Mi-Sol-La Melody Cards

My 2nd graders are ready to use "La".  I was having so much fun with Halloween-ish activities that we're a tad behind.  No worries, I love "La".

I created this Mi Sol La Powerpoint to use with my students.  I've used sentence strips in the past, but, after using my Do-Re-Mi slides with 3rd grade, I think these will work much better.


I've included some ways I use the Power Points.  If you think of more - let me know!

Cookie Pan Fun

After seeing some Cookie Pan activities on Pinterest, I thought - why not use that in the music room?

So, I create these.  The pan is from Dollar Tree, as were the magnets and black electrical tape.

I just got around to using these in my room and the kids loved it.  Here's some ideas:

2nd Grade
1. As a station, I left an instruction page of melodies to create (For Example: Sol Sol La Mi).  The students created the melodies on their cookie pan, I checked them, then they created more (I had about 10 patterns for them to try).

3rd Grade
1. As a review before their Do-Re-Mi test, I seated the students in four lines (they are in four groups in my room).  The first student dictated the melody I asked, then, when I rang the triangle, they could let their teammates check their melody (that way, some of my struggling kids were included and helped by their peers).  I would ring the triangle again and ask to see their "final answer".  The kids loved it!  Here's the rounds:
Round 1: Place one magnet in various lines and spaces (Do is on space 1, put a button there)
Round 2: Adding Mi (Do is on line 4, put a button there.  Put the other button where Mi lives)
Round 3: Adding Re (Do-Re-Mi)
Round 4: Changing the order (Do-Mi-Re, Re-Mi-Do, Re-Do-Mi, Mi-Re-Do, etc)

Fun!

Bow Wow Wow

My 3rd graders are moving into the Do Pentatonic scale.  I'm working on a huge packet to use with them - we're talking songs, movement activities, games, worksheets, Power Points, more manipulatives - the whole enchilada!

I'm using the popular song "Bow, Wow, Wow" to start.  For lesson one, I only use the rhythm - we chant, we don't sing the song on the pitches yet.

Here's a slide from the Power Point I use for the first lesson.  We identify the rhythm from iconic notation, practice using rhythm to read the song and play instruments, then do a Composition Activity
I love the dog houses as the steady beats.  The students love sharing their compositions with others.

For lesson two, I'll introduce the pitches (the students already know drm).  We'll also add a movement activity.

For lesson three, we'll put the pitches on the music staff and add some singable Orff orchestrations.  The students will also get to practice dictating pentatonic melodies on the music staff.

Lots to keep me busy.  What are some of your favorite pentatonic songs?

Instruments of the Orchestra - Free Download

I found out last week that my 4th graders will be going on a field trip to the Symphony.  How exciting!  However, they will be going in two weeks!  Eek!!!

Although we discuss, listen to, and learn about instruments from K-5, I usually teach the instruments of the orchestra in the spring semester of 4th grade with a complete review in 5th (before they make those important middle school decisions).  The orchestra unit can take a good month or so and is quite extensive (multiple websites, multiple Youtube views, worksheets, games, group activities, etc).

So, I need to cram it in - NOW!
  
I love the SFS kids website  - great resource for teaching the instruments.

I created four folder games (love using manila folders as game holders - I've used quite a few to great success and the are sturdy and easy to store) - one for each instrument family.

The students will complete the activity in four stations (they rotate from family to family).  Each group has a leader, or "conductor" to help distribute materials, encourage on-task behavior, and let me know of any problems.  While the students are working, I'll play some favorite orchestral selections for them to listen to (4 5-minute or so selections - when the music stops - it is time to rotate).  I always call out nuggets of wisdom, such as, "Listen for the oboe solo coming up" or "Did you hear the timpani?  Wow, forte for sure!"

You can download these games for free here:
Brass Family 
Percussion Family 
String Family 
Woodwind Family 

Thanksgiving Packet for First Graders

I love Sundays - football and lesson planning!

I created this packet using some old favorites and some new ideas.

On the previous post, I talked about the Sightreading Ice-cream Sundae.  I made the mistake of leaving the poster out where my first graders could see it.  Before we began class, one of them asked, "Mrs. Fricke, what is that icecream for?"

I initially created it to help my 4th and 5th graders synthesize all the sight-reading steps.  Then I thought, well, of course first graders can use it.  My school is into the "Clip Up" chart, so I made a clip to use also.  We'll "clip up" the icecream sundae as we do the steps.
I'm already booked for October - no more room - in fact, I wish I could extend my lessons for the month by a week!  So, I got started brainstorming on November, and created a Thanksgiving packet that incorporates the Sundae.  The worksheet on the left is for extra rhythm practice (The first graders loved "Spooky Rhythms") and the one below uses the Sundae steps.









In the packet, you can download the Sundae, four worksheets, and complete lesson plans.  Be sure to download the powerpoint as well.  You can download them here: First Grade Music Thanksgiving Packet

"Treat Yourself"

Maybe it was all the "Trick or Treat" talk or the fact that our Fall Festival Cake Walk will be held in my room, but I got a bit of a sweet tooth.

I was also noticing that some of my students were struggling with making all the connections of sight-singing.  No wonder, when you have to deal with the text, the rhythm, the pitch, the meter, dynamic markings, tempo marking, ugh!

So, here's yet another poster for them to look at.  I think it is rather sweet!

Sorry to make your tilt your head - it just wouldn't flip!

Spooky Ta's and TiTi's

I use this worksheet with my 1^st graders.  Before I give it to them, we have already practice all the words below using pictures I drew on white paper plates (sturdy and fun to move around to create new patterns).

