Today we began a new song, "Wabash Cannonball". If your 5th grader would like to research the Wabash Cannonball and/or locomotives we will be discussing this further on Friday, October 17, 2013. Your child can print off any information or they can e-mail a link to me. Also, some 5th graders asked for permission to bring in their phones or personal devices to use during class on Friday. This is fine with me. Please remind them to safeguard their belongings when they bring them to school.
Wow...time sure does fly! We are getting right into musical activities for the new school year.
Kindergarten students have been singing nursery rhymes. We just had a "Mother Good Theater" story in which a short story was told that incorporated all of the nursery rhyme songs we learned. Each child had a turn to put character stickers on the board or play an instrument. 1st grade students have been having fun with the steady beat and playing different instruments. They have also been working on high and low pitches. We played a follow the leader song called, "Join Into the Game", and during our discussion of following the leader, we found out that some of the students like to copy their older brother and sisters. 2nd grade students sang a little bit of harmony in "Circus Parade". We divided each class into two groups and each group had their own part to sing. That proved to be a little confusing, but they kept at it and were successful. Most recently they learned a silly nonsense song that reminded them of the vowels. 3rd grade students have been playing different rhythms on different instruments at the same time. This has been a little challenging and a lot of fun. We have also been talking about cowboys in the olden days and how dangerous their jobs must have been. Perfect setting for "My Home's in Montana" and "Night Herding Song". 4th grade students have been playing different rhythms in the meter signature of 4/4. We are also doing some board work to learn how to write the rhythms. Most recently we sang "The Ballad of the Boll Weevil" and learned how devastating to the farmers and their cotton crops that little bug was in the early 1900's. One boll weevil couple could have as many as 12 million descendants in one year. The 5th grade students have been working on singing and playing rhythms in the meter signature of 6/8. Songs we have learned are: "Rio Grande", "Paddy Works on the Railway" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". We also sang a new version of "Three Blind Mice". It is fun to hear all of the different rhythm parts being played at the same time to accompany the singing. The students are busy getting ready for their music programs. On Thursday, March 14 the 4th and 5th grade students will present their musicals in the Lakeview Middle School gym. 4th graders will present "Pirates! The Musical" at 6:00 p.m. Following them will be the 5th graders with "Go West" at 7:15 p.m.
Some pictures have been added. Hopefully there will be more within the next few days!
Hanukkah and Christmas songs are being sung!
Tis the season! Enjoy your children this weekend! It is such a joy to listen to children's singing voices and see their smiling faces day in and day out. I am so lucky to have this opportunity. We are going to begin singing Hanukkah and Christmas songs next week (except for 4th grade...they started today! Ask them about unison and harmony.
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AuthorI live in the Lakeview district with my husband and two sons. My interests include: reading, singing, walking and spending time with my family. Archives
October 2013
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