Show only 10-15 minutes per class.

"Donkeys Love Carrots” is a four-part round. When the students have learned the melody well in unison, try it in two parts, starting the second group when the first has sung one line. When they are singing two parts well, try the round in three and then in four parts.

Learn the movements for "Donkeys Love Carrots" and try it as a round.

This is a traditional Japanese New Year song. This is a good song to use to talk about phrases. The phrases are regular four measure phrases (a a’ b c). Ask the students to tell you which phrases are the same or very similar and which are different. Show the form with letters or with shapes. Use the song to review the dotted half note.

This is a Japanese New Year's song.

Choose one of the 2 bar rhythms shown play along with the song using instruments.

Read about the koto.

Learn about the koto.

"In the Land of Oz” is a clapping game. The song is funny and the students will think the words are silly. After they know the song well, show them the clapping pattern in the air with you as everyone’s partner. This pattern is tricky and it may take several classes until the students are able to do this with their own partner. Practice several times with the students being your "air partner" in each class before they try with their own partner.

Each person starts with left hand up and right hand down. Their partner’s left hand is under their right and their partner’s right is over their left. One hand will clap up and the other down. Do this twice, then repeat reversing hands with your partner. Your left hand will now be down. Next clap your own hands twice and both partner’s hands twice. Repeat the pattern. As with all clap games, they will be more successful if they practice it first as if it was an action song, copying the teacher.

Denise Tip: In teaching this pattern, I have the most success when I practice the pattern with eight claps up, then eight claps down first. When they are successful with eight, I go to four claps up and four claps down. Then I go to two claps up, and two claps down.

Creative Ideas: Sing each verse as written, but instead of going on to the next verse, have students improvise melodies using DEF A. If you had individual students improvise, you could use this as an assessment of their ability to improvise.