Play poison rhythm

Do a rhythm erase

Clap all 4 rhythms. Click on a square to take one away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing one. Click on a square to take another away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing ones. Click on a square to take another away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing ones. Click on a square to take another away.
Invite 4 students to help you write the complete rhythm on the board. (Each does one square)
Ask the students if they can identify the song.

Review “Chester”

This song is used to teach or review tempo terms. Play one verse or sing the song to the students. Teach them the actions for the song. Tell the students you’re going to try singing "Chester" at several different tempos. The actions get more and more challenging as the tempo increases. Repeat the song four times, getting faster each time. When you teach or review a musical term, add that term to your musical word wall.

Review the actions for “Chester”

Do the actions and sing “Chester”

Sort the tempos

Optional: Play the Tempo Game

Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Chester”

Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Chester”

Option 1: Play “Chester” on Ukulele or Guitar

Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Chester”

Teach the Orff arrangement for the song. Invite students to create 8-16 beat drumming patterns with rhythm sticks on the floor (or on beat boards) between repetitions of the song. If you don't have Orff instruments, you could choose a different unpitched instrument for each action (or pair of actions) in the song and perform the song using instruments instead of singing. This should be a challenging exercise at the faster tempos.

Review “Loo La”

This is a nonsense song used to teach and reinforce dynamics. Choose a country to sing about. If the country is close to where you live, sing loud. If the country is far away from you, sing softer. If students are learning the states or provinces, you could sing about them in the same way.

Review the game for “Loo La”

Try playing some of the song patterns using rhythm or lummi sticks instead of hands. It will create some interesting rhythmic accompaniments. Have students create new hand patterns to go with the song.

Play the game and sing “Loo La”

Optional: Create a desk drum pattern for “Loo La”

In the camp version, the kids sit in a circle and make up clap patterns with everyone in the circle. Create a solo desk drum pattern to the song. The first pattern in the demo is the kind of pattern you can make up.

Teach your pattern to the class. Try out as many patterns as you have time for.