
My Fifth Graders and I study the Shakers around Thanksgving time. Projects include singing some simple Shaker tunes, moving to the songs, viewing Web sites hosted by several Shaker villages. In addition, we study many inventions created by the Shakers. I even make the girls and boys sit on separate sides of the room during the lessons.
--------------------------------------------
OUR HANDS WE FOLD
Our hands we fold, Our heads we bow
For food and drink We thank Thee now.
-----------------------------------------------
WREATH
Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents.". Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath.
--------------------
CHARITY FUNDRAISER: We also collect monetary donations the night of the concert. Parents know ahead of time that this will be happening and it is very clear that it is optional. The $ goes to the local City Mission Thanksgiving Dinner. Now by Thanksgiving week, everyone seems to have remembered to donate canned goods and turkeys for these community dinners. The need really hasn't been for more of the same. Our thought, after talking to the staff of the Mission, was that our $ would go for the little extras that they just love - a flowers for the tables, mints for afterwards etc. Just an idea - but I just love this and it is so much less stress! By the way, the second grade teachers are thrilled that I did this - December is crazy enough. I have had nothing but positive feedback from parents too.
--------------------
GIVING TREE: Last year we did "The Giving Tree" where the boys and girls and I created some original Theme-based songs to go with the story using the Orff instruments. I mainly did the musical settings and the children did the words. It was very special. The year before and also this year I do a real hodge-podge of wonderful poetry, choral readings and songs. Here are a few:
All in a Word - Aileen Fisher (poem) The old-fashioned letters type poem (each child holds a letter from the word "THANKS") - each class recites one of the letters and they all join in at the end.
Great Day ; Real Treasure (both of these songs are from Thanksgiving Treasure-Roger Emerson)
Growing; Smiles -unknown (recited by all) Over the River... - traditional; Best Friends - Carmino Ravosa
----------------------
THANKSGIVING DAY
"Thanksgiving Day" by Tom Chapin and John Forster is on Tom Chapin's "Mother Earth" album. (Great song for esp. older elem.)
----------------------
I CAN SPELL THANKSGIVING TOO
Song -- "I'm So glad to Be Here" -- Music K-8 vol. 10, no.
Speaker: Welcome to our harvest spelling bee! These students have worked very hard to make it to the final round. Would the first speller please step up to the microphone?
(Speller 1 steps up to mic and clears voice)
Speaker: Please spell the word "dog."
speller 1: Dog, d-o-g, dog.
Speaker: That is correct! (audience cheers while next speller steps up)
Please spell the word "cat."
Speller 2: Cat, c-a-t, cat.
Speaker: That is correct! (audience cheers again, while next speller steps up) Please spell the sord "Thanksgiving." (gasp from the audience)
Song -- "I Just Can't Spell Thanksgiving " --special arangement of "I Just Can't Spell Hippopotamus"
Each of the following letters were done by groups of children, however the longer parts were done by individuals.
T: You've already got the first letter But just in case you forget, "T" is for the funniest turkey ;you have ever met!
Song -- "Turkey in the Straw" Music K-8. vol. 4, no. 2 (This is also found in Wee Fun from Plank Road)
H: H is for home and family, those we love the best who take care of us and love us more than all the rest.
Song -- That's a Family" ( We ended up not doing this one, but it is found in vol. 8, no.1)
A: A is for the apple hanging on the tree.
N: N is for the nuts, crunchy as can be.
K: K is for the kindness we show to those we meet.
S: S is for the sweets and other foods we have to eat.
Song -- "Mashed Potatoes" Music K-8 vol. 9, no.2
G: G is for the good things we sing about today, Things that we've been blessed with along the way.
Song -- "Blessings Make Me Sing"--this is actually Christmas Makes me Sing from vol. 10, no.2, but we changed thewords and we shouted "We're Thankful!"
I: I is for the Indians who taught the Pilgrims to plant many things
V: V is for the vegetables those plants bring.
Song -- "I'm an Indian Chief" --I'm not really sure where this song comes from
I: I stands for "important" things we learn everyday.
N: N is for never forgetting how to play.
G: G stands for the realy meaning of what we celebrate
We are grateful for all God has given us blessings are really great!
Song -- "I'm Grateful" vol. 10, no. 2
Speller 3: I think I've got it now. (Straightening himself up) T-h-a-n-k-s-g-i-v-i-v-g!
speaker: That is correct! (audience cheers)
Song -- "Can You Spell Thanksgiving, Too?" (Done to the tune of "This Old Man" from Wee Fun)
Here are the new words:
T-H-A N-K-S G-I-V- I-N-G I can spell Thanksgiving, can you? Can you spell thanksgiving, too?
I played the last two rounds of "This Old Man, " then used the entire song as "bow music."
-----------------------------
PARODIES
I AM THANKFUL to the tune of "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain."
I am thankful for my doggy and my cat. And my teddy bear so furry, soft and fat. I am thankful for soft kittens and my nice warm woolen mittens And my swing set and my baseball and my bat
I am thankful for my crayons and my books And the way our brand new baby smiles and looks, I am thankful for potatoes and for juicy ripe tomatoes And for all the tasty food that mommy cooks.
I am thankful for my mommy and my dad, They both love me whether I am good or bad, I am thankful for the flowers and refreshing summer showers, All the pretty things around me make me glad.
---------------
OUR HANDS WE FOLD
Our hands we fold, Our heads we bow For food and drink We thank Thee now.
-------------
"Thanksgiving Day" by Tom Chapin/John Forster, on Tom Chapin's "Mother Earth" album
-------------
America the Beautiful; Turkey Fling - Gallina (the kids LOVE it!)
a few more little poems and some awful turkey jokes; Be Kind to Each Other - Ruth Roberts
-------------
"Happy Thanksgiving" by Debbie Friedman (primarily a Jewish artist, for those of you not familiar with her - - but this song is pretty non-denominational, if you change "kosher turkey" to "roasted turkey" - - - and kids LOVE it!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wee6TXJfLh8
The chorus:
Happy Thanksgiving! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Aren't you glad you're not a turkey on this Thanksgiving Day?
-------------
"Sharing" by Raffi (not sure if that's the title, but the one that goes"It's mine but you can have some, with you I'd like to share it...")
----------------
do do fa fa fa mi mi mi mi re re fa do sol do sol do sol do sol do sol do
I'm a very fine turkey and I sing a fine song Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble
ti ti ti ti ta ti ti ti ti ti ti ta ta ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti
do fa fa fa mi mi mi re fa do do do re fa mi do mi do fa sol
I strut around the barnyard all day long And my head goes bobble, bobble, bobble.
ta ti ti ti ti ta ta ti ti ta ti ti ta ta ti ti ti ti ti ta
do fa fa mi mi re fa do Sol do sol do sol do sol do sol do
And when Thanksgiving day comes round Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble
ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti
do fa fa mi mi mi re fa do do do re re fa mi do mi do fa sol fa sol fa sol
I'll go and hide so I can't be found Then my head will still bobble as I wobble, wobble, wobble.
ta ta ta ta ti ti ta ta ta ti ti ta ta ta ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti
-------------------------------------
FOR THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE:
Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, yet with respect for the religious persuasions of others or their choice not to practice religion at all; and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year, 1997, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to our society have helped make America great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious or sexual preference of the wishes. (This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, it implies no promise by the wishor to actually attempt to implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others.)
--------------------
THANKSGIVING CHANT
Turkey in the pan, Turkey in the pan, Turkey with ______, Eat it if you can. Discuss the various foods you can eat with Thanksgiving dinner, from beverages through desert. Have the children patsch the beat and remind, them that their answer must be given in tempo to the chant for the activity to work properly. Therefore, each child must think in advance. You can make it more of a challenge by not repeating an item that has already been said. Depending on the number of children, you can also go around the group more than once.
----------------------
THANKSGIVING SONG
The song is in 4/4 with a pickup at the beginning of each phrase.
My Fifth Graders and I study the Shakers around Thanksgving time. Projects include singing some simple Shaker tunes, moving to the songs, viewing Web sites hosted by several Shaker villages. In addition, we study many inventions created by the Shakers. I even make the girls and boys sit on separate sides of the room during the lessons. (Note: I think "d" is a half note)
___ _ ___ _____
| | | | | | | | d | | | | | | | | | d
D C# D E D B G E D D D D E G F# G A B A
Fath-er, we thank Thee for the night And for the pleas-ant morn-ing light.
____ _ ___ _ _
| | | | | | | | d | | | | | | | | | d
D C# D E D B G E D E G E D G B A G F# G
For rest and food and lov-ing care And all that makes the world so fair.
-------------------
Songs: "Thanksgiving Day" by Tom Chapin and John Forster is on Tom Chapin's "Mother Earth" album. (A great song. Older kids would like it as well.)
--------------------
Did anyone know that the name Albuquerque comes from Middle East.Apparently, according to genealogical research, Arabs, immigrated to Spain (much like the music with middle eastern flair) and then later to spanish colonies in the New World. It's also a Hispanic surname. (re: "Albuquerque Turkey - parody)
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************WINTER
06/09 JINGLE BELLS GAME: The children sit on the floor in a circle, with a leader in the middle. Divide the class into groups naming the groups "snow", "horse", "bells", "ride" and "fun". ALL players answer to the word "sleigh". As the leader begins to sing, "Dashing through the snow", the players named "snow" must jump up, turn around and sit down. If a player doesn't jump up in time, he/she is out. Every time the leader says "sleigh"' everyone has to jump up, turn around and sit down. The last one left becomes the leader for the next game.
12/08 JINGLE BELLS DANCE: I tweaked the Jingle Bells Dance just a bit and it worked beautifully. For Verses:(to the rhythm): pat 3x, clap 3 x For Chorus: 4 steps forward (or in place) I didn't want to move chairs for this quick pick me up, so I kept things pretty much "in place". The cha chas were very small, barely moving forward, more at a slight diagonal. The kids all seemed to enjoy it, and it was quick to teach. I'll be warming them up with this again next week. Contributed by Gretchen in IL JINGLE BELLS DANCE (another version)
12/07 JINGLE BELLS DANCE: My recording is a Disney album with verse 1 vocal, an instrumental verse, then verse 2. Refrains after each. Dance directions ; A sections - trot to right ringing bells ( I have enough jingle bell circlets to give two to each child), change directions after "laughing all the way. Trot other direction. B sections - face center. Into circle 4 beats, out of circle 4 beats, turn in place shaking bells 4 beats, ring bells facing center, throwing arms up on Hey. Simple, they enjoy it. Muted lighting in the room with lots of twinkling lights help set a magical, winter feeling. --- Artie Almeida 06/15 SLEIGH RIDE with Beanbags: A section
A section: Say the words, "Pick up, Pass." Pick up beanbag on beat 1, put in front of your neighbor on the right on beat 3. 8 times. I always say, "Last one - everybody stop" to cue them to stop & get ready for the next section. POEM: K -Met them at the door wearing scarf, gloves and wool hat (I'm in Houston so this causes some discussion) Made up a song about what might happen to a snowflake and danced it Read "Clifford's first snow day" Did a chant about building a snowman and each person added something as we went around the circle Sang "Mousie in the Snow" with a silly dance Did the reindeer chant Had them lay on the floor with their eyes closed, lights turned low. Put on Vivaldi's winter from Four Seasons. Told story about children in their beds while it snowed outside, the snow fell faster, covered the trees, yadda, yadda. While they lay there, I covered them with toilet paper streamers. When I was done, the sun came out, the children woke up and found they were covered in snow. (Great idea from somebody. They ate it up.) Turned the "snow" into snowballs. Listened to Frosty, alternating tossing snowballs in the air to look like snow flakes and having a snowball fight. -- Andrea Cope I just had two kids wear all white, stand on two ladders with paper snowflakes taped to the side of each ladder. the ladders were placed on each side of the window frame and had the kids toss artificial snow we bought from walmart towards the center front of the frame while the principal was looking out. At first I thought it was cheesy, but it was kinda cute and the parents loved the "two snowflakes" with snow. (the kids were the kind hat were usually quiet but they were getting a kick out of being the center of attraction.) There is another way, but you need to suspend something over the jail. Maybe have two secured pvc pipe poles on each side of the jail scene. Suspend some sort of material or netting with bought artificial snow, or potato flakes and glitter and when the snow is needed shake the poles or somehow release the snow slowly from the suspended material. Have a few girls dressed as snow fairies do a simple dance around Frosty while they scatter "snow". I forgot that a mirror ball and a flashlight will make some snow but the
lights have to be turned off.
Here are some themes that I have used over the years in planning my winter
programs......
It's In Every One Of Us
Shiver, Santa Is His Name-o, Must Be Santa, Aw Shucks, Mittens Again, Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer
VISUALS: (all are made of construction paper and covered with clear contact paper or laminated - I like the weight added by contact paper.) *** Another listee suggested using felt pieces on a flannel board, which would be even easier! :-) If your flannel board is white like mine, just add a black line around the snowballs with permanent marker to define the shapes. 1. 3 white snowballs ( mine are 6", 8", and 11")
I use tiny pieces of yellow Handi-Tak (WalMart) on the back of each piece. It's easy to use and remove and is very strong. All this is mounted on a sturdy portable board that is reachable by the little hands. As each verse is sung, one item is placed. We've had some very interesting snowmen!
MOVEMENT-DEBUSSY: I also enjoyed the idea that someone else posted about using Debussy's "The Snow Is Dancing" from the Children's Corner Suite. I hit the post-Christmas sales and made 10 glittery snowflakes with irridescent streamers on white plastic plate for my "Snow Dancers" and 10 Silver wands with silver streamers that were cut from a silver table skirt decoration. . .10 flashlights to use with 10 miniature mirrored disco balls to shine "snowflakes" all over the room. Then I turned out the lights and let the kids create their own choreography to the music. Then they rotated to each item, so that by the end of my 30 minute lesson, they had the chance to move creatively to the music and yet they had been exposed to classical music and didn't realize it. They loved it. I only work with K - 1 - 2.
Formation - double circle of partners, facing towards each other. (one face in, one face out)
Jingle bells, - right, right right (clap partner's right hand) Jingle bells - left left left (clap partner's left hand)
With youngers, do without changing partners. I've done this with 3-6. Someone more proficient with keyboard than I made a tape of simple piano accompaniment that goes on forever, and that works splendidly. This is actually a very relaxing activity for this time of year. Introduction: 16 beats jingle bells (bar transition) --------------------- Now you can do variations on this, depending on the age group. Maybe two smaller circles instead of one. On 'jingle all the way", some have trouble clapping the rhythm against their partners hands, so you might change this. Kids love moving to their old favorite. It helps to use a version that's not too fast, Raffis' is a good one. Girls: Tissue paper flowers for their hair. Using the same colors in the sarapes, make big tissue paper flowers (you know: accordian folded then opened up). However, when you tie the middle of the accordian, use a string of cord elastic long enough to go around the head. Tie a knot in the end, and now the girls can wear the flower anywhere on their head they prefer. The elastic will hold it secure and you don't have to bobby pin anything. If doing a Las Posadas procession: (in order of procession) Maria: blue cloth draped over head Mariachis: toy instruments, sarapes, sombreros borrowed from local families and colleagues. Rest of the kids: in their flowers and scarves and carrying flashlights with fake flame taped to them or luminarias to place on the stage (candles or flashlights in coffee mugs and placed in lunch bags with holes punched out of them). One year we even added a bishop just behind Maria and Jose (with costume vestments including a mitre/hat) and two altar servers, one with a crucifix (made out of gold poster board cross, silver poster board corpus, and stuck on a yard stick) and one with an Our Lady of Guadelupe candle. We used ratty old (but washed) white "angel" robes found in a box in the basement for the altar servers, Maria, and the Bishop.
12/07 Here is a site that has offered some pretty neat pages with lyrics, midis, pics and clip art to Christmas songs. You can view it here:
Poem: http://www.night.net/christmas/Twas-night01.html
MAC users, I highly recommend "Melody Assistant 5.2" at http://www.myriad-online.com This music notation package is Shareware and you can download a fully functioning version from their sight for evaluation. This software in simple to use and rivals the $200.00 commercial versions =-) *****
http://www.xmasfun.com/ Xmas Fun - Christmas All Year Round! - Stories | Music | TV/Movies | Downloads | Recipes and much more! They will be donating this years proceeds to Las Flores Middle School PTO program.
http://www.santa.net Write to Santa, play games and have a lot of fun.
Fifty Ways To Recycle Fruitcake by Diane Lewis You have 2 lines on the sides of the room, one of girls and one of boys, with an alley in between. I use country music-"Turkey in the Straw", Cotton-Eye Joe, John Denver's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy", Yackety Sax, etc. I keep my door open as a lot of people come in and join the dance-the Principal, VP, parents --They are all welcome!! Millie Webb
06/05 SONGS: 1. Twelve Days of Christmas "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse"- a mouse song (Mouse, Mousie or Hickory Dickory Dock or 3 Blind Mice) I used it with the teachers during our singalong. At the end, the teachers all sang a little "Hallelujah" from the Hallelujah chorus - it is easy, the kids like it, and the teachers have a lot of fun. K, 1st and 2nd: 3rd, 4th , 5th: 1 - Sing a few tunes from the CD - A Cow Christmas. Hilarious beyond belief. Probably long out of print. Ebay? The selections that work well with kids are The Hallemoojah Chorus, Angus We Have Heard on High, Deck the Stalls with Oats and Barley and We Wish You a Dairy Christmas I hang a bunch of lights in the room and do most of the lessons with all of the overhead lights out, just the holiday lights twinkling. It really is a special week and the kids tell me they enjoy the activities. CD Order: This is very reasonably priced and will be a wonderful addition to your Christmas repetoire.
We wish you a merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, Happy Hannukah, Diwali and Kwanzaa, And a happy New Year.
A student would introduce the song, then there would be a short poem that went with the song, then we sang it. There was one song after another, the kids did all the announcing themselves, the audience had all the words printed in front of them so they could sing along and we all had a great time. I got our school to hire three musicians, a pianist, clarinetist and drummer (the clarinetist and drummer were students at the high school) so we had live music also. We billed it as a festival of winter holidays.
It is hysterical to watch this! AND it is amazing that they "get it". Of course, it is really my revenge on this song - one way to make its repetitions a little more interesting. When we do the entire school sing-along with all students, faculty and staff, it is great fun to watch them all bobbing up and down, up and down. It is also a good one to put in the middle of the sing-along. It gives everyone a chance to S T R E T C H.
After completing one round, try it again with new patterns. It will go a lot faster the second time. You can also do many extensions: add more patterns, layer them, cut out patterns from the paper and glue them in the chosen order to make a score, etc.
I used these phrases for my 4 beat patterns
Encourage the kids to mix up the songs - don't use 2 phrases from the same song. It will be more of a playing and listening challenge that way.
Section 2 Drop hands for this part
Refrain: Join hands in a large circle and skip left 4 counts, turn single (to one's own left) on the first four counts of the "fa-la la", stomping as before on the last "la-la-la" back to place. Join hands in a large circle and skip right 4 counts, turn single, and stomp back to place.
Verse 2 Walk toward partner, leading with the right shoulder, on 4th count pivot to face partner in a single line facing either up or down in the set. Back up to place, stomp, stomp, stomp. Walk toward partner, leading with left shoulder, pivot to make a straight line in the center, back up to place with stomp, stomp, stomp.
Rudolph, Rudolph, sick in bed Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"Rudolph, Rudolph, you're not sick! All you need is a peppermint stick!"
There are motions to go with it, and on the last line, they all pull peppermint sticks (provided by me, of course) out of their pockets and wave them at the audience.
C G
C
C G C
Text:
Gatatumba, tumba tumba (Gatatumba: name for some in non-sense) con panderos y sonajas (pandero=handtrommel, sonajas: snare?)
(1) rabel (accent on bel): old spanish string instrument like a violin but self made by the "hirten" (pastor, "lamb and sheep'man" )
Winter jokes: Christmas: The time when everyone gets Santamental. Turkey Christmas Jokes Penguin Jokes:
QUESTIONS - RED TEAM
ANSWERS - RED TEAM
QUESTIONS - GREEN TEAM
ANSWERS - GREEN TEAM
I see my classes EVERY day for 35 minutes, but only EVERY OTHER
WEEK!. So, at the beginning of the first week, first class, I have each
person in the class make their own duplicate list of every song that the
whole class knows. I play each one as they write down each individual song title.
RULES: "skip a space between each song; do not write on the back of your
page; (spelling does not count for a change!)
This takes about 2 class periods of 35 minutes each; meanwhile, I tell
them that anyone who has any music books, CD's, records any other source
of Holiday music can bring them to class so that I may teach the whole
class a NEW song and add it to our list. IF no one brings anything, fine.
Then, for the next class period, each individual class categorizes
EACH song into either an EASY, MEDIUM or HARD category. I play each song
again, playing ONLY the first 5 NOTES, and ask them to RAISE THEIR HANDS
as to which category THEY think it should go in. I call out each category,
and count the number of hands. (Be sure YOU do the calling out of the
categories, and they RAISE THEIR HANDs, otherwise, it's total chaos!)
On Game Day: I love to have them put on "jingle bell bracelets" (even a single jingle bell on a pipecleaner works well) so they jingle whenever they clap. We make a game about keeping them really quiet when we walk, so the jingles will be a surprise..-- Judy Schneider Jingle Bell chorus: pat 3x (in rhythm of the words) Refrain: Join hands in a large circle and skip left 4 counts, turn single (to one's own left) on the first four counts of the "fa la-la", stomping as before on the last "la-la-la" back to place. Verse 2: Walk toward partner, leading with the right shoulder, on 4th count pivot to face partner in a single line facing either up or down in the set. Back up to place, stomp, stomp, stomp. Refrain: same as above Verse 3: Right arm turn the partner 8 counts, ending with stomp, stomp, stomp; Back to place. Left arm turn as above Refrain: Deck the hall with garlands: couples join inside hands, odd couples face down, evens face up. Evens walk under odds (whose hands form a bridge over them). I had the kids wear boughs of plastic holly from WalMart, pinned at the shoulders, and held between the fingers - making their arms appear to be garlands being draped all over the hall. -- Sandi Ausburger Refrain: Right arm swing your partner Verse 1: Couples 1 and 3 up and back (4 steps and bend, back up) Join hands and circle left (to the opposite side of the square) Couples 2 and 4 up and back Circle right to home. Verse 2: Right arm turn to a left hand star (right arm turn your partner, leader go to center and form a star, partner stays put) Leader goes full circle and picks up partner, taking partner around a full turn
Hub flies out: leader backs up, partner walks forward into the circle to make a right hand star, still holding on to leader who is now on the outside. Walk around to home. Verse 3
Couples 1 and 3 do a right and left through: give right hand to person opposite you and walk past, give left hand to your partner who is next to you, pivot (leader backs up and partner walks forward to new position on opposite side of the square).
1943-I'll Be Home for Christmas / 1944 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
12/11 DECK THE HALLS - dance: we went in on the first phrase (in in in in bo-ow, step step step), back out on the second phrase, head couple down the alley and stayed at the foot on the 3rd phrase, all clap clap clap clap bow step 3x on the last. No one had to hold hands. ---- Martha Stanley
MUSICAL: Nutcracker Suite is a musical by Sally Albrecht! It was just wonderful! I would recommend it for 4th and 5th graders! ---- Jody Parisi
10/08 KINDER CHRISTMAS - a new collection for preK - Grade 2 classes
- 14 fun, easy songs for young children
- includes "There Was a Little Baby", Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,
TEN LITTLE ANGELS, a Gingerbread dance, Reindeer Boogie and lots more- Inexpensive collection: Book/CD $20 HAPPY HOLIDAYS - SA choral collection - this collection has 7 pieces, all of which are octavo quality - all are very singable for Grade 3-8 choirs, but my personal favorite is "A Christmas Wish" --- this piece is a keeper - with only one small word change (change Christmas day to every day) this song could be sung for Festival, Contest, Peace program or any time It's been selected as the Surrey School District's mass choir piece for 2009. Is Santa Smarter? - Is Santa smarter than the kids in your school? Santa needs money to pay for the high cost of gas, so goes on a favorite game show to try to win what he needs for his budget shortfall. (should have been he needed money to pay for the losses in his stock portfolio!!!) This is an easy musical/revue to stage and will be lots of fun for the kids and parents alike. This could be done by one grade level, or by the entire school. To see and hear samples visit www.christmasconcert.com --- www.musicplay.ca Musicplay – the Sequential Text Series [email protected] 888-562-4647 In the "Christmas Favorites" collection, we have a song that has the same form as "Must be Santa" ---it's called "Jolly Santa" and has questions that can be sung as solos by 8 children. (Parents of K kids love to hear the solos!) Who has a beard that's white as snow? Jolly, jolly Santa! Who laughs this way? Ho! Ho! Ho! Jolly, jolly Santa Claus We have 2 newer collections called "Christmas Traditionals Vol. 1-2" They include piano/vocal scores, nicely orchestrated perf/acc CD (by Dominik Hauser) AND reproducible lyric sheets for choral singing. In Musicplay for Kindergarten there are a few easy Christmas songs: "Rock around the Christmas Tree" was written for my friend's kindergarten class and they loved it! -- Denise Gagne www.musicplay.ca Musicplay - the Sequential Text Series [email protected] 888-562-4647 Jingle Bell chorus: pat 3x (in rhythm of the words) Introduction: Reindeer: Thumbs on temples with fingers extended Then, have the audience try it!! It's really a hoot! -- Cak
Volando por la nieve En un lindo trineo
TOM TOM TURKEY (works for Thx. too):
WHERE IS SANTA?
