VOICE & MOVEMENT: We didn't do much singing this week. At the end of first grade classes, students voted on which movement/singing activity they wanted to do. Most classes voted for "Charlie Over the Ocean" or "Sticky Bubble Gum." A couple of classes also had time to preview a possible show for our 1st Grade Concert.
NOTATION: Students were introduced to the half rest this week (pictured above). INSTRUMENTS: Most of our class time this week was spent on our rhythm chart project. Students continued to work in their groups to write their charts and practice on their chosen instruments (pictured above).
0 Comments
VOICE: First graders sang "The Birthday Song" this week to those who were celebrating birthdays in September.
NOTATION: We continued our turns choosing rhythm patterns and reviewing our notes from last year. INSTRUMENTS: We added the jingle bells to our printed rhythm charts this week. We also started a small group project of creating our own rhythm charts (pictured above). Students chose their own groups of 3-4 people. Then they discussed which instruments they were going to use. They could pick any that can play a steady, distinguished beat. We finished this week by practicing how to draw our instrument for the chart. MOVEMENT: When it came time for movement, classes voted for which one they wanted - Charlie Over the Ocean, Round & Round the Village, or Sticky Bubble Gum. VOICE: We continued singing "The Frog & the Mouse." Students enjoyed it so much that they kept asking to listen to it. They had a choice of sitting to listen, dancing, or looking at the accompanying book (pictured above). "Frog in the Meadow" was our new song this week during which we used our featured instrument of the week - the guiro. Students took turns setting the tempo of our song with the guiro (pictured above).
NOTATION: Students are reviewing notes by taking turns choosing a rhythm pattern and clapping it alone for the whole group before we all try it together. INSTRUMENTS: In addition to playing the guiro, we continued with rhythm charts (pictured above). They became more difficult by adding rests and changing the pattern of how the instruments play. MOVEMENT: Students enjoyed "Round and Round the Village" which is a folk dance from England (pictured above). CONCEPTS: Students were introduced to some new apps on our iPads - Dr. Suess Band, ABC Music, A Jazzy Day, and (my favorite) Toca Band. VOICE: First graders are continuing to practice using a singing voice and matching pitch. We started a new song "The Frog and the Mouse" this week. It's a song over 450 years old, in a minor key, and with big vocal skips. Students are really enjoying the song and the book which accompanies it.
NOTATION: We are currently reviewing what we learned last year - quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, half notes, and the repeat sign. MOVEMENT: We have reviewed a couple of our favorites from last year - "Wipeout" with bean bags and "Charlie Over the Ocean." New this year is "Sticky Bubble Gum." INSTRUMENTS: First graders learn to read rhythm charts. We started these last week. Instruments we have used for our rhythm charts so far include rhythm sticks, triangles, tambourines, floor toms, and cymbals. Using the same instruments and lollipop drums, we also started playing the game "Guess Who Tapped" which reinforces listening skills and learning instrument vocabulary. CONCEPTS: First graders get 3 turns throughout the year using a Sibelius computer program called "Groovy Shapes." Their first turns have started during which they will review concepts such as high/low, loud/quiet, fast/slow, etc. |