Rhythm Sticks!!!
This week in music class, we enjoyed using rhythm sticks to learn a little bit about keeping tempo (fast and slow), quarter notes and half notes. We also explored syllables!
Our first lesson in rhythms came with the song "Half Note Hippo." The song, which features half note rhythms on the sticks, is all about a hippo who is moving slow (I did explain to the children that hippos could also move very fast and that they are very dangerous animals!).
We also sang about "Grandma Moses" who is sick in bed, with a doctor's recommendation of a "peppermint stick" to help her ailing tummy! =)
I was impressed with how quickly students were able to sound out the syllables of their names using the rhythm sticks as well, and our younger students enjoyed singing some songs with puppets and other bouncing/movement songs.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
1) What color rhythm sticks did you use in music class this week?
2) Which song moved slowly--was it the hippo song, or Grandma Moses?
The Hippo Song
3) What did the doctor say that Grandma Moses needed?
A peppermint stick!