TWINKLE TWINKLE CHRISTMAS STAR (you guessed it!)
Chocolate In My Stocking, Everlasting Fruitcake (MK8), Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Frosty, the Almost Politically Correct Snowman
(on this song, four of us sang the lines, and then our "actor" staff member,
stopped to insert the "politically correct" questions, it was a hoot)
(If your staff is as tired of workshops as ours, they will love it -- some
of these relate to our school/area, use whatever drives your staff crazy,
especially for day FIVE, make that one the worst workshop nightmare)
(Use the word "but" on all but the first time through verse one)
On the first day of workshop my district gave to me:
01/07 Stan Spottswood's Kwanzaa Suite gives you copy-ok music for nine songs (one for each principle plus one for general and one for The Seven Principles together) in a variety of styles. Some have movements suggested. It includes background info on kwanzaa, lyric sheets, rehearsal suggestions, full script etc. Plus CD with demo tracks as well as performance tracks featuring Stan's combo. All copy-ok. Available at: www.worldmusicpress.com One of the songs, Ujima (collective work and responsibility), is available separately as a World Music Press octavo (#60) $1.50 each and is really an exciting piece.-Contributed by Judith Cook Tucker, Publisher, World Music Press (ASCAP), Intercultural Understanding through Music, www.worldmusicpress.com I made some easy "pillbox" Kwaanza hats by buying Bulletin Board border in an African design. Make a headband with it, then attach a black paper circle to it for the top. Girls: if you have the money or some yds. of COLORFUL fabric sitting around at home, this is really great (espec. if you only have to dress 10 or fewer girls): take a yard -yard and 1/2 of 60" fabric or two yds. of 45", wrap it around the girls (under one arm) and tie at one shoulder.
Cinnamon Heart Listening Activity: Give each student a white napkin and 4 hearts. Play a piece of music in 4/4 time and ask the students to do the following ostinato with you as they listen: pat legs - tap, tap, tap (tap shoulders)
Listening Resource Kit Level 2: 4/4 #31 Contradance, Mozart Transfer the ostinato to you tapping on a 4/4 beat chart. Then have the students tap the 4 beats on their cinnamon hearts Then play a piece of music in 3/4 time. Listening Resource Kit Level 2: 3/4 #20 Minuet, Bach NOTES: You don't need to have the same number of girls and boys. Once they dance down the alley, they go back to their respective lines, boy and/or girl. It usually takes them a few counts to figure out to whom to give the rose, but you really don't need to count beats for this one. You may have a boy/girl dance down the alley, or 2 girls, or 2 boys. That's part of the beauty in the way I teach the dance. Though it is very cute to see how coy some of these little guys can be, choosing a partner of the opposite sex. -- Julie Jones in Williamsburg, VA One two three four five six seven eight nine titi titi ta ta ta ta taah CDEFG G AA G (triangles play the numbers) Sweet Hearts 4th: Talking About My Friend (MK8) Would Ya Be My Valentine (MK8). singing this as well as adding a dance (as someone suggested on the list not long ago) Valentine rhythm passing game... Valentine Valentine Would you be my valentine Number 1, number 2, number 3 it must be you Here's a valentine for you. (Sung to This Old Man) Kids all sit in a circle. Prepare a basket with conversation hearts in it. During song, the basket is passed. On the numbers 1, 2, 3, etc., the passing must be deliberately on the beat. Whoever has the basket on number 3, holds the basket and draws out a heart, reads the message, then claps the rhythm of the words (ie Marry Me=ti ti tah). Then all join in to clap the pattern 4x. Repeat song and passing. 3rd: Tony Chestnut (warm-up) Valentine Heart (MK8) -will sing and add a dance (yet tbarr) Viva Valentine -with letter choreography and actions Valentine passing game as for 4th. I'll be working these in around our other unit songs and activities, but mainly will focus on them the 2 sessions during V-day week. Gretchen in IL "It" counts off children on 1,2,3 and hands the valentine to the third person counted. That person is now "it" . Person one holds onto "its" shoulders or waist and they continue around the circle. Every time a new "it" is chosen the train gets longer. Everyone gets a chance to be the Valentine train engine . Last person chosen gets to travel all around the room. My kids begged for this game. No one was ever "out" and everyone got to be the leader once. SONG: To the tune of This Old Man sing: Valentine, Valentine GAME:
Melody for each verse:
Game:
2/4 Spring, Vivaldi
Melody: d s, l,s, d, s, l, s, d s, l,s, t, t, s, l,s, t, s, l, s, t, s, l, s, d
Another fun activity with this song is to have the kids patsch on the
vowels and clap on the consonants then they clap only the consonants and then
patsch only the vowels, then do with out any singing, just patsching and
clapping. And in the usual Orff Tradition--add instruments to the con. and
patsch. Loads of fun!
Playing Choosing an object to pass (perhaps a valentine, teddy, or something red?) children sit in a circle and pass this object to any passing song. (Suggestions anyone?) On the last beat of the song, the person who is holding the object is given heart #1. This is done six times then a die is rolled to see which child (of the six holding hearts) will be the next person to pass out the hearts.
**We are the World by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie '95 Silver Burdett 6th Grade, CD: 1-2(their second favorite -- a good opportunity for blossoming, soloists to belt it out in the mike)
Music, Music, Music by S. Weiss & B. Baum '95 Silver Burdett 4th Grade,
Fourth came Wouldja Be My Valentine, which was augmented by our two VERY SERIOUS tap dancers, who choreographed their own work separately, conferred for about ten minutes before the program, and came out fully coordinated, looking like this was a number from their standard repertoire.
And for the really big ending, Rock And Roll Valentine! I have two boys who actually have electric guitars and amps, who actually wigged out the bass line and played along, camping it up all the while. Had a group of Jordanaires or Pips or whatever you call them now, over at a microphone, making all the comments, gargling and so forth. And behind the performers was a group of kids with long hair who danced and shook, and in the solo section, swung their hair around like wild things. Then toward the end, they moved closer to the guitarists, jumping up and down and waving their arms like crazy, and on the final chord, they all fainted dead away on the floor.
(A Section) Wouldja, wouldja, wouldja, Step R, L steps behind, step R (grapevine step) , touch L & clap
Two recorded songs which my second and third graders love to sing with (and sing with me on guitar) are John McCutcheon's version of the Woody Guthrie classic "Mail Myself To You" (Rounder CD: Mail Myself To You) and Mr. Al's "Point To Someone You Love" (Melody House CD: Rock The Baby).
| | | | d | | d. | d. | | | | d | | d. | tied d. ||
We sing the words while the children pass the object around the circle they're sitting in. Whever has the object when we get to the word "love" becomes the leader, and leads us all in doing some kind of steady beat as we sing the melody with just a neutral syllable. Great for kindergarten and first grade. If you have two objects you can have two different circles in the room, making it easier to make sure that all kids have a turn to be the leader.
Questions can range from symbol definitions, completing a song phrase, information the children know from class, identifying solfeggio syllables, identify (multiple choice) or write rhythm syllable words from r. pattern. Small pictures of instruments can be there to identify, or groups of instruments (name the family). (The sheets can be turned in and scored by teacher later.)
The students are in a circle, sitting down, usually patsching the meter to the song.
A-tisket, a tasket A little yellow basket I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it I dropped it, I dropped it And on the way I dropped it! mi so - mi la so - mi (ETC.,)
One child starts the song with two hands up above their head, one holding the "letter." They bring the letter down then back again up to touch the other hand at which point the other students are supposed to start singing on the upbeat. This is good practice for coming in on cue. After the giving the upbeat cue the child skips around the circle until the last "it!" at which point the letter gets dropped in front of the nearest person (as a marker) and the two students chase around the circle twice (like "Duck, Duck, Goose"). The other students are supposed to keep a rapid drum roll in their laps during the chase. This works well for all chase games, if you haven't been doing it already. I've also got a nice song if anyone wants to try it, but I haven't gotten around to doing it up in conventional notation yet. The chords are on top and the melody's in the middle. If anyone happens to know the source of the poem I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know. David Saphra http://www.concentric.net/~Gamba/guion.html
First, we discussed how speaking has rhythm.......put some 2/4 measures on the board of examples of certain words and their rhythm. ("Valentine"/two eighths and a quarter note, etc.) I put five 2/4 measure up and corresponding Valentine words or phrases. Then passed out those little Valentine heart candys with the little expressions..."Love Me", "Be Mine", "You Rock", etc. The students had to tell which measure on the board matched the rhythm of their candy heart. If they could do that, they could eat it. If not, they could pick another one. Sure was fun and funny!! It went so well with grade three that I did it with my big old sixth graders. Luckily, they handled the embarassing or sensitive moments real well. (Like when a boy got a heart that said "My Man"!) We all just had a little chuckle and moved on.
On the same subject, just as a review in gr. 4 this week, we're also using the candy hearts: -first we'll review lines and spaces of the staff. -I pass out these laminated staves and circle markers ("notes"). We all parctice placing certain notes on the plastic staves. -then each student gets a candy heart and looks for letters of the musical alphabet that are contained in his/her candy heart phrase. ie:"You Rock"....the kid would place a "C" on the plastic staff. -if they get a heart that has no letters from the musical alphabet, they get a new pice of candy.
---------------------------
Lincoln, Johnson, Grant and Hayes,
Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy,
3 Songs – free download: http://www.songs4teachers.com/earthday.htm
Parodies: http://www.theholidayzone.com/earth/songs.html
Parodies: http://www.kidsparkz.com/preschoolsingsearthday.html
(see file #54 Theme Ideas/Ecology for most information)
Do a scrubbing motion on the scrub-board 8 times.
Mime pinning the clothes on the clothesline. Put the basket of wet clothes
on your hip.
Musical Shamrocks ABA
John John the Leprechaun Went to school with nothing on
Teacher said, "That's not fair!" Give him back his underwear!
2. CREATE a St. Patrick's Day rondo
Theme: Leprechauns, shamrocks, Irish stew
3. WHAT DOES ST. PATRICK’S DAY MEAN TO YOU? SONG: MICHAEL FINNIGAN
There was an old man named Michael Finnigan.
He went fishing with a pinnigan.
There was an old man named Michael Finnigan.
He kicked up an awful dinnigan. There is really cute one of a young class performing the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7QLuvZKpEQ&feature=related The 2 mystery kids then continue singing: The blindfolded kids then guess. Later (before sitting back down with the crowd) they choose the next 2 mystery singers . Peg W. in MA SONG: To the tune of This Old Man sing: Leprechaun, Leprechaun GAME: Anyway, I plan on doing a cute leprechaun game that was in K-8 several years ago, "Tricky Leprechaun". For third grade, I took the Music Teacher's Almanac and "Paddy Works on the Railway". We made up new verses, then we're going to do some simple Orff and recorder ostinati or borduns with it. That will take me to St. Patrick's Day with them, but I still need some other short cute ideas for K-2. Any takers? There really isn't anything in the Silver-Burdett book. I might tackle a simplified version of a Morris sword dance. -- Contributed by Karen Stafford
Do a lesson about street chanting, read them the book "Grand Daddy's Street Songs" by Monalisa DeGross, teach "Molly Malone," and (opt.) the "Who Will Buy" from Oliver, and then have them write their own chants to sell a product (in groups?). They could draw carts full of their product, stand up and sing-song their chant to the class.
Talk about the potato famine of 1840's and why so many Irish immigrants came to the states at that time. learn "Paddy Works the Railway," and in small groups write their own lyrics telling what happened to Pat in years not mentioned in the song. Could then type the whole song and give them a copy, or form a class-book with illustrations..
--------------------------- Then I said " and sometimes in their sleep, the bunnies twitched because they were dreaming of adventures yet to come" I played short mordent-like notes on the piano. (It was so funny to see them with their eyes closed, twitching their hands and feet...). The bunnies rolled over and slowly yawned. The bunnies stretched and sat up. (I played appropriate music for them - slow and dreamy.) The bunnies popped their heads out of their hole and looked around. It was safe, so they crept out of their bunny home. Looking around, they saw some friends. They waved. And then they hopped, hopped, hopped. Hopped, hopped, hopped. They waved again at their friends. And they hopped, hopped, hopped. Hopped, hopped, hopped. (All of this I accompanied on the piano and they were very good at listening and matching up their hops with my hopping notes on the piano.) But something was wrong, (low tremolo on the piano) - what could it be? (low tremolo). Hungerrrrr..... So, the bunnies looked around for some carrots. And they sniffed, sniffed, sniffed. Sniffed, sniffed, sniffed. (again, the piano led all movements - I talked as little as possible). A carrot! (chord). So they pulled - - - and they pulled - - and they pulled ----- and PLOP - a carrot. They nibbled, nibbled, nibbled, nibbled. AHHHH!!!! Nibbled, nibbled, nibbled. Yum...... (low tremolo) But STILL they were hungry. So, they sniffed, sniffed, sniffed. Sniffed, sniffed, sniffed. A carrot! (chord). So they pulled - - - and they pulled - - and they pulled - - - -and PLOP - a carrot. They nibbled, nibbled, nibbled, nibbled. Drip, drop (on the piano - high falling notes, imitating raindrops). drip, drop... (more rapid notes). Oh, No! A storm! The bunnies ducked and found cover (storm increases and I included thunder in the bass - big storm on the piano - the students were cowering with their hands over their heads). Slowly, the storm passes, the thunder is less often, the rain lessens. The bunnies looked up at the sky and the sun came out (arpeggios!). Slowly, they came out and hopped, hopped, hopped. Hopped, hopped, hopped. But, now they were hopping slower and slower (same movement on the piano - slower and slower) and they slowly waved good bye to their friends and crept home. In their homes again, they laid down and yawned and stretched. They slowly closed their eyes and gently fell asleep. Some of them were dreaming and their little bodies would twitch, twitch, twitch. Twitch, twitch, twitch. (The music slows and becomes calmer and gentler.) The little bunnies were asleep after a fun day in the valley. The end! They loved it. And it was fun for me, too - making the sounds on the piano and letting myself adjust the story according to each group. -- Contributed by PattyO in AR Place two sets of four marbles (placed in a row) on the floor. (I put each set on a piece of cloth so they wouldn't roll around.) Get two plastic Easter eggs and tape (or hot glue) one marble inside each of the eggs. Divide the class into two teams. Each child gets to roll the Easter egg and try to hit his team's marbles. If he hits any of them, then I ring the bell, all the students stop and I ask a question. His teammates can help him with the answer, but I only accept the answer that he dicides upon. (5 points per answer.)Once he has answered the question, the teams begin rolling the eggs again. They conintue taking turns rolling the eggs until they hear the bell - which means someone has hit the marbles. The students loved this and it was so easy to do. Best of all, it was a great way to review basic fundamentals. I drew music pictures on the board, numbered them and just kept asking the same questions over and over. Treble clef, bass clef, staff, whole note, quarter note, eighth notes, quarter rest, sharp, flat, Sol-mi, sol-mi-la, Do-re-mi and Mi-re-do notation patterns. -- Contributed by Pamela Rezach rice, pinto beans, decorative gemstones, salt, macaroni, staples, corn flakes, pennies, coffee, thumb tacks, mini marshmallows Kids will find the eggs, find someone who has an egg that sounds the same, and make guesses about what is in the eggs.-- Contributed by Beth Spreen
Bunny Boogie 7/4: we twisted and did hand jive and wiggled our ears
Dip an Egg 10/4: I got some of those colored plastic eggs and filled them with
uncooked macroni (Thanks Karen S. for that idea!) :-) and the kids played
whatever color I called. I even found some red eggs. But I had some hot
pink ones that were a substitiute.
Jelly Bean Blues 12/4: I had the kids sing the da da da dot's and i told the story, complete with sunglasses and my toy mike. It was a great lesson! And the kids loved trying to figure out what was in the eggs. Of course, I taped them shut so the stuff wouldn't fall out. Thanks again, MK8! Even though I may consider Music Express, nothing can replace MK8. The copying liberties and timelessness of the music make them an invaluable resource!
The kids love it!! If you have an uneven amount of students you can have one student find two eggs.
I also made a colored rhythm chart of ti ti ta rhythms using the colors of my eggs. I plan to have the children play the rhythm that matches their egg color to the song Peter Cottontail. Lots of possibilities with this I think. The students had lots of fun while reinforcing the steady beat. After each turn they tried to roll their egg into the cut out center of a large cardboard square (the basket). We kept score between two teams. (Try popcorn kernels in eggs.)
HIDE THE BASKET: We have one child go outside my classroom in the hallway, while I hide the basket, when we are ready, we begin to sing the song. That is the child's cue to come back into the room. When they find the Easter basket, they choose a treat from the basket, and another child has a turn. The K -1st - and 2nd kids just had a ball with this. I would like to add something: I have an easter basket filled with egg shakers. I made them out of the colorful plastic eggs you buy at this time of year. Filled them with rice and hot glued them shut. I have about 40 eggs in the basket and they cost pennies to make-unlike the commercial shaker eggs. I will have the kids find the basket and then take one egg out of it, his/her color choice. They can shake along to the song. Eventually everyone will have an egg. Then we can play along to other tunesor do that adorable book, "Baby Rattlesnake" by Te Ata, and shake along withbaby rattlesnake! ]
Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin down the bunny trail. Look at him stop, and listen to them say______.
Mix milk, sugar, butter, and salt over heat. Let cool. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add dissolved yeast and egg and mix well. Stir flour and cinnamon into mixture. Add raisins and orange peel and mix well. Cover bowl with a cloth and place in a warm spot until dough doubles in size. (1-1/2 hours).
Shape dough into round buns and place all except one on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Cover buns on sheet and let rise for one hour. Roll the extra bun 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut into strips 1/4 inch wide, and set aside.
Make a cross on each bun with a sharp knife. Gently press a strip of dough into each cut and pinch off the ends at the base of the buns. Bake at 400 F. for 20 minutes. Mix powdered sugar and milk together to make icing. When buns are baked, remove from oven and let cool slightly. Then sprinkle icing across the top of each bun.
------------------------
Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean
Tune: Bingo
Other first lines:
One Easter Bunny Tune: One Elephant
------------------------------------- Feel free to email me if I may be of further assistance. Purchase a clothes pole 7- 8 feet long from your local lumber store. Cement it into a large heavy plastic pail. This pail can then be set into the ground when "dancing day" occurs. (Or, borrow the volleyball stands from your PE teacher. Not as aesthetically pleasing, but it works.) To the top of the pole, attach gross grain ribbons...I have 24....8 of them are 6 feet long (for the kings and queens of May) and the rest are 8 feet long. I used a staple gun to attach the ribbons to the pole. Because I work with young children, I attached a white cafe rod ring on the end of each ribbon. The children put this ring over their pointer finger and close their hand around it in order to avoid dropping the ribbons in the middle of the dance. On top of the ribbon cluster, work with your local florist to attach a small container to hold a spring floral bouquet. We have a permanent container, and the florist makes up a bouquet each year which she sends over with a fair amount of "cling"...florists adhesive. I simply add the flowers before we begin and take them to the staff workroom when we're done. Place the children in 2 circles...a larger outside circle and a smaller inside circle for the "kings and queens." Both circles begin movement in the same direction. As the dance progresses, I have one circle change direction...they think they're pretty cool! We move to the steady beat as the music dictates, sometimes changing style as well as tempo and direction. With young children, I find weaving patterns to be too difficult. I save weaving for "the olders." I choose classical music of appropriate tempo and length. My young students do not sing as they dance. This is a listening/movement experience. The children are fascinated by the patterns created on the pole as they move with their ribbons. Music Selections I have used successfully include: *English Dancing Master: Bellamira & Emperor of the Moon *Purcell: Rondeau from The Moor's Revenge *Anon: Watkin's Ale and Munday's Joy (Taylor Recorder Consort) *Dowland: My Lady Hunsdon's Puffe *Mouret: Rondeau *Grainger: County Gardens *Telemann: Vivace from Konzert in D -Dur fur Horn, Streicher and Continuo *Telemann: Bouree from Suite in F-Dur fur 2 Horner, Streicher and Continuo *Handel: Allegro Maestoso from Water Music
All-time Favorite Dances CD has a Maypole dance on it. Included with it are directions for doing the dance. I did it several years ago and it was a wonderful success. It takes lots of practice since the kids need to weave in and out.
Phase 1: Teach the clapping to the refrain so it works for individuals; kids skip around during verse and freeze in place for refrain
Phase 2: They find a partner - adapt the refrain so it works with a partner (hooking elbows to skip in a circle on "oh, what fun, etc.") Partners hold hands during skipping part (and no, I never have any problem with this).
I tried out a modified version of someone's Jingle Bell Dance from the list which served as a refreshing break from our program rehearsing. I did this with grades 2 thru 8 (yes, 8!!)...
(to the beat): clap behind back, then in front, then under one raised knee, then in front.
Little cha cha cha step leading with the L foot
Little cha cha cha step leading with the R foot
4 steps back into place
(Repeat all)
4 hops in place as you turn a full circle (older kids could clap 4x if the hopping seems juvenile)
4 steps back (or in place) followed by 4 hops.
4 steps forward (or in place)followed by 4 hops. Right elbow swing with a partner (or anyone standing nearby) across 8 counts OR a 2 count bow going down, 2 counts up, followed by 4 claps.
Double circle partners holding hands. Moving counterclockwise -
VERSE
:
1. heel-toe heel-toe slide, slide slide stop.
2. Repeat to other side going clockwise **I use it from 1st up and it helps reinforce L and R as the kids are doing same side feet (mirroring each other)
3. Repeat all once again.
CHORUS: Partners -Right hand clap 3 times (ti-ti ta)
1. Left hands clap 3 times
2. Both hands clap 1-2-3-4-switch and on beat 5 clap your own hands (ti-ti ti-ti ta)
3. Then right elbow swing beats and then switch to left elbow swing 4 beats (get back in position quickly!)
4. *Partners need to be sure they end up in the place they began - inside or outside circle
5. Repeat from beginning ! This is as much as I do with my 1st graders, but with 2nd and up once they know the dance (2nd week usually) At the VERY end of the elbow swing the outside person moves one person to their right and everyone has a new partner! ---------Dianne Chrestopoulos
---------------------------------
---------------
06/15 THE LEGEND OF POLAR BEAR MOUNTAIN, by John Jacobson (and somebody else) several times. It is easy to learn, generically wintery without holiday stuff and very cute. Fun songs, an abominable snowman and easy to learn. If you need costumes I have lots.
Roxanne Trump-Miles
-----------------------
12/08 " SLEIGH RIDE" ACTIVITY - I did it with k-3 today as a little "filler" and kids loved it. I had everyone come in with a jingle bell on their seat. This was cause for enough excitement as they haven't had a chance to play the small percussion in a while. I told them we were going to listen to a song and they could play along with their bells, but only when I held up the "GO" sign. I told them when I flip the sign over to "STOP", they ad to listen for 2 things: 1) What animal do you hear in this song?(horse) 2) What object or tool do you hear that makes that animal go?(whip) I started the music and only showed the "GO" sign during the A section. They were surprisingly quiet during the B and C parts while I held up the "STOP" sign. After the obvious "whinney" at the end, we had a discussion about the instruments that represented the 2 horse sounds (trumpet and temple blocks). With 2nd and 3rd graders I passed out woodblocks and they got to play the jingle bells again on the A part, then woodblocks mimicking the horse's feet on the B part. We swung and cracked an invisible whip on the C part. --- Sarah Johnston
B section: (the "giddyup, giddyup, giddyup let's go" part) Say "Pick up, left knee, right knee, pass." Pick up on beat 1, touch beanbag to left knee on beat 2, tough to right knee on beat 3, put in front of neighbor on beat 4. Again, 8 times with the "Last one - everybody stop."
Repeat A
C Section: (my kids love this one)
Say, "1, 2, 3, 4 toss catch. 1, 2, 3, 4 toss catch. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 toss catch" then repeat the sequence. The toss & catch part comes during the whip sound in the music.
After catching the last time, all beanbags on the floor until starting A section again. Repeat B, Repeat A.
Coda - hold beanbag until the horse's neigh at the end - toss beanbag in the air then let it land on the floor.
-----------------
WINTER PROGRAM December In Our Town & Paint the Town December are good ones. Both John Jacobson... ----- Dianne Park
-----------------------------
12/07 SLEIGH RIDE LYRICS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleigh_Ride
-----------------------------------
12/07 SLEIGH RIDE ACTIVITY: The piece is basically ABA form. Sit in a chair and pretend to hold reins of the horse and ride in the sleigh during the A section. When the music changes, pretend to stop at a park where kids are throwing snowballs. Listen for the bridge music to A... must get back in the sleigh during the bridge music, then ride in the sleigh home. I start the activity with a piece of copy paper on the floor next to each child's chair. We talk about safety and how to throw so no one gets paper cuts. We mime the sleigh ride (A) and when the sleigh stops (watching me) when I reach for my paper, scrunch it and throw the first snowball, so can they. They can't get out of their chair, but as long as the B music is playing they can reach down and throw any snowballs that come their way. When they hear the bridge music all snowballs stay where they fall and they must get back in the sleigh. Too much fun! I have four classes of each grade level and this is second grade, I believe. Anyway, when the music is finished I save all the snowballs in a garbage bag and they mysteriously get thrown out during the snowball fight. By the fourth class of the week, we have a lot of snowballs! --- Nola Bruder
----------------------------------
06/06 1. After a little patter from me and some question and answer about what winter is like, we start with listening to the "Winter" movement from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
2. Talk about moving by walking to its steady beat, and tap sticks while the music is playing and the students walk. When that strong steady beat section stops, they freeze (After all, they're taking a winter walk!) and move through the air to show snow.
3. I read Snowman at Night.
4. Teach the song "Once There Was a Snowman". The first couple of times through, they show with their hands how the snowman is tall and then melts.
5. [Students] stand and become the snowman, going from tall on their tiptoes to crouched down to show melted.
6. Teach a song called "Snow Angels" and let them lie on the carpeted floor and move like they're making snow angels. With bigger classes, some have to sit on the risers while others take a turn. After that, we sing both the songs again.
7. Teach a rhythmic chant about a snowman.
8. Finally, we all wish for snow!
How do you make a snowman? (sssslsm) Make him big and round. (sssls)
How do you make a snowman? (same) Roll a snowball on the ground.(ssslsmd) - Monica Gelinas in TN
------------------------------
FAVORITES: "A Year with Frog and Toad," EIEI OOPS", "I Need a Vacation", and "Go Fish," "Bugz," "Lemonade" "Three of a Kind" "How Does Your Garden Grow?" "Hats" "Arf!" "Spaced Out!"
--------------
USE WITH VIVALDI’S “WINTER” from “THE SEASONS”
Turn the lights down low, have the kids lie down and pretend to sleep. Eyes closed. In a soft voice weave a little story about children all cozy in their beds while a storm is blowing in. Embellish to match the music (takes a few minutes of practice) and end with the children opening their eyes to find that the snow has fallen all around them. Last year I draped them all in toilet paper while I wandered around telling the story. When they opened their eyes, we brushed off the snow and made snowballs, which > we tossed around with great delight. Here's what my colleague showed me: Fill a small plastic cup with artificial snow. Tape a cardboard snowflake over the top. Turn it upside down and shake it gently. Out drifts snow! So cool, so cheap, and so effective! I stopped on the way home and bought 5 bags of snow and a bag of snowflakes. I figure it'll be a great thing to pull out again in May when it's over 100 and the air conditioner goes out. -- Andrea Cope
--------------------------
06/05 THEMES:
Presents From The Heart
Make A Joyful Noise
Caroling Caroling
A Time For Peace
Symbols Of The Season
Make Merry Music
Cool Yule Season Of Celebration
Holiday Hoedown
Sounds Of The Season
Holiday Lights
The Wonderful World Of Winter
A World Of Peace And Joy
Remember December
December Detours
A World In Tune
Toyland
Home For The Holidays -- Steve Vogel
-----------------------------------
06/05 2 -Listened to quick snippets from Nutcracker Showed a nutcracker, read the story Divided into groups to create dances for dance of the flowers, with or without scarves, their choice Marched on quarters, eighths and sixteenths like wooden soldiers to dance of the wooden soldiers Skated on paper plates to waltz of the flowers Played tambourines to Trepak
-------------------------------
06/05 When I did this song at a program, I had 2nd grade students hold up a card with the words on it that the audience was supposed to sing, just a couple of beats before it was their turn. One of the classroom teachers stood behind the children and gave them a nudge just before it was time for them to hold up their cards, just as a reminder. It worked well. I had the students perform it by themselves, then went through it again with audience participation, but now I don't think that was necessary. Once through would have been enough for them to get the idea. It was a crowd pleaser. Jeri from MI
-------------------------------
06/05 SONGS: The Czech song, Snih (Snow!), was featured in an article I wrote for MK8 a while back: volume 8 #3 pages 62-63. Part of the translation says, "who lost the white feathers? On the roof the rooster was watching. "Snow" he said, it's snowing!" It and its sweet companion piece by Petr Eben, The Sparrow (Pisnicka o vrabci)(about a sparrow sleepng behind a chimney in the snow, trying to stay warm) are available as a set "Two Winter Songs" (VTS#28) for $2 from Music K8 Marketplace or your favorite dealer. -- Judith Cook Tucker, Publisher
World Music Press
(ASCAP), www.worldmusicpress.com
--------------------------------------
SNOW: You could make a transparency of snowflakes, then at the moment you need it, turn on an overhead projector and move the snowlfakes down slowly. You would have to project it on a wall or screen.
----------------
01/02 www.usamusic.org (click on "View Current Lessons" at bottom of page)
Grade 5 Sleighride - 2 Lesson
---------------------
01/02 CD-PRAISE SONGS: at a Christian Book Store called Gospel Praise Songs, Gospel Action Songs (from Cedarmont Kids). They have kids singing various spirituals and trad. kids church songs in black gospel style. They're split track too. I'm going to use several of these. Also, for my middlers, I will play O Happy Day sung by Larnell Harris (his voice is awesome)and possibly talk about the black voice and its distinctive characteristics.
My 2nd-4ths will basically sing these songs and we'll try some of the play-party games from Afr-Am traditions.
My 5ths will continue their civil war music unit with a focus on slavery songs & Follow the Drinking Gourd.
My middlers will deal more with spirituals, gospel songs, and hymns from the black tradition. We'll briefly discuss historical, stylistic & textural considerations, rhythms, forms, etc. We don't have any kind of performance set for Jan/Feb., but I thought of teaching Road To Freedom to my 6-8ths and dividing the parts by class. Maybe we can perform it as a whole group for a Mass in Feb.
-------------
11/01 Winter Program Themes
Holiday Feelings, The North Pole Goes Rock And Roll, Home For The Holidays, Make Merry Music
Wonderful World Of Winter, A World In Tune, Cool Yule, Season Of Celebration, Remember December
Toyland, Symbols Of The Season, Holiday Hoedown, December Detours, Sounds Of The Season
A Time For Peace
Santa’s Helpers, Light The Candle, Little Packages, Turkey In The Straw, Mitten Song, Santa's Coming
Down The Holiday Trail, Giddiyap, Giddiyap, Whoa! Santa, The Christmas Train, Comin' Down The Chimney
Candles of Chanukah, When Santa Got Stuck In The Chimney, Merry Christmas, Santa's Sleigh, Tapping
Did You Ever See A Snowflake
First Skaters Waltz, A Christmas Riddle, The Chipmunk Song
Happy Holiday, Santa Claus Is Here, When The Gifts Come Flowin’ In, Alfie The Elf
-----------------------
LET'S BUILD A SNOWMAN
1. Let's build a snow-man ( s m-l s m) snow-man, snow-man. ( f r s m) Let's build a snow-man ( s m-l s m)
1 - 2 - 3 ! ( f r d) (3 students place snowballs)
2. Let's give him two eyes, two eyes, two eyes. Let's give him two eyes, round and black. (place eyes)
3. Lets add a big mouth, big mouth, big mouth. Let's add a big mouth, see him smile. (place mouth)
4. Let's add a carrot nose, carrot nose, carrot nose. Let's add a carrot nose, long and bright. (place nose)
5. Let's give him 2 boots, 2 boots, 2 boots. Let's give him 2 boots for his feet. (place boots)
6. Let's give him 2 arms, 2 arms, 2 arms. Let's give him 2 arms, straight and strong. (place arms)
7. Let's add a top hat, top hat, top hat. Let's add a top hat, tall and black. (add hat)
8. Let's add some buttons, buttons, buttons. Let's add some buttons down the front. (place buttons)
9. Let's add a long scarf, long scarf, long scarf. Let's add a long scarf for his neck. (add scarf)
2. 2 eyes (1 1/2" black circles)
3. big mouth (a long skinny rectangle/other shape of choice)
4. carrot notse (orance triangle, about 3" X 1" at top)
5. 2 boots (2 simple boot shapes)
6. 2 arms ( 2 5" X 1" brown rectangles which "fork" at end)
7. top hat (2 black rectangles forming "hat" shape)
8. buttons (3 circles of 2 1/2" with 2 holes punched in each)
9. scarf ("scarf" shape in any bright color)
----------------------
DANCE: Here is the version of the Jingle Bell partner dance that I use - a bit different.
(rest of verse, repeat the above by phrase)
Jingle all the way - both both both both both (clap both of partner's hands(ti ti ti ti ta))
Oh what fun .. . .. link right elbows and swing (Repeat clapping on Jingle)
Oh what fun . . partner on the inside circle advances one place CCW to new partner
---------------------
Little Snowflake: I just looked it up on the MK8 site and it is in Nov/Dec 97...Vol. 8, No. 2.
---------------------
SLEIGH RIDE (w/RHYTHM INSTRUMENTS)
Needed: Group 1 Jingle Bells
Group 2 Wood blocks or Coconut Shells Group 3Chimes or Tone Bells or Handbells- Need F's and C's
Group 4 Finger Cymbals and Clapper (or whatever it's called-two pieces of wood slapped together)
Basic form:
Introduction,A,B,A,C,A,B,A,Coda
After introduction and after C there are short bridges
Stand groups in four corners of the room (finger cymbals and clapper are in the same group- that makes four)
Groups are: SLEIGH BELLS, THEME, HORSES, SNOW AND WHIP
Teacher leads orchestra. I have a baton. They know to play only when the baton is pointed toward their group.
A -- THEME Bells F half note, C half note, F half note, rest rest repeat 4x
B -- Horses, Eighth notes, coconut shells or woods
A -- repeat A
C -- finger cymbals -- cue in the whip(clapper) bridge
A -- repeat A
B -- repeat B
A -- repeat A
Coda -- jingle bells and cue the clapper
JINGLE BELL DANCE
Students in big circle , hands joined, partners beside them.
Dashing through the snow Step in four steps
In a one horse open sleigh Step back four steps
Oer the fields we go, laughing all the way Circle right
Bells on Bobtail ring Step in four steps
Making spirits bright Step back four steps
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonite! Circle right
Oh! Jingle Bells Turn, face partner and clap twice in front
Jingle Bells Clap twice behind back
Jingle all the way! Clap partners hands in rhythm
Oh what fun it is to ride, in a one horse open sleigh Swing partner
Jingle Bells Repeat above Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride, in a one horse open sleigh!
---------------------------
How about Frosty the Snowman For fun have a student draw the snowman as you sing: 1st child draws 3 circles, next student a corncob pipe, next student a button nose, next eyes etc. Now for the fun part; (I used a frame covered with paper)there must have been some magic... he began to dance around. A student dressed as Frosty breaks through the paper frame and dances around the stage for the rest of the song. It was a big surprise and the kids loved practicing it. (we needed a starter hole for Frosty to tear his way through.
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
LAS POSADAS
I might also cut out large rectangles of fabric and cut a hole in the center for a sort of "pancho" top...
---
LAS POSADAS:
Boys: sarape made of colorful cloth. JoAnn Fabrics carries a striped pattern with the colors you'd typically see on authentic Mexican costumes: blue, red, green, yellow, white, orange. Simply cut the 45" fabric in 1/2 (22 1/2 " width) and cut the strips long enough to drape across one shoulder. If you have more fabric, you can cut 45" wide strips then a head-hole and slits, and slip it over the head.
Jose: dish towel over head, secured with stretchy headband, pvc pipe covered in brown duct tape for a staff. BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
HOLIDAY SING-ALONG
10/05 When I have done a Singalong I have used Cds as then I burned a master for each grade level to share for three songs that everyone would sing and then added the song that each grade level had chosen to sing. -- Sue Michiels
-----------------------------------
10/05 MusicK8 [http://www.musick8.com/ ] has a "Christmas Sing-Along" w/CD [ and Christmas Carol Along] that I have used for a number of years. Look on their site and just type "Christmas Sing-Along" in the search and it will take you right to it. I used the CD so I could direct the kids on stage and the audience - printed the words in the program.-- Ardith J. Roddy
----------------------------------
Our annual Holiday Sing-along was today. I did the following numbers:
1. JBMCA
2. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. The Hokey Santa
4. Little Tree - e.e. cummings (read by a fifth grader)
5. Winter Walk (with ppt)
6. Whacky March (my Orff group - Scat Cats)
7. The Night Before Christmas (I read it, and the students stood up/sat down every time they heard the word "the" - it was hysterical!)
8. Snow Days
9. Amazing Grace (recorders - the Scat Cats)
10. Freeze - all 500 of them - what a blast!
11. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
12. Thinking of You
13. Presentation of gifts to custodial/kitchen staff
14. We Wish You a Swingin' Holiday - Contributed by Patty Conway
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS ALTERNATIVE: Dance/Sing Around the World
01/03 CHRISTMAS ALTERNATIVE: DANCE AROUND THE WORLD My favorite Christmas time lesson has nothing to do with Christmans. I have several students who do not celebrate Christmas and we have done several lessons on Christmas music before the last week rolls around. AND yes I do include the Christian music of Christmas. BUT I came up with this lesson several years ago and love it for many reasons. The kids love it, it deals with the extra energy that the kids have this week, and it helps me with all the Christmas goodies in the lounge. I use the map and point to each place and discuss music/cultures as appropriate for each age level. I do this in all grades. We start in Cleveland Ohio at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and dance something rockish. This week we've been doing "YMCA". Then we go south and do the Conga. Then Hawaii for the Hula, Australia for "Bloo the Kangaroo" Japan/Korea for "Kung Fu Kicks", Russia for "Russian Kicks", Austria for a Waltz, Norway for "Oofda Doofda Polka", Israel for the "Israeli Ci.
Contributed by Linda in MD
----------------------
GAME: "Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat...."Played as a circle game, passing a hat. Whoever is holding the hat on the last word of the song is out. My kids love this, the older ones ask to play every year....(Print out a picture of a "ha penny" to show the kids (18th century coinage)
Image: http://www.31worldcoins.com/foreignworldcoins/countries/england/englandenglish2.htm
-----
SING AROUND THE WORLD Start in Cleveland Ohio at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Sing "Jingle Bell Rock"
Travel south to Puerto Rico and sing "Feliz Navidad"
Travel to Trinidad and demonstrate steel drums. Sing "Mama, Bake the Johnny Cake, Christmas Coming"
Travel to England and sing "Christmas is Coming"
Travel to Austria and listen to the story of "Silent Night" Sing song. (This is from the Muppet Christmas with John Denver. They sing it first in German, then tell the story and then in English. We listen and then sing)
Travel to Israel and sing "O Hanukah"
Travel to US and discuss Kwanzaa and how it originated
Sing "O Kwanzaa" from Music K-8 13/2
"Winter Wonderland" - Contributed by Linda Barnhart
----------------------------------
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS WEB SITES, BOOKS
(See also file #39 Program Ideas A-M
http://www.mamarocks.com/mamas_links_15b.htm
You can subscribe here: http://www.mamarocks.com/sign_up.htm
-------------------------------------------
12/07 TEACHERS’ 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: http://teachers.net/mentors/humor/topic771/12.03.05.03.04.18.html
--------------------------------------
06/06 “BELLS ON BOBTAIL RING” The "bob tail" would be a horse whose tail had been bobbed short. The horses wore bells to warn pedestrians that a sleigh was on the way (and because they sound nice.) - Steve Daigle
--------------------------------
01/07 WEBSITE: (Stories, puzzles, educational activities, etc.,) www.northpole.com
01/07 ETHNIC SONGS: www.mamalisa.com/world/ has lots of good Christmas materials from other countries often with mp3s to accompany!
VIDEO - MR. RODGERS ABOUT MUSIC, INSTRUMENTS...: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/8199bce4-4479-41e5-82d8-5608ad2d166c/music-and-singing-mister-rogers-neighborhood/
BOOKS
Adventure Publications, 1-800-678-7008, ISBN 0-934860-94-7
(Makes a nice companion to MK8 (Plank Rd. Pub.) song: "Everlasting Fruitcake")
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS IDEAS
(See also file #39 Progam Ideas/Holidays
01/16 SLEIGH RIDE-BEANBAGS: (Passing bean bags) A SECTION: Words to say softly or in your head: "Pick up, pass?
Pick up on beat 1, set in front of neighbor on beat 3
Perform 6 times ? ?everybody stop, get ready for the B section?
***I stop the movement before the section of music is completed so that we
can try to quickly make sure that everyone has a beanbag before moving to
the next section. Some groups get so frenzied that we have to stop the
whole thing & regroup, others can keep it going no matter what happens.***
B SECTION: Words to say softly or in your head: ?Pick up, left knee, right knee, pass?
Pick up on beat 1, touch beanbag to left knee on beat 2, touch beanbag to
right knee on beat 3, set in front of neighbor on beat 4
Perform 6 times ? ?everybody stop, going back to A?
Repeat A section
C SECTION: Remember these numbers: 4 ? 4 ? 12
Count softly 1, 2, 3, 4 ? toss then catch beanbag ? 2X
Count to 12 ? toss then catch beanbag
Repeat segment
Repeat ABA
Coda ? wait for horse?s neigh at the end ? toss beanbag then let fall to
floor -- from MK8 list
------------------
06/15 VIDEOS Perfect Harmony, Peter Pan Live;
--------------------
07/11 DANCE: DECK THE HALL WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY –( Slide Close Slide Close)
Fa la la la la la - bend knees straight down - go back up (to the beat)
la la la - stomp 3 X
Tis The season to be jolly - Slide Close Slide Close
Fa la la la la la - bend knees straight down - go back up (to the beat)
la la la - stomp 3 X
Don we now our gay apparrel Fa la la la la la- Do si Do and meet back up
with hands together (we call them candles)
la la la - stomp 3 X
Troll the ancient yuletide carol Slide Close Slide Close
Fa la la la la la - bend knees straight down - go back up (to the beat)
la la la - stomp 3 X
Easy - and they love it! We learned it in a large group first and practiced
the do si do with an invisible partner. ---- Elizabeth Tummons, Kindergarten - Fourth Grade Music Specialist, Southern Boone County Public Schools- Ashland, Missouri
------------------------
06/06 PROGRAM: I used the same idea of a mailman delivering cards and instead used holiday songs from around the world. We had Channuka songs, Christmas Songs and Ephiphany Songs. We did a song from "down under" to show the kids that in some places people go to the beach @ Christmas. -- Suzanne Knutzen
-----------------------------------
06/05 This is a very easy dance and the kids LOVE it, K-5. It is good for multi-age groups also. It's called "The Rose Dance" but I've called it the turkey dance (using a stuffed turkey) and will be calling it the Santa Dance soon (using a stuffed Santa).
At the top of the lines are three chairs, the middle one has a boy in it and the 2 other chairs have girls.
The boy decides who gets the rose, gives it to her, then takes the hands of the other girl and sasheys down the alley with her, then each of them goes to the end of their line.
The girl holding the rose moves to the middle and two boys from the boys line fill the 2 chairs on either side of her.
She, in turn, gives the rose to one of the boys and sasheys down the alley with the other boy while holding hands. You now have another boy in the middle and 2 girls fill the 2 chairs from the girls' line.
This continues until at least 10 minutes are up ( I tell the kids we need at least 10 minutes at the end of the period to do this dance) or until I get tired of it.
The couple needs to hold hands or I tell them they must be in LOVE as I make them hold hands and sashey 3 times instead of once.
A lot of times the boys say "Ahh, do we have to do it?" Then the same boys say "let's do it again!".
----
I believe this dance originated in Canada and is called The Paddle Dance. It's done the same way (2 lines, three chairs, etc) but the person sitting in the middle chair gives a PADDLE to one person and dances w/the other. -- Dan Fee
-----------------------
06/05 Powerpoints for carols at the following two sites:
http://www.musiceducationmadness.com/
http://www.hearttoart.com/brmusic/
2. Jingle Bells
3. Away in a Manger
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. Frosty
6. Silent Night
7. Feliz Navidad
8. Deck the Halls
9. All I Want for Christmas
10. Joy to the World
11. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
12. I’m Getting Nothing for Christmas
13. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
15. Up on the Housetop
16. Christmas Tree
17. Silver Bells
18. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
19. Must Be Santa
20. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
---------------------------------------
06/05 SLEIGH: Made a great and long lasting sleigh-- but it requires a saw and paint, drill and screws! I drew a large sleigh shape on some very sturdy plywood. My husband cut out two exactly the same. I painted them bright red and painted black runners on the bottom, and hot glued tinsel roping all the way around. Took them to school and the custodian drilled holes in the right places and attached them to either side of his push cart. I put a chair in for Santa and two elves push him on stage while the eight reindeer prance in front as if pulling him . Always makes for a great entrance! Got the Santa Suit, reindeer antlers, elf hats and slippers from Oriental Trading.-Dianne Park
---------------------------------
MAKE A SLEIGH! Last year I took a piece of PVC pip that I had in the classroom and draped red paper over it. Then I added black marker drawings to cut out the shape of the sleigh... even added some Christmas fabric to look like a blanket. Santa and Mrs. Claus stood behind the sleigh and the reindeer stood in front of the sleigh and together they trotted this contraption across the stage. It looked pretty realistic to the audience!-- Caryn Mears
-----------------------------
06/05 SLEIGH: When I need a sleigh, I usually line up the reindeer side by side, give them bright red ropes or something similar to hold (jingle bells optional), hand Santa the reins and off they go. The "sleigh" comes to life without an actual sleigh. Mrs. C. can link her arm into Santa's and fly right along side him. -- Pam in Texas
----------------------
06/05 I learned this from a professional theatre set designer years ago. We use 3/4 - 1 inch foam insulation board for all our sets. You can buy it in 4'x8' sheets at the Home Depot or other home supply store and it's not very expensive. It's usually pink in color. You need to peel off the plastic coating before you paint it (learned this the hard way - my paint peeled off!). Then prime it with cheap wall paint. Then you can cut out your sleigh profile, paint it, and away you go! I would "attach" my reindeer to it using light-weight clothesline or ribbons or even beaded Christmas tree garlands. You can use 2x2 boards to make an easel back with a hinge so you can stand it up on the stage if you need to. You can attach handles to the back and your actors can carry it off-stage with them as they "ride" in it. The material is lightweight, easy to cut with an exacto knife, paints beautifully (if you prime it, then use tempra or acrylic) and is MUCH sturdier than cardboard. Just be careful not to bend it or it might break in 2 pieces! We've made everything from houses to rocketships to cars, to Emerald City, to palaces......and much more, out of this stuff. -- Pat Price
--------------------------------
12/03 CHRISTMAS IS COMING (song) The game I play with this song is as follows:
sit in a circle pass a penny around the circle on the beat whoever has the penny at the end of the phrase "God Bless You!" is "in" -- the center of the circle that is. Each student that is in the center then plays finger cymbals or some other bell like instrument at specific times during the song. - Contributed by Alyssa Brewer
--------------------------
12/03 Found this little gem of an arrangement of Jingle Bells (actually called Jinglebell Dash and got it thru jwpepper.com) to which I'm adding boomwhackers to. It's not scored for bw, but they work nicely. The piece opens with the standard dashing thru the snow. On the Jingle bells part, there's a 2nd part on the text "dashing dashing dashing dashing...". Then there's a little original tune leading up to the Chopsticks melody. This is what my bw's are playing. It's in the key of Bflat, so you'll need the chromatic sets. The piece returns to the Jinglebells/dashing part with a cute little ending. I'm going to use this piece for all K-8 classes along with the audience. My 6ths will be playing the bw parts. - Contributed by Gretchen in IL
----------------------
01/03 We're reading/performing "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and after a few lines inserting a song, dance, dramatization that fits with the words. Here are a few examples:
"...while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads"- students are creating a simple dance to the "Dance of the Sugar PLum Fairy"
".....I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick"- Must Be Santa (from the Raffi songbook)
----
STAFF song: On the first day of Christmas, a student said to me, "When is the class party?"
2nd day - "I lost my gloves"
3rd day - "I'm gonna tell" (said really whiny like kids do)
4th day - "Is the test today?"
5th day - "Is it recess yet?"
