STEADY BEAT - TWEET HEARTS

Tweet Hearts
Written and Illustrated by Susan Reagan
ISBN 978-0-307-93153-5

This activity connects to the Children's Literature Connection in last week's posting -- as the book can be sung independently from the following lesson activity.

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Take 8 pre-cut heart shapes, laminate them and place a "Z" on the back - representing ta rest.  As you share the story with the children, tap each of the hearts to indicate each of the beats as you say each line.  The last heart will always be on the final rest of the phrase.  Lead the class to discover that the last beat of each phrase is always silent.  Once they have discovered this, turn the heart over to show the "Z" or ta rest.  Tell the children that since there is a "heart-beat" of silence, we can call this a rest.  Continue reading the story, allowing children to "hear" the silent heart at the end of each phrase.

EXTENSION 1:  Using and 8x8 grid of pre-cut heart shapes (64 hearts) will be the extension activity as we begin interpreting the rhythm patterns of each text of the story.  As you read the text, remembering to begin with "8 little hearts," tap each heart; thus, keeping a steady pulse as the story is read.  Invite students to "conduct" the hearts as you re-read the story.  Invite the class to discover where the ta rests are found.  Initially, they will find that there is a rest at the end of each line of text.  However, there are additional rests throughout the story.  Encourage students to discover where these rests are located.  You may wish to read each line of text individually a few times to assist in their decoding.  Once the rest is found, turn the heart over to reveal the "Z."

EXTENSION 2:  Once all of the beats of rest are found, go back into the text and decode each line rhythmically.  You may have to read each line several times for your students to "hear" the rhythm patterns.  I just finished doing this with "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear" by Michael Hague, so my GR 1 students are ready for this challenge.  Here are the steps in the process I used and/or the words I used with my class:
     1.  "Listen to what the words say."
     2.  "I'm going to say and play what the words say."
     3.  "This time, I'm only going to play what the words say."
     4.  "This time, instead of hearing what the words say, listen to see if you hear ta's and ti-ti's."

As a final activity, invite students to play the rhythms of the story while playing the recording of Fjaskern from RHYTHMICALLY MOVING.  They will delight in the challenge as the music begins to speed up.

I have attached a copy of the handout that I will be using in my lesson plans.  The first page is simply an 8x8 heart grid.  The second page can be used once the ending rests are identified.  Either paste into a power point or SMART file or simply print and project onto your white board.  Use an erasable pen to notate rhythms as the children hear each line of text.  Invite your students to decode the rhythm patterns they here.
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I have also created a SMART board file.  Because of copyright limitations, the words used in the file are general.  Once you download the file, you can easily edit my text with the actual text from the story.
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