Pumpkin Patch Singing Game

Students in 1st grade loved learning the poem "Pumpkin Patch".  After learning the song we added actions and then performed with a partner.

Pumpkin patch, pumpkin patch.

Looking for a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

Here is one.  Nice and fat.

Turn into a jack-o-lantern just like that!

Ask your first grader to teach you this fall time favorite!

Pass the Pumpkin

Students in K-2 have been working on moving rhythmically and demonstrating steady beat with a game called Pass the Pumpkin.  Students learn the simple passing pattern and then work together to keep a continuous steady beat while passing the pumpkin, counting and throwing in a few smooth dance moves.

I'm Baaaack!

Its good to be back in the classroom!  This week I will get to meet students at Greenville and Williamsville.  Here are a couple of the songs that classes will sing this week:

The Pumpkin March
What kind of dynamics do you hear?  Is the surprise at the end loud or soft?

American Tears
This beautiful song celebrates the heroes, the patriots, the soldiers and the pioneers that have made America great!

Learn the Treble Clef Lines and Spaces

The lines of the treble clef (from bottom to top) are EGBDF.  Watch this video to learn a few tricks for remembering this!





Now that you've got the lines, lets learn about the spaces with this video:

Classical Music in Commercials

Can you hear the music in the background of this piece? Its by Aaron Copland, an American composer.



In this funny McDonald's Commercial the little girl is playing "Fur Elise" by Beethoven.

Music Class Rules

GoAnimate.com: Welcome to Music Class by MrsKing

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Music Class Expectations

Classroom Expectations

By Mrs. King

Upon this wall are rules I post

That you must follow here the most

Please enter the room with a quiet smile

And be prepared to learn music for a while

Stay in your seat, whether floor or chair

Make sure your supplies are with you there

Do your best to sing, dance and learn

Then high scores you will always earn

During discussions avoid disruptions

With needless talk or rude interruptions

Please raise your hand before you talk out

So all may hear what your thoughts are about

In the music room there are lots of neat things

But before you touch let the warning bells ring

Take care of supplies, instruments and books

Treat them respectfully.  Don’t be a crook!

Put things back where they were found

So Mrs. King won’t have to frown

Keep your papers nice and crisp

Don’t fold or crinkle or wad or twist

Here is something for you to consider

Where is the place we deposit litter?

It’s not the hallway or music room floor or carpet

But in the waste basket is where we drop it

There should be absolutely no gum in this class.

No candy, no food, no drinks.  Don’t ask.

If in your shoe rocks or dirt is seen

Dump them in the trash.  Let’s keep our room clean.

Never hurl insults or words of hate or fear

“Please” and “Thank You” are better to hear

Do not use language in a negative way

Try “Good job!”, “Keep trying!”  or “Have a great day!”

If you think this poem is too long to remember

Here are 3 rules that can make you a winner

Respect the property of each and everyone

Respect others.  Respect yourself.  That’s three.  You’re done.

By treating each other with consideration

You will enjoy a first rate education

But if these rules you do neglect

This poem written out I will collect.

Take a Look at the Music Room

Welcome to the Music Room!  Let's take a look around!

Here's a view from the door.  The chairs are set up for students in the older grades that will focus on activities on the SmartBoard the first class period.

Books in the music room?  You bet!  There are so many musical stories, poems and more that I can't wait to share with students.

Partial storage of classroom instruments.  The big tubs on top of the cabinet are the most AWESOME bass drums ever!  They are on sale at Wal-Mart right now so if you have room the next time you are there pick up a few for the music department!

This picture shows the Music Burger which helps us write creative paragraphs about the music we listen to.  Behind the piano is a bulletin board about careers in music.  There are so many great careers to choose from in the music industry and it is never to early to think about your future!

This is a view from the back of the room.  Below the boards you can see our musical word wall.  The words are grouped by categories like "rhythm", "tempo", "expression", etc...

This station contains some of the items we'l l use in class every day like Hungry Harry, Mimi the Muncher and lots of pointers for lyrics and music reading.

Speaking of props, there are lots of times that we'll use fun things like baskets, rubber chickens, tennis balls and cups to learn musical concepts.  Fun!

This station holds commonly used manipulatives like bingo chips for listening charts, clothes pins for Rocketship Rhythms, Aloha Melodies, Pin up the music, etc...  There are also caps for the bottlecap staves and dry erase markers to use with lap packs.  Lap packs contain several different kinds of graphic organizers, music staves and drawing space for expressing our ideas and composing.

The Get it and Go station contains packs of crayons, markers, pencils and other supplies and will house student folders throughout the year by class.  The cool sundae in the background displays the national standards in music.