6th day - "We did that last year!"
7th day - "My dog ate my homework"
8th day - "I don't get it"
9th day - "Can I get a drink of water?" (corrected to "May" by a principal or someone)
10th day - "He was talking too"
11th day - "He cutted me" (I know its bad grammar - that's the point)
12th day - "NOW I get it!"
------------------
01/03 CHRISTMAS IN GREAT BRITAIN: Take a whistle stop tour around the world's most famous city to enjoy thefestivities of Christmas. At Harrods, the yuletide secrets of Britain's biggest department store are revealed. In Trafalgar Square stands thetallest Christmas tree in England.
http://travel.discovery.com/schedule/episode.jsp?episode=0&cpi=83857
The next showing is on the 21st at 7pm with 3 more showings after that if this is the right show. It's called Christmas in London but the description doesn't mention the things you did.
---------------------
01/03 CHRISTMAS WEEK ACTIVITIES: Okay, guys, here's what I am doing for plans during this last wild week. I used to try and do calm stuff, but decided a few years ago to just jump into that up-up -up mood that all the kids were in. These lessons are really fun for me, and tap all that energy that the kids have.
1-Jingle Bell Dance (just a little AB form dance, everybody has a bell)
2-Booktime is The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (cute CD) - fun!
3- Little Drummer Boy. Kids in circle, every other child has drum, pass drum on each verse to next player.
4-Play drums along with Deck the Halls. Bass tone on verse words, high tone on fa-la-las. (Yes, I know this is cheesy, but they like it)
5-Ride candy cane "horses" (those big yard candy canes from the dollar store) to the Nutcracker March. A section=March then gallop, freeze on the B and C sections with candy canes held above head. One half of class rides, other half has rhythm sticks and bells. Sticks for march music, jingle bells for galloping music. Then trade groups.
6 - Flashlight dancing with those little filament, fiber optic lights from U.S. Toy. Each child gets two. Put on Mannheim Steamroller, turn off the lights (black roll-down paper on windows) and let them mirror your movements. Looks way cool. Teacher comes in and wants to dance also.
2-Joyous Chanukah (World Of Music) with the tambourine parts. Three verses. Sing, Play, Sing and Play.
3 - Play along to Nutcracker march with drumsticks on plexiglass pieces, and also tapping them on tambourines (rim). Stick clicks in air also. I just worked out a little routine with the A, B and C sections of the piece using these three timbres.
4 - Parachute routine to Russian Dance. Very simple. Matches melody direction for a lot of piece.
5 - Paint with flashlights to Nutcracker March. (Three colors of cellophane on lights. Red, blue, green)
Contributed by Artie Almeida
---------------------
10/02 I've just recorded this song as part of a new Christmas book/performance-accompaniment CDThe book is called "Christmas Favorites". Although I've received the CD's and love them, the book is still being printed and won't be ready to mail till mid-September.The book contains reproducibles for your choir or class for the last 7
songs, and piano/vocal music for 10 of the songs.
1-14 Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
2-15 I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
3-16 All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth
4-17 Do you hear what I hear
7-20 Snowflakes (partner with Jingle Bells)
8-21 Jolly Jolly Santa (question-answer song - have soloists sing the
questions)
9-22 Christmas Candles
10-23 Christmas at the Hop
11-24 Follow the Star
12-25 What Child is This
13-26 Starry Night (partner with Silent Night)
Denise Gagne www.christmasconcert.com
------------------------
05/02 I did Twas One Crazy Night with 4, 5, 6 and they loved it. (surprise, surprise) I added several K8 songs, Blitzen Boogie, Everlasting Fruitcake, Santa Is My Buddie and adjusted the dialogue. I think I deleted one or two of the included Hal songs. In other words, I ended up doing what I always seem to do, buy the package and then adjust it.
---------------------
01/02 POEM for Holiday Program: I would highly recommend "chanson innocente" by e.e. cummings. I have mostly had third graders and older read it. It is tender, child-like and so heartwarming. I usually add some Christmas tree song to go with it. If you have an expressive reader, this poem is the one. I am sure you will all love it!
---------------------
CARD RHYTHMS: Save some of your most interesting Christmas cards. Write rhythm patterns which fit words on the back. For instance, a snowman card could have the words "jolly fat snow man" (ti ti ta ta ta.) Choose three cards and let a child hold each one. Then choose a child to be the "clapper." He or she has to clap the rhythm of the words to one of the cards. The rest of the class tries to figure out which card is being clapped. Good for beginning rhythm readers. My first graders really enjoyed this last week.
------------------
ORFF-NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: There is an arrangement of the story for Orff instruments in a book called Orffestrations for Christmas. It is really good!
-----------
SILENT NIGHT - MUPPETS: The Muppet Christmas Album has "Silent Night" in English, then John Denver tells the story behind it, and then they sing it in German. Very nice! It may be German first, but the story part is what I liked!
----------
BINGO: I like to play Christmas Carol Bingo with my older students. They get a blank "grid" and have to fill each empty box with a Holiday Song (includes Hanukkah too!) The center box is a "free space." When the students have filled their boxes, the game begins! The students take turns volunteering to hum a tune, if the students have written that song on their grid, they can mark it off. When someone has a completed line, they call bingo! It's fun when the kids are so excited that "quality learning" has flown out the
window!!!!! Use the bingo with any extended listening list or even composers. Put the CD on shuffle so you aren't "Cheating". You could also use this idea to review songs at the end of the year. Have students make their own cards.
--------------
PICTIONARY: For a really fluff game, (1 hour before Holiday Break) I play musical Pictionary. I write song titles on slips of paper, choose sides, and students take turns drawing clues to get their side to say the title. It's wild, it's fun, and hey, the buses are coming!
---------------
NAME THAT TUNE: I've used a "Name that tune" activity with Seasonal songs that's been fun for the kids. I make a worksheet with 20 holiday song titles. I play the first 5 notes of the melody and the kids put the titles in order, numbering them 1-20. When there are only 5 songs remaining, I play only 4 notes, then 3,2,and finally 1 note. After the melodic version of "Name that Tune", we change the game to use the rhythm of the songs. I generally play 2 measures to get them going. This has worked nicely for 3rd and 4th graders. My students get through the melodic and rhythmic versions in a 30 min. class.
---------------
SILENT NIGHT - COUNTER MELODY - Beautiful countermelody for Silent night: our church's (ELCA Lutheran)"Hymnal
Supplement 1991" from GIA I believe it can also be found in Catholic hymnals.The title is "Night of Silence". For Catholics it is found in GIA's hymnal called "Gather."
-------------------
I don't have much experience in children's music but I have a thought for you, even though it might have been developed by others. Many cultures use a flame to focus their myths: the Advent Wreath, Christmas Tree Candles (or mini-lights), Divali candles, Menorah. Perhaps your program could, as a subtheme, develop the idea of flame symbolism. Kids might really connect, I know when I was a little kid I enjoyed lighting the next candle on the Advent Wreath, though my own kids just opened little doors on a giant Hallmark card.
------------
"We Wish You a Happy Holiday"
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin; Good tidings for the holidays And a happy New Year!
We all want some yummy goodies (3x) Please bring them right here!
We won't go until we get some (3X) Please bring them right here!
Some latkes, some fruitcake, Some pie with whipped cream.Some candy canes, some halevah Pistachio ice cream.
We wish you a merry Christmas Happy Solstice, Happy Hannukah, Diwali and Kwanzaa, And a happy New Year.
We wish you a happy holiday And a happy New Year!
-------------------
WONDERFUL ROUND-"Round and Round the Earth is turning..."
http://www.metrodemontreal.com/matt/wicca/grimoire/chants.html
(There is a midi file there as well as lyrics
--------------------
On verse one all of the kids with "red" sheets stand up on the words "and a partridge in a pear tree". In each consecutive verse they will ALWAYS stand on that phrase. Verse two is the "yellow" sheets. They will always stand on "2 turtledoves". So, on verse two, the yellows stand on 2 turtledoves, then sit down quickly, and the red sheets stand up "and a partridge in a pear tree", then sit down quickly. On verse 3 the "green" sheets stand up on the words "3 french hens", then sit down, now the yellows are up on "2 turtle doves" and then down, the reds up on "and a partridge". On verse 4, the white sheets stand up. You get the picture? Now, on verse 5 ALL stand up, then down quickly. (unless they are the white sheets - they sing on 4 calling birds.) On verse six; it is the red's turn again. (They are now standing on phrases having to do with 6, 5 and 1). On verse seven; it is the yellow's turn (they are now standing on phrases having to do with 7, 5, 2). On verse eight; it is again the green's turn. On verse nine; white is up again. On verse 10 all boys stand up. (They will now stand up on 10 and 5 and whatever phrase according to their sheet color.) Verse 11 is all girls. Verse 12 is ALL. So, if you are a girl with a red sheet, you will stand on 12, 11, 6, 5, 1. If you are a boy with a white sheet you stand on 12, 10, 9, 5, 4.
---------------------------
Use "Jingle Bells" as an example of AB form. What can we do to change it into ABA form? etc.
2) I like to use the refrain of "O Christmas Tree" for teaching AABA structure. I have 3 large green tree visuals, each showing the lyric of the A section. For B, I use a large star visual with the B lyrics.
3) "Must Be Santa" is not only fun to sing; it helps kids gain skill in singing a cummulative song. It also provides call/response practice.
4) Look in your texts for songs that provide basic music reading experiences. "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" is great for reading eighths, quarter and half notes. (Nat.Standard 5: Reading/notating music)
5) There are numerous examples of seasonal songs which address Nat. Standard 9: Understanding music in relation to history and culture. We sing a short, easy version of "Feliz Navidad!" from World of Music K. Opens up discussion of where Spanish is spoken, Christmas in Mexico, etc.
6) Some of your text recordings probably contain examples of beautiful child voices on seasonal songs.....good singing models.
7) For older kids, there's always Standard 6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. This could apply to any music. Compare two recorded versions of the same song, etc.
8) Find a song with a particular melodic or rhythmic pattern to focus on with solfegge, absolute pitch, bells, unpitched perc.,etc. Go to the MK8 archives (click the escribe link at the bottom of this message) and look at an original activity I posted (Douglas Herbon, New Santa activity) on Friday, Oct.13. It was written to give my 2nd's more practice in smd, and perhaps the related activities will give you some ideas you could apply to other songs
------------------------
When my classes needed some quick and lively movements to get the ants out of their pants, I used O Christmas ree. Everytime we sang the word tree, they made a tree with their hands over their heads touching fingertips. Next time we added making a letter C for Christmas as in YMCA. Next we added branches (hands out to the side and fingers extended) Next came faithful. Everyone stood up and sat down quickly on that word. And last was the word green. We stood up turned around and sat down quickly. So we sang or spoke the song five times, each time adding more movements.
------------------------
Pop Bottles Jingle Bells! This is a favorite activity for the Christmas Season in my classroom. Each student gets a pop bottle and is a part of an 8 member group. I have the students fill the pop bottles with enough water in each bottle to create a C scale. This experience is a learning time as they see and hear first hand how length affects pitch. Once the scales are made, we play Jingle Bells by blowing across the pop bottles like one would blow a flute. The students have to learn to work together, be patient with each other, listen for the melody, decide which tone comes next and... It's a fun learning experience!
------------------------
Rhythm Reading: Holiday rhythm mix-up Here's something my 5th and 6th grade enjoyed.
Teacher does this: divide a piece of paper into 8 sections. Write a 4 beat rhythm phrase from a holiday or winter song in each section. I condensed 2 measures into one so I could use eighth and sixteenth notes, example "Up on the housetop, reindeer pause" written to fit into 4 beats.After echoing each pattern, divide the class into groups (any size, your choice). Each group gets a copy of the rhythm paper.
Instructions for groups:
1.Choose 2 of the rhythm patterns and put them together. ( example: Jingle Bells, jingle bells/ Then one foggy Christmas eve.)
2.Practice: make it accurate and musical ( practice on lap, to be transferred to drums or whatever)
3. Work quietly to keep your rhythm combination a secret from the other groups!
4. Performance: While each group performs, the other groups look at their rhythm papers and try to figure out which 2 patterns the performers chose to play. The goal is to have them figure it out by the 2nd or 3rd playing. Obviously, the performers must be able to play their patterns without saying the words out loud.
1. Frosty the snowman
2. Then one foggy Christmas Eve
3. Jingle all the way
4. Right down Santa Claus lane
5. Jingle bells, jingle bells
6. Up on the housetop, reindeer pause
7. Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus
8. Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump, thump
--------------------
SILENT NIGHT IN GERMAN
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht. Alles schlaft, einsam wacht. Nur das traute, hoch heilege Paar,
Holder knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf' in himmlischer Ruh Schlaf' in himmlischer Ruh
----------------
Buy every kid a 2-cell flashlight. Cut out circles of tissue paper in different "holiday" colors. Tape the tissue paper on top of the flashlight. Spread out the colors among the group so that all the red and all the green are not in the same clump. Turn off the lights at your concert and use these lights as part of your choreography. Use them with an octavo like "Holiday Lights".
---------------------------
My kids also enjoy "Xmas Carol Name That Tune". 2 teams - I play 2 notes of a carol, they ring the bell and if they're right it's worth 10 points. If they get it in 3 notes it's worth 8 points and on down to 8 notes being worth only 1 point. If they get it wrong we subtract one, so it's sometimes worth it to wait for a couple of more notes. You'd be surprised at how many carols start alike on the first 2 notes!
------------------------
Shalom - Dave and Jean Perry (two part - lovely melody, part singing is not difficult - beautiful Hannukah piece and nice message - soothing!)
Sing We All Noel ( with "Masters in This Hall") - Donnelly, Strid Do my kids love this! They can't wait to sing this every time. It's energetic, challenging and at one part does split into three. I am doing this with my select group and it has been a challenge but they have loved every minute. It's my favorite! If you have a good group, I would highly recommend this
------------------------
a circle dance to "We wish you a Merry Christmas".
Section 1
All holding hands in circle to start
On "We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
Walk 3 steps in to center of circle and stop, as you are stepping you raise your hands, then back out 3 steps and lower hands then repeat this section--it's kind of like the minuet that's in-2-3-close raising hands and out-2-3-close lowering hands (repeat)
Let's all do a little clapping, Let's all do a little clapping Let's all do a little clapping, and spread Christmas Cheer.
(all clap to beat)
------------------------
Today I was doing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with the new echos for the year (I update them yearly). ......used to laugh and call him names (Hey Fuzz Face). ......join in any reindeer games (like Nintendo). .......Santa came to say, (Wassssuuuup) .......you'll go down in history (Like Bush and Gore). When I got to the last one, this little kinder. voice pops up and says. "Mrs. Lazar, Bush and Gore are fighting over who's going to be the line leader." HAHAHAHA
------------------------
ONCE UPON A SLEIGH RIDE: THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF LEROY ANDERSON Hear bells -- sleigh bells, that is -- at this companion site that offers a detailed look at the music and life of Leroy Anderson, composer of "Sleigh Ride," "The Syncopated Clock" and many other famous orchestral miniatures. Read a brief biography of America's leading composer of songs without words, learn about the people and places that were important to his career, listen to audio clips of Anderson composing on the piano, and more.http://www.pbs.org/sleighride/
------------------------
12 Days of Christmas
Partridge: Hands together over head; turtledoves: flap wings french hens: One hand on hip, one on head; calling birds: cup hands around mouth rings, arms over head, hands touching to make a circle; geese: squat
swans-swim stroke; maids a milking: move hands p and down as if milking pipers: pretent to play flute; drummers" pretend to drum; ladies dancing: 1 finger on head, turn in a circle; Lords: 1 leap. (hop)
OR Partridge: triangle over head; Turtledoves: make the number two with fingers at right side of head and make an arc over head to other side while singing; Three: put three fingers in air; Four: do open-close motion with hand like squaking bird Five: point to each finger while singing; Six geese: flap arms (wings) Seven swans: make left arm straight (water) and make "Egyptian" type movement with right arm across left arm (swan swimming) Eight maids: milk a cow; Drummers: drum; Ladies dancing: make ballet arch over head with both arms; Lord leaping: one arm in front and one in back in animated movement like a ballet leap; Pipers piping: pretend to play fife
--------------------------
Stomp the Hall (music: Deck the Hall, from Silver Burdett)
4 couples longways (couples can be any gender, making 2 straight, parallel lines, facing each other)
Verse 1 Walk toward partner and bend on count 4, back up two counts and stomp (loudly) three times on the last "la, la, la", moving back to place. Dos-a-dos you partner on six counts, stomping back to place on the "la, la, la".
Refrain: same as above
Verse 3 Right arm turn the partner 8 counts, ending with stomp, stomp, stomp back to place. Left arm turn as above
Refrain: Deck the hall with garlands: couples join inside hands, odd couples face down, evens face up. Evens walk under odds (whose hands form a bridge over them). Continue down (or up) until reaching the end of the line, turn and switch from odd to even, or vice-versa. Go on to other end and switch direction again going back to place. Bow. I had the kids wear boughs of plastic holly from WalMart, pinned at the shoulders, and held between the fingers - making their arms appear to be garlands being draped all over the hall.
------------------------
Jingle Bell Squares Done to a country recording of Jingle bells, done with fiddle band. "Leader" means the one in the traditional male role in the couple, "partner" is the traditional female role.
Refrain: Right arm swing your partner Allemande left your corner (left hand turn with fireman's grip); Shake your partner's right hand and walk on by for a grand right and left Promenade home
Verse 1 Couples 1 and 3 up and back (4 steps and bend, back up) Join hands and circle left (to the opposite side of the square); Couples 2 and 4 up and back Circle right to home.
Refrain
Verse 2 Right arm turn to a left hand star (right arm turn your partner, leader go to center and form a star, partner stays put); Leader goes full circle and picks up partner, taking partner around a full turn
Hub flies out: leader backs up, partner walks forward into the circle to make a right hand star, still holding on to leader who is now on the outside. Walk around to home.
Refrain
Verse 3 Couples 1 and 3 do a right and left through: give right hand to person opposite you and walk past, give left hand to you partner who is next to you, pivot (leader backs up and partner walks forward to new position on opposite side of the square). Couples 2 and 4 do a right and left through Promenade home Join hands for a Ho Ho Ho! (In a big circle, walk in to center and shout "Ho Ho Ho")
Refrain, bow
---------------------------
(One Bottle of Pop)
One present....7 presents to wrap. Wrap!
Decorating Christmas trees, Christmas trees, Christmas trees Decorating Christmas tress watch out where you step!
Hot gingerbread and peppermint, peppermint, peppermint. Hot gingerbread and peppermint holiday treats!
-----------
It's become a tradition at my school to have the specialists (aides, administrators, library, p.e., art etc.) perform in the all school sing a longs (we do 3 in order to fit everyone in) during the last day before Christmas break We always perform the 12 days of Christmas - it's a riot and the kids love it. Different staff members act out all the gifts the partridge is a stuffed bird in a tree branch with pear cutouts hanging from it; 2 turtle doves - wings and beaks; 3 french hens - the youngest "sexiest" specials complete with "Ooo-lah-lah" at appropriate times -short skirts, berets; 4 calling birds come out with toy telephones and answer "Hello, Hello"; 5 golden rings - yellow hula hoops; 6 geese a-laying - stuffed geese with eggs held under them which are dropped at just the right time; 7 swans - wings, beaks and snorkels and masks; 8 maids a milking - farmer gear with plastic gloves filled with water - squirt the audience; 9 ladies dancing - dolls with joined hands - once we had a life size Hilary Clinton cut out - another time we had hula dancers; 10 lords a leaping - the few men on staff leap across the stage, the assistant principal usually trips and falls; 11 pipers - recorders; 12 drummers- hand drums, marching gear. This is lots of fun - everyone joins in - of course we don't have the `right number of people for each item but the idea is there. We do the music "live" but I know that MK8 has a nice arrangement of this piece complete with sound effects.
------------------------
Available from Pepper this year :A Canine Christmas Concerto" A spoof on the 12 days of Christmas but with dogs!
------------------------
BOOKS: Silent Mouse (1990) (about Silent night) Amazon: Our Price: $17.99 Availability: This title usually ships within 2-3 days.
Rated: NR Starring: Lynn Redgrave, et al. Director: Robin Crichton • ASIN: 6301910354
"Silent Night, The Song and It's Story" written by Margaret Hodges Illustrated by Tim Ladwig awesome illustrations
------------------------
VIDEO: A warm, family style movie about the carol "Silent Night", December 27, 1998 Reviewer: [email protected] from Michigan, USA I discovered this movie quite accidentally several years ago while channel "surfing" and spent months trying to find my own copy. This movie tells the tale of the origin of the Christmas carol "Silent Night" from the perspective of a little mouse called A. Nonny Mouse. Narrated by Lynn Redgrave, this warm family movie tells the tale of how the Christmas song was written but almost forgotten except for the efforts of A. Nonny Mouse and his mouse organization. Set in Austria, this is the perfect holiday movie to watch with the entire family. Nothing objectionable, no violence.
------------------------
As for your really little ones...."Must Be Santa" is great because, if they're struggling with memorization, you can perform it as a call-and-response song. A kindergarten teacher gave me a great poem that we did as a choral speaking piece at one program. It goes like this:
------------------------
SONG: Shout is by Teresa Jennings. It's from one of her musicals but you can buy it as a separate reporducible song.....great song for Christmas..our kids love it. Just call good old Plank Rd.
------------------------
"All I Want for Christmas" Before the song, I plan on interviewing each student to see what they want for Christmas. My final student is missing both of her top front teeth. She will tell me what she wants and then I'll ask her if there is anything else she wants and she'll say, "Well...there is one more thing Mrs. Lukow." I'll ask her what that is and she'll say, "All I really want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth!" That's our intro... The last time through the chorus when the kids try to whistle, I have 1 student ready with a playground whistle. He will blow the whistle at the time when they are supposed to whistle naturally and then all the kids turn to this child and say, "Oh, Logan!!!!!!" It is soooooooooooooo funny and they all get such a kick out of it!
------------------------
I love this list and try to read as many as I can! Someone said to mention a holiday activity: I like to play Christmas Carol Bingo with my older students. They get a blank "grid" and have to fill each empty box with a Holiday Song (inclued Hanukkah too!) The center box is a "free space." When the students have filled their boxes, the game begins! The students take turns volunteering to hum a tune, if the students have written that song on their grid, they can mark it off. When someone has a completed line, they call bingo! It's fun when the kids are so excited that "quality learning" has flown out the window!!!!!
------------------------
GATATUMBA (spanish christmas song)
(ostinato: ti ti|ta = zum zum zum, like "zambomba"(2) sound"
2/ta ( andante----->accellerando------> presto )
s f | m m s f | m m s f | m m r m |f r l s |f f l s | f f
gata - tumba tumba tumba con pan- deros y so - najas gata-tumba tumba tumba
F
l s |f f m f |s m s f | m m s f | m m s f |m m f s |l_
no te me-tas en las pa-jas gata - tumba tumba tumba toca_el pito y_el ra-bel
l s | f f s f | m m r m |f s l t | d´_ :||
gata - tumba tumba tumba tambo-ril y cas-ca-bel
Gatatumba, tumba tumba no te metas en las pajas (dont go in the stroh?)
Gatatumba, tumba tumba toca el pito y el rabel (play the wistle and the rabel (1)
Gatatumba, tumba tumba tamboril y cascabel (the drum and "ballbells"?)
(2) zambomba (accent on bom): old spanish instrument (see the Grove Dictionary, please!) Armonie: C, G and F; Rhythm: ti ti|ti ti...ti ti|taBACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS JOKES
01/03 Reindeer Jokes:
What do reindeer have that no other animals on earth have? Baby reindeer.
What do the reindeer sing to Santa on his birthday? Freeze a jolly good fellow.
Which of Santa's reindeers needs to mind his manners the most? "Rude" olph
Where do Santa's reindeers like to stop for lunch? Deery Queen
What kind of food do you get when you cross a blizzard with a polar bear?A brrr-grrr!
How does Mickey Mouse get around during the winter? Mice Skates.
Where does Frosty the Snowman keep his money? In a snow bank.
What do you have in December that you don't have in any other month?
What do you call a snowman on roller blades? Snow mobile.
What do you call the bells on Santa's sleigh? Kringle Bells.
Santa Jokes
What's red and white and red and white and red and white? Sanata Claus rolling down a hill.
What do you call a chicken at the North Pole? Lost.
What did Santa say when his toys misbehaved? Toys will be toys.
What do elves learn in school? The Elf-abet!
What do you get if you cross Santa with a detective? Santa Clues.
What is a skunk's favorite holiday song? Jingle Smells
What nationality is Santa Claus? North Polish
Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas? Santa Jaws.
Why was Santa's little helper depressed? Because he had low elf-esteem
What does Santa like to eat? A jolly roll.
Who is never hungry at Christmas?
The turkey-he's always stuffed!
