Week of November 24th, 2014

WE ARE THANKFUL!

We enjoyed singing songs this week about thankfulness! We re-capped our turkey songs from last week, but we also included some tunes about being grateful, and talked about what we were thankful for. Listen to the two year old class telling me what they appreicated in the song "Gratitude Attitude":

>>>LISTEN TO THE THREE'S CLASS HERE

We also explored the guitar, did turkey fingerplays, danced and used the triangle for the same songs in last week's entry.

Have a beautiful, warm and blessed holiday. I'm so thankful as a teacher to be able to share the gift of music with your children, but each week their gifts to me are so much more. Hugs, smiles, and the excitement of learning are something I am so incredibly grateful for.

Week of November 17th, 2014

The Turkey Tango and Other Turkey Tunes!

It's almost unbelievable that turkey time is near! We enjoyed singing different turkey songs in music this week--from tangos to fingerplays! We even played a fun game as we sang "This Old Road" (see below)--I lined up some chairs to make our "turkey truck" and kids took turns being both the driver and the "jerky turkey" that pops out of the truck on the bumpy road. =)

Check out the cute pictures and lyrics below and don't forget to ask your child some of the extender questions below to engage their musical learning this week.

We also read The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood. It is an adorably illustrated tale of different types of quiet, such as "first one awake" quiet, or "sleeping sister quiet". The children loved this book and were quite hushed while I was reading it. =) Click on the image above to find a purchase link on Amazon.com! Thanks so much to Kyle Williams for donating this book to my music program!

 Thanks for reading the blog and stay cozy and warm out there!

The Turkey Tango

I taught my turkey how to tango

His name is Fred--he's from Durango!

In a tux he looks so chic

With a rose held in his beak

And he does a nice fandango!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

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QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1.) What did Albuquerque Turkey's family eat instead of turkey on Thanksgiving? Scrambled eggs!

2.) What happened to the turkeys on the truck in the "Bumpy Road" song? They fell out!

3.) Can you tell me about some different types of "quiet"?

Week of November 25th, 2013

GRATITUDE ATTITUDE!

We had a great time today singing songs about turkeys, eating meals together, and of course, thankfulness!

Scroll down to see cute pictures of our friends doing turkey fingerplays, and watch a video of the songs from class, too! 

Also don't miss the adorable mp3s below of the four year old class talking about what they are thankful for, as well as singing the call and response Thanksgiving song that we did with triangles! As always, questions to ask your child about today are included as well.

   Mr. Turkey and Mr. Duck
Start with hands behind back, to the tune of "A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track"

Mr. Turkey went out one day 
(one hand is turkey, and comes out to front)

In bright sunshiny weather

He met Mr Duck along the way 
(other hand is duck, and comes out )

They stopped to talk together

Gobble, gobble, gobble, quack, quack, quack

Gobble, gobble, gobble, quack, quack, quack

And then they both went back 
(hands go back behind back)

THE FOUR YEAR OLD CLASS

Gratitude Attititude MP3

THE FOUR YEAR OLD CLASS

On Thanksgiving (Call and Response) MP3

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LESSON EXTENDERS: Questions to ask your child today about music class!

1. What would you like to eat for Thanksgiving? 

2. What are you thankful for?

3. Do you remember what "call and response" means? (It means to copy, or echo!)

Week of November 22nd, 2011

Over the River and Through the Woods!

We enjoyed singing songs about thankfulness and Thanksgiving today!

An old favorite is "Over the River and Through the Woods"! I decided to add a new twist today with a little recall and art project.

First I showed the children a youtube video of the song with illustrated depictions and sign language as well. Older children learned the sign for "river" and "horse". Mrs. Grace helped us pick those motions out among others with her ASL expertise.

Here is the video we watched:

After we listened to the song several times, I asked the children to relay back to me what the horse did first before arriving at Grandma's house. We put all of the pieces together for directions and then I took the kids into the movie room where tables and large paper were set up. Together, we made "maps" to follow. The kids drew bridges, rivers, woods, hills with snow and finally Grandma's house.

If you get a chance, see the adorable drawings on display in the rec room! They really enjoyed working in groups together!

Younger children really enjoyed playing the doughnut game, a fun color and counting singing game with laminated doughnuts. I can't seem to find a clip of this song with the tune online but it is alot of fun and the children always enjoy the songs where they get to hold something tangible (and everyone loves donuts)!