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As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, my classroom gets more and more crazy. Even though I am busy prepping for our holiday concerts my students still need lessons. One of my go-to lesson plans during this crazy season is centers.
Disclaimer- I would not try to do centers for the first time during this time of year. But, I do these centers mainly with grades 3 and up who have all had previous music center experience so they know how the rotation works and the expectation. If you haven’t done centers, fear not! These games and activities would work for the whole group too.
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As an elementary music teacher, I am responsible for organizing the Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the US) service in my schools. And honestly, it is one of my favourite programs to plan and execute.
This year, I tried something new and had my whole school learn a song to sing for the service. When it was time to sing the song in the service, the choir sang on the risers and the remaining students sang from where they were seated. The song I chose is by a Canadian singer-songwriter, David Gunning, entitled These Hands. I am always looking for new games to add for review, sub tubs, and music centers, so when one of my colleagues talked about sight word bump and how much her students loved it I knew I had to adapt it for the music classroom.
I use bump games to practice reading solfege patterns, reading notes on the staff, learning music symbols, introducing orchestra instruments, and reviewing classroom instruments. I really do enjoy seasonal activities and lesson! Fall is one of my favourite season and I like to celebrate it with songs about fall things, including pumpkins! So here are my top five favourite songs about pumpkins that I have used with all my students from Kindergarten to Grade 6!
Apples are a great theme to bridge back to school and fall, which is why I teach Apple songs every year to my elementary music students. And one of my favourites is Way Up High in the Apple Tree because I can use it with multiple grade levels, in multiple ways.
Way Up High in the Apple Tree is often taught as a spoken poem, but I have added lyrics and a melody because you can bet I want my kiddos to sing as much as possible when we come back to school. I use this song with students in grade 1 to grade 4 and depending on the students there are 2 different skills we can work on with it. |
AuthorMiss Jayna is an elementary music teacher in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. In addition to being a public school teacher Miss Jayna also has a private piano studio and teaches a Children's Music Program. Categories
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