We had grandma for Christmas dinner. Really, we had turkey!
Why did they let the turkey join the band? Because it had the drum sticks.
Why is a turkey a fashionable bird? Because he always appears well-dressed for dinner.
What disasters could happen if you dropped the Christmas turkey? The downfall of Turkey, the breakup of China and the overthrow of Greece!
Where do turkeys go when they die? To oven!
What do penguins ride? Ice-Cycles.
What do you call a penguin in the Sahara desert? Lost.
What is black and white and found in the Sahara Desert? A very lost penguin.
What is black and white and green and black and white? Two penguins fighting over a pickle.
How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas? Fleece Navidad!
When the cow crossed the road on Christmas what did he say?Mooooooory Christmas!
Contributed by Iris Ingram
-------------------
Q: What does Santa Claus do in his garden? A: Hoe, hoe, hoe!
My stockings were hanging by the chimney with care, I'd been wearing them for months and they needed the air.
Q: Did you hear about the family who owned an English pointer and an Irish setter?
A: The dogs get together at Christmas time and have pointsetters.
Q: If an athlete gets athlete's foot, what does an astronaut get?? A: Missile toe!
Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? A: Snowflakes.
Q: What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? A: Claustrophobic.
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS GAMES, ACTIVITIES 01/02
06/15 GAME: Circle - Santa over the ocean (Echo: Santa over the ocean)
Santa over the sea (Echo: Santa over the sea)
Santa over my house (Echo: Santa over my house)
Don't miss me! (Echo: Don't miss me!)
(Santa stops, drops the "present", taps the nearest person on the back,
then gets chased out of town ahem round the circle because that was the Grinch...
Old Santa gets a single jingle (you know the kind with the red handle?), then sits down and plays in the vacant spot in the circle. Grinch's becomes the next Santa (spoiler alert!)---- J.M. in MA
----------------
01/02 Musical puzzle idea. doubles as a rhythm assessment:
~write a secret message in blanks.
~assign a particular rhythm to each letter used in the message. this is your
"key."
write these rhythms (tiny) underneath the blanks of the message.
~on the top of their paper, list the letters used in alph. order each with a
blank next to it. this is where they will jot the rhythms down as you clap them.
xerox enough for all kids.
~have them fold their papers so only the top is showing.
~fill in the tops like a rhythm test, you play a rhythm for each letter, they
write it down.
~open the papers and use answers to decode the message. if they got most but not
all of the rhythms right, they'll be able to solve it.
I like to make mine a question then have them whisper the answer in my ear before
leaving. or record the answers on paper. find out everyone's favorite song,
color, or whatever.
--------------
01/02 Hallelujah Chorus: Stand on the word "Hallelujah" and sit the rest of the time.
--------------
01/02 CHRISTMAS TRIVIA This might also be an activity, although not so musical (!) for these
last few days of school. (Forgive any typos, no time to proofread.) I
will be using this at my son's classroom party. Divide classroom
into two teams; red team and green team. Team with the most
correct answers, wins (wins what??? you know, they never care
that much, they just want to win!)
1. What day is Christmas day?
2. Name the red flower commonly used at Christmas.
3. Who were the Magi?
4. What is the name of the special candlestick used during
Hanukkah?
5. Name three of Santa's reindeer.
6. What song contains the phrase "fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la"?
7. What is the name of the famous singing chipmunk?
8. What was Scrooge's favorite saying in "A Christmas Carol"?
9. Name two places Santa puts presents for children.
10. In what country would you wish someone "Joyeux Noel?
11. What did Mary ride to the stable where she gave birth to
Jesus?
12. What is a creche?
13. In the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," what was sent
on the eighth day?
14. What is the Jewish holiday celebrated in December?
15. In one holiday song, a boy claims all he wants for Christmas
are two things. What are they?
16. Name the famous Christmas ballet enjoyed by children.
17. What are latkes?
18. What are the two Christmas colors?
19. Where does Santa live?
20. In the Bible story about the first Christmas, why did Mary and
Joseph go to Bethlehem?
21. What do people hang on their doors at Christmas?
22. What is said that animals do on Christmas eve?
23. What is "roasting on an open fire" in "The Christmas Song"?
24. Name three words Santa says when he is happy.
1. December 25
2. Poinsettia
3. Three Wise Men
4. Menorah
5. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder,
Blitzen, Rudolph.
6. Deck the Halls
7. Alvin
8. Bah, Humbug
9. Under the tree, inside stockings
10. France
11. Donkey
12. Replica of the stable where Jesus was born
13. Eight maids-a-milking
14. Hanukkah
15. Two front teeth
16. "The Nutcracker"
17. Potato pancakes which are made during Hanukkah
18. Red and Green
19. The North Pole
20. They went to be counted and to pay taxes
21. Wreaths
22. They talk
23. Chestnuts
24. Ho, Ho, Ho
1. What happens when you stand under mistletoe?
2. Who was chosen to guide Santa on Christmas eve?
3. What do bad boys and girls get for Christmas?
4. What is Santa Claus called in England?
5. In what country would you wish someone "Feliz Navidad"?
6. Who's "nipping at your nose" when you go outside in winter?
7. What is the date of Christmas Eve?
8. What do Dutch children leave out for Santa to fill with presents?
9. Who are Santa's helpers?
10. How many turtle doves were sent in the song "The Twelve
Days of Christmas"?
11. What famous snowman do we sing about at Christmas?
12. Name one of the three spirits who visited Scrooge on
Christmas Eve?
13. In what country would you find a pinata on Christmas?
14. Name one ingredient in mincepie.
15. Name a food item people often string together to make
garlands.
16. Who first saw the star of Bethlehem in the Bible story?
17. How many reindeer does Santa have?
18. Who is Kris Kringle?
19. When is the first day of winter?
20. In the song about "Rudolph", what is the weather like on
Christmas Eve?
21. Who is "coming to town" in the popular Christmas carol?
22. What is the "top" called that Jewish children play with?
23. What is the name of the little crippled boy in "A Christmas
Carol"?
24. Name one of the gifts brought to Jesus by the Three Wise Men.
1. You get kissed
2. Rudolph
3. Coal in their stockings
4. Father Christmas
5. Mexico or Spain
6. Jack Frost
7. December 24
8. Wooden shoes
9. Elves
10. Two turtle doves
11. Frosty
12. The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future
13. Mexico
14. Raisins, apples, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, sugar, and sometimes meats.
15. Popcorn and cranberries
16. The Three wise Men
17. With Rudolph, nine
18. Santa Claus
19. December 22
20. Foggy
21. Santa Claus
22. Dreydl
23. Tiny Tim
24. Gold, Frankincense and myrrh
-------------------
01/02 Every year for the last 25 years I have played a game with my 5th
graders, (used to be 6th before they all left for middle schools) called
"HOLIDAY NAME THAT TUNE". It virtually takes care of lesson plans for my
fifths for the whole month of December!
Because, I use the next two or three days to teach them new songs from all
the music series books, all grade levels that I have in the music room.
Since I have Silver Burdett Ginn currently, we go throught he holiday
sections of every grade level 3-5, and all the McMillan (old series) 2-6.
My goal is a total of 60usable songs for the upcoming game; however, this
year, they suprised me and came up with a list of 70!!
This process goes by rather quickly, or more quickly than you might think!
Time to choose teams - I choose two captains, two of the same
gender who I have noticed really seemd to know their songs as we made the
list. They choose their teams and sit in the order that they were chosen.
Next: I ask for volunteers, 2 in each of the three categories
above, to make a new list, listing ONLY those songs which are in their
assigned category. They bring in their NEW lists, which is what I work
from on Game Day.
1. Thay come into class, quietly and sit in their assigned team places. No
notebooks, and no talking!
2. I choose a timekeeper for each side, who watches the
clock for 10 seconds after I play the last note for an individaul whose
turn it is. Each person has ten seconds to reply - if the first answer is
wrong, they can continue until they get it right or the timekeeper yells
"TIME".
2. I place a GAME CHART on the blackboard which looks like the following;
EASY MEDIUM HARD
3 notes = 3points 5 notes = 4 points 7 notes = 10 Pts.
5 notes = 1 point 7 notes = 2 points 10 notes - 8 pts.
I vary the points and numbers of notes to fit each individual calss, and
even change the numbers after one round if the class in not getting it as
a whole.
3. Te captains keep score, making sure to take off points if I direct
them if one of their teammates is even thinking about talking! THis makes
for a tatally QUIET ROOM on Game Day!
4. Each person gets a turn by standing up and choosing a category and
number of notes that they want. For example, "I would like Medium
category for 5 notes". If they get it right, I cross it off the list. If,
not I simply place a check in front of the song. Since I might use the
song again later in the game, it's again IMPERATIVE that they do not talk!
I choose the songs randomly from the three lists whivh the volunteers give
me.
5. When each team has had an equal number of turns, and we are running out
of class time. I say "Game's over!" and the captains add up their scores.
The team with the most points I give candy canes to!
I tell them they are ALL winners for learning new songs, and the only
difference between the two teams is that one team. just happened to get
one or more songs right on game day
I have played this game for more than 20 years, and it has been a success
every single time. Hope this information has been helpful to some of you!
Happy Holidays!(e-mail me if you have any questions or problems!)
--------------------
01/02 CHRISTMAS SONG PICTIONARY
draw line dividing paper in half lengthwise and the other way marking
approx. 15 blank rectangles down each half. xerox for how many classes
are playing.
~divide class, boys on one side, girls on the other.
~choose captain for each team. give one pencil, book (for table), and
half the paper.
~they compile list of as many Christmas songs they can think of incl.
funny ones off the radio.
~cut apart and put in container. duplicates are ok.
~capt. picks a kid to come up. he/she selects a song title, draws it,
team guesses.
~60 sec. time limit. if time runs out, other team huddles around capt.
who then tells teacher one guess for the whole team to "steal" the
point.
This has been so fun for the kids, reviews holiday songs, exercises
their brains, engages even the dead-beat kids, and gives me a much
needed break!!!
---
01/02 When I taught middle school, my kids did like wordsearches. What my fifths
love now are Cryptographic puzzles (A code puzzle where numbers replace
letters). They have some in the Musical Mysteries book, but I think you can
make them on puzzlemaker.com as well. The Musical Mysteries book has a few
questions that they answer to begin "getting" the code, but when I did it
with Puzzlemaker, I just gave them a few of the common letters. You could do
cryptograms by categories, too, like composers names, instruments or
Christmas Carols.
--------------
01/02 DANCE to Jingle Bells:
On the Chorus:
First get kids in partners of two.
Jingle bells - stamp stamp stamp
Jingle bells - pat, pat, pat, knees
Jingle all the way - clap partners hands three times
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh - partners hook
elbows and skip around in a circle.
----------------
01/02 For a large group with all ages (k-4) I always use this one:
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Verses
Let's all do a little singing (3x), And spread Christmas cheer! (arms up)
Then: ........clapping, Snapping, Waving , Hugging (hug yourself), Winking, Twirling, Jumping, Dancing
Stomping, Ringing, Marching, Blinking, Whistling, Driving, Nodding, Wiggling, Shaking (hands)
Surfing, Jogging, Swimming, Hopping, Dribbling (basketball)
This is a good song because not everyone in those grades can read and I just give the directions from the piano verbally.
-------------------
01/02 COMPARE NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCES (Junior High?) Another advantage of looking at a variety of Nutcracker performances is
that you can discuss directing or producing as a career. Whenever
students comment that this version (of anything) is not like the one
they saw, it opens the door for discussion on artistic expression. I
like to ask the children to consider how they would direct a scene. I
ask, "Why do you think the director chose to portray the scene this
way?" I point out how wonderful it would be to work on a show with an
enormous budget, such as on Broadway. Then I compare the unlimited
budgets to our "5 dollar budgets" for a few laughs!
-------------------
01/02 CHRISTMAS TRIVIA II
I just found a great game for 5th grade after the program classes who don't
want to sing anymore. I bought "Tis The Season - Christmas Trivia"
game($19.95). The cards come with 6 categories: 1)History, facts, figures,
2) traditions around the world,3) cartoons, Mnimation, Made for TV movies,
Specials, 4)Carols and Songs, 5) Movies on the Silver screen, 6) Literature
and the Performing Arts. I've only used the carols & songs category . Some
questions are much too hard, but the kids can get most of them with hints.
Each correct answer is a letter and the first team to spell Christmas
wins. They ended up spontaniously singing quite a few of the songs (even in
the 2 classes that didn't want to sing!)
http://www.christmasfungames.com/
-------------------
01/02 SNOWFLAKES I just found a website for making paper snowflakes. It
also has a link for making ornaments. here it is:
http://www.papersnowflakes.com/
--------------------
01/01 ORNAMENTSI bought different colored
pipe cleaners (they are called something else now, but I can't
remember). They will form treble clefs to practice the formation
correctly. They will also form whole notes, half notes, and eighth
notes.
The previous teacher hung dental floss and paper clips from the
ceiling. I will be hanging some treble clefs from the ceiling. I
want to get a tree for the classroom and put the rest of them on
there.
-----
01/02 ORNAMENTS Make some musical symbols from poster board the kids can trace.
cover with elmers and glitter.
punch hole and add yarn.
----
----------------
01/02 JINGLE BELL VARIATONS
Theme - "Plain Jingle Bells" - choir sings straight,
quarter note rhythms; we had children in reindeer
costume do simple dance, mainly prancing-type
movements.
March - cymbal crashes beginning and end, choir sings
with exaggerated consonants, dancers are dressed as
marching band and do a simple march routine, complete
with arms-linked 'pinwheel' and salute at end
Waltz - 3/4 meter, choir sways gently, dancers - girls
with hand-held masks, guys with masks on, dance is
very 'Minuet-ish'
Cha-Cha - typical 'cha-cha' rhythm with dancers
holding flowers in teeth, choir sings "Cheen-gle
bells", maracas playing eighth notes, score gives a
claves part but I didn't add that.
Gospel - melody is changed somewhat, "dancers" wore
choir robes and did gospel choir type choreography,
includes "Hallelujah, Brother" spoken. (Big hit!)
Cowboy - Western bass accomp., dancers were all boys
with boots and hats, sauntering around the stage,
choir sang very country (jan-gle bay-uls, oh whut
fun..etc.)
Indians - (I know, it wasn't politically correct, but
it sure was cute!) Standard (hideous) Native American
four beat rhythm, choir sang very low, quarter note
rhythm, dancers in feathers, etc., danced in a circle
"Indian-style"
Boogie - Boogie-bass, syncopated rhythms in melody,
dancers wore poodle skirts, jeans/white shirts -
jitterbug-style dance.
That's it - only 8 flavors. Needless to say, it was
the hit of the show. I am not talented enough in the
choreography area, but can choose people who are. Two
of my third grade teachers did all of it, costumes,
too. If I'd ask them to do more, they would have!!!At
first, I thought it was too much, but it really
wasn't. They put in lots of extra practice time
(without me) with the kids. It was delightful. I'll
get ya'll the publisher and arranger, after the
holidays.
I think we could have added more instruments, but just
ran out of time. I only see third grade one day a
week, and had to work on other numbers, too.I have
four sections of 3rd grade and two of them sang with
the fourth grade on 3 numbers in this program, plus
two other songs that were 3rd grade only. The "Jingle
Bells" was 3rd, only.
---
I do "Jingle Bells in 10 Flavors" every year as a fun song AFTER my
programs with my 5th and 6th grades. This year I did it with my 4th
graders. It's very easy for all of them. The only version that is a
bit challenging is the Swing Flavor which is in 5/4 time! And the R &
B version is VERY high starting on a high F. But, they totally get
into!
------------------------
01/02 HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC ORNAMENTS
I took unwanted or used cds from AOL offers and the like
to make beautiful and quick xmas ornaments.
I found clearance sale stickers, made my own from
rubber stampers, and found musical stickers at a
local merchant who gave me a discount as a teacher.
The students decorate the prism side of the cd (no words)
and they look especially neat when you find holographic
stickers. I had the students put a ribbon through the center
hole to hang from the tree or up from the ceiling if a hook was
handy. I've heard of people putting a small hole in towards the
top of the cd by heating a needle in a flame and then was thread
with a needle and dental floss for the hanger. Obviously, this
would be done by volunteers before the class.
Once I got the word out that I was collecting cds - I must have
ended up with over a hundred of them.
---
01/02 ORNAMENTS Another thing to do with pipe cleaners is to wrap one around a red/ green
pompom and shape the stem into an eighth note. If you're lucky you might find
a garland of musical instruments that you can separate and glue separately
onto each pompom. One year I added teddy bears instead (to the pompom).
they can become package ornaments, pins to wear, or tree ornaments simply by
adding gold,silver or coordinating color thread.
---
ORNAMENTS What I've done in the past is draw an outline of a
treble clef, or eighth note, or quarter note etc. And
draw lines in it dividing it into sections. Each
section has a music symbol in it. Then you create a
coloring code. (like color by numbers) For example a
section with a quarter note should be red. eighth
note - yellow, treble clef - green, staff- blue, etc.
(use whatever symbols you want them to know.
In the end it will look like a stained glass
ornament.
---------------
01/02 I purchased the picture
book DECK THE HALL to use for Christmas this year. The charming
illustrations make the old carol so much easier to explain and teach. My
3rd graders were so excited when we started it, as some of them have
the Shrek movie and got a Christmas CD with it. This song is really
quite decent on there. The only change I can hear is the "Shrek" instead
of "Deck." The key is fairly low, but as long as my kiddies sing lightly,
they can sing along quite easily, and they love the up-beat arrangement.
Now they're begging for "Twelve Days of Christmas." ("and a fire-breathing
dragon just for me!") Our stuff is pretty well learned for our sing-along,
so I'll probably let my readers (2nd-4th) have a shot at that one sometime
this next week.
The title is "Deck the Hall: A Traditional Carol illustrated by Sylvia Long" It is published by Chronicle Books, copyright 2000 and I picked it up at Barnes and Noble. It truly is delightful!
--------------
01/02 MY MOST FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CD - "Christmas Night - Carols of the Nativity" - John
Rutter and the Cambridge Singers/City of London Sinfonia.
Collegium Records COLCD 106
RUN to get this and you are in for such a treat. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT IT
HURTS !! (listen to "In the bleak Mid Winter", "Candlelight Carol" and "Lute
Book Lullabye" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!) With great drama, I share this with my kids
at our "end of the class -stretch out on the floor time". They have grown
to love it too. It is simply exquisite - what more can I say.
--------------
01/02 SING-ALONGS To spruce up my sing-alongs, I usually add interesting facts
about Christmas. I have a great book called "The Everything
Christmas Book", which includes facts about the origins of
Christmas traditions, Christmas Wish Lists from years past -
including prices!, poems, short stories, how Christmas is
celebrated in other countries, etc. LOTS of stuff to intersperse and
make the sing-along more informative. For the Twelve Days of
Christmas, I sometimes add this version. At the sing-along, I
make sure to hand out sheets in four different colors. I tell the
singers/audience that if they have a white sheet, they are to stand
up everytime they sing "and a partridge in a pear tree". Yellow
sheets stand on "two turtle doves", green sheets stand on "Three
french hens", red sheets stand on "four calling birds", ALL stand on
"five golden rings", white sheets stand on "six ...", yellow on
"seven...", green on "eight", red on "nine", boys on "ten lords -a
leaping", girls on "Eleven pipers...", ALL on "Twelve drummers". It
is a good thing for them to get up and stretch, it is interesting to
see them try to remember when to stand up and sit down and it is
highly entertaining for me to WATCH! (I can't stand that song, so I
will do anything to try to just get through it!)
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
DANCES
01/07 JINGLE BELLS: Dashing thru the snow part: (A section) Partners promenade with a two hand hold CW around circle (32 counts.)
Stop so partners are facing each other in a single circle. Drop hands.
Jingle Bells part (B section)
Jingle Bells - pat knees 3X
Jingle bells Clap own hands 3X
Jingle all the way - Clap partner's hands 5X
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh - Hold both partner's hands and turn in place for 8 counts, ending where you started.
Repeat B section.
At the end partners drop hands and on "sleigh" turn around singly in place (they are now back to back) to meet a new partner and start the dance over.
----------------------------------
06/06 TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (movements)
1 partridge.....make a "nest" with both hands cupped 2 turtle doves... [for younger students, teach:] put hands in front of their faces, palms facing themselves. Move hands toward each other [cross arms]...far enough to grasp thumbs. Flutter fingers. There are easier ways to make birds, though, no doubt.
3 French hens...thumbs hook armpits, flutter "wings"
4 calling birds...hands cupped around mouth like trying to talk to someone far away
5 gold rings....one hand held out in front of body, "flash" the five fingers like showing off, etc.
6 geese a laying.....if standing, or even sitting, I suppose, pretend to squat as in laying an egg (yes, you can guess what older kids pretend to do here, but they get over it!!!)
7 swans a swimming.....any swimming motion with arms
8 maids a milking....pretend to milk a cow
9 ladies dancing....we choose a disco movement, or the twist, or a ballet turn on tiptoe
10 lords a leaping...pretend to hop like a frog or kangaroo
11 pipers piping....pretend to play a flute
12 drummers drumming....pretend to play a snare drum -- Laurie Cunningham
-----------------------------------------
06/06 JINGLE BELLS (choreography) Here's are some movements for the song "Jingle Bells" that I will be having my third graders do to the song "I Hear Those Jingle Bells":
Dashing: take right hand with palm facing down and fingers together. Move right hand from the right side to the left side as if your hand is a sled.
Snow: with both hands start above head and wiggle fingers while bringing hands down.
One horse....: both fist together at chest level as if holding the reins. Have knees bent and bounce to the beat. Make it look like your riding in a sleigh.
O'er the...: do the waterfall. Start above your head and come down in an "s" shape. Out line the hills, like on a rollercoster
Laughing...: slightly lean back with both hands on your stomach. Looks laugh Santa laughing with a bowl full of jelly.
Bells on...: rock head side to side. Like a bell.
Making...: right fist by right cheek, left fist at left cheek, on the word "bright" flick fist open with palms facing the audience and fingers spread apart(this is also know as a burst)
What fun it....: Turn around (360)
clap 3x (in rhythm of the words)
right hand hitch hike 3x (on the beat)
left hand hitch hike 3x (on the beat) repeat sequence through the chorus. Enjoy! -- Tami Mangusso
-------------------------------------
06/06 DANCE: Stomp the Hall (music: Deck the Hall, from Silver Burdett)
4 couples longways (couples can be any gender, making 2 straight,
parallel lines, facing each other)
Verse 1: Walk toward partner and bend on count 4, back up two counts and stomp loudly) three times on the last, la, la, la", moving back to place.
Dos-a-dos you partner on six counts, stomping back to place on the "la, la, la".
Join hands in a large circle and skip right 4 counts, turn single, and stomp back to place.
Walk toward partner, leading with left shoulder, pivot to make a straight line in the center, back up to place with stomp, stomp, stomp.
Continue down (or up) until reaching the end of the line, turn and switch from odd to even, or vice-versa. Go on to other end and switch direction again going back to place. Bow.
----------------------------------
DANCE: Jingle Bell Squares
Done to a country recording of Jingle bells, done with fiddle band. "Leader" means the one in the traditional male role in the couple, "partner" is the traditional female role.
