.jpg)
FELIZ DIA DE PORTUGAL!
Did you know that today is Portugal Day?
We had a great time in music today learning about this awesome country and it's rich culture! We listened to "fado" music (rumored to have started as the sad laments of lonely Portuguese sailors who missed their wives and children) which is a more downtempo, classical folk genre using Portuguese guitar as well as standard classical guitar with lyrics in Portuguese. Many people believe this is Spanish (and there are Spanish speakers in Portugal, of course) but Portuguese is actually it's own unique language! Most of the differences between the language are in pronunciation and dialect.
I also brought in some popular Portuguese spices for the children to explore: Spanish saffron, a cinnamon stick and fresh ginger root. They enjoyed passing these items around, smelling them, amd wondering what they would taste like (I myself am making Portuguese cuisine tonight for dinner)!
The children also enjoyed looking at pictures of the flag, ancient castles, popular sports and the city/coastline.
Our younger children experienced Portugal as well but also sang Old MacDonald with puppets and had fun with bouncing and movement songs!
Check out the pictures, videos, and of course, extentions questions below!
BRAINSTORMING:
In a Constructivist fashion, the school agers brainstormed/guessed what we were doing while they listened to the "Fado" music. I took all suggestions down on the board and once we were done thinking about it, I erased some of the incorrect information.
SONGFLUTES!
School agers got to use song flutes today! Beyond learning about Portugal, we got out our songflutes, learn how to hold them, how to voice/tongue notes, and also about the B position and quarter notes (check your child's backpack or mailbox for the worksheet we did). Next week, we will continue learning to read music as well as learning how to care for, and properly sanitize, the songflutes we are using from Joyful Noise. If you are interested in ordering a song flute for your child, please email me at MusicatJN@Gmail.com!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD:
1.) What country did you learn about today--what can you tell me about it? Portugal! Portugal is near Spain, on the Atlantic Ocean and a part of the Mediterranean. It is mild there and people spend a lot of time fishing. There are many beautiful castles and ancient structures in Portugal!
2.) Who were the first people to sing Fado music (or so we believe)? Sailors who were missing their wives and children.
3.) Can you name any of the spices you saw in music today? Saffron, cinnamon or ginger!