MELODY

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STEADY BEAT

TO BE POSTED SHORTLY.

MELODY - PENTATONIC CORN

I use die-cut shapes of ears of corn that I found at my local teacher supply store for this activity. Make sure to purchase (or make) the ears of corn that are large enough to see individual kernels. With a second set of ears of corn patterns, cut out the individual kernels and placed "l" "s" "m" "r" or "d" in the center of each of the kernels. I use the peel-n-stick letters since they show up much better. Then place velcro on the first ear of corn. Be sure to leave a space between the "m" and "s" velcro to represent "f" -- which will be address as a Level III concept. Magnets can be added to the back of each ear of corn for easy magnetic use.

Activity 1: Have the children place the ear of corn vertical and arrange the kernels in correct pentatonic order. This becomes a great way to make a bulletin board interactive.

Activity 2: Have the children lay the ear of corn horizontal and place kernels in random order. Then sing or play the pentatonic pattern they have created.

Activity 3: If you're just beginning soprano recorder and notes B-A-G have been introduced, use only the "m" "r" and "d" kernels. Make additional "kernels" with "m" "r" and "d". Have the children play the kernels on the ears of corn and sing or play the pattern they create. Add this to a simple B-A-G melody they have learned (i.e. Frog in the Meadow) to create a rondo -- have each student play his/her created melody in the B, C, D, etc. section.

STEADY BEAT - RHYTHM FEATHERS

By this point, you may have already played a name game where children identify how many sounds are in their name. Have the children trace and cut out a feather pattern. Lay the feather long-ways. Have them write the stick notation for their name on a feather cut-out.

Create a bulletin board with turkeys in the field. Have one turkey for every 8 children in the class. Place 8 feathers (names) on a turkey shape. After singing a Thanksgiving song or reciting a "turkey" poem, create a rondo by having children speak and/or play the rhythm patterns of what the feathers say on each turkey. Each feather has only one student name -- therefore, each feather fulfills one complete measure of 4 beats. For example, "Johnny" would be represented by 2 eighth notes and 3 quarter rests; "Mary Jane" would be represented by two eighth notes, a single quarter note and 2 quarter rests.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

The House in the Night
Written by Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrated by Beth Krommes
ISBN: 978-0-618-86244-7

“In the house / burns a light. / In that light / rests a bed. On that bed / waits a book.” The journey detailed beyond describes a fantastical bird which spirits away the child on a song into the starry sky. While the cumulative tale may seem familiar, the pictures (mostly black and white) lead the reader into mystical night-time adventures. The book can be adaptedly sung to "The Green Grass Grew All Around."

Enjoy the story and keep singing. :)

STEADY BEAT - RHYTHM SPIDERS

Type the names of different bugs and affix to spider patterns. Each bug would have the name of only one bug written or posted upon it. You can find the larger die-cut patterns at a local card outlet store.

After singing a spider song (There's a Spider on the Floor) or chanting a spider poem (Little Miss Muffit), create a B Section by having children speak and/or play the rhythm patterns of what the spiders say when placed in a rhythmic sentence of 8. Each pattern will have only one type of bug written on it -- therefore, each pattern/bug equals one complete beat. For example, "grasshopper" would be represented by an eighth note and 2 sixteenth notes; "stinkbug" would be represented by a two eighth notes.

For an extension, try creating rhythmic sentences in different meters. Can you sing or chant your A section selection in that meter as well? :) Try Little Miss Muffit in 5/8!!!

You can also connect this rhythmic activity to the children's book The Spider and the Fly, as well as many other children's titles that have a bug or spider theme.

MELODY - M-R-D SOLFEGE PUMPKINS

I use die-cut shapes of pumpkins that I found at my local teacher supply store and placed "m" "r" or "d" in the center of each pattern. I use the peel-n-stick letters since they show up much better. Magnets can be added to the back of each pumpkin for easy magnetic use.

Place the pumpkins above, below or on a vine in the garden (a single line drawn on the board using a green marker). After a pumpkin "melody" is sung correctly, die-cut leaves can be awarded to the "vine" as children sing the m-r-d melodies correctly.

For a fun extension, mix the pumpkins up each time the story is read. If you have additional pumpkin shapes, you can add additional solfege, solfege hand signs, or even staff notation. Rhythm options would include Level II rhythmic concepts.

Finally, once soprano recorder notes B-A-G have been introduced, have the children play their Autumn Pumpkin Melody.