First we listened to "Imperial March" from Star Wars and found patterns in the music that sounded like we should march, swing our steady beat swords and sneak around. Then we kept the steady beat by clapping one hand with our partner. Next we took that skill and transferred it to our steady beat swords. We clicked our steady beat swords together on the beat with our partner.
As we listened to the song the next time we marched, light saber-ed to the beat and snuck around the galaxy in search of a new beat keeping partner. What fun!
Read another blog post about steady beat swords HERE.
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This is so cute! The pictures of your kids doing this are great; you can really see the joy in their faces. I may have to try this out with my kiddos. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are having such a great time! The best part is that when we revisited this activity in Kindergarten during their next lesson, they really showed that they understood and demonstrated the beat perfectly. Its a hard thing to do at that tempo and depending on a partner too!
ReplyDeleteSweet! I have a class set of pool noodle swords for a music memory activity...will have to let kinder use them! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteSweet! I have a class set of pool noodle swords for a music memory activity. I will have to get them out for kinder. Thanks for sharing a great idea!
ReplyDeleteDid you do all those steps in one day or throughout two days? I love this idea and really want to try it with my K-1.
ReplyDeleteI do all the steps in one day (plan about 15 minutes). Its chaos. Its genius. Its wonderful! The next day that we do this activity we skip the hand clapping and practice with the steady beat swords before doing it with the music again.
ReplyDeletePerfect for our space theme!
ReplyDeletePerfect for our space theme this year! Funny that my grandson (age 6) came into my class room this summer and grabbed a noodle I had cut in half for something else, stuck a piece of cardboard through it and used it like a sword... kids and imagination! You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI am excited to try this with my first graders this week! Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, but how in the world did you get kindergartners and first graders not to go crazy with those "swords". ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL. They want to do this activity SO bad, that I explain that if they are rough with their swords, hit someone ANYWHERE except on their sword or even threaten to do something bad they will lose their sword and NOT get it back. They are VERY serious! I've only had to take two away in about three years!
DeleteWhat is the best/easiest way to cut them? An electric knife? Any tips? Looks awesome! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is a must try for me. You have such awesome ideas. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWe did this today... and the kids loved it. our composer of the month was john williams. so we got to do star wars.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a super idea...I wish that a video clip had been included to see the children at work/play.
ReplyDeleteI have one in the post that is linked just above the pictures. I think you'll enjoy it!
DeleteI am going to try this activity this school year. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I Love and purchased your glyphs.
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