Grade 3 Back to School – Lesson 5
StartBeat, Melodic Direction (high-middle-low)Themes(s):
Animal Songs, Birds
Extra Details:
Themes
Rhythm
Tone Set
Grades
Holidays
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson, you will:
- Play the Circle Name Game
- Play Poison Rhythm
- Review “Hill, Hill”
- Review the game for “Hill, Hill”
- Play the game and sing “Hill, Hill”
- Sort the rhythms for “Hill, Hill”
- Echo sing
- Review “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Review the game for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Play the game and sing “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Sort the rhythms for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Option 1: Play “Here Comes a Bluebird” on Boomwhackers
- Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
- Optional: Play Four Corners
- Sing “The Music Time is Over”
Extensions
About the ‘Back to School’ Lessons
Different school districts have different start dates, ranging from the end of July to after Labor Day. The Musicplay song sequence is designed to begin in the first week of September. For teachers whose schools start earlier than September, there are five ‘Back to School’ lessons provided. If your school year begins in August, start with ‘Back to School’ lesson 1. Once September begins, regardless of your start date, use the ‘September Week 1’ lesson.
Objectives
- I can sing and move to music.
- I can echo and read rhythms and melodies.
Teaching Procedures
Play the Circle Name Game
Copy LinkPlay Poison Rhythm
Copy LinkReview “Hill, Hill”
Copy LinkDepending on the reading abilities of your students, teach the song by rote or have the students read the solfa and the rhythms. The song also uses a half note and can be used to introduce/review the half note.
Review the game for “Hill, Hill”
Copy LinkHave the students form a long line. The leader faces the line. All sing the song. The students try to run to the opposite side of the room or the field, while the leader tags players. If a player is tagged, they join the leader in facing the line and tagging more players. You can play this game between two soccer goalposts.
They sing again, and all of the chasers try to tag the students who are running from one side of the field to the other. The game continues until all (or most) of the students are tagged.
In small rooms, substitute a movement (such as hopping) for the students to get to the opposite side. If students are trying to be tagged, red flag them so they don’t get to join the leader. If too many students are caught each time, restrict the leader to catching one or two students each round. The game continues until all players are tagged.
Play the game and sing “Hill, Hill”
Copy LinkSort the rhythms for “Hill, Hill”
Copy LinkEcho sing
Copy LinkReview “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkHave the students read the rhythm of the song from the projectable slides. Phrase form is aabc. You could read the melody from projectable slides or you could show the contour of the melody with arm motions.
Review the game for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkForm a single circle. Join hands and raise arms to form windows. Choose one student to be the bluebird. The bluebird weaves in and out the windows. On the words, “Takes him a partner, ” the bluebird takes a partner and hops up and down in the circle. Now both students are bluebirds and the game continues until the entire class has been involved. The last student chosen becomes the first bluebird when the game repeats.
Play the game and sing “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkSort the rhythms for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkOption 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkOption 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkOption 1: Play “Here Comes a Bluebird” on Boomwhackers
Copy LinkOption 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Here Comes a Bluebird”
Copy LinkTeach the Orff arrangement for this song. Set the barred instruments up using the notes FGA CD. Brainstorm for a list of birds. For example: blackbird, swallow, sea gull, crow
Use the rhythm of your bird words to create melodies that they play between repetitions of the song. You could have each instrument take a turn for 16 beats. If you don't have Orff instruments create rhythmic or melodic ostinatos to accompany this song.
Optional: Play Four Corners
Copy LinkSing "The Music Time is Over"
Copy LinkWatch the video and sing along!