Episode #170: Peek at Our Week: 5th Grade

-

Main Theme: Peek at our Week: 5th Grade

Tanya: These are the songs and activities I am using to as move move into the second semester. For the rest of this year, I will be focus on love and joy of music through active music making and also bridging between elementary music and middle school music for those who will be continuing on. I also want to focus more on multi-cultural music. We'll be doing a Tinikling unit that includes both traditional Filipino as well as moving to modern popular music. We'll also be doing a unit about the son clave rhythm pattern and its use in music throughout various cultures and genres. I'm also exploring a project where students will research one of their favorite musician's musical influences. We will also be doing ukulele and keyboard units this semester.

Carrie: I am working with my 5th graders on preparing a musical performance based on the book "What Do You Do With an Idea?" by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Mae Besom. We'll be taking simple songs and adding instruments, partwork, movement, etc as the students suggest and want to experiment with. Each of my 4 classes will be assigned one song and they will get to choose how to arrange it. Here are the songs I'll be using:

Frere Jacques/Are You Sleeping
Strawberries
Ding Dong Digga Digga Dong
The Journey (a speech piece I learned from Thom Borden)

In addition to reading the book and sharing the songs above, we'll be doing a few choral pieces:

"A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman, arranged by Mac Huff (2-part)
"Build Me a World" by Ginger Littleton (unison with optional descant)

We're also focusing on a musician of the day, and this month I'm featuring Grammy nominees. I'm focusing on musicians that the students might not be as familiar with, like Jacob Collier.

Looking for more upper elementary ideas? Check out these past podcast episodes:
#104: Energizing You Older Students
#83: New Favorites for 5th and 6th Grade

Know Better, Do Better

Carrie talks about welcoming new students into your classroom, especially when working with newcomer multilingual learners. Some things to keep in mind:
  • Is your learning environment welcoming to all students? Consider the visuals you have posted and the books and materials you are using. Representation matters.
  • Have an asset-based mindset - what can the students do?
  • Invite participation, but give space when students are not ready to jump in quite yet.
  • Buddy up the new student with a "music mentor."
  • Have consistent routines and procedures.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Tanya recommends glass pebbles as a great multi-use manipulative. You can use them as bingo game markers, as noteheads on a staff, or putting sounds on heartbeats to represent the rhythm. They come in a variety of colors and you can even draw on the flat side with a sharpie.

Coda

Carrie is enjoying her Kindle Paperwhite



Did you enjoy this episode? 
Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work. Click the button below!

Buy Me A Coffee

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Episode #160: Peek at our Week: Kindergarten

-
Image
Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #160: Peek at Our Week: Kindergarten   Main Theme: Peek at our Week - Kindergarten plans Tanya: These songs and activities were used over two 45-minute lessons with a focus on practicing routines and procedures, preparing loud and soft, preparing the 4 voices, and having fun! That's a Mighty Pretty Motion - movement When Dogs Wake Up - vocal exploration Hickety Pickety Bumblebee - name game Hickety, Pickety, Bumblebee Won’t you say your name for me?  (child says his or her name) Bye Low, Baby-Oh and Here's a Little Baby finger play - preparing loud and soft Grizzly Bear - preparing loud and soft Cuckoo - singing voice Very Lonely Firefly   and Firefly - picture book and listening Johnny Works with One Hammer - steady beat movement Come Along Everybody - following movement Listen, Listen Here I Come - Playing drums Peanut Butter and Jelly - picture book and preparing 4 voices Carrie: These songs and activities were used over 3 days of ...
Read more

Episode #159: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First

-
Image
Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #159: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First Announcements and Upcoming Events: We have an article published in the Summer 2024 OAKE Envoy titled "2024 OAKE Conference Reflection: How OAKE is Evolving and Changing." You can check out the Envoy here . All articles and past editions are available for OAKE members. There is one free article in each issue available for non-members. Upcoming workshop: Northern California Association of Kodály Educators (NCAKE) Saturday, August 17, 2024 9:00-1:00 pm Burlingame United Methodist Church In-person, Zoom, and Recording options available! Register here! Main Theme: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First As we head back into the school year, we are considering Habit #3 from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey . Habit #3 is to "Put first things first." We are considering our "big rocks," or priorities, and making sure to put the most tim...
Read more

Episode #57: Sample Lesson Plans in a Kodály-Inspired Classroom

-
Image
In this episode , Carrie and Tanya share 2 sample lesson plans based off of their long-range planning as mentioned in Episode 56.   Tanya shares a Kindergarten lesson focusing on steady beat and high/low.  Carrie shares a 4th grade plan focusing on ti-ta-ti (syncopa) and high do.   Songs and Activities mentioned in this episode: *Clap Your Hands* Looby-Loo with percussion Hop Old Squirrel Here's a Nest for Robin Here's a nest for robin, Here's a hive for bee, Here's a hole for rabbit, And here's a home for me! Two Little Puppets Two little puppets, one on each hand, Isn't she lovely, isn't he grand? Her name is Bella, his name is Bo, She says "Good morning" (or afternoon), and he says "Hello!" "Personages with Long Ears" from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens *Old King Glory*   The Ants Go Marching  Illustrated by Dan Crisp ...
Read more