CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

10 Playful Penguins
Written by Emily Ford
Illustrated by Russell Julian
ISBN: 978-0-545-79439-8

Learning to count with 10 playful penguins can be quite a treat as each penguin finds new friends to play with along the way.  The repeated phrase "Yes, please!" says another one." lends itself nicely to the folk song Johnson Boys - though serious adaptation to the text is necessary to allow the book to be sung.  Still -- all in all - a playful way to engage penguins into your January lessons and classroom.

For GR K, we will be creating a B SECTION using penguins with patterns on their tummy.  Each penguin will have a single line with dots above or below the line so that students can begin reading/singing high/low patterns.  These are also going to be available in SMART board format towards the end of the month so that students can manipulate and create their own melody patterns.

Additionally, for GR 1, we will be created a B SECTION using penguins with sol-mi patterns on their belly.  Each penguin has a single line (4 dots sol and mi are placed above and below the line) or a double line (4 dots sol and mi are placed on the line).  While we have already begun singing la, our literacy is not quite ready for reading and creating -- but hopefully that will come before the end of the month.  :)  These are also going to be available in SMART board format towards the end of the month for creation process.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 10 PLAYFUL PENGUINS FROM AMAZON.

Enjoy the book and keep singing!

MELODY

STEADY BEAT

MELODY

MELODY will be posted on Tuesday.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

The Itsy Bitsy Snowman
Written by Jeffrey Burton
Illustrated by Sanja Rescek
ISBN: 978-1-481-44837-6

This playful seasonal twist on The Itsy Bitsy Spider makes for a perfect wintertime singing book.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BOOK OR KINDLE VERSION FROM AMAZON.

Check back for additional power point, smart file and downloadable worksheets.

Enjoy and keep singing.

STEADY BEAT

MELODY

STEADY BEAT

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

10 Fat Turkeys
Written by Tony Johnston
Illustrated by Rich Deals
ISBN: 978-0-439-45948-8

This charming countdown of turkeys can be sung quite easily to the melody of We Are Playing in the Forest.  This makes an excellent book to use with GR 1 as you continue to prepare and/or label and practice la with your students.  Use die-cut turkeys to create simply B Section melodies to sing between each of the verses in the story and you'll have a wonderful song that kids created - they will simply "gobble" it up!

CLICK HERE FOR A m-s-l TURKEY BLACKLINE.

With a little work in adapting the rhythm of the words, it can also be sung to the melody of Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 10 FAT TURKEYS FROM AMAZON.

Have fun and keep singing.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

My Monster Mama Laves me So
Written by Laura Leuck
Illustrated by Mark Buehner
ISBN: 978-0-06-008650-6

This charming, non frightening, story about a mama's love can be sung to the familiar bible school tune of Jesus Loves Me.  However, if you find that children do not know the melody or you do not wish to use this particular melody, you can also sing the book to the melody of "Cindy."

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE MY MONSTER MAMA LOVES ME FROM AMAZON.

Enjoy and keep singing books.

Welcome Back!

SUMMER BREAK

This has been an exciting year for Creative Music Classrooms!  We appreciate all of your continued support and responses.

Please join us again in August 2015 for a whole new year of classroom activities and teaching suggestions.

In the meantime, check out the MARKET PLACE for many of our classroom activities that are now available for purchase!

We'll see you in the Fall!

In getting caught up ... Check out the new April 11, 19 and 25 postings for fun froggie activities.  I will update May activities shortly ... Enjoy!

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

The Snatchabook - Who's stealing all the stories?
Written by Helen Docherty
Illustrated by Thomas Docherty
ISBN:  978-0-545-68439-2

This wonderful story can be sung to the Halloween melody of "We Are Scary Skeletons" with little adaptation.  While the song is a seasonal song, the minor melody lends itself nicely to the "who-donnit" of the story.  Read through the story to make any rhythmic adaptations prior to singing it for students.

Enjoy the book and keep singing.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SNATCHABOOK FROM AMAZON.

MELODY - SOLFEGE FROGS (s-l-m)

Leap Back Home to Me
Written by Lauren Thompson
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
ISBN 978-1-4351-5969-3

This story was used in the last posting to sing along -- and a soprano recorder activity was added for GR 3 to play B-A-G (mi-re-do.)

This week, since my GR 1 students have been working and creating with s-m-l with great success, I wanted to create an activity that would allow them to manipulate s-m-l solfege frogs to create different melodies.

Start by sharing the story.  After reading each part of the story that ends with "...leap back home to me," sing the song "On a Log."

For a second activity, read the story again but use a packet of s-m-l solfege frogs to create a new s-m-l melody to sing after each set of 4 lines in the story.  Once students are successful singing the patterns that you create, divide students into groups of 5 or 6.  Give each group a packet of s-m-l solfege frogs.  Encourage students to create their own s-m-l patterns with the frogs.  Invite each group to sing the new solfege frog pattern they create.  Add the song "On a Log" between each group of solfege frogs.

When singing the song "On a Log," invite students to sing the new s-m-l melody after the song to create a B section.  Move around the room as you sing "On a Log" to create a RONDO by having different groups of students sing their solfege frog patterns between each singing of the song.

Click below to purchase the completed solfege frog pattern manipulative packs for only $5 plus shipping.  In the kit, you will receive 16 frog patterns - 8 sol frogs, 4 la, frogs, and 4 mi, frogs.  The link includes a visual of the frog pattern with the solfege hand signs.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SOLFEGE FROG MANIPULATIVE KIT.

Once you are at the marketplace - simply click on the manipulative packs tab to view a sample of the product and order.

STEADY BEAT - SIXTEENTH NOTE FROGS (tika-ti)

Leap Back Home to Me
Written by Lauren Thompson
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
ISBN 978-1-4351-5969-3

After having some fun with the recorder activity, and seeing that my spring materials were moving into frog activities, I decided to review tika-ti and ti-tika with my GR 3 students.

I started first by asking students to review the song, "Who's Got a Fishpole" which we have sung several times.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO "WHO'S GOT A FISHPOLE?" ON YOUTUBE.

Then dividing the students into smaller groups, gave each group a packet of 20 frogs.  Each packet included 16 frog with a ta, ta rest, ti-ti and tika-ti patterns on the frog tummy (1 beat per frog).  Be sure to laminate the frogs and cut them out for use as a floor game or laminate and cut out and put magnets on the back for magnetic board use.

As students sing each verse of the song "Who's Got a Fishpole," encourage them to create 4 4-beat rhythm sentences with the frogs.  Between each verse, choose a group of "floor frogs" to read or perform their rhythmic pattern.  Sing the next verse as students mix up the rhythms and rebuild a new pattern.  Create a RONDO selection by choosing different "floor frog" groups each time.

Click below to purchase the completed rhythmic frog pattern manipulative packs for only $7 plus shipping.  In the kit, you will receive 21 frogs - enough to create the rhythms found in each of the 4 lines found in the story Leap Back Home to Me.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SOLFEGE FROG MANIPULATIVE KIT.

Once you are at the marketplace - simply click on the manipulative packs tab to view a sample of the product and order.  This pack includes 21 frogs - enough to create the rhythms found in each of the 4 lines.

*This activity fits nicely with Jump, Frog, Jump and many other frog activities found in other materials and resources.

MELODY - SOLFEGE FROGS (s, - l, - d)

Leap Back Home to Me
Written by Lauren Thompson
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
ISBN 978-1-4351-5969-3

This story was used in the last posting to sing along -- and a soprano recorder activity was added for GR 3 to play B-A-G (mi-re-do.)

This week, since my GR 3 students have moved beyond mi-re-do at this point in the year, and since I like having more than one activity for the children's books I purchase, I am adding another activity for this book but am addressing la, and sol,.

Sing the book to the familiar folk song Who's Got a Fishpole?    If you are unfamiliar with this tune, visit the link below to hear the song on YOUTUBE.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO "WHO'S GOT A FISHPOLE?" ON YOUTUBE.

After singing 4 phrases (ending with "leap back home to me," invite students to arrange 8 of the solfege frogs and sing the melodic  pattern that is created.  As the next 4 phrases (or verse) is sung, the students arrange the solfege frogs into a new melodic pattern.  I usually start with all do frogs, then cumulatively add the la, frogs to create 2-note patterns.  Then add the sol, frogs to create 3-note patterns.  Laminate the frogs, cut out and use as a floor game or laminate and cut out and put magnets on the back for magnetic board use.

