Mrs. White Update

Hello everyone!  I recently updated the freebie, Mrs. White, in a major way.  You'll find: 1) slides for teaching the song, 2) printables (worksheets, steady beat tracking pages, etc), 3) 3 explicit mini-lesson plans.  Please take advantage of this wonderful poem during the Halloween-season.

Don't forget to pick up your ghost erasers from Target.  They are just too cute!

*****This file is also included in my Fall into Music set.*****

Fall Rhythm Fun

I know it is a little early, but while wandering Hobby Lobby yesterday, I came across this set of fall table scatter shapes for $3.99:

Although I'm sure they vary per package, mine included: 19 brown leaves, 31 green leaves, 13 red-brown acorns, 14 orange acorns, 8 golden acorns, and 7 green acorns.

I'm thinking of using them as a rhythm activity for 1st grade (although kinder could do this also, they just wouldn't dictate the rhythms).

Each pair of kiddos would get a copy sheet below (in a sheet protector with a dry erase marker and eraser) and a bag of acorns and leaves:

The students would create rhythm patterns with the shapes and say "a-corn" or "leaf" while clapping.  Then, they would draw the correct rhythm and clap and chant on "ta" or "titi".  Students could also dictate rhythms provided by the teacher or classmates.  Rhythms could also be played on unpitched instruments.

Fun stuff - although I'm still not ready for school to start!

Old Maid Rhythm Game

It is amazing what can be found in the dollar bins at Target.  I found this gem, "Old Maid" which I easily adapted into a rhythm game.

I'll play this game with my new 3rd graders as a review in the Fall.  Some of the words on the cards can be tricky, so I'd say you'd be most successful playing this game with 2nd or 3rd graders.

The good thing about this activity is that there are many ways (probably more than I've listed) to incorporate other subjects into this musical review lesson.

Materials: Old Maid card game (laminate for durability), black permanent marker, rhythm instrument (optional), pencil and paper for writing response (optional)

Here is a picture of the all the cards with the rhythms I assigned them.  Depending on the level of difficulty, you could incorporate some 16th note patterns.

Basic Game Directions
Object: The players collect as many matching pairs as possible and avoid ending up with the Old Maid card.
Set-Up: Put students into groups of 4 (or less).  Shuffle and deal out all the cards.  If a player has any matching pairs in their deck, they place them in their own discard pile.
Gameplay: Players take turns picking a card from the hand of the player on their left.  If a match is made, they put it in their discard pile.  The game continues until only one player is left holding the card - the Old Maid card!  They loose the game.
Variation: The player with the Old Maid at the end wins - and gets her "cookies" (pictured on her card).

Musical Extensions
1. Students must clap and chant the rhythm on each pair they create.  Then, the group can clap and chant that student's rhythm.
2. Students can lay out their pairs when finished and clap and chant each pair.  They can play their pairs on an unpitched rhythm instrument.

Language Arts Extensions
1. After the game is played, students place the cards face up, paired, in alphabetical order (as in the picture above).  They then take turns reading the cards.  You can also discuss the use of alliteration ("fashionable fox" - both start with f's).
2. Students can create their own card (you can use small index cards) by first creating a name ("Silly Swan" or "Tricky Turkey" etc) using an adjective and an animal name.  Then, they can illustrate the animal.  Finally, they can write the rhythms that correspond to their animal.  This way, you can create a student-made set to play with in the future.  I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS!
3. Have students respond (with paper and pencil) to the following writing prompt, "Which character would you most like to meet?  What would you talk about?" (you can also create your own prompts)

Math Extension
1. Students can create a "bar graph" by graphing matching rhythms (see below).  They can then discuss which rhythms had the most pairs, which had the fewest, and discuss the difference between them, add them together, subtract them, etc.  (You could easily create a worksheet for them to log their answers, or put discussion questions on the board, such as "Which rhythm has second most pairs?")

How would you use this activity?

In The Doghouse!

Going along with the Doggie songs from my last post, I created a matching game called, "In the Doghouse!"  I like to use matching games as short (about 15-20 minute) assessment and review activities for the students after they've already learned a new concept and have had multiple chances to use that knowledge.

I've played similar matching games (there are lots at my TPT store) with all grade levels.  They have been very successful and fun, and great for me when I'm assessing progress.  Solfa or rhythm matching games are really fun because we get to explore the listening and performing elements that go with them (not just simply matching).

These activities are also easy to use with a sub, even if they have no music experience.  You can also get many activities out of one set of cards: listening, singing, reading, composing.  If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck our of you matching games, this post is worth the read.

  I follow these steps when playing games such as this one:

1. Sit in a circle of pairs.  Each pair of students gets once complete set of game cards in a ziplock bag.  Pairs are instructed to share with each other and work quietly to arrive at the answer.  3/4 of my classes can do this well, with little reminders from me, but for the other 1/4 that don't get along so well, I take extra time to model working with a partner, discuss situations that might arise and how to handle them successfully, and set more clear expectations and consequences if their sharing doesn't go the way I'm asking for.  I also insist on correct posture (criss cross applesauce) and quiet game play (during the listening examples) so that everyone can focus and be successful.

2.  I usually assign one of the students in the pair to be in charge of the materials (cleaning up the cards, turning in the materials, putting the plastic bag in their lap so it doesn't get mixed up during game play).  I ask that student to find all the dog houses (12) and then I have both of them put the houses into two rows of six.

3. Then, I play a singing listening game.  I sing an example and the students echo.  I repeat this two more times while they find the correct dog house.  Then, I reveal the answer.  They get really excited, so I allow them to do a "silent cheer" if the answer is correct.  We continue until all patterns have been sung.  I even select some students to perform the patterns alone.  For many students, they can recognize a solfa pattern on the staff and label it correctly, but they may lack the confidence to correctly sing it.  This gives students more opportunities to hear the pitches sung correctly (by either you or successful classmates) and truly develop the aural recognition of the relationships between the pitches that they need to sight sing - not just sight read. 

4.  I extend the listening game to include an instrument (or you could sing on a neutral syllable).  Students will have to listen to level of the pitches carefully to find each answer.  They are even MORE excited when they get these right.  If you have a sub, they often won't feel confident enough to do step 3, but they can easily do step four if you equip them with an instrument (I use a metallophone with only the bars F#, A, and B on it) and this print out:

 5. Next, I let the students match the dogs to the correct dog house.  With older students, I let them do this totally on their own time.  If they finish early, I instruct them to sing each example and evaluate their partner's voice and use of hand signs (they really don't mind doing this because everyone else in the class is talking and singing too).  With the little ones (kinder and first), however, we match them one by one.  I'll say, "Find the dog that matches the Mi So La So doghouse" - then I walk around and check that everyone has the correct answer before we move on.  The advantage to doing it this way is, well, go on to step six ;)

6. After all patterns have been matched, I ask the students to put away the doghouses and leave the dogs out.  Then, I repeat steps 3 and 4 (only about 4 patterns for each step this time) so the students get more listening and singing practice.

7. Students can also create compositions by stringing two or more dogs together.  Students can sing their composition for the class and have the class create that composition with their cards.   Some students can sing one composition while another.  They can even play their compositions on an instrument.

If time allows, the students can play this as a matching memory game (turn cards over - pick up two cards - if they match keep and go again, if not, other player's turn).

You can download In The Doghouse from my TPT store by downloading the preview for Doggie Doggie and Red Rover lessons.  If you've already purchased my updated Mi So La lesson bundle you'll find it there also (in the D Major folder).

Mi So La "Doggie" Songs

Students love both of these songs - why I never put them together - who knows!  They are really fun games for students to revisit later when they learn "Bow Wow Wow" also - so they are great for 2nd graders at the beginning of the year or 1st graders toward the end.

