VOICE: First Graders practiced autumn and Halloween songs.
NOTATION: We finished up turn 1 of picking a rhythm pattern and clapping it. Next week starts our 2nd turns with rhythm patterns. INSTRUMENTS: We talked about sound effects then used instruments and our voices to add them to the book "In the Haunted House" by Eve Bunting (pictured above). Friday classes also played our game "Guess Who Tapped." MOVEMENT: We used scarves to move to our autumn and Halloween songs (pictured above). We also danced to Monster Mash and Thriller.
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Recordings are finished and edited. Click on the play buttons below. Pictured above are a few examples of how the students were expected to compose. Also, when you listen, if you don't hear anything during the song it could be a rest. Many groups chose to write rests into their music. Great job to all students on choosing their groups, choosing their instruments, composing their music, and performing their music!
The week of October 7... NOTATION: We continued reviewing all of our notes and incorporating the half rest into our daily rhythm patterns.INSTRUMENTS: We began to perform / record our rhythm charts finally! (pictured above) Recordings will hopefully be posted here next week. CONCEPTS: We have been practicing fast/slow, long/short, steady beat, and imitating patterns. We also attended the VOICE: Students learned new warm-ups for the voice.
NOTATION: We continued to practice all of our notes and included our new half rest. INSTRUMENT: Our featured instrument of the week was the tubano (pictured above). CONCEPTS: Groups have finished writing their rhythm charts. We start to record the 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). 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. |