Click below to purchase the completed solfege frog pattern manipulative packs for only $5 plus shipping.  In the kit, you will receive 16 frog patterns - 8 do frogs, 4 la, frogs, and 4 sol, frogs.  The link includes a visual of the frog pattern with the solfege hand signs.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SOLFEGE FROG MANIPULATIVE KIT.

Once you are at the marketplace - simply click on the manipulative packs tab to view a sample of the product and order.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

Leap Back Home to Me
Written by Lauren Thompson
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
ISBN 978-1-4351-5969-3

This story has a wonderful rhyme pattern that makes it easy to sing with many familiar folk songs - however, I sang the book using the melody from Rocky Mountain.  You could also use Frog in the Bucket.  Add a B Section by inviting GR 3 students to read / play / create and play / improvise simple B-A-G melodies after each 4-line phrases were sung.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BOOK FROM AMAZON.

To support the improvisation opportunity, students were given 8 frog patterns that had B, A and G written in absolute notation.  Through a step-by-step elimination process, they created an 8 note melody with only the B (yes - simply but a necessary first step for the student), then the B and A, and finally all 3 notes.

Click below to purchase the completed frog pattern manipulative packs for only $5 plus shipping.  In the kit, you will receive 16 frog patterns - 8 B frogs, 4 A frogs, and 4 G frogs.  The link includes a visual of the frog pattern with the absolute notation.  This pack can also be used to create an improvised B Section with the folk song Frog in the Bucket.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE B-A-G MANIPULATIVE KIT.

Once you are at the marketplace - simply click on the manipulative packs tab to view a sample of the product and order.

MELODY

Check back tomorrow (Sunday) for a fun St Patrick's Day activity!!

STEADY BEAT - SHAMROCK TAPPING PAGE

While beginning to work with macro and micro beats in kindergarten, I used large and small shamrocks to continue a concept started in February with hearts.  Place 4 large shamrocks in a line and invite children to say, "big, big, big, big" as each is tapped.  Ask the children, "How many sounds did you hear in the first beat?  One If children are unsure how to answer, ask them to say the word, then clap the word as they say it.  Syllabication and rhythm work together in this activity.

Then, following the sequence suggestions (The Kodaly Approach I by Lois Choksy, p 38) of how rhythms are most easily learned, replace the third shamrock with two little shamrocks.  Repeat the activity saying, "big, big, lit-tle, big" as each is tapped.  Remember to tap only 4 times (on the steady beat) as you move across the shamrocks.

After the shamrocks are placed on the board, I ask the children, "How many sounds did you hear in the first beat?  One  If children are unsure how to answer, ask them to say the word, then clap the word as they say it.  Repeat the questions for each beat in the activity.  Syllabication and rhythm work together in this activity.




CLICK HERE TO ORDER SHAMROCK CUT-OUTS FROM CARSON-DELLOSA.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

Ten Lucky Leprechauns
Written by Kathryn Heling
Illustrated by Deborah Hembrook
ISBN:  978-0-545-43648-9

This charming and magical add-on story can be sung to the folk melody of Pat Works on the Railway.  You may need to read prior to using in class as some of the language may need to be adapted to fit the rhythmic structure of the song.  Just keep repeating the melody of the song for each of the numbered leprechauns introduced in the story.

If you want to sing the chorus, simply use the words:
Fiddle-de-fizz, up and down,
Fiddle-de-fizz all through the town.
Fiddle-de-fizz off and on
Ten lucky leprechauns.

You can also sing the story to the folk melody of Cedar Swamp - just keep repeating the melody from the verse for each of the numbered leprechauns as you sing.  If you would like to sing the chorus between each number (or page in the story) - simply sing the following:

Fiddle-de-fizz up and down, fiddle-de-fizz home.
Fiddle-de-fizz up and down, fiddle-de-fizz home.


CLICK HERE TO ORDER "TEN LUCKY LEPRECHAUNS" FROM AMAZON.

Create a B or C section (depending on whether you sing the chorus or not) by adding rhythmic clovers.  Use precut clover patterns with rhythmic patterns on them to reinforce the concepts of the grade level in which you are sharing the story.  For primary grades, you may wish to simply use ta and ti-ti patterns.  You can certainly use a quarter rest as well as students in the primary grades (GR 1 and 2) should have mastered this concept by March.

