Sing to Melody the Elephant

Practice distinguishing between speaking and singing voices by introducing a toy elephant named Melody.

Melody the elephant will do what the children tell her, if they tell her in a “singing voice.” If they speak, she does nothing.

Tell Melody to “jump up and down” using a speaking voice.
Melody won’t move. Then sing to Melody to “jump up and down” and make your elephant jump.

Invite the children to sing to Melody what to do. (The demo that follows will show how to do this)

Play Poison Melody

Echo every pattern, except the poison pattern.

Teach "When I was One" by rote

Teach "When I was One" by rote.
Sing a phrase and have students echo, or play a phrase and have kids echo.

Sing "When I was One"

Sing "When I was One"

Learn the Movements for #73 “When I Was One”

Watch the kids demo video and copy the movements.

Create Your own Movements for "When I was One"

Create your own movements and sing along.

Teachers: a parachute activity is demonstrated in kids demo 1.

If you can use a parachute, view this activity in the song list.

Optional: Illustrate a Storybook of the Song "When I Was One"

Optional: If it's possible to print the storybook of the song from supporting resources, have students illustrate the song. The mini-book version can be easily created on a photocopy machine.

Alternate plan: Illustrate your favorite part of the song.

Echo sing so, mi, la

Echo sing so, mi, la

Teach the song "We are Dancing

Teach the song "We are Dancing, either as a reading song or a rote song.
Read the rhythms with the class. This is an opportunity to teach the children that eighth notes can be beamed in groups of four. Eight notes are not always beamed in groups of two.

Read the solfa if you've taught it. (so-la-so-mi)

Alternately, teach the song by rote. Sing a phrase and have the kids at home. Or playoff race and have the kids echo.

Watch the Kids Play #74 “We Are Dancing in the Forest”

Game Directions: One child pretends to be the wolf and hides. The children in the class dance as they sing. The wolf comes out of hiding and tries to tag a child before they get to the designated safe area.

Adapt for Zoom:
1. Choose a "wolf" and a "child" and give them a challenge.
for example: 10 jumping jacks, climb on and off the chair 5 times, etc.
2. Choose somewhere in the house to run. (bathroom)
Run there and see who gets back first.

Adapt for no-touch in-person:
1. Choose a "wolf" and a "child" and give them a challenge.
for example: 10 jumping jacks, climb on and off the chair 5 times, etc.

Read the Rhythms and Solfa from the Video

Pause the video, and read the rhythms together.

If the students have learned so mi and la, sing the solfa together.

Optional: One Sound or Two?

Look at the forest creatures in the image.

Clap the name of the critter.
Decide if it is one sound or two?

If it's possible to print the worksheet, you could have students complete it.

Review as Time Permits: #70 “Haul Away Joe”

Watch the video and sing the response "Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe."

Play the video again and sing the entire song.

Create movements like sailors might have done on a ship.

Review as Time Permits: #71 “Mr. Potato Head”

Teach the song by rote, or use the video to teach the song.
(Pause after each line and have kids sing back)

This is a guessing game. It's fun if you a Mr. Potato Head toy to use.
Everyone closes eyes. Give out the eyes, an arm, and the feet to three children.
Everyone sings the song, then the teacher sings the questions. (still with eyes closed)
Who has the eyes? The child with the eyes sings, "I have the eyes." Then the arm and the feet.
The class opens eyes, then you invite them to guess who had each part.

Adapt for Zoom: Choose 3 guessers who close eyes. Point to the children who will sing the solos.
Sing the song, then the solos unmute and sing. The guessers guess who sang.

Adapt for in-person: If you can't sing, play the recording of the song.
The chosen children will say instead of sing.

Review as Time Permits: Singing Game #72 “Wishy Washy Wee”

Watch how the kids in class play the game.

Think of ways you can adapt it for zoom or in-person.

Sing the Echoes in "The Music Time is Over"

Sing "The Music Time is Over."