Complete 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 “Let’s Catch a Rooster”

Read the rhythms using rhythm names. This song uses all the new rhythms that have been taught in fourth grade. Sing the melody using note names or solfa. Teach the melody by rote if your students are not sight-singing fluently. When the melody is learned in unison, try it as a round. Try the round first in two parts and when students are good at this, try it in three and then four parts. The round is recorded in two parts.

Play the game “Let’s Catch a Rooster”

Watch to see how the kids play the game.

Game Directions: You can play the game as a chase game or try this variant. Form two circles - inside, outside. Choose two racers who leave the circles and hide somewhere in the classroom. Place a rubber chicken in the middle of the inside circle. The teacher now creates a hole in the outside circle and a hole in the inside circle by moving two students apart. Sing the song. At the end of the song, the two racers try to be the first to find the opening in the outside circle and get through it and then the opening to the inside circle to pick up the rubber chicken. The racer who gets to the chicken first wins. It’s kind of like racing through a maze.

Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for "Let's Catch a Rooster"

Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for "Let's Catch a Rooster"

Teach “Grandpa’s Whiskers”

This is an old fun song that probably originated in the UK. This is often sung as a campfire song.

Create a new verse for “Grandpa’s Whiskers”

It's a great song to use to invite students to create new verses. When students create verses for a song, have the students try out their verses all at the same time. Play the accompaniment track, slowing it if needed with the gear wheel tool. It will sound jumbled, but students won't feel self-conscious about singing alone. Invite them to share after they've had a chance to try it with the music, and if they are shy, type and project the new verse and have everyone try together.

Create an accompaniment for “Grandpa’s Whiskers”

Create an Accompaniment for Grandpa's Whiskers using guitar/ukulele, barred instruments or Boomwhackers.

On barred instruments or Boomwhackers, use these notes to play the chords.
Decide on a rhythm for playing the chords, or just play the steady beat.

G chord: G B D
C chord: C E G
D chord: D F# A. (leave out the F# is you don't have chromatics)

Review the cup game for “Favorite Rag”

Do the cup game for “Favorite Rag”

Review “Maple Leaf Rag”

Review the choreography for “Maple Leaf Rag”

Do the choreography for “Maple Leaf Rag”

Optional: Listen to Scott Joplin play "Maple Leaf Rag"