So, Mi, La centers

The 2nd graders have been working on So, Mi, and La sight reading this month. In the past, I've done a lot of flashcards, whole group practice at the board, and echo singing, but I've always felt this falls short when it comes to actually applying the skill of reading notes on the staff. I've always loved centers and think they are a great way for student to work independently on skills. I put together 5 centers for the kids to rotate through that would allow them to read the solfege and then actually play it on an instrument and hear what it sounds like. Some of the centers required them to sing the pitches as well. We rotated through all 5 stations and spent about 6 minutes at each station. 

Station 1: Catch the Ladybug- I created several ladybug cards with SML notation on them and then a KEY card. One student sings a pattern from the key and the others have to find the lady bug with the matching notation. Cards were numbered so that students could easily check their answers with the numbered examples on the key. 

 Station 2: Hand Sign coloring page-Since it's close to Thanksgiving, I thought this Color By Hand Sign page would be a good fit. I found this worksheet on the Internet, but to be honest, I can't find it again to tell you where it came from!

Station 3: Composition-Each student has a bell stand with E,G, and A as well as a heart beat strip and the letters S, M, and L (these are Music-Go-Round manipulatives). They can put one or two pitches in each heart (Quarter notes or two-eighths) and then they play it on the bells. Having the bells on the raised bell stand helps them visually see the step and skip difference between the pitches as well as higher and lower.  

 Station 4: Barrel O' Monkeys-I used bulletin board cut-outs for this activity. On the barrel I wrote SML patterns on the staff (just like the lady bug center) and on the monkeys I wrote the letter notation (ex: SS LL S M). Students matched the correct monkey and barrel. They are numbered on the back so students can check their answers.

Station 5: Instruments-I set out 2-3 xylophones/metallophones and a stack of SML flashcards. The students took turns reading the flashcards and then playing the pattern on their instrument.

National Anthem

The 4th graders learned about the Star Spangled Banner in September. Each year at the end of the unit, we sing the anthem at a home volleyball or basketball game. This year we sang for a packed house at the final home volleyball game. 45 students took part! Way to go!!

Waiting to sing!! 

Surround the State in Song 2018

Congratulations to this year's Surround the State in Song honor choir participants! 

A Soup Opera

Each year in 3rd grade we do an Opera Unit. We spend time learning about the jobs involved in creating an opera such as set designer, lighting technician, choreographer, general director, etc. At the end of our unit, each class designs their own opera to be performed in our room. In the past, we've done "Hansel and Gretel", but this year we did "A Soup Opera". The students get to choose what job they want to have. I let the costume designers pick costumes out from my costume closet, the set designers get to use things in my classroom or bring items from home, and so on. We try to create the entire opera within the classroom. Everyone takes their jobs very seriously! Then, we perform it for classroom teachers and anyone else we can find that wants to watch. Here are some pictures from this year's performances.