Grade 3 Lesson 15
Teaching Procedures
Clap or play rhythms to the "Overture" from The Nutcracker
Warm up by clapping or playing the rhythms to the "Overture" from The Nutcracker.
Learn About the composer of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky
Move to "Waltz of the Flowers" from The Nutcracker
Move to "Waltz of the Flowers" from The Nutcracker.
If you have paper plates, use them.
-or-
You could cut out two circles and use them.
-or-
You could do the movements with your hands.
Teach "Noche buena"
Teach your students a Christmas song in Spanish. To learn the Spanish words use the vocal track. Play a short phrase and pause. Have the students repeat. Play another short phrase and pause. Repeat. Continue until they have learned the entire song.
Review "King's Land"
Depending on the reading abilities of your students, teach the song by rote or have the students read the solfa and the rhythms.
Play the game with "King's Land"
Game Directions: Have all the students line up on one side of the room. Choose a “king” to stand at the other end of the room. These students in the line will “trespass” on the king’s land by coming closer and closer to the king as they sing the song. At the
end of the song, the king gives chase and tries to tag the students before they reach the end of the room again. If they are tagged, they join the king and try to tag the students that are left.
Teacher note: We don't have a kids demo for "King's Land". If your students would like to see themselves on MusicplayOnline please review the submission requirements here: https://help.musicplay.ca/can-i-submit-a-kids-demo
Optional: Teach the Orff Arrangement for "King's Land"
Playing and Creating: Have the students improvise or create melodies using FGA CD to use as an interlude between repetitions of the song.
Review "Santa Claus is Coming"
Teach 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.)
Optional: Request and Review Songs, Games, Activities
Ask the children to tell you their favorite songs, games or activities that they've done during the school year. List the songs/games/activities on the board, then have the student vote for their favorites. Conduct the votes with their eyes closed. As you work through the list of games/songs/activities, review the concepts that were taught in the activity. I'm often surprised at the activities that are the children's favorites!