Allemande left your corner (left hand turn with fireman's grip) Shake your partner's right hand and walk on by for a grand right and left. Promenade home
Refrain
Refrain
Couples 2 and 4 do a right and left through
Promenade home
Join hands for a Ho Ho Ho! (In a big circle, walk in to center and shout
"Ho Ho Ho")
Refrain, bow -- Sandi Ausburger
BACK to Holiday topics
*********************************************************
CAROLING
06/06 CHRISTMAS CAROLS I've found these [links] helpful in the planning and script writing for my December shows. You may find them useful for your purpose too.
http://members.tripod.com/~wackyanne/musicrm/xmtrad.htm#faithful
http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/christmaslore/
http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/ (history of Santa)
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns.htm
http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lnstar.com%2Fmall%2Fmain-areas%2Fsantafaq.htm (Santa around the world)
http://wilstar.net/xmas/xmassymb.htm (general Christmas history and symbolism)
http://www.howstuffworks.com/christmas.htm
http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/santa.htm (Santa history)
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/History/studwell.htm (by a carol expert) -- Meredith Harley Inserra
-------------------------------------------------
ADVICE: There are a couple of things that will make you caroling experience a little happier and safer. Provide the students with a small handmade book of words to the songs you are going to sing. Have the songs numbered or alphabetized so that it is easier to find them, of better yet, put them in the order you want to sing them and just go through the book. Next be sure that you have chaperones who will be responsible to bring up the rear of the group and watch carefully as this large group crosses any streets. You might want to designate some for each job. It is customary to go to houses where you know someone will open the door when you are singing. Some people feel it is polite to offer cookies, etc to the carolers and you can politely turn that down since you have a large group. One of my favorite memories is the hot chocolate and cookies after the caroling. In our cold Minn. winters, we would trudge through snow and howling wind to go caroling at the "shut-in's homes" and it was always fun to return to have hot cocoa and cookies waiting for us. Infact, you may want to have a few adults stay behind and set that up as well. Happy caroling. -- Caryn Mears Kennewick, WA
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS GIFTS (for kids)
I usually have 40-60 kids in my choir at Christmas, and the night of their December concert, I have a table in the MPR, with an ornament for each child. I buy those little glass ball ornaments at Walmart that cost about $2 for a box of 20. I get a couple of boxes that are in our school color (blue), and I use a special pen that writes in white or silver (Walmart's craft dept.), if I can get it, because that's our other school color, and I write the child's first name on one side, and then turn it around and put a set of 8th notes and the year on the other. I get a few spools of that thin satin ribbon from Walmart's craft department, and make a hanger by tying a small loop of the ribbon through the ring at the top of the ornament. The kids love it, and it gets home safely, because Mom and Dad are there to transport it after the show. I spend about $10 total, between the ornaments, ribbon and marking pen. Another set of colors I've used is a white glass ball, with a red Sharpie pen and a red satin ribbon - it looks really nice. -- Robin from Alaska
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
PARTY IDEAS
CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY - A Partridge in a Pear Tree (hold paper and stand for your line) a partridge in a pear tree - red 2 turtle doves - yellow 3 French hens - green 4 calling birds - white 5 golden rings - everyone 6 geese a-laying - red 7 swans a-swimming - yellow 8 maids a-milking - green 9 ladies dancing - white 10 lords a leaping - boys 11 pipers piping - girls 12 drummers drumming - everyone -- Patty Oeste in AR<
BACK to Holiday topics
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS SONGS
01/16 GOOD KING WENCESLAS is actually a fun round too.// Noche Buena is lovely in Spanish.// Carol of the Bells//Hey Ho, Nobody Home//There's actually a cute octavo version of "Christmas is Coming" with the
words changed to "..and we are getting fat, 'cause we're eating too much of
this and that!" by Jean Perry. -- Carol in Texas
-----------------------
01/16 PARTNER SONGS: John Armstrong's workshops combine "Hey Ho Nobody Home", "Shalom Chaverim", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". All in same minor key, teach the three right in a row, and then start the round when the first group gets to the second song, and then the third group starts when the first group gets to the third song.
Another way is to sing all three straight through, and then bring in the round during the first song (I like to start with "Shalom"), so they start out in the round in just the one song and work in the others as they come along.
Probably clear as mud, but gorgeous.---- Carol Hallberg
--------------
08/14 SONGS FROM 40's/50's/60's: 1942
White Christmas; Happy Holiday (recorded by Bing Crosby)
1945-Let It Snow / 1947-Here Comes Santa Claus (covered by Elvis is 1957)
1948-Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth / Blue Christmas (Elvis recorded in 1957)
1949-Twelve Days of Christmas / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
1950-Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney / Marshmallow World / Frosty the Snowman
(Everybody?s Waitin? For) The Man with the Bag / Christmas in Killarney / Silver Bells
1951-Suzy Snowflake / It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas
1952 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
1953 - Santa Baby / I Want Hippopotamus for Christmas / Cool Yule (Louis Armstrong)
1954 - (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
1955 - Nuttin' for Christmas
1956-Mary's Boy Child - Caribbean-flavored/I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Bing Crosby)
1957 - Jingle Bell Rock - Blue Christmas / How Lovely is Christmas (Bing Crosby)
1958 - The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
Rockin' around the Christmas Tree / Little Drummer Boy / Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry)
1959 - My Favorite Things
1960 Please Come Home for Christmas, Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)
1961 Must Be Santa, Merry Twistmas
1963 It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Little Saint Nick, Pretty Paper, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), The Marvelous Toy
1964 A Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives), Silver and Gold (from Rudolph animated movie)
1965 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
1966 - We Need a Little Christmas
If Everyday Was Like Christmas (Elvis) / Someday at Christmas
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch / Welcome Christmas (from How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
1967 - Snoopy?s Christmas / Christmas Time Is Here Again (recorder by Beatles)
1968 - Christmas Is for Children
1969- Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without the One You Love)
-----------------
SONGS FOR TEACHING:
http://www.songsforteaching.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=all&search_str=christmas
----------------------
12/07 FELIZ NAVIDAD: …is not Mexican. Jose Feliciano wrote it in honor of his birthplace - Puerto Rico. He moved to New York as a child and is American, not Mexican. -- Pat Price
----------------------------------
12/07 TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS interesting site about the rhythm of the original poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" where the reindeer are first named.
http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/xmas/reindeer.htm -- Patti Albritton
-----------------------------------
12/07 MUSICAL: A cute program, but old one, is "Achoo! The Sneeze That Saved by Gearldine Bailey and arranged by Fred Brock.
Christmas!"
www.sheetmusicplus.com
-----------------------------------
12/07 SONGBOOK: I have that song in a Hal Leonard book entitled "Christmas Time is Here". It's a great piano book with over 40 XMAS pieces in it [inc. “Charlie Brown”]... See this link:
SONGBOOK: In the collection "K-3 Christmas Concert Ideas" there are quite a few that I've used successfully with K classes: Christmas Turkey Dance - this is the "chicken dance" or "bird dance" with Christmas words. Very Cute!
S-A-N-T-A - this is the Bingo song, using Santa instead. Again - easy and cute He'll be Comin' Down the Chimney - add cumulative actions, or create sound effects on instruments
Also: Feliz Navidad, All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
---------------------------
12/07 CHARLIE BROWN: (the CD does have an instrumental and vocal version of "Christmas
Time Is Here." and contains an instrumental track as well as a vocal track)
http://www.musick8.com/store/alphadetail.tpl?productgroup=491
---------------------------
12/07 http://www.pianoatpepper.com/sheet-music/lsearch?pubcode=000HLP&gradecode=M&sort=bytitle&fuzzy=false&option=catsearch&voicecode=P/V
-----------------------
12/07 HURON CAROL: (about) http://cdbaby.com/cd/summerbell2
Direct translation Huron to English: http://www.lessontutor.com/jm5.html
----------------------
12/07 "Winter Lights - A Season in Poems and Quilts." by Anna Grossnickle Hines - It has sixteen poems about winter celebrations and winter in general plus beautiful photos of quilts. My idea is to use the poems as the glue to hold everything together, find some related songs and there you go. I'm hoping each class will make a class quilt and that will take care of the decorations. No costumes are required really. -- Brandi N in Nova Scotia, Canada
--------------------------------
01/07 Pray God bless, all folk here! A Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Do So Do Do Re Mi Mi Mi Mi Fa Fa So So So Fa Mi Mi Re Do -- Cak
-------------------------
06/06 I've made my life easy with Holiday Centers in my classroom. They are EASY! Sing-Along Video Groups of four children sit in front of a TV and sing along with Mickey. Computers Music K8 Kids Tunes- Winter Holiday Songs- Click and listen! Keyboards Color-coded music for "Jingle Bells" and "Up on the Housetop." Art I have large paper Christmas trees on a bulletin board. Students decorate the tree with paper gingerbread men. Students give the gingerbread man a face and buttons with music symbols- color, cut and glue it on the tree! Puzzles Christmas theme with carolers singing. Students LOVE it and it's so easy to do. We'll get back to normal after the holidays. I told them that holiday centers were my gift to them! -- Monica Autry
-----------------------------
06/06 Website with brief notes on traditions: Australia, Austria, Britain, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, St. Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
http://northpole.net/world.htm#IRELAND
12/05 JINGLE BELLS (choreography) Here's are some movements for the song "Jingle Bells" that I will be having my third graders do to the song "I Hear Those Jingle Bells":
Dashing: take right hand with palm facing down and fingers together. Move right hand from the right side to the left side as if your hand is a sled.
Snow: with both hands start above head and wiggle fingers while bringing hands down.
One horse....: both fist together at chest level as if holding the reins. Have knees bent and bounce to the beat. Make it look like your riding in a sleigh.
O'er the...: do the waterfall. Start above your head and come down in an "s" shape. Out line the hills, like on a rollercoster
Laughing...: slightly lean back with both hands on your stomach. Looks laugh Santa laughing with a bowl full of jelly.
Bells on...: rock head side to side. Like a bell.
Making...: right fist by right cheek, left fist at left cheek, on the word "bright" flick fist open with palms facing the audience and fingers spread apart(this is also know as a burst)
What fun it....: Turn around (360)
clap 3x (in rhythm of the words)
right hand hitch hike 2x (on the beat)
left hand hitch hike 2x (on the beat) repeat sequence through the chorus. Enjoy! -- Tami Mangusso
-------------------------------------
06/05 PAT-A-PAN: Here's a simple arrangement for boomwhackers (or xylophones):
I put the rhythms on a chart (no measure numbers) in 2 different colors indicating chords and put a repeat sign (in red) after the 2d beat of m. 4 and at the end of the rhythms. The kids sing vs. 1 without accompaniment and on completion, begin the introduction for vs. 2. ( I have the kids go directly to 3d vs. but you could repeat the intro. You can do it in Em or Dm.
(I = quarter, // = 2 eighths, Z = quarter rest)
m. 1 I chord: I // I //
m. 2 V chord: I // I //
m. 3 I chord: I // // //
m. 4 I Z (vs. 2 "when the" on this rest) I I
m. 5 I chord: I I I I
m. 6 V chord: I I I I
m. 7 I chord: I // I //
m. 8 V chord: I // // I
m. 9 V chord: // I I I
m. 10 I chord: I // I (vs. 2 "God and" go back to 3d beat of m. 4) -- Sandy Toms
------------------------------------
HOLIDAY SING ALONG:
Kindergarten: We Are Santa's Helpers (adding lots of non-pitched percussion) with audience: Jingle Bells
First grade: Must Be Santa with audience: Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Second grade: All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth with audience: Deck the Halls
Third grade: Pablo, the Reindeer from Mexico with audience: Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer
Fourth Grade: A- Soalin' (This is my_ absolute all time favorite_ Christmas song) with audience: We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Becky Olson
------------------------------------
Do only the motions for the following words, do not sing them!
Nose: Point to nose 3 times (3 beats)
Games: Pat, pat, clap, slap (air or actually slap neighbor's hands)
Nose so bright: Point to nose 3 times (3 beats)
Guide my sleigh tonight: Pretend to "drive" sleigh reins
Reindeer: Thumbs on temples with fingers extended
Loved him: hug yourself & twist left, right, left (3 beats)
Glee: Say 'rah, rah, sis boom bah' (ta ta ti-ti ta)
Reindeer: Thumbs on temples with fingers extended
History: Point to floor (on "his"), then slap (on "tor"), then clap (on "ry")
-------------------------------
01/03 Bill Fatch's Orff arrangement of Carol of the Bells is available on my site as well. Go to http://www.hearttoart.com/brmusic and scroll to the bottom of the page. Click on Resources for Music Teachers and then on Downloadable Files.
---------------------------
04/02 "Must Be Santa" (song) I choose one student to be Santa. During the song he dresses up 1. the
beard 2. cap on head 3. etc. at the end of the song he has on the complete
Santa costume and he and his reindeer assistant leave the stage. With a "HO
HO HO Merry Christmas." (It helps to have a teacher or another child assist
Santa by handing him each item in order.
------------
01/02 Jingle bells (en Espanol)
Con mi bella Susanna Salimos de paseo
Vibraba la alegrella En nuestros corazones
Aquella tarde fria Tan llena de emociones
coro:
Cascabel cascabel Musica de amor
Dulces horas gratas horas juventud en flor
Cascabel(2) Tan sentimental
No dejes cascabelito De repiquetar (repliquetear ?)
OR
Cascabel, Cascabel, musica de amor
Dulces horas, gratas horas, juventud en flor.
Cascabel, cascabel, tan sentimental,
No dejes cascabelito de repliquetear!
--------------------
01/02 Here are two easy ones: both to the tune of FRERE JACQUE (if you make a
musical sandwich, putting another song or two between them, no one seems
to mind--or even notice-- the repetition)
after is another to the tune of TWINKLE...
Tom Tom Turkey, Tom Tom Turkey Run away! Run away!
Christmas Day is coming! Christmas Day is coming! (or Thanksgiving Day...)
Yum, Yum, Yum! Run, run, run!
Where is Santa? Where is Santa? Here I am. Here I am (in Santa voice of course)
Merry, Merry Christmas! Merry, Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!
Twinkle, twinkle, Christmas Star. How I wonder what you are, etc.....
-------------------
11/01 Program Songs
Wintertide (partner song with Over The River And Through The Woods)
No School Tomorrow (my PERSONAL favorite), Christmas Is For Children
Toyland, Hanukkah Holiday Today
Christmas On The Beach At Waikiki (fun song........easy costume/prop suggestions)
Jose The Temporary Reindeer, Winter In The Country (MK8), Jingle Bell Polka
Side By Side/I Got Rhythm, Harmony, I Lost My Homework
Chrsitmas In The Air, Over The River......(a Plank Road Publishing version)
Santa Claus, Santa Claus, You Are Much Too Fat (funny song)
The Three O'clock Rehearsal (this song is another good one)
Jingle Bell Boogie (Jingle Bells with a "cool" twist)
On The Roof (picture a Christmas song with a 60's beat.....I used an accomp.
cassette)
Let Those Merry Bells Ring
A Holly Jolly Holiday (partner song between Rudolph and Holly Jolly Christmas)
Shalom (MK8 song), Look To The Future (MK8 song), We Are Family (".........I've got all my FRIENDS with me")
-----------------------
11/01 I am thinking about doing Holiday Parade, O Come Little Children, and
Christmas Makes Me Want To sing(something like that) all by Teresa and in
volumns 10 & 11 of MK8. I need to do something fast and simple with K-2 for
a TV special. I think the Holiday Parade is darling. I would make flags with
different holiday symbols on them. Candles, trees, holly sprigs, menorah,
kwanzaa kinara, etc to carry in the "holiday parade". Maybe some kids could
carry small pinatas on sticks. It would be a great entry song. Kids could
wear paper collars decorated with various symbols, too. I am wondering if I
should also change words on Christmas Makes me...to include Chanukah makes
me, Kwanzaa...and so on to be more inclusive if necessary.
----------------------------
11/01 TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - Choreography
A partridge in a pear tree.......hands palms together on top of head.
2 turtle doves........fold arms at elbows and flap
3 French hens.....one hand on top of head like a cock's comb, other hand on
hip
4 calling birds...cup hands around mouth
5 golden rings.....arms over head, fingertips touching
6 geese a laying....quick squat and up again (watch out for 5th grade sound
effects.)
7 swans a swimming.......crawl stroke
8 maids a milking........pretend your holding on to a cow, althernate hands
up and down. (watch out for 5th grade wise guys.)
9 ladies dancing........one fingertip on top of head, turn in a circle.
10 drummers drumming.......pretend your playing a drum
11 pipers piping.......pretend you're holding and playing a recorder
12 Lords a leaping.....ONE hop.
BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************
CHRISTMAS MUSICALS & SKITS
06/15 Our second grade does "Flat Stanley" (children's book) as a writing project in the classroom, so we do a Flat Stanley show, singing folk songs from every country he travels to, and having a child or teacher read the corresponding letter from Flat Stanley.
Make sure to do at least one song from each continent, and sing the continent song:
(to the tune of Are You Sleeping) North America,South America, Antarctica, Australia, Europe and Asia, Oops, I forgot one, Africa, Africa! Also, there are cute Animal or Plant themes you could use-check to see what units they will study about the time that you do your show. ---- Sherry J. Edwards
----------------------
06/15 THAT OLD GINGERBREAD HOUSE (MK8 Musical - musick8.com) That Old Gingerbread House from MusicK8 is a lot of fun. My second graders did it in the winter months after Christmas a couple years ago. The songs are very singable and catchy. ---- Cara Coffey
-------------------
06/15 "SEASON OF CELEBRATION" My boys LOVED singing the bass clef part and did quite well on it. This is in a collection entitled, “Seasons of Celebration.” http://www.musick8.com/store/searchresults.php --- Tari McKee
----------------------------------
10/12 I've done CHRISTMAS CANDY CANE LANE several times with 4th graders. They
did a great job, and you can make it as simple or stage-y as you like.
Monica in Monteagle, TN and Davidson, NC
-------------
12/11 MUSICAL: My kiddos have LOVED "Surfin' Santa" in the past. ----- Nikki Febinger
---------------------------------
10/08 MUSICAL: I've used "Our House is a Holiday House" and “The Bell that Could Not Ring” with my 1st grade and it was great. --- Carla Meiers
-----------------------------------------
06/07 MUSICAL: A couple of years ago I performed "An All-American Christmas" with 4th grade. It was a great success! I added the Mk8's Christmas Sing-A-Long for the ending of the program. - Leah Isenberg
---------------------------------
01/07 STORY WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: http://members.tripod.com/CubBobwhite/skits/au21.htm - This is a fun activity for four groups
------------------------
10/04 THE BEST GIFT EVER with K-5, but the songs were simple - all unison, and all fun for the kids - so every child from K-5 could sing them by the end of the concert. This would work well for your grade 2s. If anyone would like a sample, just email, or visit www.musicplay.ca to read script and hear audio. -- Contributed by Denise www.christmasconcert.com
-----------------------
09/04 CHRISTMAS ON CANDY CANE LAND by John Jacobsen
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/pages.html?cart=3302783969966680&target=smp_detail.html%26sku%3DHL.9970145&s=pages-www.google.com/search&e=/sheetmusic/detail/HL.9970145.html&t=&k=&r=wwws-err5
---------------------------------
10/04 DECEMBER IN OUR TOWN: Has elements of multiculturalism
-----------------------
10/04 THE BEST GIFT EVER I've done [this] with K-5, but the songs were simple - all unison, and all fun for the kids - so every child from K-5 could sing them by the end of the concert. This would work well for your grade 2s. If anyone would like a sample, just email, or visit www.musicplay.ca to read script and hear audio. -- Contributed by Denise Gagne www.musicplay.ca; www.christmasconcert.com
-----------------------
10/04 BUGZ by John Jacobsen, John Higgins
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/pages.html?cart=3302678510446722&target=smp_detail.html%26sku%3DHL.9970159&s=pages-www.google.com/search&e=/sheetmusic/detail/HL.9970159.html&t=&k=&r=wwws-err5
---------------------------------------------------
10/04 HOW DOES YOU GARDEN GROW? By John Jacobsen K-4
10/04 HOW THE PENGUINS SAVED CHRISTMAS by Teresa Jennings http://www.musick8.com/ This year [this musical]in 4th grade. The penguins are getting ready for Christmas when they hear a terrible thump. Two penguins drag in a guy dressed in read who "fell right out of the sky." They figure out he's Santa, but when he wakes, he doesn't remember who he is! This will be about the 5th time I've done it (different schools and years, of course). It's a great show, easy to stage (throw some white sheets over a few chairs), easy to costume (kids wear black, make white bibs out of construction paper). I've added "Dancin' On the Rooftop" (Christmas version) for the reindeer. also, one of the reindeer doesn't have a line, so he/she carries Santa's hat, "Here, Santa, I found your hat." There are enough songs for each grade, and one of them is obviously written just for kinders -- . Susan Simandle, Music Specialist
------------------------------------
09/04 THE LITTLEST CHRISTMAS TREE by Theresa Jennings
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/pages.html?cart=3302784151966923&target=smp_detail.html%26sku%3DHL.44212067&s=pages-www.google.com/search&e=/sheetmusic/detail/HL.44212067.html&t=&k=&r=wwws-err5
-------------------------------------------------
09/04 KOOKABURRA’S CHRISTMAS DOWN UNDER by Theresa Jennings http://www.musick8.com/
I did this with my second graders.
10/04 UP ON A HOUSETOP -- I loved doing this Jacobson musical. Chimney sweeps are the characters, and they look down "chimneys" to discover different holiday traditions.... (each grade could do one). I gave the youngest ones the Christmas scenario and we did a nativity pantomime. Since we had Hannukah, a Fiesta, and Kwanzaa , also, it was allowable. Parents loved it. Laura Mc in IN
BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************
FACULTY CHRISTMAS SONGS
11/01 Our faculty singing group took the Christmas song, "Santa Claus is Coming to
Town", and changed the words. We inserted the name of our assistant principal
(who is in charge of discipline at out school) in the place of Santa Claus.
Instead of 'coming to town' we sang 'coming to class'. It turned out really
cute! And the Principal LOVED it! She framed a copy of the altered song and hung
it on her wall!
See also #12 Elementary Repetoire and #39 Program Ideas A-M
Frosty, the Snowman Shouldn't that be Snowperson?
Was a jolly, happy soul. Are you saying everyone that's round and white is jolly?
With a corncob pipe Have you thought about our smoking cessation program?
And a button nose, That button isn't ivory or leather, is it?
And two eyes made out of coal. Fossil fuel -- think about the ozone layer!
Down to the village Do you think small towns are more beneficial to students?
With a broomstick in his hand That's not a weapon, is it? ,br>
Running here and there, all around the square Running, no sense of purpose? sounds like Attention Deficit to me
Saying "catch me, if you can." Is this a cry for attention from Frosty?
He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop, Don't you mean "police officer"?
He only paused a moment when, he heard them holler stop. Yelling could cause permanent damage to these children.
Frosty, the snow person! Good, you're learning
Had to hurry on his way Type A personality, wouldn't you say?
But, he waved goodbye saying "don't you cry, Is he stifling these children's right to express their grief.
I'll be back again someday. "Someday" is pretty vague, making promises he doesn't intend to keep?
Thumpety thump thump Thumpety thump thump, What are you stopping for? This is the best part of the song.
Look at Frosty go etc etc.
-------------------
The Twelve Days of Workshop
(but) Not a single moment in my classroom.
On the Second day of workshop, this subject was discussed: Sexual harassment
On the third day of workshop, this subject was discussed: Site based management
On the fourth day of workshop, this subject was discussed: School consolisation
On the fifth day of workshop, this subject was discussed: outcomes and O.B.E.
On the sixth day of workshop, this subject was discussed: Sensitivity organizations
On the seventh day of workshop, this subject was discussed: More curriculum planning
On the eighth day of workshop, this subject was discussed: ECSU presentations
On the ninth day of workshop, this subject was discussed: Bloodborn pathogens
On the tenth day of workshop, this subject was discussed: Motivational speakers
On the eleventh day of workshop, this subject was discussed: Lunchroom supervision
On the twelvth other "impowering" seminars
BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************
GROUNDHOG DAY
06/06 CRAFT: It's a styrofoam cup with a hole in the bottom just big enough for a popsicle stick to poke through. I have a picture of a groundhog taped to the stick and a black shadow of the figure on one side of the cup (upside down). There are cotton balls around the top of the cup to look like snow. Then, we stick the stick down in the cup through the hole and let the groundhog pop up. We say, "Mr. Groundhog down below pops up through the fluffy snow. Sees his shadow watch him go. Winter's here to stay, Oh No!" In Michigan, we talk about the pros and cons of more winter. It's amazing how kids either love it or hate it by then. If he doesn't see his shadow, we say, "Mr. Groundhog down below pops up through the fluffy snow. Sees no shadow watch him play. Spring is on its way, Hurray!" This craft takes very little preparation except printing out the groundhog pictures and shadows. --
-----------------------
PARACHUTE ACTIVITY: Groundhog Galop in Vol. 9/3. http://www.musick8.com/
First we sing the song from the lyric sheet. Then we analyze the form with a poster I made. We had great fun with this in all my 2nd classes today. Thanks for sharing, Artie! The ABA form carried right over from our warm-up, "One Zero Zero," which we're practicing for our 100th day gathering. After a couple times through the "Galop," each class was able to change directions between the B sections. They will probably be able to add the toss at the end of the last A section. [We used a small parachute.]-- Artie Almeida (via Connie Herbon)
BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************
KWANZAA
(see also file #39 Program Ideas and #20 Holidays)
07/15 SONGS FOR TEACHING:
http://www.songsforteaching.com/store/kwanzaa-songs-holiday-cd-and-book-c-645.html
You can pick and choose songs, or do the whole thing as a 30 minute presentation with the narration. (see longer description at http://www.worldmusicpress.com/Kwanzaa.htm ) Available through Music K-8 Marketplace or your favorite dealer. -- Judith Cook Tucker, Publisher
World Music Press (ASCAP), www.worldmusicpress.com, [email protected]
-------------------------------
08/04 LET THERE BE LIGHT-(Cassette only) a true and inspiring holiday story of friendship and love, including Christmas, Chanukkah and Kwanzaa.
"Sparky(R) & the Firehouse 5(4 C's & A Q)(R)"-Cd of fire-safety songs written under the auspices of the NFPA. (National Fire Protection Assoc).
These can be ordered through Gloria Nissenson, 150 East 77th St.