This is an independent activity.  However, as a class, we go over the instructions and we practice saying and clapping the top row of pictures.

Then we cut out all the pictures.  The students place them in correct rhythm box.  Then we glue.

During the next class, after I’ve graded their papers, we go over where each picture belongs.  Then, using the plates, we create four beat patterns to say, clap and say, and play on rhythm sticks.  First we say, clap and say, and play the correct words, then we substitute “ta” or “titi”.  The students are invited to share their own four beat pattern for the class to use.

After practicing with that, we dictate the rhythms of the plates using Popsicle sticks.

Have fun!  Download for free here: Spooky Rhythms

Note:

(Quarter Note pictures: ghost, bat, grave, treat, witch)

(Eighth Note Pair pictures: mummy, black cat, pumpkin, scarecrow, spider)

Turkey, Turkey

I'm already starting to think about Thanksgiving...maybe it is just because I'm hungry!

Anyway, I re-did the words to that good old tune "Pumpkin, Pumpkin" and fit them for Thanksgiving.  This should be great for my 2nd graders because we will have been practicing "La" and preparing for "Do" (See, I'm so Kodaly, haha).  They already know "Pumpkin, Pumpkin", so I can't wait for them to make the connection.  This is also a great rhythm review of "tikatika".

There's a game and of course, an ostinato to go with it.  There's a cute little turkey hat at Micheal's right now - we use that.
 
I also stuck lots of great vocabulary stuff in there (I LOVE having a Word Wall...what a DORK I was teaching without one!) such as: pitch, melody, solfege, rhythm, staff, measure, barline, double barline and time signature.

 I also created a worksheet.  I don't know how you feel about worksheets, but as long as they can be manipulated (put things on top of them, cut and paste stuff from them, etc) I love them.  My students seem to enjoy them also, especially if they can be sent home or hung outside the classroom on my "All-Star Work" bulletin board..  I've even had a student declare, "I love music, because we get to learn something, and then we actually get to do something with it."  Cute, huh?



Have fun!  You can download everything here (and the worksheet is free!):  Turkey, Turkey

"Leaves" - 3 mini-lessons for K-2

Happy Autumn everyone!  Isn't this season great?!

We are finally getting some colder weather where I live...so, feeling inspired, I wrote this original song.

I use the song and movements with my kindergarteners.  There are many "leaf" songs out there to use with this.

For my first graders, I use three mini-lessons.  I really like these because they connect so many concepts together (pitch, melody, melodic direction, high/low and ta/titi).  The students use instruments, improvise sung melodies, and even create their own cute composition (see below).

Students love to take compositions home to sing with family members.  What a cool, festive creation to hang on the fridge!

"Can you sing my fall song? " Composition

You can download the song, lessons, worksheets, and rhythm cards here: Leaves

Corny Melodies

Candy corn - it's inexpensive and, well, somewhat durable.  Perfect to use for a music activity!

I printed out this, Corny Melodies Staff, for each student (I guess you could also laminate it or put it in a page protector - might be a bit germy).

It works for any grade!

First: So and Mi melodies (or La too if you're there)
Second: So, Mi, La melodies
Third: Do-Re-Mi Melodies
Fourth and Fifth: Do Pentatonic Melodies or spelling 3-5 letter words on the music staff

The kids can eat their candy when finished! Yum!

Pitch Potion - A Do-Re-Mi Dictation Halloween Game

Here's another Halloween Game!

For this one, students take turns drawing cards for their team.  On the card is a four note (quarter notes) Do-Re-Mi pattern.  The student then uses quarter note cards to create the pattern on the floor staff.

They get to draw the cards out of my witch's hat.  The wining team gets a Halloween pencil (from Target of course).

You can download the game and complete instructions here: Pitch Potion

Mrs. White Rhythm Activity

So, I got into trouble at Target again.  They have a package of 60 small ghost erasers for $1 and 75 larger ghost erasers for $3.

I created this rhythm sheet,  Mrs. White Ghostly Rhythm Sheet, to go along with the poem:

Mrs. White had a fright
In the middle of the night
Saw a ghost, eating toast
Halfway up the lamp post

I've included WAY MORE instructions on the link to TPT (the download is free and in color).  I use this activity with Kinder and First Grade.  In first grade, we use the erasers to place on-top of the ghost pictures.  We also use them to create four-beat ostinati on the back.

Spooky Music Unit

Of course I can't just relax and enjoy my Columbus Day off...

 Instead, I created a Spooky Music Listening Unit! You can download it here: Spooky Music Unit

Here is the basic information:

Target Grades: 4-6
Curricular Connections: Writing, Observations
Pieces Studied: "Dies Irae" (Verdi), "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Grieg), "Imperial March" (Williams), "Night on Bald Mountain" (Mussorgsky) and "O Fortuna" (Orff) 
Included: Biographies of all 5 composers, Information about 3 of the piece, 5 complete lessons, and 5 activity sheets for students, I also included instructions for GLOWSTICK CONDUCTING - a yearly favorite with my students.

The unit follows five basic activities:
1. Pre-Writing Activty (What do they know?)
2. Discussion Generation Activity (Fun activity to introduce using musical terms)
3. Learning Activity (fun activity for learning how to use the musical terms)
4. Practice Activity (practice including musical terms in writing - address composer purpose/inspiration)
5. Assessment - (Now, what do we know?)

Here are some pictures of two of the sheets included in the packet.