Grade 3 Lesson 13
StartForm, Timbre of Unpitched InstrumentsThemes(s):
Food Songs, Space, Our Musical World
Extra Details:
Concepts
Rhythm
Grades
Curriculum Links
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson you will:
- Play rhythm racer (half note and half rests)
- Review families of unpitched instruments
- Play along with different instruments to “Overture” from the Nutcracker
- Teach “We Come from Pluto”
- Sing and move to “We Come from Pluto”
- Teach the chorus for “It’s a Holiday”
- Learn About the Steel Pan Drum
- Learn about the Paw Paw fruit
- Teach “Paw Paw Patch”
- Play the “Paw Paw Patch” game
- Teach “Santa Claus is Coming”
- Create a B Section Using Word Rhythms
- Review “Shake Them Simmons”
Extensions:
- Boomwhacker Holiday Ideas
- Body Percussion Holiday Ideas
- Unpitched Holiday Ideas
- Santa Christmas Unit
- Sacred Christmas Unit
- Secular Christmas Unit
- Nutcracker Unit
Musicplay is a menu. The teacher is not expected to teach every song or activity. Choose the songs and activities from the list that will best fit your schedule and the needs of your students.
Objectives
- I can sing and move to music.
- I can make instruments and improvise rhythms with a song.
- I can describe the steel drums.
Teaching Procedures
Play rhythm racer (half note and half rests)
Copy LinkReview families of unpitched instruments
Copy LinkPlay along with different instruments to "Overture" from the Nutcracker
Copy LinkTeach "We Come from Pluto"
Copy LinkTeach “We Come from Pluto” by rote. Teach the actions for the first part of the song. When the song is learned, divide the class into two groups; have half sing "bloom" and the other half sing "bleep." Each group will crouch down (plié) when they sing.
Sing and move to "We Come from Pluto"
Copy LinkTeach the chorus for "It's a Holiday"
Copy LinkLearn About the Steel Pan Drum
Copy LinkLearn about the Paw Paw fruit
Copy LinkTeach "Paw Paw Patch"
Copy LinkTeach the melody by rote and play the game. This song is included to introduce sixteenth notes to the students.
Play the "Paw Paw Patch" game
Copy LinkForm two lines facing each other, with group A in one line and group B in another.
Verse 1: The person at the head of group A skips around behind their line, around group B's line, and back into place.
Verse 2: The person at the head of group A leads the whole group B line around group A's line, and back into B's places.
Verse 3: The two lines peel the orange, with the head couple forming an arch at the bottom. To “peel the orange” the two line leaders will go around their lines in different directions. One will lead his line to the left, and the other will lead her line to the right. All go through the arch.
Game repeats with the new head couple. Traditionally this game was played with group A being the girls and group B
being the boys, but we suggest that you allow students to partner with whoever they'd like. Change the words of verse 2 to "Come on kids" instead of "Come on boys." Change the words "Pretty Little Ellie" to my friend ______ substituting the name of the child who is the leader.
Teach "Santa Claus is Coming"
Copy LinkTeach them "Santa Claus is Coming” by rote. Try it as a two part canon. Ask the students if they remember what a canon is. (In a canon the voices sing the same melody but enter at different times.)
Create a B Section Using Word Rhythms
Copy LinkCreate a B section for "Santa Claus is Coming" using word rhythms.
Play the word rhythm you create on your instruments.
Review "Shake Them Simmons"
Copy LinkReview "Shake Them Simmons."
Either move to the music or improvise rhythms with your instruments.