NYC NY 10021, 212-249-2798, Fax 212-628-5819, [email protected] www.golliwoggalaxy.com
-------------------------------------
SONG: Stan Spottswood's song "The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa" has exactly that. It comes from his set, Kwanzaa Suite: A Musical Celebration (The History and Meaning of Kwanzaa in Song). It is a medium tempo, funkified 2-part song (that could be done in unison if desired, but is particularly good with both parts)with piano accompaniment that has a strong bass riff and simple percussion parts.
The complete set is copy-permissible and includes nine songs for Kwanzaa: one about the holiday, one on the seven principles, and a song for each of the principles, in all different styles from R&B, funk, gospel, ballad etc. Also included is information about Kwanzaa by Maulana Karenga, the person who created it in 1966, a narration for each song, rehearsal and movement suggestions, lyric sheets, and a demo CD featuring members of the Appalachian Children's Choir and the Stan Spottswood Combo with separate performance accompaniment tracks. You can get the complete set from Music K8 Marketplace or your favorite music dealer for $45 (remember most of it is copy-OK including all the musical scores).
----------------------------
01/03 COSTUME: For Kwaanza I am having the kids make "pill hats" (I don't know what else to call them) out of black construction paper and they will decorate them with bright construction paper shapes and designs. I am also purchasing some African looking fabric and cutting it in long strips for them to wear around their shoulders.
It need not wrap all the way around their bodies to look good. Have the girls wear a tank top (preferably close to the color of their skin; black/white work well) and shorts, no socks/shoes (unless standing on wooden risers, of course).
----
Another thing I did for Kwanzaa hats was to get some of those white fast food restaurant hats from a restaurant supplier. They already fit, are REALLY cheap-I have lots of leftovers-and were perfect to decorate with African colors and designs-which my art teacher supplied.
-----------------
BOOK: If you're interested in a good book to go with Kwanzaa I would recommend Wood Hopoe Willie. It's about a little boy who just can't stop tapping, shaking rapping etc. The music is in him just like in the Wood Hopoe bird. Cool story... During Kwanzaa there is a problem and the musicians can't make it to the festival one night. What's Kwanzaa without music. Willie is coerced into taking over.BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************
VALENTINE'S DAY
6/16 BOOK: "The Love Me Bird".
------------
06/10 VALENTINE CHANT w/ORFF
http://brownielocks.com/valentinelimericks.html
GREAT 5th GRADE activity at the bars. Have kids create a quick and dirty A section (whole group) with Roses are
red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you" chant. Then have individuals or pairs say one of these limericks as the B (c, d, e, g, h, i......) section, then back to the A section. I'd pass the poems out randomly and give them a little bit to practice them before we get started. --- Martha Stanley
-----------------------
10/08 CINNAMON HEART LISTENING ACTIVITY:
Materials Needed:
- tub of cinnamon hearts (sold at Walmart for $2.97)
-plain white napkins.
- drum
- listening selections in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 OR use selections suggested in
Listening Resource Kit Level 2
Introduction: Ask the students to move into the open area of your classroom. Play a 2/4 pattern on a drum and ask the students to move to the music. When you stop, they are to freeze. Ask them to tell you whether the beat was moving in twos, threes or fours. Have them move again as you play a pattern in 3/4 or 4/4. Exaggerate the meter so it’s easy for children to tell if it’s moving in twos, threes or fours. Stop, freeze and ask them again. Have them move again as you play a pattern in 3/4 or 4/4. Continue playing and moving until the students are able to answer correctly.
Ask the students to do the following ostinato with you as they listen:
pat legs - tap, tap, (tap shoulders) Transfer the ostinato to you tapping on a 3/4 beat chart. Ask the students to tell you how the beats are grouped. (3’s) They need to eat one cinnamon heart and tap just 3 beats as the music plays.
Then play a piece of music in 2/4 time: Listening Resource Kit Level 2: 2/4 #25 Allegro, from “Spring”, Vivaldi, The Four Seasons
Perform the ostinato, pat-tap, pat-tap. Ask the students to tell you how the beats are grouped. (2’s). They need to eat one heart and tap just 2 beats on their cinnamon hearts as the music plays. If you don’t have the “Listening Resource Kit” you could choose music from the Musicplay binder in 4/4, 3/4, or 2/4 time. Let them take the rest of the cinnamon hearts home with them.
Musicplay Grade 2 CD’s:
4/4 CD1 #3 Ridin’ that New River Train
3/4 CD 2 #9 On Top of Spaghetti
2/4 CD 1 #12 Obwisana
This lesson is given in the Musicplay 2 Teacher’s guide, and is being sent out to all who are on the Musicplay Newsletter list. You can visit musicplay.ca to sign up for the newsletter if you don’t get it now. This was an all-time-favorite listening lesson for my students, and is perfect for next week! -- Denise Gagne www.musicplay.ca Musicplay – the Sequential Text Series [email protected] 888-562-4647
------------------------------
06/07 THE ROSE DANCE world's easiest dance! Line up 3 chairs, side by side.In front of one chair (right side), all the girls line up; in front of the left chair, all the boys line up; in the center chair, put a plastic rose. Use any jig or reel music. In a nutshell, there is always a girl in the girl chair, always a boy in the boy chair, and the person with the rose in the center chair (can be either a boy or girl). The person with the rose gives it to one of the people in the other chair, then dances down between the two lines (the alley) with the other person, so technically, a girl never has to choose a boy to dance with, and vice versa. Then the person who was given the rose moves over to the center chair and it all starts again.
------------------------
06/07 WEBSITES (Songs) http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station03/music_station_feb03.shtml
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/occasion-rhymes.htm
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/holiday_themes/valentine.html
GOOD SONGS - original songs free!!, recordings, sheet music, http://nancymusic.com/Whovalplay.htm
--------------------------
01/07 I use a song for valentines day which is very east for k-2 which could be used with barred instruments. For kinders have eight Valentine cards to hold up with numbers on them. For other grades do actions plus add CG bordun. [Original source unknown]
Paper lace and colored valentines.titi titi ta ta ta ta taah CDEFG G AA G (tambourines play the sylables)
First you cut and then you paste ta ta ta ta ta ta taah FFEEDDC (hand drums)
See the pretty Valentines ta ta ta ta ta ta taah FFEEDDC (everyone plays softly) -- Sue Michiels
-------------------------------
06/06 RIDDLES: 1. A sweet sign of affection......
2. The galaxy ...................
3. The red planet................
4. The Famous Swashbuckling trio ...........
5. When you don't laugh out loud.........
6. When something slips out of your hand.......
7. A famous Author............
8. A famous baseball player...............
9. A famous street in NY........
10. Superman's other identity..
11. Every employee's favorite day..........
12. Pleasingly Plump.............
13. Game Points.......
14. A dry Cow.............
15. Fine and Abundant...............
16.What a dog does for "tweets"............
17. Sun Explosion............
18. Round flotation device.............
19. Sweet infants...............
20. Happy Cattlemen.....
21. What's in a Bee Hive.................??
22. Indian Burial Grounds................??
The Milky Way
Mars
3 Musketeers
Snickers
Dorps (?)
O'Henry
Babe Ruth
5th Ave
Clark Bar
Payday
Chunky Bar
Scores
Milk Duds
Good and Plenty
Twix
Starburst
Lifesavers
Sugar Babies
Jolly Ranchers
-------------------------------------------
06/06 SONGS: Malvina Reynolds's song "Magic Penny" LYRICS: http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/MALVINA/mr101.htm
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IclFQj4l3F0------------
"Love Grows" (1981) by Carol Johnson -http://www.caroljohnsonmusic.com/products.shtml
---------------
06/05 Each student had a laminated staff, some bingo chips, and a baggie of 10 conversation hearts. We reviewed the musical alphabet. Then they each took out one heart. They had to see if any of the letters on their heart were in the musical alphabet and then put a bingo chip on that note. For example, if their word was love, they had to put a bingo chip on E. Once I checked it, they could eat that candy, clear their staff and take a new candy out of their baggie. If their heart did not have any letters in the musical alphabet, they could eat it and take a new one. My first class got pretty loud. My 2nd one was great, though! I have one student in my 2nd class who is autistic and one who has PDD. Their aid worked with them and that is the most work I have gotten out of them all year! The kids loved this activity.
--------------------------------
06/05 I just laid out month at a glance plans for my Elem. classes with V day activities worked in. Here's what I'm planning: 5ths: Make New Friends (MK8) Valentine Vendor (MK8) "Give away your hearts" candy passing game... Give each player a small dixie cup with 10 candy hearts. Choose some up beat pop love song or something. While music is playing, players take any no. of hearts and give them to another player (who must accept them). Giving and accepting hearts continues as long as the music is playing. Stop the music and call out a number between 0-20 "Stop, and count 12" for example. All players begin counting the hearts in their cup. Anyone with exactly 12 is "out". Restart the music with players continuing to give/receive hearts. Stop music and let the previous "out" player choose the new number. Some helpful hints: any player who refuses to accept someone's hearts is automatically out. So is anyone who refuses to give hearts away and simply hordes whatever he has in his cup. So, if I'm playing, during one round, I may give away 3 hearts, then 2, then 5, etc. At the same time players may be offering me some of theirs. This keeps my total number of hearts continuously changing.
----------------------------
06/05 There is a wonderful Valentine's Day book called "The Ballad of St. Valentine" by Allison Jackson (who also did "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie"). The words can be sung to "Clementine." It's very cute. - Leigh
--------------------------
06/05 Pass out a handful of the conversation hearts. Kids make up a composition using the words on the conversation hearts. Perform the compositions. (they do this in groups) Put the candies on a blank piece of clean paper. When their done....they can eat them. -- Rhonda
---------------------
06/05 You can substitute different words for different holidays. Form a circle sitting down , one child holds a big valentine or shamrock or other prop.
"It" (Child with prop) walks around the circle as all sing to the tune of This Old Man:
Valentine Valentine Will you be my Valentine?
Number 1, number 2, Number 3, it must be you! Take this Valentine please do.
You can also sing "Leprechaun, Leprechaun...take this shamrock now please do!" -- Dianne Park President, San Diego American Orff Schulwerk Association; Visit our SDAOSA website at http://www.sbsd.k12.ca.us/music/
------------------------------------
06/04 For the little ones: How about using a heart (plastic or paper)
I did a circle game that can be done for any holiday by changing the
words.
Who has got my Valentine?
Number 1, number 2, number 3 it must be YOU!
Take this Valentine please do.
Children sit in a circle. One person ( IT) has a big, colorful paper Valentine.(or a basket with eggs in it) IT walks or skips around the circle as everyone sings the song. On #1, #2, #3, it points to students 1, 2, and 3 ass he passes them. On #3, IT gives the heart to the third student counted. #3 now becomes IT-BUT the first IT stays in the game by taking her place behind IT. (Like a train) The game continues until all children have had a turn to be it and all children are in a train line. The final IT gets to take the heart train all around the room. Kids just love this. - Contributed by Dianne Park
-----------------------------
06/04 It's called "Ballad of Valentine" and is by Allison Jackson. The words are a
parody of "Clementine." If you haven't got Allison Jackson's "I Know and Old
Woman Who Swallowed a Pie" (which by the way is an excellent Thanksgiving
book). You should run right out and buy both. She's great!! -- Contributed by Leigh
-------------------------------
06/04 I'm using the basic idea that was listed - passing a basket around with construction paper hearts with words from conversation hearts written on one side. On the other side I have written the corresponding rhythm patterns. I had the CD of Valentine Vendor playing while the students passed the basket around. I would randomly stop the music and the student holding the basket took out a valentine and read the words and the rhythm. This was such a hit and we had a lot of laughs- especially with the "Marry me" and "Hug Me" valentines!! Thank you for another great idea! - Contributed by Roz Warren
--------------------------------
04/03 We used conversation hearts on Hal Leonard's music flash cards (laminated wipe-off staff cards, about 8 1/2 x 11, with a single staff on it). Each student started with 12 hearts. I would call out a word spelled with letters A-G and they used the hearts as noteheads and spelled the words on the lines and spaces. If they got it right, they got one more heart. At the end of class, of course, they got to eat them. For my low ability groups, I wrote the word on the board so that they had the letter spelling correct and did not have the additional frustration of that element. Kids loved it! -- Contributed by Barb in WI
------------------------
03/02 Teach rhythm: ta ta ta rest
Use the following instruments to teach the above rhythm and movement. The
entire pattern is 16 beats.
1. Drum: stamp stamp stamp rest
2. cowbell: clap clap clap rest
3. shake tambourine for four beats and turn completely around
4. woodblock: jump and turn (3 jumps so that you are facing the opposite
direction)
Teach song:
1, 2, 3 Who will it be?
Who will be my valentine? 1, 2, 3
4, 5, 6 I'm in a fix Who will be my valentine?
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Who's on the line?
Yes, I'll be your valentine 7, 8, 9
Do, Do, Do (Rest), Mi, Mi-Mi, Mi (Rest)
So-So, So-La, So-Mi,Do, Mi, Re, Do (Rest)
Make a circle and then put students in pairs, facing their partner.
Sing song & do movements together. At end of each verse, students will
jump and turn around, facing a NEW PARTNER.
At end of song, students will jump & turn around facing their "special
valentine." I always tell students that this is their "special friend"
whom they need to do something special for.
-----------------
02/02 There is a really cute song called "Buenos Dias" that we use a similar dance
to... partners face one another; shake right hands, shake left hands, (hands are
crossed in holding pattern) they gently swing around and change places and
then turn their backs to one another thus becoming the partner of a new
person. They love doing this dance with just about any song that is 16 beats
in length.
------------------
01/02 I'm going to try a beat lesson this week with Cinnamon hearts. We've been
working on meter in Grade 2 and 3. Listening to music and trying to tell
via body percussion ostinati, how the beats are grouped.
So... I bought a big container of cinnamon hearts. I'm going to give each
child 4 hearts. They are going to tap the beats of 3-4 selections and see
if they can tell me if the beats are in groups of 2, 3 or 4.
Then of course, they get to eat the hearts.
For examples, I'm using the Listening Kit CD 2. (Guides still aren't printed - mid Feb. but CD's are done)
4/4 Overture, Handel
3/4 Minuet in G, Bach
4/4 Contradance, Mozart
4/4 Pantomime, Mozart
---------------------
01/02 NOTATION: I pass out a baggie with 4 of those candy hearts in it. They then look at
the hearts they have and notate the sayings from their hearts. We go a
step further and create a rhythmic composition with an ostinato, dynamics,
and rhythm instruments.
---
01/02 SONG/GAME In MacMillan's Music and You (1991) 2nd grade book, there is a song "When
You Send a Valentine." A cute game goes with it, and there is a rhythm
activity, as well.
---
01/02 SONG by Brian Merrell: My 1st & 2nd graders like this song!
Won't you be my V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E? If you do you surely know how happy I will be.
Sugar and spice and all things nice, That's what you are to me.
Won't you be my V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E?
Repeat for phrases 3 &4
Rhythm: I I I I I I I I I I I I I rest
I focus on the rhythm of spelling Valentine, put the rhythm above the
letters, and remove 1 beat at a time, like BINGO. It's helped develop the
concept of 2 sounds to a beat. We use body sounds or percussion to fill in
the omitted letters.
It's also a good song to use for inner hearing.
---
01/02 GAME: Make 6 hearts out of cardboard (I used a graphic heart with lace on it) and print a number in the middle of each one (numbers 1-6).
---
01/02 Be My Valentine (MK8: 3-3) Bounce a ball on the 1st and third beats, catch on 2
and four.
------------------------
PROGRAM: THEME - SONGS FROM THE HEART (the program is 3 days before Valentine's)
*Love Round (a pretty opening round)
DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE:
**I Love the Mountains ( with boom-de-ada ostinato by boys and round by girls)
I Love Music (an echo song)
*Never Gonna Be Your Valentine (appropriate for this confused age level)
OLD FAVORITES THROUGH TIME:
*Daisy/ Bicycle Built for Two
**I Got Rhythm (their favorite)
*Heart and Soul (they're glad to finally know the words to that piano song
everyone can play)
I Can't Help Falling In Love With You (a touch of Elvis.this IS the south!)
Where Is Love (maybe)
Go Now In Peace (another pretty round with which to close)
WORLD LOVE/BROTHERHOOD:
*What a Wonderful World (my personal favorite)
Had 8 phenomenol soloists.....brought the house down!
------------------------
SONGS: Love Songs through Time:
The Water Is Wide traditional American folk song '95 Silver Burdett 6th Grade, CD:10-30(used words of Luigi Zaninelli version)-good melody
Daisy Bell by Harry Dacre - Old '91 Silver Burdett 3rd Grade, CD:2-4
Had 4 pairs of dancers waltzing
---CD:3-20 Had flapper dancers (girls) and "cross-legged knee/butterfly dance" (boys)
I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin '95 Silver Burdett 6th Grade, CD: 6-3
------
Varied words a bit (guys sang "my gal" on their verses)
Can't Help Falling In Love with You-by G. Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore
----------
(created chordal synthesized accompaniment with Band-In A Box)
Never Gonna Be Your Valentine by Linda Williams Old '91 Silver Burdett 3rd Grade, CD 6-24
----------
Added some choreographed motions to match words
--------------------------
FUND RAISER: The kids are designing GIANT hearts to decorate the stage and cafeteria. Desserts are donated by local restaurants, parents pay $2 each, and we usually clear $700 for the music program. It's fun.
-------------
GAME: We sing the Messenger song (Share the Music, Kinder. page T248). I make up heart-shaped pieces of red construction paper and put them in envelopes. Each heart has the name of an instrument on it (güiro, wood block, drum, etc...) All kids sit in a circle. One kid is the mailperson, and that kid walks around the circle (with their feet on the beat--or at least we try!) with the Valentines in his/her hand while everybody sings. When the song is over, the mailperson stops wherever they are. The mailperson hands one of the Valentines to the kid they stopped at, and that kid goes to get the instrument indicated on their card. They take the instruments back to their spots in the circle and play on the beat. After all the cards are used up, you choose a new mailperson and play again and again until all have had an instrument or been the mailperson.
-------------
MOVEMENT: 1st grade: This is an activity I have done with my first graders for a couple of years now. (It is from the book entitled Holiday Music Activities for the Entire School Year" by Cynthia S. Bramscher. Parker Publishing) It is called: Hop-a-Heart. Give each student in your class a thick piece of red yarn that is about 90" long. Students scatter around the room so that they are not close to a neighbor. The students form a heart shape on the floor with their piece of yarn. Play a recording of bouncy, rhythmic music - students move to the beat in various ways that you direct them, ll inside of their heart. Ring a bell, tap a drum or use some other sound to signal for them to continue the movement outside of the heart. When you signal a second time, they move back in the heart and so on. This is just a fun way to move to music and keep the beat.
----------------
SONGS: We did these for a special valentine program (Kindergarten) tune: black gospel Amen (sway and clap on 2 and 4 while singing)words: We love you We love you We love you, Mr/Mrs. _________You are nice etc... (Have kids make up more verses.) You are ____________.
tune: Frere Jacque words: Hugs and kisses, hugs and kisses (hug and twist at waist) Smiles too, smiles too (MUSIC fingers twist at dimples Mr/Mrs/Miss _____, Mr/Mrs/Miss ____ (reach out arms twice), We love (hands on heart) you (hands out toward teacher), we love you.
Then we did a little la, sol, mi love song i wrote for them
-------------
NOTE NAMES: I always use red paper and have the kids cut out hearts with a staff in the middle of them. They are "secret message valentines". The kids used treble clef notes to help spell out a secret message, like the notes for b and e, then the word "mine". I hope this makes sense. We hung them in the hall for everyone to see.
-------------------
PROGRAM: Led off with Be My Valentine - - and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a Chorus which actually sang what I told them to, and divided themselves into two distinct parts on the third verse. Praise to Teresa (melody from The King and I). Second came Listen To The Beat of My Heart - - which was interpreted freely by a whole slew of Elvis impersonators, one of which, (a girl) was actually good. Everyone got an enormous kick out of it. Next was Be My Valentine-Oh, which was led by ten students with large posters of the syllables red on white, and the audience sang along. While the audience was singing along, all the Chorus students who did not have another part (were not Elvis impersonators, rock stars and groupies, tap dancers or poster-holders) walked down into the auditorium and passed out small red and pink hearts to each member of the audience. Great song! They had time to get down there, mill around, pass stuff out, and get back!
--------------------
MUSIC SYMBOLS: I adapted the "Snowman" idea that someone sent in to a Valentine theme. I am fortunate enough to have whiteboards and dry erase markers for all of my students. I had them draw a heart in the center of the board. Then I gave directions such as "draw a half rest for a hat" or "quarter notes for legs" or "fermatas for eyes" or "crescendo and diminuendo" for mouth", etc. I drew my Valentine person on my whiteboard so that they couldn't see it (they were sitting on the floor and I was sitting in a chair). Then I revealed what the correct Valentine person should look like. After the first two attempts, they were experts. I let them take turns designing our Valentine "person." Pencil and paper or crayons and paper would work fine, I'm sure.
--------------------
DANCE: Also--we enjoyed dancing to "Wouldja, Wouldja, Wouldja." Since my school is focusing on brain-based research this year, we are doing all that we can to encourage students to cross the midpoint. Therefore, I try to choreograph with that in mind. (Plank Road 10:3 or 4?)
Couldja, couldja, couldja, Step L, R steps behind, step L(grapevine step), touch R & clap
Wouldja wouldja be my Valentine patschen, patschen, clap clap hands cross twice in front of waist (ala "Grease") and then twice more with opposite hand on top
(all of this is repeated)
B Section (great for teaching form!)
A Valentine would be so fine with chocolate hearts and candy Stand still and draw large heart in front of body with both hands starting at top center of heart. You must plan your movement so that you finish your heart by the end of the phrase.
A card for me a card for you point to "audience" three times point to self three times
Wouldn't that be so sweet and dandy Starburst hands high, gradually coming down to side of body
The song then returns to the "A" section and you repeat the grapevine step.
----------------
NOTE NAMES: I used the idea with my fourth grade classes. I divided each class into 5 groups and gave each group a white board (lap size) with staves on it. Then I gave each kid a candy heart with words on it. They had to put all their group's letters (those that belong on the staff) on the white board and write the letters' names under them. Next, they had to spell out two words on the staff using the letters they had, again naming the notes. If they got their notes right they could eat their candies, and I gave them each another candy so they could erase their boards and do it again with other letters. I noticed a BIG increase in the speed with which they wrote the notes on the staff, even in the short half-hour that they played the game. The next time I saw them we took the note-naming speed-drill, and I had ALOT more kids passing!
----------------
SONGS: Two recorded songs which my second and third graders love to sing with (and sing with me on guitar) are John McCutcheon's version of the Woody Guthrie classic "Mail Myself To You" (Rounder CD: Mail Myself To You) and Mr. Al's "Point To Someone You Love" (Melody House CD: Rock The Baby).
------------------
BUILDING BRIDGES
I really enjoy teaching the song, "Love Can Build a Bridge," by Wynnona Judd. I use a wonderful picture book of the same title by Naomi Judd that shows acts of kindness starting with one child who passes it on to another.
In the end of the book, the kindness comes back to the first child. My book came with a cassette copy of the Judd's original recording. I am going to add sign language to this song this year. This song is the most awesome song for singing about real love between all kinds of people, not just romantic love. All my students adore it and can't wait to sing it each year!
-----------------------
GAME: I have a great all-purpose game we play,using various props for the time of the year. I wrote this originally for Valentine's Day, but I have since also used it for St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and now for winter. I use stuffed animal type props: a heart for Valentine's Day, a great green leprechaun for St. Pat's, a pumpkin, a turkey and a snowman.
so do do | do do | re | mi | so re re | re re | mi | re |
Val-en-tine|round the |cir-|cle,| Val-en-tine|round the|cir-|cle,|
so do do | do do | re | mi | mi mi mi | re re | do | ||
Val-en-tine|round the |cir-|cle,| Stop at a | friend of | mine. | ||
-----------------------
GAME: Valentine Hunt - 3d-4th grade
Several hearts are cut from construction paper with a number on each one:
Paste questions to answer, /graphics/symbols to identify; Paste them up around the room in plain site and children go around with a worksheet and clipboard or notebook to write on, and answer each valentine they come across and move on to another. There should be no talking during the hunt to reduce 'help' from each other.
--------------------------
RHYTHMIC DICTATION: Use candy hearts instead of notes on staffs for dictation practice (Each child has a staff, clef and hearts.
----------------
GAME: I like to play A-tisket A-tasket. I just draw a red heart on a sheet of paper, and if I can find it I pull out a "little yellow basket" I've got lying around.
