Thursday, November 21, 2013

Center Time for 4th Grade

4th graders are spending some time in learning centers. This purpose of these centers is to give students an opportunity to review concepts we've learned in music and apply them in a number of ways- through reading, writing, listening, and playing.

In this round of centers, our 4th graders have been working on pentatonic pitches (do, re, mi, so, la, and low la), and eighth-sixteenth note rhythm combinations.

In our red center, students are playing SMART Board games to practice visually and aurally identify melodic patterns.


In the green center, students are identifying and writing melodic patterns including low la, do, re, and mi.


In the blue center, students are being introduced to the iPods and the listening center process with an iPod "scavenger hunt."



In the purple center, students are playing a musical version of the game "Don't Break the Ice." The only difference between the real game and our musical version is that the ice cubes have quarter, eighth, and sixteenth note rhythms written on them, and students have to read the rhythm before they tap out an ice cube.


In the yellow center, students are improvising a pentatonic melody set to a rhythm that they have written. You may see their "Fruit Rhythm" papers coming home soon!


And finally, in our new orange iPad center, students are playing a rhythm game called "Rhythm Cat" (this is a free app available on the iTunes store!). Students have to "play" a rhythm along with an accompaniment track.
 



*For Music Teachers: Check out Aileen Miracle's TPT store for some great resources for centers. I used some materials from her Songs and Activities to Teach Low La set in these centers.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Veteran's Day Sing-Along

On November 11th, we celebrate Veteran's Day. At Franklin School, our 5th grade Ambassadors organize an assembly to honor this holiday and thank local veterans. As part of this assembly, our students will participate in a school-wide sing-along of several patriotic songs. Several students expressed an interest in being able to practice these songs at home, so I am linking the Powerpoint presentation we will be singing along with at the assembly below. We will be singing:

         -The Star-Spangled Banner
         -Yankee Doodle   
         -There are Many Flags
         -This Land is Your Land
         -You're a Grand Old Flag

Use this slideshow to practice to lyrics to these patriotic songs.

Sing-Along Powerpoint

The website for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has some great background information on these songs! Check it out here.