For intermediate grades (GR 3-5), consider using sixteenth note patterns - 1 beat on each clover.  Tape or connect two clovers together to show half note / half rest patterns.





CLICK HERE TO ORDER SHAMROCK CUT-OUTS FROM CARSON-DELLOSA.






EXTENSION:  Give children 4 stickers and allow them to write their 4-beat patterns on the stickers.  Remind them that they can only write one beat on each sticker.  Then have them place the stickers on precut shapes or clover coins.  This allows them to manipulate their patterns - creating different 4-beat patterns each time they work with them.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER SHAMROCK STICKERS.












CLICK HERE TO ORDER SHAMROCK COINS FROM ORIENTAL TRADING.

Enjoy the book and keep singing.

MELODY

STEADY BEAT

MELODY - LOW LA HEARTS

Love, Ruby Valentine
Written by Laurie Friedman
Illustrated by Lynne Avril Cravath
ISBN: 978-1-57505-899-3

I want to reinforce low la with this story with GR 3 students.  You will need 4 large foam hearts or die-cut hearts for the class activity.  The children have also been using a 3-line staff as we have been working with m-r-d patterns.

Begin with simply m-r-d patterns after each 4-line stanza.  Add the low la sound by placing one of the hearts below the 3-line staff.  We have been singing m-r-d with success, so we simply added the word "low" for the heart place below the 3-line staff.  As we continue singing m-r-d-l, patterns, we will eventually change "low" to the syllable "la."

We then use water bottle lids that have heart stickers on the tops.  With the 3-line staff pages, every child has an opportunity to listen to m-r-d-l. patterns and notate them with the lids and staff paper.  Sing the patterns while children build what they hear - I usually start with simple m-r-d patterns first since that's what the children have been successful with.  After the class lesson of showing children how low la sits below the staff and notating a few with large class size hearts, invite children to begin creating their own based on the example sung.  Then repeat the process with m-r-d patterns then m-r-d-l. patterns by playing them on an instrument (or on the recorder).


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE HEART SPOT STICKERS FROM TEACHER STOREHOUSE.




CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LOVE, RUBY VALENTINE FROM AMAZON.





CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DIE-CUT HEARTS FROM TEACHER'S STOREHOUSE.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - BOOKS TO SING

Love, Ruby Valentine
Written by Laurie Friedman
Illustrated by Lynne Avril Cravath
ISBN: 978-1-57505-899-3

This charming story about Ruby Valentine takes you on a journey as Ruby prepares for her favorite day!  Days ahead, she begins her preparations with cookies and valentines, cards and gifts, only to miss the big day because she has slept through it.

The rhyming story can be sung to the familiar folk melody "Cindy," although you may wish to read / sing ahead as some of the lines have an unnatural pickup.

Enjoy the story and keep singing.

See also Jan 26 2013 for additional suggestions with this story.
CLICK HERE TO SEE ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS WITH THIS STORY POSTED ON JAN 26 2013.

STEADY BEAT

MELODY

STEADY BEAT

MELODY - S-M-L SNOWMEN

Sneezy the Snowman
Written by Maureen Wright
Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
ISBN:  978-0-545-32826-5

This charming story about a snowman making some hot not-so-hot choices has been a joy for the children in my class.  The book is currently being offered through Scholastic Books for only $1.00 and many of my boys and girls have already asked if they could order a copy.  I am lucky that at our school, many of the teachers already order from Scholastic Books, so the children are very familiar with the book club and how the ordering works.  I simply sent home the Scholastic magazine along with a cover letter explaining how it was being used to reinforce the rhythmic and melodic concepts being taught in music this month.

While there are many rhythmic opportunities for GR 1 in this book of rhyming verse, I want to reinforce creating and reading s-m-l patterns with my students, I have been creating simply melodies using snowman icons -- each snowman has a word on his tummy.  The words are taken from the snowman's repeated phrase in the story, "Make me brand new."

Each time the snowman melts, I move the snowman icons (with words on the tummy) to a different location on a two-line staff.  Although I sang it the first few times, the children picked up on the directions quickly and have had a great deal of fun moving the snowmen around to create different melodies.


CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD S-M-L SNOWMAN with STORY WORDS