Animal Moves, Animal Grooves

I'm obsessed with animal-based informative TV - at least on the weekends, or while I'm getting ready to go.  Every morning I start my day with "Big Cat Diary" on Animal Planet at 5:00.  Rowr!

Students love animals too, especially when we get to act like them!  Toward the end of the year, I do a lot of animal and jungle-based lessons.

I love Jungle Beat by Lynn Kleiner.  In fact, I love a lot of her books and own many of them.  I suggest checking her out - she really has some great recordings, ideas for teaching and making creative props and instruments, and they are all a lot of fun and clearly explained for us to use.

If you're looking to add some animal fun for free, check out Animal Moves, Animal Grooves from my TPT store.  I was inspired by my TV shows, haha, and the song "Follow Me" or "Do As I'm Doing".

Instructions are included, by I'm always more lengthy on my blog.  If you take the time to read them, you can really get the most out of this download.

First, print out the animal cards on cardstock.  Laminate.  Cut out.  Place face-down inside a hula hoop.  Seat the students in a circle around the hula hoop.  You will also need (if you choose) something to tap the students with.  I use a soft Funoodle (pool noodle) that I've cut in half.  When I "tap" the students on the head, I really "tap" the air above their heads - no true contact.

Teach the song to the students by rote.  Ask them to listen for when you use you speaking voice and when you use your singing voice.  Divide the song into two parts - the A part (singing) and the B part (speaking) and label as form (the plan or pattern music follows).  Sing the song again, patting the steady beat with alternating hands during the A part, then clapping the counting to 8 section of Part B.  Then, ask the students "How did I show the different parts of the song with my hands this time?" (You patted then you clapped).  You can transfer the pat to D and D octaves in a smaller keyboard instrument (I like to use soprano xylophones) and the clap to hand drums (which are easy to pass around the circle so many students get a turn).  For the first few times, you will have to demonstrate how to do Part B (Walk to the center of the circle, select a card from the hula hoop, say the name of the animal at the appropriate time, and lead the students in performing the action of the animal for eight beats).

Once students are comfortable with singing, moving, and adding instruments, you can walk around the circle and tap above their heads on the beat for the A part.  At the end (on the quarter rest) of the song, whoever was last to get "tapped" goes to the center and leads the class for Part B.  Afterward, they give the card back to you.  Continue moving and singing until all cards are gone.  You'll need to keep switching out instrument parts.  I like to assign a "Xylophone Expert" to stay at the keyboards the entire time to assist students as they come over to play.  You've always got one (or more) students who you know are just perfect for this job, and it allows you to spend less time focusing on/transitioning the xylophone players.

There are many ways to extend student learning with this activity (especially if you are playing it during a subsequent lesson).  Here's some ideas:

1. Label the B section as "call" (the solo student who picks up the card) and "response" (the class when they respond)
2. Play with the dynamics of the counts of eight - Start out piano, and gradually crescendo to forte by the end (use the correct terms)
3. Have students sing the call and response (on simple so and mi melodies) of Part B - this gives many of them a chance to sing soloistically
4. Use already performed animal cards to create an introduction to the song - students can clap the rhythm of the words (or play them on the instrument that they are on)
5. Add a partner song or connection - add a book about animals or another animal song

Let me know if you have any other ideas! :)

Shoo Fly Lesson Plan

"Shoo Fly" is one of my favorite songs to teach.  The students love it!  I typically use it with 2nd or 3rd grade to add some nice "orff-estration" and movement while teaching about Rondo form and partner songs. With enough practice with the  rondo format, movement, and instrumentation, this becomes a cute song to use in a program.

However, the pitch-content is more appropriate for 5th graders and they love this song as well.   Teaching this song could be part of the lesson, then you could use the cards Shoo Fly Treble Clef Practice as another part.  Advanced recorder players can play right along while the group sings.

Download the free Shoo Fly PowerPoint and tell me what you think!

Here is the lyrics slide.  2nd graders love to say - "These words repeat - they have a pattern!"  I'm not sure what math curriculum is going on in 2nd grade, but it must be full of patterns because they try to find them everywhere.

Here is the slide with the steady beat.  Try having the students stand and walk or march in place.  Adding movement is important.  I also add one or two students on the tubano to keep the beat while we do this.  Since my classes are so short (30 minutes), not everyone gets to play an instrument each time, so I try to incorporate them as much as I can.

Adding the structures of music are important.  Play "swat the screen".  Students can use fly-swatters to come up and "swat" the correct item (time signature for example) on the screen.  Be sure to count the measures and barlines.

The students can clap and say the rhythms on syllables.  Add rhythm sticks as well for more fun.

If you're teaching this to 2nd or 3rd graders, they probably aren't ready for either the rhythmic or melodic content, in which case you can teach that by rote.  However, older students are certainly ready for the rhythm content, if not the melody also.  Have the students audiate the song on solfa with hand-signs while you play the tune on the piano.  Then, have them sing and use hand-signs (support them on the piano and repeat this step if needed).  Last, have them sing the correct lyrics while still using hand-signs.  Students can also point out on which line or space each pitch is living.

I included this slide in case you're intending that the song be played on recorder by older students.  I know I have a few 5th grade boys that could tackle this piece, no problem!

The next slide teaches the orffestration.  I usually stop here for the first lesson.

On the next lesson, I review the orff slide with the students, then pick up on the "B" section slide.

Here's the song in Rondo form:

And with movement (so fun - keep the instruments going):

Adding all this can take a while, so therefore, I introduce the partner song on the third lesson.  The PowerPoint includes more instructions on how to teach the songs together.

Here's an additional resources to use with this lesson:

I love this cute dance from ASU.