Learn about the composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Watch a segment of "Bach's Fight for Freedom."
I have shown this video to Gr 2 students, but always showed about 10-15 min. per class.

A slide show has been created that provides a synopsis of the video and discussion questions. There is a lot that students can learn from the video. Printable worksheets are also available in the unit.

Echo do-mi-so patterns in F

Teach "Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums" by rote or by having students read the rhythms. Sing the song for the students with the solfa hand signs or arm motions showing how the melody goes up and down. Have the students sing the song with hand signs or arm motions.

As you chant the months of the year, students with their birthdays in that month stand up. View the kids demo video.

Create an accompaniment with instruments for the months.

Use woods, metals, shakes, scrapes, drums. Everyone plays the last 2 months.
If possible, put the instruments into tubs, and label the tubs.
Teacher tip: Artie Almeida puts a hula hoop around each tub.
Students go to a "hoop group" and choose an instrument from the hub.

Decide which instrument should play each set of months. For example:
woods - January, February
metals - March, April
shakes - May, June
scrapes - July, August
drums - September, October
all play - November, December

Sing the song, then perform the months.

Trace and color the solfa notes for the song.
Then, copy the notes onto the blank measure.
If you have Orff instruments, teach the Orff arrangement for this song or accompany with an F-C bordun.

Creative Ideas: Have the students work in pairs or small groups to chant the names of two of the months and play them on their choice of instrument. Group one would chant “January-February” and play it on an instrument while they say it.

Use the singer on the recording as a model for the pronunciation. Teach the song by rote.

Read the rhythms together, using your choice of syllables. Divide the students into 4 groups and give out the instruments suggested, or what you have available. Practice playing the rhythms. When successful, try playing with the audio of the song