September 16th, 2024

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.

If you are looking for ready to go materials to use with Way Up High in the Apple Tree, check out my lesson pack on TPT. It has ready to project slides and printable activities for both reviewing rhythms and introducing Orff Instruments. 
Ready-to-go lesson pack for Way Up High in the Apple Tree 
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Using It To Review Rhythms  
For me, this is the perfect song for reviewing rhythms in 3rd and 4th grade because it has the 3 main rhythms that we have already covered- quarter note, eighth note, and quarter rest.
I essentially reteach all three of the rhythms and my teaching process is as follows 

• Teach the students the song- but because I do it in 1st and 2nd grade they usually remember it 
• Have the students keep the steady beat to the song 
• Show the students the iconic notation to the song while we sing it again 
• Ask the students what the iconic notation means- when there is 1 apple what does that mean, when there are 2 apples in one box what rhythm is that, what about when there are no apples in the box? This prompts students’ memories as the different rhythms
• Then we practice reading and clapping rhythms with notation
• And finally, we notate the rhythm of the song as a class or as partners 

When were are reviewing rhythms I also bring back rhythm games such as Kerlop or I have, Who Has 

Playing Orff Instruments 
This is one of the first songs that my students get to play on Orff instruments. I typically use this activity with grade 1 and 2 students, but if you had older beginners this would be a great way to start them on Orff instruments too. 
Prepping For Instruments 

• After I teach  the song, I have the students noticed when we sing up and down (Way Up in the apple try, smiled DOWN at me, DOWN came the apples, mmm they were good)
• Before playing instruments I also have students to movements to what they will eventually play, so we add scarves to the UPS and DOWNS in the song 
• Next we add the “shook the tree as hard as I could” where we move our arms or scarves in all directions 

Adding Instruments

• I typically use glockenspiels because they are more durable than bigger Orff instruments and I tell the students that this is their apple tree
• I turn the glockenspiel so that it is verticle and tell the students that the big parts (low notes) are the trunk of the glockenspiel and the small part (high notes) are the trees and branches 
• Then I lead the students in an instrument inquiry. If we were going to go up the apple tree, where would we start? When the apples fall down, which direction do they go?
• I then demonstrate how we will play the going up and down on the glockenspiels 
  
• Once the students have had a chance to watch and practice going up and down we add in the “Shook the tree as hard as I could” where the students get to play all around the instruments, but they are not allowed to play as hard as they can.

Expanding the lesson 

• With the littles, I like to incorporate this activity into teaching high and low. 
• So we talk about how the top of our tree is the highest part, and the notes there sound higher. The bottom of our tree is the lowest to the ground, so the notes there sound lower
• Then we learn this gem of a poem that I first heard from Becca at Becca’s Music Room ​

Small is high, big is low. That is science you should know! 
If you are looking to purchase  more lessons to teach high and low check out:
Using Orff Instruments to Teach High and Low
High and Low Lesson Pack for Elementary Music
Three Bears, Book-Based Lesson to Teach High and Low

​​How to Prevent Chaos 
I’m not going to lie, introducing Orff instruments can be chaotic, especially if you are doing it with younger students. But Here are my 5 suggestions to keep it easier. 

• Instructions before instruments If you remember 1 thing from this, remember this golden rule, because I find as soon as my students have instruments in their hands their listening skills decrease by at least 80%
• Clear expectations: MY main rule when playing any instrument is “If you play before I say, your instrument will be taken away.” It leaves room for no arguments, but make sure you consistently enforce it. We also review our classroom rules and talk about how we can be respectful, responsible, ready, and make good choices while playing instruments.
• Limit the amount of students you have playing I only have 4-5 students playing instruments at a time, especially when we are just starting. Students who aren’t playing are the audience. This helps manage the students who are playing instruments. 
• Give the audience something to do Before starting we talk about what a good audience looks like and sounds like. I always have my audience members do movements to match what other students are playing on instruments. Additionally, it can be helpful to tell students that the next students who get to play are kids who are doing the movements and being good audience members. 
• Be ready to go Waste as little time as possible transitioning students to play instruments. For me, this means that I have instruments pulled off the shelves with mallets ready to go. Having students set up and clean up instruments also reduces transition time.

If you are ready to try this with your students, I have ready-to-project slides that will lead your lessons and printables that you can purchase here in the TPT store. 

Purchase Way Up High in the Apple Tree Lesson Pack Here

This resource has materials if you are going to use Way UP High in the Apple Tree for reviewing rhythms or introducing Orff instruments

Ejoy! 
Jayna

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