Beforehand (or in subsequent lessons) students can play the "Help the dog find all his bones" game.  There is a rhythm version.   Try chanting on "doggie" and "bone" then on "ta" and "titi":

 And a melodic version:

First, we learn the song, "Doggie, Doggie" - I love the game that goes with this and it also gives students the opportunity to sing alone.  I've used paper plates that I had drawn doggies (titi) and bones (ta) on for use in decoding the rhythm of the song.  I also like that this song gives me the opportunity to discuss what a 'slur' is.

I "chunk" the song into two lessons - one where we learn the rhythms (and then do other things) and one where we  complete the rhythm activity, learn the melody and play the game.  We play the game again in another lesson and we also learn the rhythms for "Red Rover".

Here are some slides from "Doggie, Doggie":

And some printables:

  Here are some slides for "Red Rover":

And the printables (I like to re-use lots of them by placing them in plastic page protectors and having the students dry erase markers):

For the game with "Red Rover" - I don't use the conventional one.  I mean, ouch!  For this version, the students sit in two lines.  One student on each "team" is the "team captain".  Team A goes first, singing the song.  Instead of singing Sally, they decide on someone on the opposing team and sing their name.  Then, the "team captain" tells that person which pattern they will have to identify (speaking voice) or sing (singing voice).  If the person selected does so correctly, they stay on their team.  If not, they join the other team.  The team with the most people (usually we run out of time - but you can play until all patterns are used) wins.

Here's an example of the patterns (in D major like the songs).  I also included other ideas for use:

If you already downloaded my updated Mi So La bundle, you'll find these activities included there.
You can also purchase the set of lessons and activities separately at my TPT store.

Snail, Snail

This is one of my favorite songs for introducing "la".  I decided to augment it with a few more resources.

Use this slide as a pitch ladder

The PowerPoint includes all the slides for teaching the song.  Here are a few examples:

Plus a steady beat sheet:

A rhythm icon sheet:

A rhythm worksheet:

A melody worksheet:

An original poem that you can use to discuss AB form, add a game, and add instrumentation (instructions included - as well as instructions for the traditional movement):

You can get it individually: Snail, Snail
Or in my new Mi So La bundle (if you already downloaded this, download it again and you'll see "Snail, Snail" - be on the look out for at least two more additions).

Mi So La Lesson Bundle 2

I'm still adding to this file, Mi So La Lesson Bundle as I come up with more things for my own kiddos.  It is my second bundle of Mi So La lessons and is great for late 1st or early 2nd (depending on where your students are musically).

The file is pretty extensive and took a lot of work.  However, I did include a free download of "Plainsies Clapsies" in the preview - you can at least check that out, enjoy it, and see if the format works for you.

This Zip file includes:

C Major Songs and Activities:
1. Plainsies, Clapsies - 26 slides for learning the song, including instructions, movement, and instrumentation, printable Steady Beat page, printable Rhythm Icon page, Printable Melodic Direction page, printable rhythm worksheet, printable lyric, rhythm, and melody cards for assessment

2. Little Ruby Red Bird - 34 slides for learning the song, including instructions, movement, and instrumentation, printable Steady Beat page, printable Rhythm Icon page, Printable Melodic Direction page, printable rhythm worksheet, printable lyric, rhythm, and melody cards for assessment

3. Birdy Bounce - melodic matching game with instructions for four ways of game-play

4. 24 Robbers - 61 slides for learning the song, including instructions, movement, and instrumentation

5. Mi So La Mad Minute in C Major - use for pre-assessment, practice, or assessment
6. Mi So La Folder Game in C Major - for small-group use and practicing

D Major Songs and Activities:
1. ¡Adivina lo que es! - 34 slides for learning the song, including instructions, printable Steady Beat page, printable Rhythm Icon page, Printable Melodic Direction page, printable rhythm worksheet, printable lyric, rhythm, and melody cards for assessment

2. Bell Horses - 36 slides for learning the song, including instructions, movement, and instrumentation, printable Steady Beat page, printable Rhythm Icon page, Printable Melodic Direction page, printable rhythm worksheet, printable lyric, rhythm, and melody cards for assessment

3. Mi So La Mad Minute in D Major - use for pre-assessment, practice, or assessment
4. Mi So La Folder Game in D Major - for small-group use and practicing