READING: Keep up with NUA strategies and school policies for having ALL teachers support the promotion of reading: students get SILENT as you read the book called, "Arthur's Valentine," to all grade levels. (Yes, it's an Arthur book! 21 years old, so they are interested to know that Arthur used to look different than he does today.) Ditties in the book lend themselves to singing. Add Silver Burdett's 3rd grade book song that matches the attitude of Arthur's book: "Never Gonna Be Your Valentine." Watch out: Your ornery students will be sing-yelling along expressing their "love-is-yucky-but-I-might-like-it" attitude. Have fun! From an elementary music teacher you can call "Ms. Mo" :)
BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************PRESIDENT'S DAY
07/11 (sung to “10 Little Indians”)
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison
Monroe, Quincy Adams, Jackson, Van Buren,
Harrison, Tyler, Polk and Taylor,
Filmore, Pierce, Buchanan.
Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison,
McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson.
Harding, Coolidge, Hoover.
Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter.
Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and OBAMA
-----------------------------------------------
BACK to Top of Page
*************************************************************************EARTH DAY
07/11 2 Parodies: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth/rrr.htm
Every Day radio project: lists of artist and songs (Ecology related) *************************************************************************
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
07/11 FREE SONGS: Pass the Potato & Lepechauns and Shamrocks
http://nancymusic.com/SOM-alpha.htm
-----------------------------
07/11 Tricky Leprechaun from one of the older K-8 editions. I've done it for years, and kindergarteners love it! I play Muffin Man with first grade. Sometimes I'll also do asimple cup game with a recording of "Old Irish Washerwoman" ----- Karen Stafford
-------------------------------------
06/10 IRISH WASHERWOMAN – ACTIONS: I have a washboard and a tub that I display for this. The words for the A section (32 beats) are; “scrub, wring, rinse, wring.”
Wring out the soapy water 8 times.
Scrub it 8 more times to get the soapy water out.
Wring it the clean water 8 more times.
B Section (32 beats): Words: Â pin it up, take it down
Reach up to the clothes line and then move your hand back to the basket for
more clothes; say pin it up. 8 times. Move along the clothesline to your
right (left, whatever).
Then reverse the motion and go left and say take it down. My kids have
enjoyed reaching up and then clapping their other hand holding the basket at
their waists. Then we go again. Â I use Phyllis Weikart's Irish Washerwoman CD for this. --- Martha Stanley
---------------------------
RHYTHM PRACTICE: Artie Almeida just shared this with us at our recent Orff workshop-she called it
Musical Valentines (or shamrocks, pumpkins, whatever). Write rhythm patterns
on the back of paper shamrocks ( age appropriate of course) then play on
metals, skins, and woods. Artie used two different colors of paper (
red/pink) and put more difficult patterns on one color, easier on another.
Just for a challenge.
A section Chant:
Send me a shamrock, a musical shamrock.
Send me a shamrock, and make it sound good.
Play it on metal, play it on wood.
B section: play shamrock rhythms ( each timbre in turn, finish with all)
My student intern loved this so much she took home light green and dark green construction paper and said she will return to teach this lesson next week!
---------------------
06/10 1. JOHN, JOHN THE LEPRECHAUN Create an ostinato accompaniment for a poem.
Have the students create 4 beat rhythm patterns.
Divide the class into 2 groups. Have one recite the poem. Have the
other group play the ostinato using body percussion or non-pitched
instruments.
Use the poem to review or teach 2/4 meter.
Have the kids make up variations, using one thing that St. Patrick's
Day makes them think of.
Have them create a chant that lasts 8 beats. It could rhyme, but
wouldn't have to, as long as the chant is 8 beats.
If the kids are having troubles thinking something up, give them a
starter, or create variations as a class.
Decide on non-pitched rhythm instruments to play with their variations.
I like to have the kids do their chant once with words, and then once
just with instruments. (16 beats total)
This really reinforces that rhythm is the way that the words go.
Green, green, think of green St. Patrick's day I think of green
Four leaf clover brings good luck Lucky four leaf clover.
There's a rainbow in the sky Pot of gold at the end - oh my!
Caught a fish and dropped it in again.
Poor old Michael Finnigan begin again!
Because they said he must not sing again.
Poor old Michael Finnigan begin again!
There is a nice folksinger slow one at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Ys64DT9cA
--- Denise Gagne www.musicplay.ca Musicplay – the Sequential Text Series [email protected] 888-562-4647
------------------------
06/05 For the Irish Cup game, I used the song "O'Keefe's Dance/Kelly Dance" from Rhythmically Moving #1. It was the perfect tempo and there was actually 2 sections to it, so we (my classes and I) wrote a 2nd part to the cup game. Really easy and fun to do! Here's what we did: We did Sue's version 2 times through. Then we added this: Clap, grab, pop, down, clap, grab, pass. For grab, you grab the bottom of the cup and pick it up. For pop, you hit the open part of the cup with your other hand. For down, you put the cup down. We loved it and the kids helped me make up that part. That was the best part for them -the creating part. -- Sue Michiels
----------------------------
06/05 K/1st grade: When we have a large class, I have two kids who are sitting in the chair to guess and two who are singing together. Of course, sometimes they need to hear one child at a time But they do okay and have fun. Our lyrics (to the tune of "Muffin Man") which ALL sing, go something like:
Do you know the leprechaun, The leprechaun, the leprechaun?
Do you know the leprechaun, Who comes from Ireland?
Yes I know the leprechaun, The leprechaun, the leprechaun Yes I know the leprechaun, Who comes from Ireland?
-------------------------------
PARODIES: http://www.preschooleducation.com/spatrick.shtml
--------------------------------
Easter
06/04 GREEN SHAMROCK: . I did a circle game that can be done for any holiday by changing the words.
Who has got my Leprechaun?
Number 1, number 2, number 3 it must be YOU!
Take this shamrock now please do.
Children sit in a circle. One person ( IT) has a big, colorful paper shamrock.(or a basket with eggs in it) IT walks or skips around the circle as everyone sings the song. On #1, #2, #3, it points to students 1, 2, and 3 as he passes them. On #3, IT gives the shamrock to the third student counted. #3 now becomes IT-BUT the first IT stays in the game by taking her place behind IT. (Like a train) The game continues until all children have had a turn to be it and all children are in a train line. The final IT gets to take the Shamrock train all around the room. Kids just love this. - Contributed by Dianne Park
-----------------------------
02/04 SONG SUGGESTIONS:
Skinnamarinck
Mail Myself To You
Little Dutch Girl (I L-O-V-E, Love you, etc)
Froggie Went A-Courtin' (MK8 has a good version) (also go to library and get ALL the different versions of this to share)
A, You're Adorable (Sharon, Lois & Bram)
There's A Little Wheel A-Turnin' in My Heart - Contributed by Suzanne DeVene
-------------------------------
04/03 For my K's, I did "Frosty Weather", and we made up a dance that went with the words. I did that with second, too. First and second also did a really neat game with "Muffin Man" (which is English), that I found in a book. Darn can't remember the name. It has an illustration representing kids around a circle, and has quite a few play games, Native American, some African, American regional....
---------------------
04/03 1st-2d Grade: John Jacobsen's "Holiday Hop til You Drop". The Pig who did the Irish Jig is really cute. Randy Delelles and Jeff Kriske's St. Patrick's Day. Duh, I forgot which holiday book!
My 3'ds are progressing on "Paddy Works on the Railroad". Today, they picked out the G's and F's, which helped them find the harmony changes. They played G's for the G minor harmonies, and A's for the F7 harmonies! Next week, we'll see what kind of borduns we can do with it.
4-6-only Irish thing they're doing is the Irish working on the railway for How the West Was Really Won!":-)
-------------------
04/03 I use the singing game "Where's That Leprechan?" (MK8, vol.10-4 Network) game for 1st. It's a typical "getting-louder/softer-to-guide-the-searcher" game set to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle..." We hide a little plastic leprechan for the searcher to find by walking around the circle and listening to the dynamic changes in the singing. It would work for 2nd also.-- Contributed by Connie Herbon
----------------------
03/02 I already have my St. Pat's bulletin board up so I dressed as a leprechaun (hat, vest, green stockings, etc) I portrayed the leprechaun in the ballad "The Leprechaun"from the old SB series. (On a shady nook one moonlit night, a leprechaun I spied...) and also in the story "Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk" by Gerald McDermott. My lesson was for K-2 kids. I began by pulling things out of my "Irish treasure box"--a penny whistle (which I played), a "pot of gold', a violin (a small fiddle that plays with a battery in it-the kids loved this and said I was a tricky leprechaun!), a shamrock, pictures of the Irish harp and the Irish Coat of Arms (which has a harp on it). Then I took out my autoharp and told them this was a type of harp I could play an Irish song on. I proceeded with the ballad of the leprechaun. They LOVE this song because the leprechaun tricks the singer out of the gold in the end.
After that we danced an Irish jig and then settled back down for the Tim O'Toole story. I always use my "Irish Brogue" when I tell these tales. It was fun and had NOTHING to do with Dr. Seuss but lots to do with stories- musical and otherwise!
---------------------------
Pass a potato around to music: Irish Washerwoman www.celticlinks.com quick, get yourself some Chieftains music! they did a great live recording a few yrs. back with Roger Daltry (The Who) and Nancy Griffiths (From a Distance composer). You could do some circle dance choreography to one of their fast tunes. Watch a little of the River Dance video. Learn to sing "Who Threw the Overalls in Mistress Murphy's Chowder;"
Jerry Wilson's site has information about this holiday:
http://www.wilstar.com/holidays
---------------------------
St. Patrick's Day Jig - the game is played like 'Wishy Washy Wee' (If you don't know this game it is in Singing Games Children Love, Vol. 1)
Form a circle. One child (the leprechaun) walks around the circle during the singing of the first part. On the chorus, the child chooses a partner and they jig together. All the children in the circle do a jig alone - a la Sailor's Hornpipe.
Then there are two children who are leprechaun's, then 4, 8 16 32. When all children are selected begin again.
The words to the song are: Come along with me and I will show you how to play We'll dance and sing like leprechauns upon St. Patrick's Day Oh dance a jig an Irish Jig upon St. Patrick's day We'll dance and sing like leprechauns upon St. Patrick's Day
It is from the book, "Sing and Play on Special Days" Email [email protected] for information or visit www.christmasconcert.com
BACK to Top of Page
********************************************************************
EASTER
06/07 EGG SHAKERS along with rhythmic activities: “Who has Green (sms)” Students answer and hold up their egg: “We have Green”
06/04 MOVEMENT: They are bunnies and are asleep in their holes in the valley. There is no talking allowed. They are to react only to the music I improvise on the piano. Each time I did it, it was different, but the main ideas stayed the same. I played light, flowing patterns for the sleeping bunnies.
-----------------------
- Contributed by Dianne Park
-----------------------------
04/03 GAME: Here's a simple game that ended up being a WINNER with everyone of my classes. I spent the first 10 minutes of each class playing this:
--------------------
04/03 EGG SHAKER PEOPLE: I made the egg shakers into "people." They are so cute, if I do say so myself. I just went crazy with the glue gun. most have different colored tops from bottoms. Grandma has white hair and a bit of wire for glasses, then there's the Hawaiian girl with a grass hula skirt, the nerd (looks like Bert w/ a bit of yarn sprigs for hair and moustache) with big butterbean nose and ears, Big-lips has a huge red mouth, Blue-eyes w/ blue jewels for eyes, Cowboy has a hat and vest, OH! and the Chinese boy with a single black braid of yarn....etc... "Be careful, don't kill them!" --
Contributed by Wynne Alexander
----------------------
04/03 MYSTERY SHAKERS I made mystery egg shakers for my kids to use this week based on someone else's suggestion. I just thought I would share what I put in them:
-------------------
04/03 (Variation on someone else's idea:) I have (on blank 5 x 7 cards laminated) pictures (colorful) and words for various Easter related objects (chocolate bunny, easter basket and so on) and a basket. Before passing out the eggs, we say and clap the words, then clap the rhythms (rhythms are not printed on cards) . Pass out eggs. Then I ask each student to do one card (shake rhythm with egg). Then class 'shakes' each rhythm together. At the end of class, the kids take their turns rolling their egg as close as they can to basket without touching it. (Removing eggs further away as you go). Contributed by Sandy Toms
----------------------
04/02 MK8 SONGS Plank Rd. Publishing: http://www.musick8.com: Hard Boiled Egg 9/4; Dip an Egg 10/4; Count Your Speckled Eggs 12/4; Jelly Bean Blues 12/4; I do the Bunny Hop with K-2 Funny Bunny 8/4: We did the swim, boogaloo and the monkey and pretended to play the drums on the Ha! part
--------------
04/02 EGG HUNT: I do a really fun activity for Easter that my kids LOVE....The "noisy" Easter Egg Hunt! I buy plastic easter eggs. I fill 2 eggs with tacks, 2 with a bingo chip, 2 with a penny, 2 with beads, 2 with chalk, 2 with hooks, 2 with popcorn kernels, etc... you get the idea. Anyway, do as many as you need. When the class comes in the as many eggs as you have students are already hidden. I give them directions to find only ONE egg and then go back to their seats! After they've all found the egg, it's time for the HUNT. They have to go around the room and find the egg that sound exactly like theirs and sit with that person. When everyone has found their match I go around the room and we check to see who matched correctly and they get an Easter treat.
--------------
04/02 Last year when I was student teaching we had an a cut out of an easter egg where a broken half folded in front of the big egg so you could write something inside and fold it over to cover the answer. Then inside I put pictures of things we were reviewing like staff, treble clef, quarter note...and we had an easter egg hunt. There were like 10 things we were reviewing and 4 of each item. I think I used blue, green, yellow, and purple - all pastel colors. By having 4 of each item there were 4 winners each round and if youhad a blue, yellow, and purple come in already you knew there was still a green one out there. I hid them around the room but they were all in visible places. This room was also the library so the last thing I needed was the kids going through all of the books on the shelves. The activity worked well and they loved it. Towards the end I only had the kids who had not found an egg yet go and find one. This year since I don't have the accucut I may just cut out ovals and have the eggs flipped over on the floor. I may also add some blank eggs just because when you say the last item it's like "Hmm...I wonder where they are?" I would recommend that you get the eggs laminated before you do this because I did have a few accidents even with the "Be Careful" speech.
------------------------
EGG RHYTHMS: I had a fluke of an idea today and it worked. In one of Kriske/Delellesbooks there is a little easter egg song for primary grades. It shows a visual of 4 easter baskets and you make easter eggs to stick on the baskets with ta, ti-ti, and rest (symbols) written on each egg.I pulled this out of my files and used the song "Hard Boiled Eggs" with the game. The students are assigned to a basket, one person per basket at a time. I have the baskets on the board at the front of the room. When it's their turn, they place four eggs in their basket to form a 4 beat pattern. Now these eggs are stuck on the outside of cardboard baskets so when they finish there is a 4 measure rhythm. We read the rhythm as "egg" for ta, "easter" for ti-ti and "sh" for rest. This game is a Kriske/Delelles creation, it's not mine. But I took Hard Boiled Egg from V9#4 and used it instead of the other song. We chant "If you want to be an easter egg, you gotta be--hard boiled" four times while one set of students place their eggs in the baskets. We sing "Hard boiled eggs" 4 times while returning to their seats. The class then speaks the 4 measure rhythm and then speaks and claps the rhythm. As I take the eggs off of the baskets, we chant "If you want to be, if you want to be", then it's time for the next 4 to have their turn. We continue until everyone has a turn. The phrases in parenthesis are from the song in V9#4.
-----------------------------
GAME: Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar: we have been using the plastic easter eggs filled with dried split pea soup.The eggs are then taped so they don't come apart. We use the eggs to keep the beat during the rhythmic song, shake them like maracas. Then we put the eggs in from of us in the circle. When your name is called during the song, the students rolls the egg to see how close they can come to the easter basket the basket is in the middle of the circle. All my kids have loved it. My 3rd graders wanted to do it again. So I changed it a little more, off the top of my head. They throw the egg into the air and had to catch it using a 2 beat throw. Man, the boys loved this. They were even throwing back and forth to each other and still keeping the beat. My rule was that they still had to say the rhythmic chat when they were doing this.
-----------------------
GAME: A Tisket a tasket, I lost my Easter basket, Look up high, look down low,
Look until you find it., Find it, find it, look until you find it
Look up high, look down low,, Look until you find it.
-----------------------
FIND THE RHYTHM: I have laminated "ta" and "ti-ti" patterns on my paper eggs and have half the class hide them while the other half sits and closes their eyes. The rule is that "one third of the egg has to be visible." I tell them my desk area and bookshelves are off limits, otherwise use the whole room and half fun. Then, the other half hides them and the other half of the class gets their turn to find them. THEN we put them in baskets and read the four beat patterns that four eggs make!My K-2 claases all love this activity!
-----------------------
SONG: Peter Cottontail
Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppin,' Easter's on it's way_______
Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy baskets full of Easter joy, Things to make your Easter bright and gay.
He's got the jelly beans for Tommy, Colored eggs for sister Sue, There's an orchid for your Mommy and an Easter bonnet, too. Oh,
Try to do the things you should, Maybe if you're extra good, Hel'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way.
You'll wake up on Easter morning & you'll know that he was there When you find those choclate bunnies that he's hiding everywhere Oh,
------------------------
RECIPE
HOT CROSS BUNS
1 cup milk, scalded 3 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 tspn cinnamon 3 tblspns melted butter 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 tspn salt 1 tspn grated orange peel 1 pkg dry yeast 1 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup warm water 1 tspn milk 1 egg, well beaten
GAME: Here's a fun game for this time of the year:
1. Take some rather large plastic Easter eggs. Has to be an even number--I use eight.
2. Make pairs of eggs that make the same sound--i.e., fill two with popcorn seeds, two more with paper clips, two more with pennies, etc.
3. Cover all eggs with aluminum foil, so that they all look alike.
4. Hide the eggs in your classroom, or have students hide them, while the rest of the students hide their eyes.
5. Have students find the eggs. (Do what you like, but since I have eight eggs, I usually have only eight "finders.")
6. Finding the egg is only half of the solution. When an egg is found, the finder must listen to the sound it makes, then try to find the finder who has the egg that sounds like his/hers. When a match is made, the two finders bring the egg to the "checker" (usually me).
7. You can add the finishing touches, such as timing the egg search and other rules that make it easier/more fun for your situation. Sometimes I have one student match eggs alone on the floor (not hidden).
-----------------------
PARODIES:
Some rabbits have bright shiny noses I'm telling you now as a friend.
The reason their noses are shiny, The powder puff's on the wrong end.
Wrong end, wrong end, Their powder puff's on the wrong end....
Wrong end, wrong end, Their powder puff's on the wrong end.
I know a rabbit with long pink ears And bunny is his name-o.
B-U-N-N-Y, B-U-N-N-Y, B-U-N-N-Y And Bunny is his name-o.
He hops to your house on Easter morn.......
He hides colored eggs around your yard....
He hops away until next year....
One Easter bunny hopped away To hide the Easter eggs one day
He said, "This job will never get done, If I don't call another little bunny to come.
Two Easter bunnies hopped away To hide the Easter Eggs one day
They said, "This job will never get done, If we don't call another little bunny to come.
(Keep adding bunnies verse after verse and have the children select bunnies to help them hide the eggs.)
BACK to Top of Page
***************************************************************
MAY DAY
MAYPOLE: I made my own Maypole this year. Took some white plumbing pipe, made about an 8 foot length and then made a stand at the bottom of the pipe with more pipe using the connectors you get at the hardware store. Then I bought some brightly colored metallic looking streamers and attached them to the top to hand almost the full length. Looks very cute. The children just sang a Maypole song from the Music Connection, grade 1, and held on to a streamer while they walked/skipped around the Maypole. They changed directions midway. (I didn't know of any specific dance either) Some classes had to walk because of the numbers, but at the country schools thee were only 12 in a class, and they could skip. The streamers would just twist and then untwist and twist again in the other direction and at the end they stopped and just let them fall back into place. I can take it apart and store easily. Just came up with this on my own, and thought it went over pretty well at my programs. By the way, Monday was our last day!!! I'm now spending my time gardening and reading !!!
Purchase a clothes pole from your local lumber store...maybe 6 or seven feet long. Cement it into a large heavy plastic pail. This pail can then be set into the ground when "dancing day" occurs.
MAKE A MAYPOLE: A Maypole can be made with a length of banister railing (Home Depot about $15 for 10 foot pole). For a topper, use a double floral round (made of wire - craft store). Tie the ribbons to the outer ring. The ribbons for a 10" pole need to be at least four yards long.
Attach a small board to the top end of the pole with two screws. Attach the floral ring to the piece of wood.
Bury the end of the pole in the ground - preferably set in concrete. (like a
fence post)
A more portable maypole which allows indoor use has a base. Though I have one I put together, I have seen patio umbrella stands at Costco & Sam's for about $20 which would work and be heavy enough to support the pole.
The one I have used many times is made from a table round (or the end of a wooded industrial wire wheel), a flange and threaded pipe (Home Depot in the plumbing department).
If you would like a copy of my detailed, printed directions, I would be glad to send one to you. Just send your snail mail address and a dollar for postage!
Rachel Baker Ford; Multi-S Music Company; 3317 Knights Haven Lane
Garland, TX 75044-5429; email: [email protected]
*Holborne: Almand from Elizabethan Dance Suite
Classics For All Seasons ~Spring (Telarc CD-80321)
O Lusty May ~ Renaissance Songs of Spring (Dorian DOR-93172)
Exploring Music 1, Record 8
Exploring Music 6, Record 8
Exploring Music 6, Record 8
Baroque Brass (RCA Victor Basic 100 Vol. 34)
Frederick Fennell: Country Gardens and Other Favorites, (Mercury 434 330-2)
Concertos for Horns and Orchestra (EBS 6092)
Concertos for Horns and Orchestra (EBS 6092)
Baroque Brass (RCA Basic 100 Vol. 34)
------------------------------
I have made a Maypole from a volley ball standard that usually sets in the corner or most gyms. The shop teacher was nice enough to make a loose cap to fit over the top that allows it to rotate when the ribbons pull hard enough. To the cap is a small rod that I attach my ribbons to. I use the metalic or plastic ribbons, as they do not stretch like crepe paper. I got the idea from the old tall merry-go-rounds from the old country school yards. I have used this with K-6. The older ones have even braided the ribbons for the finale by walking and passing over and under each others ribbons. It really neat with different colored ribbons. I use the All-Time Favorite Dance tape by Kimbo. It has every dance you'll need ( Twist, Limbo, chicken, Hora, Mexican Hat, Hokey Pokey, Virginia Reel, Bunny Hop, Alley Cat, Conga, and Maypole). They are instrumental so you can adjust the level for each dance for the grade level. Each year I make the dance a little harder(that's a whole other message) The Maypole song has very strong cadences so they know exactly when to change movements (in, out, left, right etc.) One year my whole spring program featured a different dance from the tape for each grade and a couple songs to match. Easy, multi-cultural, cute, costrumes, languages, dance, instruments, etc........what more could the audience ask for.....what a hit!
--------------------------
MAYPOLE SONG: Don't forget that we've published Paul Kerlee's arrangement of the old tune, the Mayer's Carol: A Song to Celebrate the May for unison or SA with simple piano and percussion. Paul Kerlee's set, Welcome in the Spring: Morris and Sword Dances for Children has a recording that goes with it with plenty of pieces suitable for may dancing. Although we normally only sell the recording with the book for folks wanting to do the morris dances etc., we have several cassettes left (we've gone to CD format) and I'd be glad to sell the cassettes without books cheap to anyone who wants them strictly for the musical content. The recording features professional morris musicians on side A doing full length dance accompaniments of traditional old English tunes. Side B is synthesized Orff instrument demos. Anyone wanting the whole shebang can order the set from Music K8 Marketplace. Again, if you want just a copy of the original cassette, email me privately at [email protected]
Judith Cook Tucker, Publisher, World Music Press Intercultural Understanding through Music; www.worldmusicpress.com; [email protected]
DANCE: I always prepare for Maypole Dance by first doing a grand right and left, then transfer that to the weaving.
I made a very portable maypole which can be easily stored and used over and over. I took a small plastic pail, but a coffee can would do and attached plastic ribbon to it. Then, when we want to do the Maypole dance, we simply place the bucket or can over top of a tether ball pole outside or a volleyball net pole in the gym. A little duct tape will keep it from spinning.BACK to Top of Page
***************************************************************
CINCO DE MAYO
04/02 Our second graders also do a big "Cinco De Mayo" celebration every year. The art teacher helps each child to make their own maracas. The parents come in and make Mexican foods for the children to try. The second grade teachers teach Mexican dances (Mexican hat dance etc.).
I teach the children three Mexican songs. I use "Cinco De Mayo" from the blue covered "Hap Palmer Favorites" book. The children play their homemade maracas during that song. I also use "Festival" from Music K-8. It's perfect for this! I also started using "Salsa Pie" from K-8 last year. The kids love these songs. They're easy and fun to teach.BACK to Top of Page