Episode #85: New Favorites for 3rd Grade

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT Episode #85: New Favorites for 3rd Grade

In this episode, Carrie and Tanya discuss our new and renewed favorites for 3rd grade. We talk about our general curriculum for the year, and a few specific songs and activities that we have done this year, or will be trying soon.

Highs and Lows

Tanya had success with Alabama Gal this week with 4th graders. Check it out!

Main Theme

Tanya has been focusing on rhythm so far this year, especially songs that teach and reinforce tika-tika (16th notes). Here are some of her favorites for tika-tika:

• Alligator Pie

• Ding, Dong, Digga Digga Dong. Tanya likes to add hand chimes to play the do'-sol pattern.

Tanya is now transitioning into focus on melody with songs that use low la. In addition to singing, students are playing extracted patterns from songs on the barred instruments. Here are some of her favorite songs for teaching low la:

• Old House
• Big Fat Biscuit

• Old Mr. Rabbit. Students improvise different things the rabbit finds in the garden to create a cumulative song.
• Chicka-Hanka. Students can play the "chicka-hanka" rhythms on sand blocks to imitate the train.
• My Good Old Man. Students can play a guessing game, trying to guess which student is doing the whisper solo.

Carrie has also been focusing on rhythm so far this year in 3rd grade with emphasis on tika-tika (16th notes). A new favorite for tika-tika is:

• Dos y dos son cuatro: Carrie enjoys playing an elimination game with her students.

Carrie's students have also learned about dotted quarter note (called "three") and 3/4 meter. Here are a few favorites for this:

• Lavender's Blue. In addition to singing the song, students enjoyed watching this video from the 2015 Cinderella movie and learning to waltz.

• E papa waiari: We simplified the Maori stick movements by doing various 3-beat movements in our space without sharing sticks. Note: this notation is in 6/8 meter, but this song can also be heard or read in 3/4 meter depending on the tempo of the recording. Students enjoy this video that shows the stick game.

Know Better, Do Better

Take a look at the session offerings at the national OAKE conference this year. We are particularly excited about the Culturally Responsive Teaching sessions being offered this year. The virtual conference is March 4-6 and it's not too late to register!

Reconsider using the song Epo i tai tai e with students, especially elementary aged students, due to sexual content. This site gives some interesting history and context to the song. Good rule of thumb: if you can't talk openly about the history of a song or the translation of the song, it's not a good choice for the classroom. Also consider how easily students can Google things on their own. What will they see when they search for a song they've done in music class? There are many replacements for this song. Looking for a Maori stick game? Try E papa waiari! Looking for a song to teach the "syncopa" rhythm? Try Blacksnake!

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Slidesgo.com is a great resource for Google Slides templates for personal and educational use.

Coda

Carrie recommends Episode #260 of My Favorite Murder which covers the murder of Lana Clarkson by Phil Spector

Tanya recommends the book Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman