Week of October 23rd, 2012

HOT CROSS BUNS

Who doesn't know this age old rhyme? Today in music class, we revisited this old poem and actually took a look at some REAL hot cross buns (yum), a traditional English sweet roll made with yeast, cinnamon, and sugar...among other things! The tradition of eating the hot cross buns on Easter is connected with the holiday and Jesus' crucifixion, however as an additional interesting tidbit for parents,  some scholars believe it dates back even further to the Anglo-Saxon pagan goddess Eostre and the cycles of the moon! 

Of course, OUR primary love for this old poem is how wonderfully it expresses the simple rhythms of quarter notes, quarter rests and pairs of eighth notes. The kids enjoyed looking at the rhythms today, along with clapping them and performing them with rhythm sticks!

We also "pretended" to chew bubble gum today in class and sang "Sticky Bubble Gum", "Willoughby Walloughby" (elephant puppet tickle song) and "Jack and Jill" with the bird puppets show below!

One more funny highlight: I threw in an additional "old school" nursery rhyme with my own twist today: we recited "Peas Porridge Hot" and I explained to the children that porridge was a hot cereal like oatmeal. I asked them if they would eat nine day old oatmeal from a cold pot...surprisingly, a few said yes!! Haha! Guess these little ones sure do love their oatmeal! As far as the rest of us are concerned, it is more fitting to end the poem with a resounding, "YUCK!!!"...so that is exactly what we did. ;) Check out the MP3 of the two year old class here!

PEAS PORRIDGE HOT (MP3 Download, FOUR's CLASS)

FOUR YEAR OLDS SINGING/PLAYING HOT CROSS BUNS (MP3 DOWNLOAD)

Week of May 28th, 2012

Hope everyone had a fantastic and safe Memorial Day weekend! We rang the new week in (with one day down already) through some happy whistling with our slide whistles!

All children were exposed to the interesting tones of the slide whistle today, and students as young as toddlers experienced using them on their own and practiced blowing inside! Our infant, toddler and twos students also used fun animal cards to sing Old MacDonald with the ukulele, and puppets for Hickory Dickory Dock and Willoughby Walloughby (the elephant song).

We also enjoyed exercising to "Walking Feet", a fun movement song, in each class.

DOWNLOAD THE "WALKING FEET" MP3 HERE from class today!

Check out the pictures, lyrics and audio files below to see what we did with the slide whistles today! The children also enjoyed helping to sanitize each whistle. Because the items were shared, after each use they were soaked thoroughly in sanitizer and rinsed properly with water, and towel dried.

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HERMAN THE WORMAN

This song is performed as a chant, in an interactive style. It has a joke and punchline at the end which always gets a lot of laughs. :)

Sittin' on the fencepost, chewing my bubblegum (smack smack smack)

Playing with my yoyo ("Whoop, Whoop" with motion of yoyo, but today we used slide whistles!)

When along came Herman--Herman, the Worman

And he was this big (use fingers or arms to show length) and I said

"Herman, what did you eat?"

(Children take turns suggesting a food or other silly item that Herman could eat to make him that big while chant repeats and Herman's body grows bigger and bigger).

END OF SONG: Herman returns again but has shrunk to his tiny beginning size. We say, "Herman, what did you do?" and he replies, "I burped". :) What should Herman say? Maybe, "Excuse me"? :)

Week of October 17th, 2011

Today in music class we began with some fun warmups! Check out the video below for “Washing Machine” , a fun chant with twisting movements and stretches! Also see the video below for “Row Row Row your boat”. Partner songs not only encourage cooperative play but the kids have an absolute blast working with a friend. You'll also find a super cute rhyming tickle game to play with your baby, and highlights from our "Jack and Jill" bird rhyme!

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

WASHING MACHINE

(Watch for video)

We are clothes in a washing machine

We wiggle and we jiggle, until we are clean!

We are clothes in a washing machine

We wiggle and we jiggle, until we are clean!

Then mama hangs us out to dry, and hangs us on the clothes line, high!

Willoughby Walloughby

Willougby Walloughby W ______(plus child's name: for example, Mary becomes "Wary")

An elephant tickled ________ (child's name)

ROW YOUR BOAT WITH PARTNERS

TWO BIRDS: Jack and Jill

Two little birdies sitting on a hill

One named Jack

One named Jill

Fly away Jack, fly away Jill

Come back Jack, come back Jill!

You can use your hands for this poem! Just pantomime an open and closing with your hands!