CREATIVE MUSIC CLASSROOMS with THOM BORDEN: STEADY BEAT

WE NOW SELL FOLKMANIS PUPPETS! BOOK 1 NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! BOOK 2 COMING SOON!

Saturday, September 6, 2014

STEADY BEAT - RHYTHMIC LEAVES

Welcome Back! Can you believe that we are our sixth year sharing classroom ideas on the blog? Please continue to share the blog with friends as it has been a very busy summer and we have LOTS of new things ready for the year.

Leaf Jumpers
Written by Carole Gerber
Illustrated by Leslie Evans
ISBN:

This wonderful story in rhyme is a great spring-board for the Fall season. Before starting the activity, ask the children to name some of the trees that are in the school yard, or perhaps their yard. This will be part of a KWL activity. Tell them that you will be sharing a story about many different trees and ask them to listen for the tree that they mentioned (or for trees that they do not know).

After reading the story to your class, share the fall song Autumn Leaves Are Falling after each 4-line phrase. This will help create a simply AB formatting for the story. Tell them to be listening for names of trees.

In this next activity, ask the children to share some of the tree names that they heard in the story. Draw a large circle on the board and write, "KINDS OF TREES." Then begin webbing the different kinds of trees they can share. Be sure to keep a list of the trees they mention (or take a picture of the web) as you will use these names again in the next activity.

For this next activity, write the names of the trees on 6" pieces of cardstock and laminate. Create several sets of these cards for a group activity. Remember to choose 8 of the best rhythmic names as children will begin creating rhythmic sentences with some of the cards. Divide children into cooperative groups and give each group a collection of cards. Ask students to create a 4-beat "tree sentence" using the tree names from the cards. Having several cards to choose from will ensure that you have several different sentences.

Create a RONDO song by singing Autumn Leaves Are Falling as the A Section. Move throughout the groups to have each group say the "tree" sentence they created. Move to another group as the A Section is repeat. After the children have the opportunity to SAY their sentence, as them to say/play using body percussion. Transfer the sentences to non-pitched percussion instruments.

Add a simple BX orchestration to the A Section to complete the composition. Add to your Fall PTA program or open house to share with parents. Your students will be thrilled to share THEIR compositions.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LEAF JUMPERS FROM AMAZON

I have added a link below to purchase leaf cutouts if you would prefer to write the different tree names on a leaf pattern. I have also added a few of the other Fall Favorites that I use with this "leafy" lesson.